This tour was just fabulous.
Overall, it was a good group of people. We all had the same sense of doing it for the group, and all did what was expected. No-one was ever late, for example.
Our tour guide, Andre, was a super young man. Gentle and humble, very organised, attentive, knowledgeable, a good driver, humorous... I think we all loved him!
We were sooooo lucky with the weather. It was mostly glorious. It would have been a good trip anyway I'm sure, but Central Otago and the Coast in autumn, with the sun shining ... hard to top that anywhere.
The length of the trip was good. 9 days - you felt as if it was a real holiday. Just right, really.
Asked about our favourite things, I find it hard to answer. I always like the thing we are doing at that particular time. I did love the little plane trip, and Okarito was almost spiritual. And seeing Aoraki Mt Cook from both sides of the alps - utterly magnificent. Oh, and the history of Denniston... Really, I enjoyed every experience. Oh, and being picked up and dropped off literally at my front door, was wonderful. It's often those little things that make a difference. And the van driver at the Auckland end was excellent too.
All up, it was a great tour, with a great guide.