Ultimate Showcase Reviews

I’ve been back just over a week from my wonderful trip to NZ - & promised I’d let you know how my tour with Grand Pacific went. I think the words “amazing & fantastic” would cover it & I highly recommend this tour to anyone. Paying extra to do the Ultimate Tour was well worth while. Our driver & tour leader Lyndsay was excellent, very knowledgeable, ...read more organised & funny, & we knew exactly what we were doing & when we were doing it. His driving skills with that big, magnificent coach were superb!

Our hotels were of a very high standard (the best of them all being “Distinction Dunedin” - where we each had a suite of 3 rooms & our own washing machine & dryer!). The only complaint heard re our hotels was that a couple of the showers were over baths - which for access & safety reasons, were not favoured by some of the older travellers in our group. Our meals & choice of courses was wonderful - from our buffet breakfasts to our 3 course dinners each night, there was always a wonderful choice that showcased the very best of NZ food. I’m sure we all put on weight (& I’m very glad I packed some elastic waisted pants!!).

The itinerary was well paced & thought out, with so many of NZ’s main attractions & stunning scenery included & there was plenty of opportunity to do optional extras during free time. Having two night stays in some places was great & we always had regular opportunities to stretch our legs & use the loos when travelling. As with all group tours, I imagine the people you’re travelling with can make a huge difference to your enjoyment of it - & I was lucky to be blessed with a fantastic group of 19 other travellers from all around the globe. Everyone mixed, we all got on well, had many laughs & all watched out for each other, & as a first time older solo traveller (I lost my husband 2 years ago) - this really made my trip.

I do remember telling my husband some years back that you’d never ever find me on one of those “geriatric coach tours” - but things change, & I’ve now done it & absolutely loved it!! Only problem is that this tour has set the bar very high for any future tours I may do! Thanks so much for organising it for me Georgie.

This was our second trip with GPT and it surpassed the first one, just. Extremely well organised, the coach captain, Linda, made life easy for her passengers. She also turned out to be a mine of information about New Zealand and its history including its flora and fauna. Fascinating incites into the evolving country that it is sitting on tectonic plates. ...read more The hotels in the main were as to be expected from an advertised 4-5 star tour.

There were some that were, IMO, way over the top with drink prices, eg. $19-24 for a glass of local wine and $15 for a beer. These tend to take the edge of an otherwise enjoyable stay, more so when you see the same wine the next day for $12 a bottle in the high street bottle shop. That is not a reflection on GPT but something they may wish to consider when reviewing their contracts with these hotel chains. By and large an excellent holiday made easy by Linda, the coach captain.

This was our first trip with Grand Pacific Tours and we were quite impressed by the quality of accomodation as well the tours selected. The business class coach was very comfortable and lent itself perfectly to many hours of travelling, with the exception of malfunctioning seatbelts. The coach driver made all the difference as he was very accommodating, ...read more pleasant and nurturing especially towards the elderly guests.

Some of the regional accommodation lacked the appropriate standard in terms of organisation and flexibility towards special diets. This feedback was provided to Grand Pacific. Highlights were unsurpassed scenery as in beautiful lakes, snow capped mountains, rolling green hills, deep canyons and spectacular glaciers. Weather was a bit unpredictable during October so a better time to travel to NZ would be during summer. Met a great group of fellow travellers who made the trip hugely memorable. Booking with Global Journeys was well managed and professional.

Just returned from the Ultimate tour run by Grand Pacific Tours, booked by Georgie from Global Journeys. Great dealing with Georgie. First trip after 2 years, a great holiday. The Tour Leader/Coach Driver, Paul Campion loved his job and was a great leader- vey caring and considerate. The hotels were all excellent, except for one in Napier.

The meals ...read more were great, however I have one issue with Grand Pacific - I requested vegan meals. Response from GP was they could only accommodate vegetarian and lactose free. I have a dairy allergy. The hotels were okay to prepare vegan meals but their preference was to receive this request earlier from GP.

The included attractions and optional tour were all very good. Every detail about the tour was first class and the scenery of New Zealand was absolutely beautiful. I would highly recommend this tour, as well as booking with Global Journeys

An excellent way to see New Zealand in business class comfort. Grand Pacific Tours 20 seat touring coach was very easy to use and provided excellent viewing of the passing countryside. Their seat rotation policy worked very well. Be aware that some time was taken visiting sites that were a waste of time such as Fox Glacier. There was nothing to see ...read more as the glacier itself has retreated so far that you need a high power telescope to see it. However, the overall mix of activities suited the majority of the 20 people on this tour. We travelled 4120 km and saw both the North and South Islands of NZ.

Would definitely travel with this operator (Grand Pacific) again if they were available in the country that we wished to travel. We were impressed with the accommodation, food and journey... definitely "ultimate"...

Our travel consultant (Hannah) was excellent in every way and we will definitely stick with Global Journeys.

Our recent tour of New Zealand's North and South Islands on a Grand Pacific small group tour exceeded our expectations. A significant highlight was a better understanding of the Maori culture and the history of the early settlers on North Island. Our visit and tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the location of the treaty between the Maori tribes and ...read more the British in the Bay of Islands was a memorable experience. The overall tour itinerary was well balanced and the scenery throughout both North and South Islands was stunning and ever changing.

Travelling in style in an Ultimate New Zealand small group coach made for comfortable travel throughout the tour. The overnight hotel accommodation and service provided was excellent without exception. The itinerary balanced travel, excursions and free-time to enjoy additional optional activities really well. Having good weather for most of our 19-day trip added to the enjoyment which included a pleasant transfer by sea through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton.

For those planning to tour New Zealand we recommend viewing the video "Shadowland" to wet your appetite with stunning views of Fiordland. My wife and I rated our New Zealand Holiday better than our trip to Canada a few years ago.

Took us from Auckland to the top of North Island then down through the rest of the North Island, across the Cook Straight and a comprehensive adventure through the South Island ending back in Christchurch.

Highlights were The Hole in the Rock (Bay of Islands), Geysers (Rotorua), Art Deco buildings (Napier) and Te Papa Museum. Crossing the Cook Straight ...read more to South Island then experiencing the recovery work from earthquakes at Kaikoura coast through Christchurch. The Mountains, with Arthurs Pass and Haast Pass. Queenstown , Milford Sound (with waterfalls) and beautiful Dunedin. Capped off with Mount Cook scenery and a great farewell in Christchurch.

Small group concept in "Ultimate" coach works very well. Our group developed into a virtual "family" over the 19 days.