As any seasoned traveler knows, it's not just about getting to the beautiful places and experiences... it's about how you get there: what's the ratio of smooth, no-fuss to aggravation, annoyance and (bad) surprises. No trip is perfect on that score, but it's hard to imagine things going more smoothly than what the folks at Active Adventures assembled and executed for us. Big picture, the RIMU trip hits just about as many of the highlights of the South Island that one could hope for in a two-week trip. I'd probably have appreciated another day each on Milford and Routeburn Treks, but not quite sure what to have given up to make it so. But that isn't the distinguishing factor for me--you can pick and choose from among the itineraries of the various tour companies, or plan your own, to your tastes. What made the difference was the care and precision with which everything was executed. Both the tour company far in advance, and our guides on the trip (Michelle, Mel(issa) and Dave were organized, let us know what we needed to know in advance, delivered what they said they would deliver, knowledgeable, and were appropriately prepared with contingency plans when weather demanded some improvisation. Two weeks of no worries as a result, which made the enjoyment of the big picture stuff that much more fulfilling.

| June 4400