NZ South Island: Alpine Majesty & Adventure 2-Day Tour

My adult sons and I have spent the last two weeks traveling around New Zealand. We decided to take a two-day tour from Christchurch to Queenstown via Mt. Cook and booked our transport with Canterbury Trails. Our guide and driver was Hugo. He picked us up at the Airbnb place we rented in Christchurch and we were dropped off at our hotel in Queenstown. We traveled in a new, very comfortable, clean van. Water bottles at each seat. We stopped at a couple bakeries and cafes along the way (sampled some tasty pies and smoothies) and explored the magnificent natural points of interest. Our trip was safe, stress-free, and fun. Exactly what we needed. Hugo was kind, entertaining, and knowledgeable with both his recommendations -- what to do and where to eat -- and history.  We had the most positive experience we could have imagined! We're thankful🙏🏼😊

TIm was our guide over the course of 3 days. He was the best! On Day 1 we visited Akaroa where we took a dolphin cruise and saw a number of Hector's dolphin and some seals, too. After lunch we toured The Giants House, a whimsical garden filled with charmingly eccentric sculptures. On Day 2 we stopped in Fairlie/Burkes Pass to experience a touch of America's Rt 66, Lake Tekapo, and ended our day at Aoraki/Mount Cook. On Day 3 we hiked the Hooker Valley Track, through beautiful scenery in Ahuriri Ward and eded our day in Queenstown. Tim was a wonderful person to spend 3 days with; his conversation make the miles (kilometers) fly by, and yet we had plenty of time to pause, take pictures and enjoy the scenery. I wish I could add more photos, but Trip Advisor's app will not accept 6 other jpegs because of "invalid" format.

On a 3 week trip to both New Zealand Islands we had the good fortune to be booked into a Canterbury Trails tour from Queenstown to Christchurch via Mt. Cook. Cantebury Trials provided a safe and comfortable van with an interesting itinerary. Our guide was Hugo Flaus. We had many guides in our NZ time but Hugo Flaus set the standard for informed, flexible, personable, with an instinct for what we might enjoy beyond then providing it. Yes, Arrowtown was an interesting way to begin but he knew the very scenic "back way" to get us to Cardrona Hotel for lunch. He knew the dairy farmer who would welcome an impromptu visit for milking time. He easily explained any question we had ranging from milk versus wool exports, possum fur collection for Merino wool, to Maori history and flat white coffees. Hugo Flaus, as guide for Canterbury Trails tours, made this an extraordinary two days on the road across New Zealand's South Island's fine valleys/lakes/mountains/and agricultural planes.

This was a spectacular trip. Sue was our guide and her local knowledge gave great color commentary to the trip in addition to her local knowledge of the perfect places to stop for short visits. Our desire for this trip of a lifetime to New Zealand was to see New Zealand and with the tours by Canterbury Trails we most certainly did. Very enjoyable and a comfortable ride.

This trip was wonderful, but the factor that made it extraordinary was our guide, Hugo. We had many guides in NZ, who ranged from tolerable to great, but Hugo was in a class by himself. He is warm, interested, responsive, and deeply informed about everything. We saw and learned things we never would have without his quick intelligence and love for what he was showing us. We would have booked him for a multi-week tour if we could. Do yourself a favor and ask for him by name.

This day may very well go down as the most pleasant day of our trip. We met Dave at 8 am and were reluctant to say goodbye to him in the late afternoon. Intelligent, articulate, congenial, accommodating, Dave guided us through stunning landscapes all the while with interesting commentary. He handled the Mercedes SUV as if he were a career pilot. We loved the experience and give Canterbury Trails our highest recommendation.