One of the couple boat operators we used in the Abel Tasman park. While there is no significant…read moredifference between all of them, I would say Sea Shuttle is less crowded. Ultimately the choice will come down to the timetables of their departure/pickups, as this will define how much of hiking you get to do. They also have three day passes at about $150 NZ $, which is a great deal if you are staying around the park for a few days.

I had a tour with Kaiteriteri Kayaks and they used the Sea Shuttle bus to pick me up from Nelson…read more Our driver was HILARIOUS and such a joy. It's obvious he loves his job and is passionate about the area. I didn't ride on the Sea Shuttle boat, but it looked very crowded.

Our eyes and minds were opened to a more thorough appreciation of the sights, sounds and history of…read morethe stunning Abel Tasman National Park and the adjoining Tonga Island Marine Reserve. As amateur birders we were thrilled to see all the species that were new to us. Stewart tailored the excursion to our interests and still had plenty of time to include lunch on the beach, walk to a waterfall, gliding thru many secluded inlets with crystal clear water and watching eagle rays swim right under us. Stewart certainly is without doubt the most knowledgeable guide we have ever had the privilege to be with. The best part is that he has the personality and ability to communicate scientific information in a form that is entertaining without being stuffy, boring or intimidating. We thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of our day and we will never forget this high point of our month in New Zealand.

We had a wonderful day with Sam Kuprus doing an out and back hike on the Routeburn Track. He was…read moredelightful and very knowledgeable! We are American and he taught us so much about the unique flora and fauna of NZ, discussed conservation and anti predation efforts. He also answered many questions we had about this beautiful and welcoming country. What an amazing and gorgeous forest walk, with epic waterfalls at the top, the azure waters of the Routeburn accompanying us most of the way!

Paula and Phil planned out a fantastic day of wine touring during our visit to Queenstown. We had…read morenever been to New Zealand prior to our trip and they did a wonderful job of recommending places to visit and eat and we took their advice on several stops. They were wonderful hosts and we enjoyed our day with them!! Thanks again from the guys from Austin, Texas!!

Planning our NZ South Island holiday, we scheduled the Pelorus Eco Tours, because of the promoted…read moreHobbit Kayak Tour- "enjoy kayaking the famous filming location of "Hobbit" movies"-we kayak a fair amount at home, so initially the high price for the short route was a bit meh feeling, but as LOTR fans, we were willing, and excited, for the opportunity to visit some film locations-learning about the area, and local experiences during filming. We did have a good time navigating the shallow rapids, observing the river's ambiance, but overall, we found the tour lacking compared to our expectation & prior experiences. Traveling all across the North & South Island, we blended our itinerary with NZ Culture & LOTR nerdom. This particular tour was meant to be boost LOTR, but the tour guide barely spoke to the filming, and when he did it felt forced, disconnected to a 'tourist' feeling-it was more of an afterthought, for how much it was promoted as a specific LOTR moment. Also, during the tour, while Shane was a fantastic guy to socialize with, he was training a friend on river guiding, so we found ourselves 'backseat' to the training, often waiting on him chatting with staff while we sat in open water mingling amongst ourselves. Overall, a lazy river experience, only entertaining for the few rapids we were able to ride down- we honestly had more fun on the LOTR set, once we knew where it was and went back later to complete our own hike- If going for the LOTR experience, research the waypoint, park at the camp, and take a leisure hike saving time/money. (but do take time to eat in Havelock, because the local dining was delicious)

Wow we had so much fun on the Pelorus river today and the nature there is sumptious! We did a break…read moreto go swimming in the blue and green water...So good on such a hot day! The kayaking tour is perfect for families and people or all ages, the little rapids make it even more funny and shallenging... Thx again Shane for your energy and hapiness!