Read what our travellers are saying about our trips

Testimonials - 100% of your testimonials are published

OUAT trip - Dec 11/Jan 12 - rate 4/5

We relied on Caroline to advise us on how to plan our trip and her suggestions proved ideal. All the arrangements worked like clockwork and the accommodation booked was superb. We had the holiday of a lifetime due in no small part to the personal touch of OUAT. Highly recommended. Thanks!

Andy & Joan Brown - UK

Honeymoon Trip - Jan 12 - rate 5/5

Caroline did an incredible job creating an eight-day trip for my husband and me. We only had a vague idea of what kinds of activities we wanted to do while in New Zealand and she managed to put together a perfect trip. Our itinerary was flawless and the B&Bs we stayed in were wonderful. Her attention to every last detail was exceptional -- couldn't have asked for a more organized/successful trip!!!

Vic & Katie Barger - USA

Customize your trip - Dec 2011/Jan 2012 - rate 5/5

We had a wonderful trip. After we told Frank of OUAT about a few things we wanted to do he arranged the most efficient way to take in everything and then made additional suggestions. Our Doubtful Sound overnight was fabulous, the Routeburn Track trip with Ultimate Hikes was indeed the ultimate hike and the glow worm cave at Te Anau incredible as much for the geology as the worms! We worked our way north to Auckland, stopping at national parks for day hikes and small towns for local flavor, always ending up in lovely accommodations that Frank selected. Throughout the trip Frank was in touch by e-mail and actually altered our accommodations one night mid trip because he'd had some complaints from other customers. He also made us dinner reservations in Wellington in case we had a hard time finding something suitable because it was New Years. We could not have asked for more.

Nancy Martin & Fred Hendler - USA

Walking Hiking Trip - Nov/Dec 2011 - rate 4/5

After a little warm-up hike to the Mueller Hut at Mt Cook (with practice backpack!) I arrived at Queenstown ready for my Milford Track experience! Several sunny days enhanced the beautiful trip to Te Anau and the first couple of days tramping. Unfortunately there was some confusion with the DOC regarding my hut bookings, but everything was finally sorted. Highlights included the refreshing thrill of swimming in the lake at Mintaro Hut and the fabulous views at the Mackinnon Pass and Sutherland Falls. Caroline was extremely helpful at all stages in the booking process. Really a fabulous week to remember!

Roy Goodman - England

Walking Hiking Trip - Nov 2011 - rate 5/5

The Routeburn track was my first overnight hike alone and OMG what an amazing experience it was! I thank Caroline for assuring me I'd be ok which of course I was but I do not thank the chap in the camping shop in Qtown who thought I was crazy going alone! He was so wrong! Honestly, it was one of the most amazing 3 days in the bush I've ever had and I met some lovely people along the way! I want to do it again but next time I'll remember more chocolate and some wine for the evening! PS the shower at Hippo lodge was brilliant at the end!

Kim Douglas - Australia

Walking Hiking Trip - Nov 2011 - rate 5/5

What can we say? From the moment we left our Chateau to the moment we returned everything was amazing! Although the wind was blowing a "hooley" making some of the ledges and ridges on the Tongariro Pass a little adrenaline stirring to say the least, the blue skys and clear views made for some perfect photographic moments. Our Maori guides were the best, they were full of Maori legends, ways of life and current challenges. They were down to earth, fun, attentive and very keen to ensure that our day was perfect. They had loads of great advice on the mountain walking, what to expect and how to conquer the pass. The detour to the Maori hot springs was a highlight, to sit and chat whilst soaking our feet in the hot mud pools rubbing the curative mud into our sore muscles was a delight. Thank you for a fantastic experience! Helen & Paul - UK

Walking Hiking Trip - Nov 2011 - rate 5/5

Caroline and OUAT could not have been more helpful, answered all our questions immediately and booked everything for us. we had a great trip and walk on the Milford Track.

Michael Dixon - Australia

Customize your trip - Oct/Nov 2011 - rate 5/5

My wife and I decided to do New Zealand - my dream vacation for several years. With the help of Caroline and OUAT we had a wondeful vacation. From our accomadations to our activities to extra recommendations we could not have enjoyed ourselves more or had a better vacation. OUAT did make our dreams come true. Thank you.

Leslie Fishman - USA

Campervan - RWC Oct 2011 -  rate 5/5

We enjoyed three fabulous weeks in New Zealand during the rugby world cup and loved every minute. The country, the scenery, the people, the diversity were all sublime. Many thanks to Adeline for the advice, itineraries and help in all the arrangements. We will be back!

David Clarke - England

Hiking Trip - Sept 2011 - rate 5/5

This was my first trip to New Zealand and I had read quite a bit about their numerous famous hikes. The Tongoriro Crossing was listed a one of the best so I considered it a must do! Unfortunately a lot of the groups wouldn't accept a reservation that early in the season but Caroline worked with me to make the hike a reality and on short notice as well. Everything was easy and smooth in the reservation process. The hike was amazing and so interesting to be able to hear the native stories about all the landmarks! Truly a once in a lifetime experience that Once Upon a Trip made unforgettable!

Susan Richardson - United States

Honeymoon Trip - August 2011 - rate 5/5

Caroline and OUAT made this the perfect trip! My husband and I wanted to go to NZ for our honeymoon, but had not idea where to start. Caroline created the perfect trip from us, based on a few emails about our preferences. The trip was flawless--every step was laid out for us, and everything went extremely smoothly. We highly recommend both New Zealand and Once Upon a Trip to ANYONE!!! Ann & Brett - USA

Honeymoon Trip - April 2011 - rate 5/5

Sorry for the delayed reply but we’re just getting round to e-mails and things now.
We came safely back on Tuesday night and it’s taken the week for us to re-adjust to being at home in Wales. We had such an amazing time, really unforgettable and leaving NZ was a wrench. I’m still dreaming about it every night. We will definitely be back!
With the exception of Zealandia (which was clearly their fault not yours) everything has gone really very smoothly indeed. The only exception was when Ben managed to lock the car keys in the boot of the hire car just as we were about to leave for our day in Abel Tasman. Thankfully our very kind hosts came to the rescue and acted as taxi for the day as well as dealing with the AA for us!
Our time in Kaikoura was fantastic, we also went Whale watching as well as swimming with the dolphins and it was stunning! The earthquake in Christchurch of 5.3 wasn’t so great while we were there but no damage was done where we were thankfully. There’s so much to write about and it’s late here so I’ll be brief.
We managed to see Kiwis in Franz Josef after all and the set-up there is very good and not too expensive and yes we did receive an e-mail from Richard explaining. I need to reply to him actually... Queenstown was great, some fab food and a jet boat ride! Doubtful sound was stunning, I felt very sad to leave there, such a special place and such a privilege to have been. We very much enjoyed our stay in Twizel as well, especially as it turned out that our host Jim used to teach at Ben’s school (a couple of years before Ben was a pupil there) and so we have several mutual acquaintances. We spent a very pleasant time with them and were very sad to say goodbye.Thank you so much for all your help, advice and hard work which all contributed to an amazing honeymoon. I’m pretty sure we’ll be needing your services again in the future once we’ve saved up enough money to come back out to New Zealand. Best wishes.

Natalie Charlton & Ben Curtis - UK

Customise your trip - March 2011 - rate 5/5

We have never visited New Zealand before and, given how flawlessly this trip was executed (thanks to the efforts of OUAT-NZ), cannot wait to return. From the moment we were met coming off our in-bound flight to the moment the last shuttle driver saw us off on our way back to the U.S., everything went like clockwork and those delivering services to us were uniformly helpful and friendly. Thanks to Franck for an unforgettable journey - we look forward to booking with you again soon! Rebecca Burnham - USA

Customise your trip - Feb/March 2011 - rate 4/5

Thank you for such a wonderful family experience, relieved of all of the stress, uncertainty, and time that would otherwise have had to be devoted to researching, planning, and dealing with other logistics. We gave you a complicated task: help us plan a 6-week vacation in NZ for a family of four (children ages 3 and 8), some B&Bs, some time in a campervan, on both north and south islands, and taking into account a series of dates where I would have to shift the family around the north island for work commitments. You did it! Every B&B we stayed in was lovely, and indeed we left pieces of our hearts at some of them they were so warm and welcoming. You gave us wonderful suggestions as to things to do along the way. The campervan was on the south island was also perfect for us and had everything we needed. I would recommend your services to anyone in our position, with little time to spend on researching and booking the details of their trip but a real desire to discover all that is unique about NZ.

Jennifer Henderson - Canada

OUAT Trip - Jan 2011 -  rate 5/5

We had a fantastic holiday in New Zealand thanks to all the great work that you did in arranging everything. It was such a pleasure finding everything arranged so well, the timing was good in each place, the activities all good and the accommodation all worked well. It was a far more relaxing way to do a trip rather than having to arrange everything ourselves and constantly checking arrangements. It all worked beautifully. Many thanks for everything. We will highly recommend you to anyone travelling to New Zealand.

Ron, Sue, Tamsin and Jared - Australia

 

OUAT Trip - Dec 2010 - rate 5/5

The itinerary you arranged for us was first class and saved precious time and effort on our part. We gave you very little notice and chose the busiest holiday period to travel to New Zealand! Indeed it all went like clockwork. The three B and B’s were superb. The car pick-up and drop off went very smoothly and the suggested activities well worth doing. We can recommend trout fishing in Lake Taupo, art-deco Napier and the many wineries along the way. All in all you did a great job and we were very appreciative of your efforts. We would have no hesitation in recommending you to others. Many thanks.

Michael and Rosemary - Australia

Honeymoon - Nov/Dec 2010 - rate 5/5

Choosing OUAT was the best decision we could have ever made. Planning a trip to NZ is a daunting task especially when you only have two weeks and want to go everywhere!! Franck was great and his suggestions made it possible for us to do every single activity we wanted to do in two weeks. The trip was absolutely amazing and we experienced so much more than we ever thought we could in such a short amount of time. We can't wait to be back! Thanks Franck for all your hospitality and help putting our honeymoon trip together. We loved every minute of it.

Bob & Martha - USA

Honeymoon - Nov 2010 - rate 5/5

Franck was extremely responsive in helping us plan our second honeymoon, despite being many time zones away. He managed to combine hiking, winetasting, and city sightseeing into an unforgettable two weeks. His hotel and B&B selections were perfect, and the OUAT "special touches" added delightful, unique experiences that we never would have known to do on our own. We would recommend OUAT to any friend planning to travel to NZ.

Kent and Marie - USA

Honeymoon - Sept 2010 - rate 5/5

Thank you so much for a wonderfully planned honeymoon to New Zealand. Adeline & Franck really made sure our trip ran smoothly. Their choice of B&B accommodation was great. The activities were fantastic and we still had flexibility to change things (weather didn't always permit us to follow our original plan). We even met up with them in Wanaka for a few drinks. OUAT really takes a personal interest in ensuring that everything happens smoothly. We will certainly recommend them to anyone planning a trip to NZ... and we'll probably be returning again ourselves!

Nicole & Grant Neilson - Australia

Campervan - Sept 2010 - rate 5/5

In September 2010, my wife and I with our eldest grandson (12) travelled to the South Island of NZ. I began planning the trip in January 2010, and from the outset Franck and the team at OUAT where exceptional and extraordinary, where to go and what to do, the where to go information was spot on. The booking for our campervan and motels was first rate, what a great trip, we did run into a storm or two but the van just sailed on through no worries. I have travelled extensively throughout the world but the difference with this trip was the help from Franck and the team at OUAT. We circumnavigated the south island in 16 days saw some of the most wonderful panorama in the world. We shall return, Thank you OUAT.

John, Jay and Joshua Mackay - Qld Australia

Customise your trip - 3-16 April 2010 - rate 5/5

We had an unforgettable holiday. We were very satisfied with the way OUAT planned the itinerary of our trip based on our input and feedback, their selection of B&Bs and suggested activities. Much appreciated were the route planner and attention to detail which made the entire experience hassle-free. Thank you to Franck and Adeline for meeting up with us half-way. We would unreservedly recommend the OUAT team for anyone's holiday in this magnificent country.

Carol and Wim V - Hong-Kong

Campervan - March & April 2010 - rate 4/5

Franck organised our campervan without any hassle to us. His suggested itinerary was perfect for our unique family of a 10yr old and a 10 month old with Mum and Dad in tow. The only thing not perfect was the fact that we had too little time for our holiday. We will be back and will consult Franck again. I would also commend Franck for his honesty when a double payment was taken from our credit card and Franck ensured prompt return of funds to our account... So nice to be able to trust someone you have never actually met....Thanks so much.

Angela Hodge Polak - Australia

Customise your trip - March 2010 - rate 5/5

An awesome holiday in a wonderful country. Adeline organised a fantastic itinery with wonderful B&Bs around the North Island all for a reasonable cost. She made sure we saw what we wanted and recommended trips and excursions across the country. Adeline not only knows the country but having experienced it herself understands what is worthwhile.
Throughout the whole planning process Adeline was happy to make changes to the itinery, as we read more and more about the country. She really could not have been more helpful. Amazing customer service for a small company. Would definitely book through OUAT again and would recommend it to family and friends.

Claire and Stuart - Scotland, UK

Customise your trip - Jan/March 2010 - rate 4/5

We had a very enjoyable 5 weeks holiday. OUAT organised an excellent itinerary for us. We feel we have seen a lof of New Zealand, engaged in very interesting activities and met many nice people. Whether it was the wildlife, unique sceneries or hiking (namely Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Milford Track) these all have made a lasting impression. Thank you, Franck.

Roel & Ruzka Keus, Czech Republic

Customise your trip - March 2010 - rate 5/5

Very well planned! Great B&B, spots, activities, itinerary... Bravo

Alex G, Canada

Customise your trip - Dec-Jan 2010 - rate 5/5

We could not have done such a good holiday without OUAT, taking in consideration we travelled with our 10 mths-old baby in 2,5 weeks from Auckland to Christchurch. All the accomodation were perfectly spotted and the tour you've advised us was so well organised: few hours of driving/day, Hiking in National Parks, enjoying the scenery. Thank you Adeline et Franck. Can't wait to discover the other bit!

Sandrine, Philippe & Adrien, United Arab Emirates

Customise your trip - Jan 2010 - rating 4.5/5

Overall it was a great experience and we think you did a great job. You in particular were always responsive to questions and clearly saw it as a personal responsibility to make sure everything went well for us - Thank you!

Roger and Beverly Kitching, Australia

Campervan - Dec/Jan 2010 - note 3/5

Nice trip...but quite tricky to camp with the jucy crib (for example, no toilet and so not really allowed to camp in the wild). I recommand a better motorhome to people who want to travel for a long time...or a car + backpacker...
Frederic Mouchet, Belgium

Customise your trip - Dec/Jan 2010 - note 5/5

We had an excellent family touring holiday in NZ, OUAT organised a fantastic itinerary for us, the accomodation selected was ideal. The trip will always be remembered through the numerous holiday pictures we took whilst there. I would have no hesitation in recommending OUAT to manage anyone's holiday plans.
Marielle de Winter, UK

 

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