Vine and Pat Cassisi, USA, 14 day Self Drive tour, North and South Islands. April 2010

Please excuse this late email thanking you both for an excellent tour of NZ. Two items we would like to note. In addition to the wonderful stays and sightseeing trips, we suggested, and you scheduled, Auckland Wine Tours New Zealand and Larnach Castle. We would like to say that these both were great and we enjoyed them very much. The wine tour of Auckland, not only covered the Villa Maria Winery, explaining and showing with a walk-thru the details of their operation and a luncheon with wine tasting, it also provided us with a city tour of Auckland. We otherwise would have not had the experience of a city tour in our short stay. We HIGHLY recommend that you suggest this to your guests, we do not think they will be disappointed in the least. http://www.nzwinepro.co.nz/.
The other tour was of Larnach Castle. The stay was during their low tourist season, and we enjoyed the tour of the Castle itself and the room we stayed in. The dinner was something special, being just the two of us seated at a private table set up in the library. Our hostess, Pat, gave us a personal description of the history of the castle, and the Chef himself served us desert. It truly was a special occasion. The history of the gardens and structure, once described to us in detail, was full of very rich detail. Again, we very much enjoyed our visit to your lovely country thanks to your excellent bookings.

Sarah Ennion, NZ, 9 day self drive tour, South Island, April 2010

Just wanted to drop you a quick note to say thanks for arranging such a fantastic tour for us.  We all had a fantastic time. The accommodation was great and the hire car was perfect to fit us all in with our luggage.  I loved the Map book with the highlighted route and the itinerary made planning activities and stop offs really easy.
Thanks again.Sarah

Joan and Richard, USA, 17 day self drive tour, North Island, March 2009

I meant to write to you much earlier about our NZ tour.

We really had a wonderful time.  Wonderful is not strong enough.

We were again amazed at your beautiful country with fantastic, friendly people, great sites and walks, great food and wine...We really didn't have any complaints.

The sites you selected for us to stay were very beautiful and the people really helpful and pleasant.

Thanks and hello to your wife and children!

Joan

James R. & Carole K. Erwin, USA, 16 day self drive tour, North and South Island, March 2010

Darrel and Helen Ling, Australia, 25 day self drive tour, New Zealand Discoverer, March 2010

If we had, at the time realised we were passing your door, we would have loved to have given David & his wife, a personal thank you.
It is the added things like the mobile phone (complete with credit) & the Kruse system that made the whole trip so easy. In this day & age it is very hard to exceed one's expectations, but FTNZ did it to us.
We had a wonderful trip & would thoroughly recommend FTNZ to family & friends. We both wish you all the very best for the future business.

Kind regards, Darrel & Helen

Wai Tung and Wai See, Canada, 9 day self drive tour, South Island, March 2010

Wai Tung

John and Lesley Harrison, 28 day self drive tour, North and South Islands, February 2010

Dear David,
Just a short e-mail to say that we got home last Friday afternoon and to thank you for all your help in making our holiday so memorable.  It really was a trip of a lifetime and all your arrangements worked out well; even the mice in Abel Tasman did not stump you!  It was reassuring to know that you were only a phone call away.  We will certainly recommend you to any of our friends who plan to visit NZ. 
We think that Vineview at Blenheim was new accommodation to you (recommended to us by friends) but we can confirm that it provides wonderful accommodation -  bedroom with separate dining kitchen and lounge in wonderful location in the middle of vine fields and views of the mountains beyond.  Our hosts were particularly friendly and helpful.  

There is much of New Zealand that we have still to discover and are now saving up madly to re-visit your lovely country.
Kind regards and many thanks again.
John & Lesley Harrison

John and Lesley Harrison, 28 day self drive tour, North and South Islands, February 2010

Dear David,
Just a short e-mail to say that we got home last Friday afternoon and to thank you for all your help in making our holiday so memorable.  It really was a trip of a lifetime and all your arrangements worked out well; even the mice in Abel Tasman did not stump you!  It was reassuring to know that you were only a phone call away.  We will certainly recommend you to any of our friends who plan to visit NZ. 
We think that Vineview at Blenheim was new accommodation to you (recommended to us by friends) but we can confirm that it provides wonderful accommodation -  bedroom with separate dining kitchen and lounge in wonderful location in the middle of vine fields and views of the mountains beyond.  Our hosts were particularly friendly and helpful.  

There is much of New Zealand that we have still to discover and are now saving up madly to re-visit your lovely country.
Kind regards and many thanks again.
John & Lesley

Judy and Ken Palich, Australia, 23 day self drive tour, North Island, February 2010

Cheers, Judy and Ken

Paul Pringle and Val Nicholson, Canada, 9 day self drive tour, North Island, February 2010

Paula and Mike Bransfield, Canada, 21 day self drive tour, South Island, February 2010

Thanks again, Paula & Mike

Joan and John Lofts, UK, 8 day self drive tour, South Island, February 2010

Marie and John Lynch, 22 day self drive tour, New Zealand Discoverer, February 2010

Hi Thank you so much for putting together a wonderful itinerary.  On arrival in Auckland  at midnight, it was great to be met, transferred to our hotel & to be given everything we needed for the trip.

Everything first class apart from  3 of our overnight accommodation. We particularly enjoyed staying at the White House Russell, the Ridge Puhoi,  & the Te Anau Scenic.

Westwood Lodge  FZ was perfect for our last 2 full nights in NZ - a great choice & we felt our trip had ended on a high. The itnerary & map book great ideas - will help us relive some very happy memories.

Timothy and Julie Miller, Hong Kong, 24 day self drive tour, New Zealand Discoverer, February 2010

Becky and Michael Graham, Beijing, 13 day self drive tour, North & South Islands, February 2010

Brian and Dorothy Robertson, Australia, 15 day self drive tour, South Island, February 2010

We were very impressed with the arrangements you made including, accommodation, the car, the Kruise system,the N.Z. map book with the suggested route highlighted. It seems you even arranged for beautiful weather!!
We will certainly recommend you to our friends (and have done so already!).

The technology used for the Krusie system is amazing and the commentary interesting and helpful.
I am struggling to find an area to suggest improvements which I imagine you want to know about.

We would like to commend Robin at the Lakefront Lodge in Te Anau for his enthusiasim and helpfulness. The itinerary you prepared for us was brilliant. Not much more to say except thank you once again.

Brian

Amy Tanmorel, Singapore, 17 day self drive tour, North Island, December 2009

We are back! After the very first good trip that we had in South Island-  Jan 2009, we decided we’d be back in New Zealand again. So this year, Jan 2010, we’re back and this time we visited the North Island. There’s no guessing who we planned our trip with, it’s Fine Tours with David!

Jane and Anthony Pearson, UK, 7 day self drive tour, South Island, January 2010

Stuart Brown, Australia, 12 day self drive tour, Southern Circuit, December 2009

"Fine tours New Zealand.  Many thanks for a wonderfully planned holiday. I would recommend your service to anyone waiting to travel to New Zealand".

Robyn, David and Ira Mabel, USA, 26 day self drive tour, Auckland to Dunedin, December 2009

Thank you very much. Robyn

Bruce and June Knight, USA, 11 Day self drive tour, Southern Alps & Southern Lakes, December 2009

Stephen and Ann Tall, USA, 13 day self drive tour, South Island Coast to Coast, December 2009

James and Paula Pritchett, 17 day self drive tour, Auckland to the Southern Alps, September 2009

Just wanted you to know that everything went amazingly well. There was not a single hangup, detail lost, or even  a hint of an issue along the entire way.
I am most impressed.  You certainly did a wonderful job of arranging everything for us.  Rest assured that we will recommend your services at any opportunity.
At Great Ponsonby we met another of your tour clients. They are from San Francisco and this is their first trip with you. We shared all of our successes with them.

The Kruse was a very nice touch and should be continued.  There is quite a lot of work in putting a system like that together. It made a lot of difference in our ability to understand the area and to know when to be on the lookout for an upcoming sight.

All of the hotel and B&B choices were great. No where could we find fault with anything.
This, of course, prompts me to ask what other tour opportunities do you have? we are anxious to travel to other places during the next year and would love to find out if you can provide assistance outside of New Zealand.
Sincerely, Jim

Pierre Dubois and Lyne Bonin, Canada, 7 day self drive tour, November 2009

Manni and Gordon Knight, Canada, 19 day self drive tour, North and South Islands, November 2009

FYI -  We were fortunate we did not get jet lag as we managed some sleep on the overnight flight sitting in the cheapie economy.  The first activity we did upon our arrival in Auckland was tramp (yes walk) up to the top of Rangitito Island and back with our new “American friends” introduced to us by Gerry.  What a strange way to spend your first day in Auckland, tramp up a dormant volcano after being in transit for 26 hours.  But, as we were later to learn, this is a typical Kiwi – they are very physically active people and they always are on the move because it is so beautiful in New Zealand.  We had 16 days of brilliant sunshine out 19 days and this included Milford Sound and Franz Josef.

Go out and enjoy a few moments with your daughter. Merry Christmas from Manni and Gord Knight

Maureen and Tom McMullen, California, USA, 16 day Self Drive tour North and South Islands, October 2009

As you know we got back yesterday from NZ though it was hard to leave & we hope to return in the not too distant future now that we have an idea of what it has to offer.  The views were magnificent & the people are wonderful & we had a great time.   We loved the Great Ponsonby & it was the perfect place to start our trip, Eliza's was wonderful & so friendly we would have loved to stay a few more days with Ann & Harold.  We are so glad we stayed in the Dock Bay as the views were amazing, actually the whole place is to die for & Dawn, Mark & Diane were such lovely people.  Westwood lodge was so modern & the helicopter trip we took there was amazing.  With your help & expertise we saw a lot & stayed in many wonderful places.  The exception was the Heritage on our last night/day in Auckland it was awful if it hadn't been so late & we hadn't been so tired we would not have stayed in that room.  The carpet was stained, the paintwork was shabby and needed touch-up, the armoire was so warped that the door wouldn't close & the room decor itself was depressing, it overlooked the restaurant & was obviously in the old part of the hotel.  We did tell the front desk when we were checking out, they didn't seem that bothered but we told them they should have a manager look at the room because it reflected very badly on their hotel.  When we checked in there was confusion about our booking & the late check out seemed to be one hour later but we did eventually get the room until late afternoon.  Had we stayed there on our first night instead of the Great Ponsonby it would not have been a good first impression of the country & I wish we had stayed with them on our last night too.
Thanks for your help with everything the pick ups, voucher system worked really well & it was so nice to know we had places to stay along the way.  The help & advice from our hosts along the way was invaluable.
You made our first trip to NZ a great experience; we've already recommended Fine Tours to others and will do so whenever we get a chance.
Thanks again, Maureen & Tom

Kathleen and Mitchell Cheeseman, Virginia, USA, 27 day self drive tour, North and South Islands

Jan and Lew Watson, Brisbane, Australia, 8 day self drive tour South Island, July 2009

David,  Just a short note to say "thank you".  Our trip to NZ was the best and more than we could have hoped for.  Apparently the best snow for 5 years!!! what is this about global warming?  The reason we went was to see snow and that we did. It was absolutely beautiful and where there was no snow the scenery was awesome.  What a lovely country you have.  Why are you all over here?
We have successfully introduced a monster into our family because the grandboys took to snowboarding like ducks to water.  They just have to finance it now!!!
The kruse was a bonus, we enjoyed having it and was interested in the history of the places (very aggressive lot eh?). The phone we could probably done without as we didn't need to use it much. Anyway thanks again, we have already recommended you to others.

Richard and Joan Hannah, Salem, MA, USA, 17 day self drive tour, North Island, April 2009

We have been back to the United Sates for a little over a month--still basking in the afterglow of our wonderful visit to your country.  We had a wonderful trip--thanks to New Zealand Fine Tours.
We arrived in Auckland at about 6:00 am after a very long series of flights from Boston, Massachusetts, USA.  Your charming representative met us, took us to the car rental counter, and sent us on our way with superb maps, books and Kruse.  These amenities were invaluable for our visit in New Zealand.
We wish to  comment on the Bed and Breakfast stops that you set up for us: Spectacular!
We headed off on a pleasant Sunday drive stopping for breakfast in Hamilton.  We found the tours at Waitomo Caves excellent.  Then on to Liz and Evan Cowan’s Kamahi Cottage--a magnificent bed and breakfast.  Liz prepared a wonderful dinner for us that she served at Kamahi Cottage. What a treat!  Liz and Evan came by later to visit with us on the porch of the cottage.  Breakfast the next morning at their spacious dining room was excellent and followed by fine advice for our upcoming travels.  They are gracious hosts indeed.
Later on we spent two nights at the Clover Downs Estate.  Lynn and Lloyd were our hosts.  We were near Rotorua which is a fine place to visit and we thoroughly enjoyed the history and charm of the region.  Even so, we  continue to linger as we look at the pictures taken from the Clover Downs Estate farm tour.  Lloyd spent a lot of time with us as we toured his place and learned about New Zealand agriculture, forests, sheep, border collies, deer, cattle, ostriches and more.  Another high point!
A bit later on we stopped at the Saltings, Maureen and Terry hosts. Gorgeous B & B and setting, another excellent  breakfast and delightful host and hostess.
The itinerary, maps, Kruse and arrangements for our seventeen day visit to North Island contributed to a truly memorable vacation.
Thanks for your kind attention to our particular requests for our visit to New Zealand.  A memorable seventeen days.

Rick and Jacqui Wood, Australia, 23 day self drive tour North & South Islands, March 2009

Both my wife Jacqui and myself wish to thank you for arranging out trip of New Zealand in February. I must say that everything flowed extremely well and the itinerary that you prepared was exceptional. I initially thought that to visit both the North & South Islands in 23 days was going to be tight however was surprised at what we were able to fit in and did not feel rushed at all. The accommodation although neat & tidy varied and I must compliment the Pebble Beach Motel in Napier – absolutely stunning and also Punga Grove in Franz Joseph. Next time we visit we may try a motor home experience and take a little longer exploring certain areas. We have already passed on your details to a number of our friends and would have no hesitation recommending your service to anyone contemplating a visit to your wonderful country.

Les and June Diamond, Hertfordshire, UK, 28 day self drive tour, North & South Islands, Feb - Mar 2009

Firstly thank you for the prompt refund for the cancelled Mount Cook flight, due to poor weather. Fine Tours have been very helpful from the first tentative enquiry. The arrangements that you organised went without a hitch, we found the instructions and maps you supplied very easy to use.  The Bed & Breakfast stays were exceptional. Comfortable, spotlessly clean, and our hosts friendly and helpful beyond belief. Coupled with stunning scenery and friendly people; we are truly delighted with the tour that you arranged for us and we had a super holiday. We found the Kruse GPS commentary system very useful if repetitive at times.  I have several friends who have asked me for a copy of my itinerary, which I will let them have and recommend they use your services. I can guarantee that we will be back.

Ann and Joe Kasparek, Texas USA, 21 day self drive South Island tour January 2009