New Zealand Tour & Trip Reviews
Editor’s Take
What to Look For in New Zealand Tour Reviews
Most trip reviews tend to focus on some or all of these 5 key areas, not all of which may be relevant to you: the tour guide, travel company, service level, country or countries traveled in, and the trip itinerary.
Remember, just because you see a 1 star review doesn’t necessarily mean that person disliked the country.
Many tours in New Zealand are adventure based, so a sense of safety, guide knowledge and competence are very important factors for reviewers of New Zealand tours.
Even though New Zealand is quite small, it can be easy to try and cram way too much into the tour itinerary - including quite long drives to get from place to place. Be sure to read the itineraries for New Zealand tours carefully to get a sense of the transportation time, and number of days spent in each place. If you’re looking for a slower pace, you don’t want to be disappointed!
When reading New Zealand reviews, it’s also important to bear in mind that tours of New Zealand often include Australia as well. For those travelers who have to travel a very long way to get to the Oceania region (which is most people!), this can be an excellent way to maximize your vacation time.
However, it also has the potential to feel like you barely skim the surface of what these incredible countries have to offer. Negative reviews may have been hoping for a more relaxed pace, and ended up feeling hectic the whole time instead.
Accommodations in New Zealand are usually up to westernized standards, with plenty of amenities available. If you are camping or staying in small towns, of course, expect to deal with some factors like wildlife and weather.
If you want a professional take on traveling in New Zealand, see the Travelstride new Zealand Guide »
Tour Reviews
L
Leon
In een week tijd zijn 2 maiden calls… December 2023
- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
DO
Daan Osinga
Wij zouden een restitutie krijgen ivm December 2023
- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
PK
Peter Kok
Uitstekende cruises maar waardeloze… December 2023
- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
Deze keer direct geboekt bij HAL en daar nu al spijt van. Totaal niet bereikbaar (chat is dicht, telefoonnummer is 1.80 eur per min en geen email). Website en app zijn zeer buggy en het online betalen geeft alleen maar foutmelding. De uiterste betalingsherinnering ontvang je drie dagen na de datum...
De andere reviews geven hetzelfde beeld. Volgende cruise maar weer via een agent of een andere maatschappij.
JB
Joe Brownlie
ONE STAR IS TOO MUCH December 2023
- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
ON THE 26TH.WE WENT TO A SHORE EXCURSION MEETING IN THE THEATRE. WE WERE INFORMED THAT A SHUTTLE BUS, WOULD BE PROVIDED. TO A SHOPPING CENTRE. ON OUR FIRST STOP.
WE HAD BOOKED A CRAFTCENTRE AND SHOPPING TOUR, THAT DAY.
WE TRIED TO CANCEL THE TOUR BUT THE TOUR WAS THE FOLLOWING DAY. 48HOUR DEADLINE APPLIED.
WE WENT ON THE TOUR.
1ST STOP.
NOT MY WORDS. THE GUIDES WORDS. "A FLEA MARKER". SOME PEOPLE, US INCLUDED, DIDN'T GET OFF THE BUS. I NOTED TWO PURCHASES. FILTHY PLACE.
2ND STOP.
A SHOPPING CENTRE. WE HAD 60 MINUTES TO SHOP. EVEN IF YOU ONLY SPENT TEN MINUTES IN EACH SHOP. THAT'S 6 SHOPS TOTAL. NO TIME FOR ESCALATORS, FINDIND SHOPS, TRYING ON CLOTHING AND WALKING BACK TO MEETING POINT.
3RD STOP.
HUGE TWO SIDES OF STREET SHOPPING CENTRE. ONCE AGAIN, ONE HOUR TO SHOP.
I POINTED THIS OUT TO THE GUIDE, GUEST SERVICES AND FINALLY, THE EXCUSIONS DESK. THE ALLOTED TIME WAS SUFFICIENT TO THEM.
ON THE 4TH OF DECEMBER, WE WENT ON THE ART AND CRAFT SHOPPING.
AT THE SECOND STOP, THE CRAFT SHOP. THE BUS CLIPPED THE ENTRANCE PILLAR. TAKING OUT TWO WINDOWS, COVERING MY WIFE AND SEVERAL OTHERS IN GLASS. THE SLITHERS OF GLASS WERE STICKING TO THE SUNTAN LOTION.
SEVERAL PEOPLE FILLED IN AN ACCIDENT REPORT AT THE SHOP.
WE RETURNED EVENTUALLY TO THE BOAT, ON A NEW BUS.
WE LATER RECEIVED A LETTER.
AS A GESTURE OF GOOD WILL, THE EXCURSION FEE WAS BEING REDUCED BY 50%.
MY WIFE AND I, WENT TO THE EXCURSIONS DESK.
I POINTED OUT. THAT (HAL) HAD A DUTY OF CARE,TO IT'S PASSENGERS. SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE MET US ON ARRIVAL ON BOARD. ASKED IF EVERYONE WAS OK. BUT NO, WE WILL THROW SOME MONEY AT THEM AND THEY WILL HOPEFULLY GO AWAY.
I DON'T WANT YOU MONEY (HAL), HOW ABOUT SHOWING YOUR PASSENGERS THAT YOU CARE. YOU LET YOUR PASSENGERS AND YOURSELVES DOWN. BIG TIME.
WE DON'T INTEND TO GO ASHORE ON THE REMAINING DAYS.
SHAME ON YOU.
NOT EVERYTHING IS SOLVED WITH MONEY.
ECA
Ed's Cardinal Adventure
Head of Customer relations is unprofessional December 2023
- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
We came down with COVID just prior to embarking and canceled so as to not infect the crew and passengers
They would have preferred we had sailed instead by refusing to grant us any kind of credit toward a future cruise
This is a company and Management who only cares about filling rooms and not the welfare of the passengers.
As this was our anniversary cruise we took our losses and booked our next cruise with Cunard instead
L
LuAnne
Confidence with ACIS December 2023
- Value 5.0
- Guide 5.0
- Activities 5.0
- Lodging 5.0
- Transportation 5.0
- Meals 5.0
Tour ACIS Company reviews
M
Monica
Worst cruise line December 2023
- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
TC
Trusted Customer
New Zealand Uncovered November 2023
- Value 5.0
- Guide 5.0
- Activities 5.0
- Lodging 5.0
- Transportation 5.0
- Meals 5.0
WT
William Taylor
Kiwiana Panorama End ZQN November 2023
- Value 5.0
- Guide 5.0
- Activities 5.0
- Lodging 5.0
- Transportation 5.0
- Meals 5.0
Really fun add-ons (white water rafting, canyon swing, etc.)
ND
Nicolas Ducharme
Kiwiana Panorama End ZQN November 2023
- Value 5.0
- Guide 5.0
- Activities 5.0
- Lodging 5.0
- Transportation 5.0
- Meals 5.0
AE
Alexandra Eastburn
Sweet As South November 2023
- Value 5.0
- Guide 5.0
- Activities 5.0
- Lodging 5.0
- Transportation 5.0
- Meals 5.0
hMP
heer M. Pronk
Geen HAL Gift Card te gebruiken voor… November 2023
- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
Beter om je geld ergens anders beter te besteden, dat scheelt een hoop ergernis!!
DB
Daniëlle Botermans
Waardeloos te bereiken, info slecht te vinden, boeking niet te beheren November 2023
- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
Je moet wel heel veel moeite doen als je voor een groep wilt boeken en informatie nodig hebt.
Uiteindelijk heb ik boeking zelf maar gedaan, maar geeft het beheren van de boeking en het betalen alleen maar problemen. Ben er meer dan een ochtend mee bezig geweest.
De cruises zijn geweldig, maar alles eromheen vind ik ronduit slecht geregeld, en dat voor zoveel geld. Het is dat ik het mijn kinderen had beloofd, maar dit was mijn laatste boeking bij HAL
LC
Laura Cottrell
New Zealand Uncovered November 2023
- Value 5.0
- Guide 5.0
- Activities 5.0
- Lodging 5.0
- Transportation 5.0
- Meals 5.0
CC
Carmen's Creations
HAL's unexplained account charges. November 2023
- Value 2.0
- Guide 2.0
- Activities 2.0
- Lodging 2.0
- Transportation 2.0
- Meals 2.0
As others stated, room stewards & other staff are great; the shops are a total rip off as are the excursions. I won't even start about the crazy internet daily charges!
Finally, this is the 21st century...I booked the cruise & used my credit card number yet everything was presented in my husband's name!!! I had to set up an account in his name so I could see our account charges once we got home. Had I not done that I would have never found the charges I've had to dispute as they weren't there the night before we left the ship. So beware & check your account very carefully before you get off the ship.

$ 1,995 10-days trip

$ 5,045 9-days trip

$ 5,274 16-days trip

$ 7,259 20-days trip