Australia & New Zealand Travel Guide

My husband and I went on a wonderful trip to New Zealand visiting both North and South Island. The trip was originally planned for 2021 but had to be postponed until this year. I prefer working with an agent, and Lindsay from our travel agency was extremely responsive, offering helpful options and suggestions. Even though the time we spent on the North Island was right after the torrential rains, we modified the itinerary to spend four days in the Taupo area and two days in Rotorua.

We hiked in the Tongariro National Park and part of the Great Lake Pathway, sailed to view the Maori Rock Carvings, and visited Orakei Korako geothermal pools and Huka Falls in the Lake Taupo area. In Rotorua, we relaxed in the mineral pools of the spa and enjoyed the indigenous Maori experience at Te Puia.

The next 12 days were spent on the South Island where we had sunny and warm weather! One of our favorite places was Abel Tasman Park where we went kayaking and hiked the beautiful Coast Trek. We continued our adventures with a memorable heli-hiking experience on the Tasman Glacier in the Mt. Cook region, followed by visiting the unique blue penguins and Royal Albatrosses on the Otago Peninsula and enjoyed a hike and cruise on the famous Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park.

We ended our journey with three days in the Lake Wanaka area where we kayaked, hiked, and visited some of the region's famous wineries.

We booked a trip to Australia and New Zealand for the first three weeks on January 2017 using this travel agency to coordinate our trip. I spoke with our agent who assured me and made recommendations based on my specific places to visit. She also made suggestions on places that she felt were "must see" venues!. We visited Sydney ( city tour plus Blue Mountain Tour).   Carin's, Port Douglas (GBR,  Daintree Rain Forest, Cape Tribulation) and Melbourne (walk about with koalas and kangaroo in there natural habitat while in AZ and  Qweenstown (Miford sound), Mount Cook (glacier boat ride), ChristChurch (Akaroa Harbour tours and boat trip to view dolphins ), Rotoura (Geothermal tour plus lakes tour as well as Spellbound Glowworm and Caves tours), and finally Auckland. The hotels varied from upscale hotels, boutique venues and one B&B. They try to secure hotel locations were the action is close to major sites in the city. Breakfast was included at each hotel and the food was good!. There was only one hotel that I did not care for the accommodations but the location was great. We received a total package from our agent prior to the vacations launch as well as receiving a voucher packet  with all hotel, shuttles to and from the airports, and tour pick ups at the hotels in each country. Every pick up and tour started and left just as planned. There was not one glitch the entire trip with all the flights, pickups or tours that were selected!. The boutique tours were great since we had 4-8 people only which made them much more intimate with experienced guides. I give them a 5-star rating for coordinating and verifying all the arrangements. 

Pre-wedding Honeymoon: Hamilton Island. Silky Oaks Lodge. Daintree Rainforest. Port Douglas. Cairns. Kuranda. Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Blue Mountains. Sydney.Our pre-wedding honeymoon was absolutely amazing! It was very enjoyable and flawless. Zicasso's travel plan for us was perfect. Our agent's knowledge of the country and her suggestions made in the planning of this trip made the transition to each place easy. She was so helpful and accommodating. One of the days during our trip, it was suppose to rain and we had an outdoor tour schedule that day. Less than 24 hours before a scheduled tour, at our request, she switched our tour with one of our free days. As a result, we were able to enjoy our tour, rain free. She was absolutely amazing, I feel as if she were with us throughout the entire trip.