Excursions in Hamilton

“At the end of 2023 I decided to challenge myself to run the London Marathon in 2024. I went through marathon tours as I had heard good things and I liked the fact that I would get to meet likeminded people as part of this experience as this was my first marathon. The tour group was amazing, I felt so supported and was so grateful to Paul and Matt and the other members of the tour who gave me advice and who celebrated with me when I finished. Some of us have gone on to remain friends after the tour and are already talking about our next adventure. On the day of the marathon it was great to be able to go together in a bus to get start line and even though we had to wait in the cold I was happy to be at the start line in plenty of time and not to have to worry about getting there on the tube. The location of the hotel was great for being central to so many things you want to do but also so grateful for how close it was to the finish line. I have never been so happy to see my hotel room as I was that day. The breakfasts were a great way to start the day and to also catch up with the others as to their plans or get advice. The marathon itself is an experience I will never forget, having so many strangers cheer you on and give advice and generally want you to do well is quite hard to explain and not just at the end but through the whole 42.2kms. Getting to run through the streets of London and over Tower Bridge was a surreal experience and one I will never forget. I am not going to lie running the marathon was hard physically and mentally and I hit the wall a few times but looking around at the other competitors and seeing the support they had and my own determination was enough to get me to the finish line. I loved being in London and being so central to everything meant I got to experience all my favourite parts - Buckingham Palace, Harrods, London Eye, Hyde Park and St James Park. The support that the marathon tours team gave me both leading up to the event and after was amazing. Knowing that they were only an email or call away was great. I am already planning on doing New York in 2025 and am planning on booking through Marathon Tours. Thank you for the experience, the memories and the friendships . April 2024 has gone down in my history as one of my most memorable moments and it was because of marathon tours that I was able to do this. Vanessa”

“I have just come home from a great day with Earth Scientist Dr Megan Balks on one of Greta's fabulous tours. We started in Hamilton with a brief explanation of New Zealand geological history, the Waikato Basin, the Waikato River and the impacts of the Taupo 132AD eruptions. We then drove through the Waikato and were shown many examples of evidence of this history, ending in Raglan. Once again, Greta has provided an exceptional day trip with her usual care and attention to detail. Thank you Greta and Megan. Anne D”

“Brilliant 2 hour guided trip out in a 2 seater. Fab guide who gave us a lot of detail about the coastline and the history of the area. Thoroughly recommended.”

“Every time I visit, I feel like a great city.”

“Such an awesome spot to check out! The bridge has amazing views over the gorge and the Waikato River definitely worth the stop if you’re in the area. It’s a bit of a hidden gem and not too crowded, which makes it even better. The walk across can be a little wobbly but that just adds to the fun. There’s also a nice short track nearby and a café close by for a coffee after. Great place for photos and a bit of adventure!”

“We had a great tour of the homes around Whanganui. Julie our driver and guide was fantastic. A very competent driver who's skills were unsurpassed. She gave us a great cometary with humour and knowledge. In our opinion whatever you're paying her it's not enough. Brian Thomson. Edna Reihana.”

“Peta is why we rate House of Travel so highly , we are so well looked after, never rushed and always made to feel immensely welcome and remembered, that's quite a talent and we're very appreciative.”

“The nurses, caregivers, receptionists, and staff did an amazing job taking care of the old scouser, not just with his physical care but also with the day-to-day interactions. The sense of trust and friendship he received from the staff during his stay was amazing. Dad had problems for many years prior and we hadn't seen him this happy and comfortable than in the past two years. The premises were top-notch, and the surrounding flat area was ideal for his daily excursions to the park to watch local football matches. Thank you so much to the team at "Summerset Rototuna." * Big thumbs up *”

“Wonderful service from Rachel who helped us heaps with loads of information soon after we arrived in New Zealand for a three and half month tour in early November. Half way through we are still using some of the resources she gave us and enjoying this amazing country. This was the beginning of many stops at I Sites around New Zealand and without exception we have had marvelous service everywhere we stopped just like Rachel at our very first I Site. Much appreciated and thank you New Zealand I Sites.”

“Mara is a great planner and helped make our vacation very special and unique. I highly recommend this travel service.”

“We had an amazing trip planned out from NZ Awaits. We visited the North Island and were able to visit a variety of different areas. We kept Debbie’s notes with us the whole time, and always felt safe going from place to place. The accommodations chosen were all beautiful and very comfortable. I just told her the types of activities and places we’d like to visit and she whipped up an itinerary with everything we wanted to do! A mix of sight seeing, boat and river fishing, Maori village tour, hiking, geyser seeing, Hobbiton, wine tasting, etc, all with beautiful views! Will definitely travel with NZ Awaits again when we come back to visit the South Island. I wish I could use her in every country!”

“Jim took us thru Te Puia and Rotorua. Absolutely loved the tour. Informative. Experienced. Attentive. Efficient. I would highly recommend him to everyone.”

“Great guys really helpful and know what they are doing really go the extra mile”

“Love how friendly staff is and all the effort that gets put into my son who has hearing loss”

“Great people with lots of knowledge. Wouldn't book with anyone else. We've had 2 big trips and one to Australia and not a single issue”

“Mayank Sehgal, the travel professional has been very helpful and friendly. He even helped me out of office hours. Highly recommended.”