I had always heard about how special a very southern and warm Christmas can be. It was with a large leap of faith that I signed onto an Active New Zealand Tui trip. I decided to go solo and would take my chances with whatever happened. There are only a few times in this world when reality beats hype. This trip was one of those times. First of all, new Zealand is indeed an amazing place full of varied and incredible scenery and history. I spent a lot of time trying to understand the peoples, the history, and the flavor of the place. it is one of my top destinations now and I have been around to know what rates. Secondly, we had spectacular weather with mostly sun and only a few cloudy days. Thanks Active staff for arranging this. Lastly, and most importantly, we had great people coming together for a close experience lead by Pieke- our tour leader. She took care of everything, knew everything, and was a legit expert in managing the needs of both individuals and the group. Plus, who knew a chic from New Zealand could handle a 30 foot bus like a pro driver? The itinerary is a nice blend of ********* hiking, time off for good behavior to recover, spectacular best of the best spots to be, and comfortable accommodations. I especially enjoyed the really in-depth understanding of our guide of her homeland's history, geography, flora, and fauna. This is not a superficial cruise ship tour with boots. So Active NZ gets a big thumbs up. Keep it going guys and gals.

| August 6000