23 Jul 2024
While the tour offered breathtaking views of Mt Cook, Lake Tekapo, and Lake Pukaki, we were disappointed with our guide. Ted, a Korean man, struggling with his English, which made the tour exhausting. His thick accent and difficulty finding the right words were distracting and frustrating, making us feel we could have done the tour ourselves.
Beyond the language barrier, Ted was surprisingly condescending and patronizing. He lacked empathy and compassion when Ted took us to a small town for a toilet break, where everything was closed, and insisted everyone leave the van despite the cold. My brother, who had frostbite, was physically forced to zip up his jacket by Ted, which felt intrusive and rude. Imagine that happening to you! He also rushed us from place to place, despite us being the only group on the tour, repeatedly exclaiming, "You're late!" This resulted in us having an hour to spare, which was disheartening.
This behavior was unlike the kind and considerate attitude we've experienced from other guides in New Zealand.
Overall, Ted's attitude was not representative of New Zealand hospitality. We have had much better experiences with other guides, and we could have enjoyed the tour more on our own. Ted, none of us thinks you're funny (or witty, if that's what you're going for) or intelligent. It's a shame that we got him for this tour - the only black spot in our whole NZ trip.
We recommend looking for tours led by actual local New Zealanders to truly appreciate the country's rich history. It's unfortunate we didn't have Steve as our guide, as other reviews suggest a much more positive experience with him.