Published on Nov, 2022
Karthik, our tour guide from ExperienceKart in New Zealand, was unlike any other I've ever had - this man is caring, eager to please, knowledgeable, patient, flexible, accommodating and most importantly treats you like family.
The bus had free wifi, and even had cords to charge our phones (both Android and Iphone) seeing how some of us didn't bring them with us.
After every stop, he asked if we enjoyed the experience and if we needed anything. I needed a lock for my suitcase and he took me to a hardware store to get one! Such amazing customer service - if you can book a tour with him in New Zealand, you definitely should!
He picked up my two friends and I on time in a new air conditioned bus. No problem to pick us up at one location and drop us at another.
He even had a little gift for each of us.
The honey bees were amazing. Loved learning about how it was all done and seeing the live bees making the honey. The guide at the bees was very knowledgeable and the honey tasting was yummy. Bought an assortment!
Horseback riding was incredible. The horses were so gentle and well behaved and the scenery was just like New Zealand - the most amazing I've ever seen and I've been all over the world! The staff offered to take pictures anywhere we asked and were very accommodating. We could trot, canter and do walks around the cones if we wanted.
Chocolate tasting was yummy although the counter person was not very nice, the chocolate was great.
Sculptureum was really something to see! So many interesting sculptures and artwork where you could walk around both inside and outside. The exhibits were exotic, well placed and humorous at times. Also the Italian restaurant there had food that was surprisingly very tasty.
A ceramics store followed with local arts and pottery you could purchase followed by a "sweet surprise" from Karthik.
Karthik was so accommodating! We asked him if he could take us to the airport the next day and then it turned out that UNITED airlines canceled our flight from Auckland to SFO so he just ended up taking us on tour of the city, seeing places we hadn't seen before.
We ended up having 2 tours with Karthik - one he planned special just for us!
A really wonderful experience and I highly recommend!