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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Wilderness Motorhomes
Wilderness totally made our trip to NZ.
Our 'Beast' was so much fun to drive, we fought over who was behind the wheel each time we stopped. There was loads of space for us and even after a month in it, it never felt cramped (and husband is 6ft+). We peered through windows of other vans whenever we could and never saw any as nice inside (loads have vile upholstery, laminate cupboards, single beds, no shower/loo, bad-looking storage) - or without tourist branding. When we dropped the van off (very sad to be leaving it) to fly out, the Wilderness guys discovered we needed to go online so invited us into their offices, offered us tea and then a lift to our hotel. Could not recommend more - don't go for the slightly cheaper vans - these are worth every penny. (And the BBQ in the boot was great - cooked on it every night regardless of rain, cold and insane insects)
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Abel Tasman ▷
Kahu Kayaks
Worth hiring a kayak solely for the most hilarious safety talk we've ever heard - and that's not to say they aren't a safe company or in any way don't take it seriously.
They just have the most fantastic ways of making it all memorable...
Oh, and our day of free-kayaking from these guys led us to the most amazing experience with 7 very inquisitive and playful seal pups who played around (nearly all over!) our boat for hours. The Kahu guys mentioned there were some pups in this place - we'd done a guided tour before who hadn't gone anywhere near, so we'd have missed it altogether without them. So thanks Kahu!
(The food truck out front is also wicked for post-kayak food: yum)
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Wilkin River Jets
One of the top days in our month in NZ - heli tour up the valley (just the two of us and the pilot, who was chatty and was happy to show us glaciers when he heard we'd particularly like to see them
) then a *beautiful* walk - only 3 hours including lunch and snack stops, but with decent up and down hill chunks so you feel like you've earned your dinner, and finally back down the river in the jet boat - amazing fun!
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Akaroa ▷
Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruises
Impressed by their approach - if they felt you hadn't had enough time with the dolphins they refund you - we had ten mins in the water before the dolphs got bored, then tried again another couple of
times with no luck, and go about a third of the cost refunded.