REVIEWS

My friend and I recently took 3 tours in the Queenstown region with Del - half day trips to Glenorchy and Paradise and Skippers Canyon and a full day in the Nevis Valley. All 3 outings were thoroughly enjoyable, made even more so by Del's skilful driving and informative comments, particularly with regard to Otago's gold mining history. We learned a great deal about the huge effect mining had made on the local environment and also of the work and conditions braved by the early Chinese immigrants who came mostly with the modest ambition of earning enough money to buy a small farm back in their home province, but suffered terrible hardship in their endeavours. 
The scenery and countryside of each of these 3 trips was surprisingly different as the Glenorchy tour took us alongside the lake, through farmland and beech forests to the eastern end of Mt Aspiring National Park, with glorious views of the Rees and Dart Rivers, numerous mountains and location sites used during the filming of Lord of the Rings. 
The drive through Skippers Canyon, generally recognised as New Zealand's most dangerous road, was a doddle with Del at the wheel. At no stage did I feel nervous, though normally I'm sure I would have been very anxious looking down on the sheer drop to the Shotover River below. In an entirely different way, the scenery here was completely stunning, enhanced by the autumn colours and certainly a photographer's dream. 
Both Skippers and the Nevis Valley had been high on my bucket list and again I was not disappointed. We were blessed with beautiful golden light during the early part of the tour through the Lower Nevis where the colours of the windswept tussock contrasted with rocky outcrops and the last smattering of snow. A number of fascinating buildings scattered through the valley provided great photographic opportunities and we made a sobering visit to the bleak little cemetery before climbing to Duffers Saddle with its grotesque rocky tors and magnificent views in every direction from Lake Dunstan and Cromwell all the way back to the Remarkables. 
I highly recommend all of these tours and only wish I had been in Queenstown longer to take a couple of other 4WD adventures with Del. His driving skills, knowledge and unfailing good humour combined with the most stunning scenery added to a truly memorable Queenstown holiday. Sincere thanks Del for sharing your obvious love of this region with us.

Pauline May 2021

Fantastic bespoke 4WD tour. We had a 3 day tour with Del. Travelled with my Father and his good mate both in their late 70s. Del really went out of his way to taylor the tour to our needs. We all had a great time. This part of NZ is really beautiful and interesting. Lots of little surprises along the way. Brought back a lot of memories for my dad and our friend who both grew up in this area. Del has been doing this for a long time, we always felt looked after and safe. Thanks Del. Auckland

Our family (with 2 kids aged 10 and 12) did three days of tours with Del, which were a highlight of our trip to NZ. With three avid "Lord of the Rings" fans, Del's extensive knowledge of the LOTR locations and behind-the-scenes stories of the making of the movies were fabulous. With two active kids, Del took us to places and did things that would not have been possible on a fixed-itinerary larger group tour, where the kids would probably have got bored and restless. His tours were also very flexible, depending on the weather and what we wanted to do, and we were able to stay longer than planned in places that were interesting or fun. Del's knowledge of NZ history, geology, flora and fauna were extensive and his stories were always informative and entertaining. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to see and learn more of NZ than just the usual standard tour. Karen, Australia

In early March we completed a 3 day charter tag along tour with 4WD Expeditions New Zealand. It was a well conducted tour that gave us an excellent experience of the high country in the greater Queenstown area.

Our guide, Del, had a great depth and breadth of knowledge of all things pertaining to the natural and human history of the area. With radio contact between our vehicles, we were kept well informed on points of interest along the way and any hazards up ahead. Our previous 4WD experience had been mostly on beaches, however, Del was able to succinctly convey the knowledge that gave us the skills and confidence to negotiate the mountainous terrain and river crossings. The 2 nights spent at the homestead on the high country sheep station were most enjoyable and we received great hospitality from our hosts.

We would have no hesitation in highly recommending 4WD Expeditions. It is a professionally operated company that provides a top end experience in four wheel driving.  Alan, New Zealand

The tours were amazing, I had three days with Del, and I really enjoyed them all. It is definitely the best guided tour I have been on. Are you a fan of the Lord of the Rings? Del will take you to some of the most amazing sites of several important scenes. Just here for the scenery? He will show you some of the most beautiful places around Queenstown, and other areas. I definitely recommend him. Thanks for the amazing tours. Conner (12 years old) Austraila

Del was great to deal with right from first contact and we appreciated his guidance in preparing for the day. He is easy to get on with and made sure we had a great day. Our trip meant that we experienced un-seasonal snow in April and we appreciated his expertise, local knowledge of the area and weather conditions. Richard, New Zealand

Thoroughly enjoyed another aspect of the Central Otago landscape and we look forward to being able to join him again in the very near future. Liz, New Zealand