OUR CLIENTS SPEAK!
Trip reviews of ACTIVE NZ
(6,396 trip reviews since 2004)
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Adventure Tours
Family Tours
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Fiona & Matthew Parkinson (Rhode Island, USA) December 2002 Rimu
MEET OUR GUIDES:
PHOTO OF THE MONTH:
Ben Laffan
 Ben |
Name: Ben Laffan |
| Position: Lead Guide | |
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Bio: I’ve pretty much always worked in the outdoors. Before starting with ACTIVE I guided hikers on the Milford Track and drove high-speed jet boats in the Shotover Canyon near Queenstown. I have returned for a New Zealand summer after spending several months diving with turtles, among other adventures, in Laos, Borneo and Thailand. I also hold the self-awarded title for Maker of the World’s Best Milos – a New Zealand specialty! |
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What our clients have said:
"Ben's experience and personality really "made" the trip. He was focused, but not intense. Patient, but not patronizing. Fun, funny, created a good group attitude. We always knew his judgement could be trusted. Really took his role in our trip seriously... and understood what was his job and what was not. Professional and personable! Thanks Ben! You're great!" "Ben was amazing! Smart, knowledgeable, engaging and fun. He related well to everyone on the trip. I have a lot of respect and admiration for him. Phenomenal barbecue skills too!" "Ben was great -- very knowledgeable, patient. He knows more about NZ than I do about NYC, and I've been living there 15 yrs. The hikes he took us on were amazing and would have been impossible without him. He kept me motivated on the way to Angelus hut when I just wanted to go home. Overall, Active NZ does a good job organizing and planning this trip, but it's really the guides that make the difference and make this vacation unforgettable. " "He was an exceptional guide and has an excellent knowledge of the area and its history. I would rate this tour as one of the best that I have experienced." "Ben was very classy in every way. He ran the trip very efficiently and we were always on schedule. He was extremely informative on the flora and fauna of NZ. I would name him one of New Zealand's national treasures. You should hang on to this guy. " "Ben taught us how to fix a flat tire in a very comprehensible fashion. He told us great stories and he was always encouraging, helpful and patient. He was excellent at gauging the strengths of the group and accommodating everyone." "Ben was awesome! He had a great sense of humour. Half the time you couldn't tell if he was joking or not, which is hilarious! He was an encylopedia of information about the South Island. I still find myself spouting out bits of information that Ben told us! He was relaxed, he was fun to hang out with. Great guide." "100% brilliant - Ben ia the best guide I've ever had." "I felt very lucky to have had Ben guiding this trip. He was outstanding in every way. He was incredibly knowledgeable about all of the activities, culture and landscape. It was like traveling with an encyclopedia - I don't think there was anything related to the flora, fauna, history or geology that he couldn't answer. He's got great personal skills and was always fun to be around. He was always very attentive to the group's needs, making sure that everyone had the right gear, that our bikes and packs were adjusted correctly and everyone was ok. He should be awarded a gold medal for his patience for teaching me how to ride a mountain bike and hiking at my slower pace without ever seeming at all bothered or annoyed. I always appreciated his company and knew I'd get back safely when he was around." "Ben did everything in his power to ensure that our trip was fabulous - I think he would have turned himself inside out if we asked him to - and at a few points I was afraid someone would! I think this is a very hard job, but he made it look easy and fun. He chatted with everyone about anything that struck their fancy and entertained us all. Our group spanned 40 years in age plus widely varying backgrounds and interests, yet Ben had something special going with each one of us. I doubt that anyone felt they weren't Ben's favorite client! He had a great sense of humor and encyclopedic knowledge of all things New Zealand - Ben, how do you remember how deep/wide/ long all these lakes are? - and a lively interest in the rest of the world as well. We were all amazed that he could run up mountains and then drive for hours and never seem tired. He was fantastic." "That Bogan? Ben rocks, really he's made for this job. He literally enthralled the entire group with his wit and extensive knowledge about New Zealand. Ben's got an easy way with people and made sure everyone felt like a friend not a client! Great sense of humour, everyone loved taking the piss out of him and he played along with it. Everyone felt like one big family and here's dad driving the bus! As much fun and joking around we had, I also thought Ben was very professional. There was one lady who had come into Nelson lakes and decided she wouldn't be doing the entire hike. So Ben had to run out to contact someone over the cell phone to get within range. And he didn't make it by night fall, had to go out and do it over in the morning, and he wasn't at all put off by doing this - I mean he totally took care of Lydia, made sure she was comfortable, and feeling good, and made it feel like it was no big deal at all. I think that's great, I personally would have had a fit, to have to go and backtrack like that, but he was great about it. Handled it with respect and professionalism. I think the group with us in Nelson Lakes got a real good sense of Ben's leadership abilities right there. All in all, Ben was super guide and I couldn't imagine anyone doing a better job!" "Ben inspired confidence throughout the trip, has a wonderful Kiwi dry humor, boundless energy, and incredible local knowledge - both Maori and geological - a real plus. Ben had very strong interpersonal skills and knack for relating with clients of all ages and skill. I genuinely felt he likes his job and the clients. It didn't matter how trivial the question, he responded with pleasure. He also shared a couple of 'secret' side missions and guide favorites, which always makes the group feel special." "Ben was awesome!!! Ben is a jewel of a lead guide. He has SOOOO much knowledge about New Zealand, especially the geography, and sharing that knowledge with us really enhanced our trip. He was also good at doing spontaneous walks that weren't necessarily on the agenda and being really flexible with the schedule. For example we wanted to go visit a winery instead of doing another hike and we totally game for it. He is funny, easy going, and experienced. I felt very safe under his guidance. We actually missed Ben when the trip ended and we headed off to tour New Zealand for another week. We wished he was pocket-sized and we could take him with us." "Ben did a GREAT job. He was very knowledgeable and helpful throughout our trip. He even figured out how to get a challenge in with me on our hike on the Routeburn track -- I never back down from a good challenge. " "Ben was a superb Lead Guide. He was wealth of information on everything from geology to history to botany. I don't recall a question that he could not answer during our two weeks in New Zealand. Most importantly he tailored the activities to everyone's fitness level and ability. I should add that Ben has an excellent sense of humour and an incredibly safe driver.
" "Excellent! Ben has in depth knowledge of NZ flora, fauna, culture, and geography that is rare and remarkable. Ben was also remarkably patient in adapting the schedule to accomodate more active clients." "Ben is an outstanding guide. I really appreciated his knowledge of the geography and the natural and cultural history of New Zealand. He has a great sense of humor, gets along fabulously with people, yet is always professional." "Ben is the essence of New Zealand and the absolute perfect Lead Guide. He could answer any question ever asked about New Zealand, and anyone can see he loves everything about his country. Through him, I think our entire group learned more about themselves than they ever thought possible. Remarkable guy!" |
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