Recently 2 of our agents took a wonderful trip to New Zealand in May of 2023. Upon their arrival they decided to take a Hop on Hop off bus tour not once, but twice! They had the chance to see and explore many different but beautiful areas. This tour option is a great way to get a layout of the land without having to worry about getting lost or finding your way back in an area that might be new and confusing.
On the ladies’ next day of the trip, they decided to take a visit to Opononi, which has a beautiful beach area; this is the place to live the beach life or catch a few fish. They saw some local wildlife, and explored Opononi before checking into their second hotel of the trip which was right on the beach.
The following day our agents took time to visit and dine at some local restaurants before visiting the Rawene Domain to enjoy the beauty offered.
On day 4 Karen and Kim enjoyed breakfast at a local restaurant after watching the beautiful sunrise, then took time too browse tours; before deciding to take a ferry boat to the town of Russell and then a city tour. Our agents took time to shop, as well as visit some beautiful landmarks all in the town of Russell.
After a wonderful day full of New Zealand’s natural beauty these ladies were ready for some more unforgettable tours! They started the day off strong with a faint rainbow in the sky and got on the road to the All Black Experience in Auckland. This tour is centered around the legendary All Blacks, one of the most famous teams the sports world has ever produced. Karen and Kim got to go behind the scenes with players from the past and present to learn what it takes to pull on the Black jersey. They even got to test their rugby skills against All Blacks and Black Ferns in the hands-on interactive zone; How cool?!
Just a floor above is the Weta Workshop Unleashed tour, which was the ladies next excursion. This is one of the city’s premier Auckland attractions. This wildly immersive experience took our agents through the wacky world of movie making. This tour included horror, sci-fi and fantasy activities, all displayed through interactive experiences.
Day 6 in New Zealand was Aviation tour day! Karen and Kim had the opportunity to fly with Island Aviation on a Waiheke Flight tour, giving them the chance to see the area in a whole new perspective. Flying over the beautiful blue waters and village areas, giving them the perfect chance for a photo-op! After a day of flying, our Starship agents took up the opportunity to visit Batch winery for wine tasting, as well as stop and get some lunch before setting out on their next adventure to watch the sunset and enjoy gelato. What a perfect ending to their day!
On Kim and Karen’s final day in Auckland, they toured the Hobbiton Movie Set. This is and essential stop of any Lord of the Rings fans, this tour allowed the ladies to visit the actual Hobbiton village from the movie trilogies and explore the 10 acre site with a tour guide recounting the fascinating details of how the Hobbiton movie set was created.
After a wonderful experience in Auckland, our agents drove down to Rotorua for 2 nights. During their stay, they participated in a Mitai Maori Village authentic traditional experience. This included traditional food, a cultural performance, bush walk and glow worms, as well as a sacred spring and waka (canoe).
On their second and final day in Rotorua, our agents partook in 2 more experiences. One, a Waterlily Triple Berry Facial- a relaxing experience with a resort/spa atmosphere that gave them time to chill-out in the hot springs, as well as a spa like facial experience. This gave them a much needed recharge to continue their journey. Later that day, our travelers visited the world famous Pohutu Geyser through an interactive tour guided by flashlight.
The next destination on the girls itinerary was Queenstown, NZ for a 3 night stay- in 3 different places, begining everyday with a glorious sunrise! Both tours our agents partook in were water tours. First was a River Wilderness Experience; a unique combination of breath-taking scenery and an exhilarating ride. The following day was yet another cruise tour, this time through Milford Sound. Our agents set off from Queenstown and traveled along Lake Wakatipu, making a minimum of 12 stops to see the breathtaking sights offered.
After touring Queenstown, our agents trekked along to their next destination, Oamaru, New Zealand. While here they visited the Steampunk HQ Entry, founded by a group of creative minds in 2011, who were passionate about Steampunk, and showcasing it to the public. Karen and Kim also stopped to see the teeny tiny Oamaru Blue Penguins.
After 3 days in Oamaru, Kim and Karen traveled to Christchurch for a few days of beaches, shopping, dining, and good company. After many days, and many destinations, all good things must come to an end. Karen and Kim embarked onto their final destination, Kaikoura, New Zealand. Here they took a Dolphin Swim & Watch tour. A small boat tour of about 16 passengers who get a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see dolphins up close and even swim with them!
