Hi Sophie,

I learned a lot taking this tour--about options in travel, my own likes and dislikes, and of course, I learned a great deal about New Zealand and especially South Island. Working with you was easy all along the way.

The highlight of the trip was the boat excursion on the terminal lake of Abel Tasman glacier at Mt. Cook. It was perfect timing as the mountain top actually cleared after two weeks hidden, but I also appreciated a very knowledgeable and communicative boat driver/tour guide--Pablo. I've seen glaciers before, but this was a very special adventure.

I also delighted in my time in Nelson. As an art lover, and a sun lover, it was the perfect small town with great food and ample interesting art.

Since I could have walked to the Pancake walks as the coach driver took his break, I'm not sure I needed to stay the night there. And while the resort room was fantastic, the hotel restaurant was not. I was not the only one who sent back my food.

You were right, I should have paused and stayed an extra night in Christchurch. The rebuilt sections of the CBD were wonderful. Invites me to come back again.

At Mt Cook, I asked to have my lunch changed to day 2, that way I had more time to enjoy it. This worked out perfectly due to the pick up time. Also, with my type of lunch ticket, I was seated in the front for the view which was most appreciated. The food was incredibly varied and tasty for a buffet and the desserts were small and delightful--I ate more than one!

The Heartland hotel in Queensland was the only accommodation I didn't care for--the rest were beyond my expectations. It could have been my particular room, so if you have any influence over that when booking, I'd recommend that you ask not to have people on the 2nd or 3rd floor of the building without an elevator. It's not just lugging the bag up the stairs, but the stairs are rather narrow and somewhat slick in the rain. The Heartland room was also on the old and dilapidated side. It was as clean as it could be, given the circumstances, but it didn't give me the best feeling as a woman alone (which I realize is rare).

All of my other lodgings were very nice, especially since I was traveling at your "lower" level. I especially liked the Alexis Motor Lodge in Dunedin where the owners were extremely helpful and the room was large and well-appointed. The restaurants across the street were also fabulous for breakfast.

I would not recommend using Super Shuttle in Dunedin. They were the only late pick up I had. I was just calling you when they finally arrived. After all of the friendly service I'd had by so many different service providers, the driver was less than friendly, didn't tell me how many more people we had to pick up, and the seats were horribly uncomfortable. I'm sure it's less expensive than a taxi and I know it's eco-friendly, but I did not like the service.

I'm sure that's more than enough feedback. You encouraged me to spend an extra night in another place or two and I wish I had heeded your advice. Packing up nearly every day for 7 am departures gets exhausting even on a wondrous adventure. Feel free to share that insight with other travelers. ;-)

Thanks for all of your help planning this. In many ways it was the trip of a lifetime.

D Stephenson, USA -