The "Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer" Tour Avis 

This was our first tour, usually we hire a car and set our own itinerary so we had no idea what to expect.
The whole experience was amazing from the moment we met our guides the day before the tour started.
Our 3 guides and 2 bus drivers were friendly, knowledgeable and they, and the entire tour were extremely well organised, nothing was too much trouble. We were on the 'red bus' with Lauren as our main guide and Steve as our driver. Both were amazing. NZ's south island is so picturesque. There were many highlights on our journey but the pinnacle was our 2 night stay at Mt Cook aided by unbelievably great weather.

The South Island of New Zealand is absolutely gorgeous! I am so glad to have seen it. However, if you have chronic pain this is not your best option. I didn’t know I would have problems sitting for extended periods of time, the swaying of the old train carriages, the back roads certainly took their toll on my back and neck.
Practically every night was a buffet, which sounds great if there are lots of choices (like at Mt Cook 10/10) but mostly it was 4 meat/fish with a couple of vegetable dishes. I would have preferred to not have half the dinners included and being able to go and taste what NZ had to offer locally, the packed lunches were very average, and I hope y’all like relish because it’s in every roll.
As I said, I’m glad I got to see it all, but living out of a suitcase for 2 weeks wasn’t my idea of fun so it’s back to cruising for me!

My husband and I enjoyed our tour immensely. It was so well organised. We were given the opportunity to see the most beautiful scenery, have varied activities and experiences and thanks to our informative guides learn so much about New Zealand. We highly recommend this trip,

The tour was very well organised, a few hiccups but that is to be expected with any tour.
Dennis, Geoff, Kevin and Chris were all helpful and informative. The scenery was stunning, weather perfect. Certainly recommend this tour.

New Zealand is a fabulous country ,the scenery of course the people, but also the ideology and the community commitment to that ideology.
The amazing guides and drivers also made the journey
unforgettable .
I highly recommend this tour group.

We were pleasantly surprised at how well-organised this trip was. The guide team were knowledgeable, personable and well-prepared. Changes to the schedule which were enforced by the weather were notified as soon as possible, and alternative arrangements had been put in place before notification. Sarah at the back office quickly provided notice of refunds due to alternatives. The itinerary was amazing, food and accommodation was first class and the rest of it was provided by the magnificent scenery of the South Island. Special mention to the bus-driver, Steve, who handled everything thrown at him by the weather and the travelling public.

This Tour was highly professional and very well organised. It really could not have been better in catering for the different levels of physical fitness. Lauren and Trevor were the best Tour guides, and I really cannot praise them highly enough for the thoughtfulness, expert knowledge and the way they handled every situation.

The tour was so well organised, the hotels great, coach comfortable and the tour guides and driver were fantastic. We were able to see much of the beautiful South Island with some cultural and historical information and experiences.
I highly recommend the tour.

It’s a cliché for a reason: The best thing about travel is the people you meet. And, with the Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Rail & Coach Tour, it begins when you book the trip. The emails from Kirsty Parry to help us plan were personable, funny and engaging. She was extremely helpful and it felt like we had a friend in New Zealand before our plane ever took off.

It continued when we met our driver and trip hosts. Not only were they engaging and friendly, they created an atmosphere that encouraged the tour group to become friendly. We did. Some of those acquaintances have gone on to become friends.

Collectively, we experienced the best of what New Zealand has to offer. From sea level along both the west and east coasts to the dizzying heights of Mount Cook. From sheep stations to city centers. It was a buffet of sights, sounds and experiences we would never have been able to create on our own.

And the trains. ‘All aboard’ is right. As we moved around the South Island, I don’t think we left a track untraveled. Our excursions and private trips meshed well with travel along Kiwi Rail.

Even after our tour ended, Kirsty was able to help us plan our travel, by train, to Auckland. We felt supported and encouraged each step of the way.

We came into the trip with no expectations, so everything was beyond what we could have imagined. Yes, we would book with the Pounamu Tourism Group again. Who knows, we just might!

The tour guides and driver were well informed, friendly, entertaining and helpful. Any minor issues were dealt with swiftly & proficiently.
The tour covered a lot of ground in a comparatively short timespan - it was good to come away with a real sense of the South Island.

I can highly recommend the Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Tour. It was, without a doubt, the most well-organized tour I have ever been on. From Kirsty in the office to our wonderful tour guides, every detail was flawlessly executed.
The journey itself was breathtaking, featuring stunning train and bus rides through New Zealand’s beautiful alpine landscapes. For those seeking adventure, there were plenty of thrill-seeking activities on offer. The hotels were excellent, with no delays when it came to luggage or room keys. It was a seamless, well-oiled operation from start to finish.
Our guides were not only informative and professional but also fun, respectful, and considerate to every guest. I was truly moved by the warmth and kindness of the New Zealand people as we crisscrossed the spectacular South Island. The scenery was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
I honestly can’t believe it took me so long to visit! If it’s not already on your bucket list, add it now. This tour is simply the best.

Seeing the South Island by train and coach was spectacular. The commentary was informative. The accomodation very good especially at Mt Cook which was breath taking. Food was very good and there was a well balanced amount of free time in the cities we visited. And next toilet stops were well advertised!! When bad weather intervened and alternative accomodation had to be found for 2 bus loads of people, the service and communication was exceptionally well done.

The trip I am writing about was in 2021, but I'm sure the comments are valid to this day. The organisation of the entire 13 day trip was faultless and the guides knowledgeable and friendly. Highlights included the Trans-Alpine train trip, the glow worm caves at Te Anau, the barbeque meal and sheep-herding demonstration at Walter Peak, the Milford Sound cruise, the Victorian precinct in Oamaru, the whale watching in Kaikoura, riding in the engine of the steam train to Blenheim, and last but not least the Omaka Air Museum - simply stunning overall . To top it off I met my current partner on the trip, an unexpected and most welcome bonus!

I was on The Great Southern Steam Train Tour in April/May 2021.
I have very fond memories of this trip. I travelled as a "single" and had no problem getting together with fellow travelers who were in a similar position.
I could not fault the administration communications received before the trip and recall the work done by the tour leaders (Dale and Ted in particular) and bus drivers who made the Tour a great success.
I recommend this tour to anyone who is interested in trains and seeing the great South Island landscape.

My husband loves trains, and this trip did not disappoint! We crisscrossed the south island and saw varied countryside. The hotels were lovely, the food was always good, and the scenery and excursions were absolutely fabulous. We opted to take the excursion to Doubtful Sound instead of Milford Sound and were so glad we did. It was so remote and beautiful. It was raining so we had LOTS of waterfalls.

The driver and tour guides were especially knowledgeable and catered to all our needs. A highlight of the trip was meeting Peter Hillary, grandson of Sir Edmund Hillary.

We put this at the top of our favorite trips that we have taken. I'm just sorry it's such a long flight from the west coast of the US or we'd travel there again. Maybe one day we will!!

We had a very enjoyable experience. Our guide was excellent and our bus driver was very knowledgeable and helpful. We have no complaint about the hotels, food, trains, or buses. We were members of a fairly large group but the way we were divided into subgroups made it feel like being in a group of 20. The train rides revealed wonderful scenery and the on-board guides provided a lot of historical and background information. Specific highlights include the Glow Worm Cave excursion, the Croydon Aviation Museum, the Albatross/Fort excursion, and our entire stay a Aoraki Mt. Cook. My wife was thrilled to fly in the 1932 Tiger Moth plane. Most people on the tour were from New Zealand and Australia and we couldn't ask for better companions.

We are well-traveled seniors who have used a variety of tour agencies - Road Scholar, Tauck, Nat'l Geo, etc.
This tour was equal to any of our best tours - well-organized and fun-filled, with many 'jaw-dropping' experiences. Moreover, this tour surpassed any of our others with its Outstanding Tour Leaders! They were organized, informative and engaging every day. Recommend it highly as a comprehensive tour of NZ's Southern Island.

I did this trip in April 2021. This was a great trip. Very well organized. Great scenery. Comfortable trains and coaches. Accommodation and meals were excellent. I would recommend this trip highly. I would love to do it again. Rosie Thomson

The overall trip was amazing. The tour Guides were very helpful, friendly, and informative. The scenery was beautiful, and our choices we picked were not disappointing. The Antarctica experience was fantastic.

The whole experience was so amazing from day 1 to day 13, whether on the trains or on the bus. There were a variety of places visited, and this was enhanced by the knowledge, friendliness, and professionalism of the guides and bus drivers involved. The accommodations were just great, especially at Dunedin where the hotel had a washing machine in the room. There were plenty of stops for morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea, and stops weren't rushed so had plenty of time to look around. What a great company. What a great tour.