This is our second wonderful visit to New Zealand, both of them organized by Roundabout NZ who came highly recommended by a friend originally. For both vacations we particularly enjoyed staying in a mix of rural locations, small townships and thriving cities. The accommodations suited us very well – we stayed in modest places where there were few alternatives and we stayed in fancier places where it made the experience particularly special. The extremely comprehensive itinerary documentation provided suits us well – we don’t really have the time or inclination to research the many potential calling points and were very happy to take advantage the decades of experience and invaluable local knowledge Jenny and Graham have. We have no doubt that disappointing trips and excursions exist in New Zealand but we have yet to experience one. The team evidently hand pick the operators and only recommend experiences that will be remembered for years to come – we have no doubt this is more challenging than it sounds and very much appreciate the effort they make. We are confident that we spent our time and money wisely and it is now us that enthusiastically evangelize the service Roundabout NZ provides to anyone that shows interest.
Sean & Alison Paxton, UK
I had a wonderful time on my ‘trip of a lifetime’ that Roundabout NZ organised. Jenny put together a comprehensive & very enjoyable itinerary based on our calls. New Zealand is a wonderful country but I was overwhelmed trying to decide where to go – Jenny listened to what I like to do & created the ideal itinerary based on this – balancing activities with sightseeing and relaxing.
Jenny has excellent local knowledge on what to do & where to go throughout both islands and my itinerary was filled with memorable day trips, great accommodation, tips on local attractions as well as practical knowledge on each location. A comprehensive, personalised guide was awaiting me at my first location & this, as well as Jenny’s check-ins, were invaluable to me as I toured around solo. I felt very safe & looked after as tweaks and changes were made as needed & knew that Jenny & Graham were available if necessary. A huge level of detail went into the planning of my trip by Jenny which meant I could relax & soak up the beautiful country – sailing in the Bay of Islands (with dolphins!), kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park, cave rafting in Charleston, cruising through Doubtful Sound, hiking around Wanaka/Queenstown, cycling around Clyde to name just some of the things I got up to!
Jenny & Graham are wonderful people and clearly delight in sharing their knowledge & seeing visitors loving their country as they do. I had a fantastic time in New Zealand and would highly recommend travelling with Roundabout NZ.
Claire, Ireland
Jenny!
We chose Roundabout NZ for our 2024 trip to South Island after meeting Jenny and Graham at Destinations back in 2019. We had looked at others but what was most important to us was having someone “in our corner” on the ground in New Zealand, Jenny and Graham were the perfect fit. Oh, and when it came to planning our itinerary they didn’t let us down, we had a wonderful time. We highly recommend Roundabout NZ to all looking to explore what is an amazing destination.
Chris & Diane
Staffordshire
I don’t know how much planning other people put into their trips, but I liked the way you worked tirelessly to provide what we’d asked for, despite the various changes of plan. We felt that nothing was ever too much trouble. Using Roundabout took the guesswork out of planning such a trip – for example your suggestions as to which walks to choose, suggesting the cycle ride, using providers that are tried and tested.
We were impressed by the level of detail you gave us in the information folder – it was our Bible! There wasn’t anything we needed to know that wasn’t covered. We will recommend Roundabout to anyone we hear of that is planning a trip to NZ – surely the best feedback you could have!
R&R Cheshire
If you are thinking of visiting New Zealand and looking for someone knowledgeable to help you plan your trip then Jenny is the person for you. She has lived there for over 25 years and has personally experienced virtually every trek, mountain, fjord and sight in this amazing country and with that knowledge will help you design your holiday of a lifetime whether it is trekking, sightseeing , cycling or wildlife you are after. Her detailed itineraries are superb, guiding you to the best places to visit, stay, eat or even where best to break your journey to enjoy coffee stops, views or the best ice cream! When a cyclone disrupted our plans Jenny stepped in and immediately sorted every thing for us. We had an amazing trip and I really could not recommend Jenny highly enough.
Liz, UK
I’ve just returned from an amazing trip in New Zealand organised by the wonderful Jenny and Graham. ‘Our Knowledge, Your Journey’ is exactly what they do! From the initial consultation, organising the itinerary, booking (fabulous!) accommodation and memorable tours, along with all their recommendations of walks, attractions, restaurants, timings, local tips and practical tips too (like knowing when the next petrol station is!) – our trip was planned to perfection!
On arrival at our first hotel we were greeted with our travel itinerary booklet which was invaluable throughout our trip – ‘What does Jenny recommend to do?!’ And we had the comfort of knowing Jenny was available 24/7 – not may travel providers can offer that level of personal service!
Jenny and Graham passion for New Zealand is infectious, and they genuinely want you to experience and relish all that this wonderful country has to offer. It was a holiday of a life time – let Graham and Jenny sprinkle their magic on your trip! 😊
Honor, Ireland
What a fabulous trip. Your snippets of information + knowledge of New Zealand set you apart from other tour operators ! Not to mention the contact made throughout our stay.
We are thankful that we visited your stand at the Destinations Travel Show in January 2019 & that we followed our plans through with Jenny and Graham – Roundabout NZ.
Steve and Viv, Cheshire, UK 2022
Our holiday was always going to be great because New Zealand is a stunning country, but thanks to RoundaboutNZ it became a dream experience. All the pressure on making sure we visited the best places was lifted, there was no time wasted visiting attractions that didn’t appeal to us as Jenny had ensured she knew our tastes and budget well in advance of proposing our itinerary. The attention to detail was incredible, yet at the same time not onerous, pointing us in the right direction with suggestions on how long trips might take and even the best cafes in the small towns to experience the wonderful food and local wines. We didn’t even have to look over our shoulder wondering if we should have eaten at the ‘place next door’ RoundaboutNZ ensured we maximised our enjoyment on what turned out to be a holiday of a lifetime. We certainly recommend Jenny and her team to anyone considering a holiday in New Zealand and we hope to be back very soon to enjoy their suggestions for further exploration.
Peter and Jane, UK
Jenny’s deep love and knowledge of New Zealand is matched by her attention to detail and commitment to giving each client the best possible trip for them. “Jenny’s Bible”, as we called it, a dedicated itinerary with timings, maps, personal recommendations and local tips made for a wonderful, hassle-free trip of a lifetime. Thank you!
Michael and Beverly, UK
We had a wonderful holiday thank you very much. We loved Prospect Lodge and Blanket Bay – really superb!
D&J, Wirral
….A superbly organised South Island trip by Jenny and Graham saving us hours of research. Our choice of destinations and the incredibly detailed itinerary they put together certainly gave us a wide variety of magical experiences. They certainly know and love their country and were more than happy to spend time to ensure the trip was personally suited to us. It’s an amazingly ‘wow’ factor Island and with their exceptional guidance we had the most wonderful holiday …
Nigel and Sally – Wirral
We had the most fabulous trip around the North Island. Thanks to Jenny it was all perfectly planned and we managed to squeeze so many activities into a short amount of time. Accommodation choices were perfect and everything ran smoothly. Our only regret was not staying longer and visiting the South Island too!
Mark, Lucianne and family UK
It was so obvious that you’re delivering a very personal planning service; your great success was matching our preferences and expectations to your bookings. We want to say a huge thank you for all the work you put into making our stay so delightful.
Stuart and Angela, UK
We had a wonderful holiday in NZ last winter and were extremely grateful for the care with which Jenny made our complicated travel and accommodation arrangements. We were especially impressed by the itinerary dossier awaiting us on arrival which was full of all sorts of useful hints and advice. Her care even extended to advice regarding a weather dependent part of our stay for which she was not responsible! The high spot of the holiday was the trip to the Poor Knights Islands but all our visits were very memorable.
Lady M, UK
For most of us there are few opportunities in life to undertake a trip to the other side of the world that truly meets expectations. You save and plan, research and trawl the internet, choose the dates, book the flights and try to decide just what the days and weeks might look like. Read Trip Adviser, wonder if reviews are honest, think about it again and hope for the best. Well, don’t hesitate any longer, follow our lead, use Jenny and Graham to help you truly realise a trip of a life time.
It started with Jenny and Graham’s assessment of our wants and needs. Budget, length of visit, time of the year, ambitions and not forgetting the sensitive establishment of each of our fitness levels. When we expressed a wish to see much of both islands in just 4 weeks, Jenny guided us through a route and made suggestions for both accommodation and length of stop overs. After a few short discussions the first version of our itinerary plopped into our email boxes and very quickly we agreed the final version.
In short, we had hotels/apartments; car hire; boat, train and day trips booked. Restaurants, cafes and coffee shops, supermarkets and local points of interest always included. Jenny and Graham gave us intimate local knowledge of every place we stopped at plus off-piste places and points of interest along each route. If the itinerary said it would take 3 hours to undertake a walk/trek we knew that it would. They had obviously done all these activities and walks themselves!
Of special note during our 2018 visit was that it coincided with the arrival of Cyclone Gita. No Worries! Jenny kept in daily contact guiding us along a revised route and rebooking accommodation when a landslide prevented a trip to Farewell Spit. Not once did we feel really anxious about the weather. Bravo to them both.
So, you ambitious travellers out there, try Roundabout New Zealand. Enjoy the merits of a truly bespoke and hassle-free trip to see one of the wonders of our planet.
Tina and Robert, Wirral UK
Jenny this was the BEST holiday of my life! we had such an unforgettable time and it will be a memory for life deeply burned into our hearts’ & ‘You and Graham had done such a wonderful job and put a magic trip together. We will never forget this and will be grateful for the rest of our life.
Bjorn Naf, Hong Kong
Your attention to detail was just amazing and obviously you really, really know your stuff!
Howard and Sheila Liverpool
You have just pinged the star Jenny!!! The apartment and town are just amazing, love this place!! Thanks for every step of our holiday, and Raglan and apartment are the diamonds on the cake!! We will be back. Best wishes to you both.
Gail & Brian, UK
Me and my family have thoroughly enjoyed our last visit to New Zealand and are looking forward to having another one. And our experience wouldn’t have been that great without all the brilliant advice and assistance you and Graham have offered. I will sure seek your kind help once again.
Elina Ng and family, Hong Kong
‘Thank you for organising a fab trip, will recommend you guys to anyone at home who is considering coming to NZ. Thanks again’
Ken and Sue, Wirral
‘We had a fabulous three-week adventure from Queenstown to Auckland and a whole lot in between. I was very impressed with the detail and quality of all our bookings and there’s no doubt but that your extensive knowledge and connections made our visit the trip of a lifetime. Many thanks.’
Frank Hayes, Dublin
Just back from a marvellous three week holiday in New Zealand organised by RoundaboutNZ. New Zealand is amazing but the itinerary suggested by Jenny combined with the tips for restaurants and cafes to use, plus the superb accommodation that she arranged made the holiday a real ‘trip of a lifetime’. Can’t wait for the next opportunity to go back!
Miriam, Dublin
My family and I have just returned from an amazing holiday in New Zealand. We are quite well travelled and like to be independent, so we were not sure about the idea of using an agent to organise our trip.
I came across RoundAbout NZ in my local supermarket in Hong Kong and decided to give it a try. It was the best travel decision I have ever made. Jenny has helped us put together a detailed itinerary and then patiently revise it several times to suit our complicated and ever changing travel needs (we travelled with my two young boys and the granny…!). She was available on e-mail and we have had several phone calls to ensure we were on the same page when planning. I was impressed throughout the early planning stages. But that was nothing compared to the service we received after we landed in New Zealand.
Every detail of our trip was perfectly thought through. From airport pick ups, accommodation, restaurant and playground recommendations to assistance with delayed flights and taxis. Jenny even went as far as to buy me a discounted SIM card which I could use throughout my holiday. Jenny also regularly updated us on weather conditions and road closures to ensure that our travels ran as smoothly as possible.
We would not have been able to cover so much ground and enjoy our trip as much had it not been for Jenny’s assistance. I would wholeheartedly recommend RoundAbout NZ to anyone considering a trip to New Zealand.
Jana Hodgson and family, Hong Kong
Huge thank you to Jenny and Graham from Roundabout NZ who organised an amazing South Island tour for us.
BUT more than that, they also went beyond the call of duty to look after us and amend our itinerary when the recent Queenstown rains washed out roads and prebooked tours.
Cannot thank you enough for a great tour and proud to wear our jerseys.
Heather and James Hardy, Manchester UK
Hi Jenny I just want to say what a wonderful time I had in New Zealand the experience was mind blowing and the itinerary you put together for me was outstanding. From the moment I arrived till I left the itinerary became my “bible” and I followed it to the letter. It took all the pain out of travelling, flights, cars, trains, and looking for and booking accommodation all done for me and it worked like clockwork. Restaurants and cafe suggestions were also a great help. My bible made sure I saw the very best of New Zealand, making good use of my time. Without your expertise, knowledge, and your personal touch I do not think I would have had such a great holiday. I cannot thank you enough and hope to get back there one day. Thank you once again especially for retrieving my lost hat, and posting it on to me at an accommodation further into my trip.
Margaret Blakeborough, UK
Thanks to you and Graham for all your efforts on our trip to New Zealand.
The level of detail provided in our information pack was outstanding (an unexpectedly weighty tome) and we very much enjoyed sampling many of your recommendations. All the trips you planned for us showed a real depth of knowledge of the best options available and providers. I think the highlight for all of us was the small boat overnight trip on Doubtful Sound. The whole experience of the kayaking, fishing, accommodation, food and team work from the crew were fantastic -a world away from the hustle and bustle of crowds with just seven guests on board. We also appreciated the cool bag!
Your support in the Te Anau to Queenstown flooding was exceptional – finding the only possible route out and booking last minute flights. As you advised, our insurance company has compensated us for our flights. I am sure no UK based company would have been able to solve the problem.
I also have to mention Paul in the Red Tussock Motel. He ensured that we were well advised on the route and he had even managed to find a helicopter flight out if needed. Such care and kindness.
Keven & Carol, Cheshire, UK
Jenny and Graham planned an incredible honeymoon in New Zealand for us! They thought of every detail so we could just relax and explore this stunningly beautiful country. Their local knowledge and passion of New Zealand’s rich culture, outdoor adventure activities and fantastic restaurants was so apparent in the itinerary they booked for us. If you want a stress-free trip of a lifetime to New Zealand, go with Roundabout NZ!
Katie & Ben, Ireland
Many thanks to Jenny and Graham for the great holiday we’ve just had in New Zealand.
The itinerary we agreed upon was absolutely perfect with the accommodation, travel and organised trips and activities surpassing our expectations.
To travel this far from the UK and have their expert country knowledge of places to visit, restaurants and cafés en route made our trip so memorable. We were particularly impressed with how they kept in contact throughout our trip, especially as we encountered some adverse weather conditions that required some re-scheduling and which they dealt with effectively.
Really nice to catch up with them, personally, in Nelson during our stay there.
Can’t thank them enough for a wonderful holiday.
Mike & Joan, UK
We would like to start by saying a big thank you for arranging such a wonderful experience.
The accommodation ranged from excellent to exceptional – by our normal standards.
The pre-booked trips were varied, interesting, exciting and occasionally a little daunting. With only minimal input from us, you managed to capture those elements that suited our lifestyles so well.ndards anyway! And we considered each to be appropriate for the duration of stay. i.e. slightly more modest for a single night stay and more luxurious for multiple nights.
The companies and individuals you selected for the trips made all the difference. There can be nobody that could have made the trip to Milford Sounds more enjoyable than Jamie – an amazing choice. The team that took us sea kayaking were both fun and overwhelmingly enthusiastic and Mike, the skipper of the yacht in B.O.I. was so knowledgeable & charismatic, we found ourselves clung to his every word.
Travel between destinations was well planned and largely achievable in the timescales you suggested. You obviously have first-class knowledge of the islands. The route you planned, and the places you encouraged us to visit were as wonderful as they were varied.
We followed several of your restaurant recommendations but also found some of our own – for example Greens in Pahia was first-class and incredible value – Monsoon Poon in Auckland was superb.
Jenny, once again thank you for arranging such a wonderful holiday. Your communication prior to, during and subsequent to the holiday has been absolutely faultless and we could not recommend your service to others more.
Thanks again
The Paxtons, UK
Jenny and Graham at Roundabout NZ totally came to my rescue when the South Island tour I’d planned with another company fell through. I was travelling alone and felt quite overwhelmed when faced with the prospect of trying to plan and arrange a road trip on my own.
They worked with me to create a bespoke itinerary which totally suited the type of holiday I was looking for. Jenny was brilliant in the planning stage with suggestions for places to visit and activities, but also a practical sounding board to make sure I didn’t overreach myself and not leave myself enough time to enjoy the experience.
The welcome pack containing the itinerary with tips for activities, places to eat and suggested routes was amazing. I never regretted following the tips of route detours and the advice for places to eat was always on point. The accommodation was always perfect for my needs and was well located in the places I stayed.
I had some amazing experiences which I would never have arranged on my own including the flight to Stewart Island with a beach landing. I honestly can’t thank them enough for a fabulous holiday.
Emma
All I can say is we were delighted by your suggestions for our itinerary, having listened to our interests, time and budget constraints, and understood our stamina levels. Your approachability, attention to detail with all the arrangements, and prompt responses when we had questions during the trip made it stress-free. We have been recommending you to everyone we’ve spoken to who has expressed a wish to see New Zealand – thank you!
Bryony and Alan, UK
Myself and Dee would like to thank you for the work you have put in to our itinerary. It has been a fabulous experience and I only wish I had visited earlier in my lifetime. We go back with unbelievable memories of New Zealand and the warmth people have shown us.
I do hope your future bodes well and that this epidemic resolves itself soon so you can get back to organising those wonderful tours. We still talk a lot about our experiences and ask each other which was the best bit. So undecided on this point as we enjoyed them all.
Rog & Dee, UK
We would recommend Jenny and Graeme without a doubt for overseeing our 3 week holiday to NZ. They had many suggestions and variations in the planning stages and booked everything up for us. On our arrival all the accommodations were of a high standard, and all the local information made everything so much easier with two young children. We were unlucky enough to be on holiday when the Coronavirus restrictions hit and this is when Jenny was our absolute saviour. She kept in touch with us and constantly and advised us throughout. It was stressful enough but with a local passing on information, sorting alternate accommodation and the millions of other problems which cropped up made it as bearable as possible. We are so thankful to Jenny for getting us out safe and sound. We can not recommend them highly enough.
Kat, Carl, Matilda and Poppy Wilkins, Hong Kong
We want to say a huge “Thank You”. One big reason we had such a wonderful trip is that all the planning and organising had been done for us – and in such a well thought out and detailed way. All we had to do was follow the plan and enjoy every day.
The arrangements ran like clockwork including the 3 changes of hire car, two internal flights and a ferry crossing. The trips and visits, based on our conversations at the planning stage, were just what we’d wanted to see and do along with all the suggestions for other things we might enjoy. The companies used for pre-booked trips, to Abel Tasman and Milford Sound were top quality. Our accommodation varied from an amazing hotel suite in Queenstown to a farm lodge in the dark sky country on our way to Mount Cook, but was all very comfortable and convenient. Everything was clearly outlined in our bespoke tour plan. It was good to have an idea of the driving time between places and tips about where to stop on route. We appreciated information about the location of the nearest supermarket and petrol station as well as the suggestions for places to eat.
Roundabout New Zealand live up to all the promises they make on their website and more.
Hilary and Dave UK