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Meet Joni, one of our travel experts for New Zealand.
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Born in the Southwest, raised in the Northwest, I have called the South Pacific home for over 30 years. I founded J2 Travels in the late 1990s to share our knowledge with other like minded travelers – remembering always, that the joy is in the journey. I currently live on Maui, I'm endorsed by IATA, and am a member of the Fiji, Tahiti and New Zealand Tourism Boards.
Testimonials from Joni's clients:
"I want to say a big THANK YOU!! We had the most amazing time on our trip. Everything was wonderful. We absolutely loved Queenstown. We took the bus out to Milford Sound and then took a helicopter back as you suggested. It was raining the whole way out there but then the rain disappeared so we saw so many waterfalls it was breathtaking! We also went horseback riding in Glenorchy (well, I did – Pete got sick!) and that was amazing. The drive out there was beautiful and the ride itself was really fun. We tried to go skydiving but unfortunately it cancelled twice because of the winds. We also went jetboating,and spent a lot of time in the restaurants and bars in town. We then spent a few hours in Nelson and went out to Bleinhem for a day and did some wine-tasting, which was a lot of fun. When we were in Motueka we spent sometime relaxing and then did an 8 hour kayak/hike through Abel Tasman, which was truly amazing…and tiring! We spent a lot of our time in Rotorua just hanging out at the hotel and relaxing because it was just so beautiful, but we did go to hell’s gate which was really neat. In Auckland we spent a day walking around and then played golf one day. We also went to dinner at the Mudbrick restaurant in Waiheke which was great.
And on to Fiji...it was amazing! We loved Tokoriki. It was a beautiful spot and the Fijian people that worked there were so warm and friendly. The honeymoon bure that we stayed in was absolutely amazing, and we spent a lot of time just hanging out in our plunge pool. We also went snorkeling a few times, which was great. The food was also really good. As for the seaweed, there was definitely a fair bit of seaweed around and a slight smell of it, but it really wasn’t a big problem. After the first day we didn’t even think about it. I would definitely recommend Tokoriki to others, and would love to go back someday.
Thank you again for all of your help. We will definitely let our friends and family know how great you were when they head off to NZ / Fiji!
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- Megan & Pete
Testimonials from Joni's clients:
"We had a fantastic time in Fiji. Qamea was particularly wonderful-rustic, authentic, beautiful, and communal. Staff members were incredibly friendly and always very accommodating. Namale was spectacular and definitely more upscale. Our bure was so elegant and we had a private deck overlooking the ocean that was phenomenal. We appreciated the remoteness and feel of Qamea over Namale, however, so we were delighted to have been there longer. I would certainly recommend Qamea to anyone traveling to that area of the world.
Thanks again for arranging this remarkable trip. It was incredibly unique and one we will remember always. We're both grateful to you.
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- Naomi & Matt
Testimonials from Joni's clients:
"The Four Seasons Maui and your recommendations for the other island resorts we visited were wonderful. The Four Seasons Maui is impeccable, as we also enjoyed the Halekulani on Oahu and the Hyatt at Poipu on Kauai.
Thank you so much for your attention to detail, your availability every step of the way planning our honeymoon and assisting our guests. Your surprise gifts to us and our guests were extra special touches, and I can't rave enough about you. Even through the most stressful times I endured, you always kept your calm and made sure we were taken care of. You went above and beyond for us, going to the Four Seasons to take pictures of the construction before we got there for the wedding so we would be prepared, calling around to local stores to help me find items for gift baskets, giving us the scoop on where to shop, eat, etc.-all in such great detail as well!
You really are a true, experienced travel agent that doesn't just book trips, but travels to and knows the areas and resorts in which you book your clients and you become a trusted friend. It is with the utmost gratitude we write this in appreciation for everything you did to help make our honeymoon dreams come true for us and our guests.
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- Michelle & Scott
Testimonials from Joni's clients:
"We are now home and slowly acclimating to reality. We had the most fabulous time on our holiday and want to thank you for seeing to it that every little detail was well planned, organized, and executed. We feel you really listened to our desires and planned "THE PERFECT" holiday...thank you so very much. We will definitely call you again and have recommended you to several of our friends. It is obvious that you really know both New Zealand and Fiji as I'm sure you know the other locations you book for your clients, I especially liked how you found locations that were less "touristy" and more reflective of the countries we were visiting...just as I requested. Thank you!"
- Randy and Teresa
Testimonials from Joni's clients:
"Kurstan and I had the most amazing time on our trip to Maui. The wedding went off without a hitch, even though when we arrived at the house that we rented for the occasion there were hurricane strength winds. They died down in just enough time to get the flower circle in a perfect place overlooking the ocean and everything went according to plan. The ceremony was thoughtful and such a happy time for us as well as Kurstan's mom and Jack who seemed pleased with the arrangements as well.
As for the honeymoon, that was a vacation of a lifetime. I have never been as happy as I was on this trip. The hotel was lovely and the service was fantastic. Our room was more spacious than I imagined and the view was breathtaking. The hotel itself was beautiful from the lounges to the restaurants to the pool area to the beach. The beach was the best that we saw on the island.
Also, Joni, you were so helpful in getting everything arranged with us and Kurstan's mom. It was difficult for us not having ever been to Maui figuring out where to stay and what to do, but you were more than helpful in making this a trip that will be remembered throughout our lives. What a way to start a marriage!
And, thank you for the champagne you sent to our room upon our arrival. It was such a great way to start our trip.
Thank you so much for everything, and we'll definitely contact you for any help we need with travel in the future.
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- Heather & Kurstan
Testimonials from Joni's clients:
"Lisa and I had a magical experience at Qamea and everything was wonderful! You prepared us perfectly and all the details were worry free. We had a beautiful sunny day outdoor wedding in Michigan and then whisked away to paradise.
Thank you does not fully communicate our appreciation and we will be sending you referrals at every opportunity. We will be in touch soon and again, sincere thanks and warm regards!
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- Scott & Lisa
Testimonials from Joni's clients:
"Hey Joni! Thanks so much for checking in. We had an awesome time! Best vacation ever!! Would love to talk with you about everything, let me know when is good for you? We really want to go back, maybe in a few years.
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- Traci
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Tours
Tangata Whenua
Discover and explore the Tangata Whenua Gallery with its impressive displays of Maori cultural artifacts, including one of the best collections of southern Maori material in the world. Gain an insight into the cultural treasures of Tangata Whenua - the people of the land, New Zealand Maori. Tangata Whenua guided tours are available daily at any time during opening hours by prior arrangement.
Nature
The unique natural history of Otago is detailed in this excellent gallery, designed for you to discover the natural treasures of our land and coastline. This tour gives a close-up look at bird and insect life, including displays of the Northern Royal Albatross, the endangered Yellow-Eyed Penguin & the giant extinct moa. See one of the few complete moa eggs in the world! Nature guided tours are available daily at any time during opening hours by prior arrangement.
Pacific Cultures
Discover the many cultures of the Pacific during a tour of the outstanding Pacific Culture Galleries. Find out about the significance of the masks, tools & instruments representative of early life. A special feature is the magnificent display of Pacific Island statues, rarely seen elsewhere. Pacific Cultures guided tours are available daily at any time during opening hours by prior arrangement.
People of the World
Explore archaeological treasures from around the world including ancient Greek pottery, examples of the world's earliest forms of writing from Mesopotamia & sculpture & fine artwork from Ancient Egypt. Learn the stories behind the stunning decorative arts from Asia & Europe, Tibetan Buddhist material & Chinese snuff bottles. Admire the beauty of the Venetian glass & ceramics from around the world. Other treasures include a striking collection of swords, a large collection of West African Ashanti cast iron bronze figures used for weighing gold, & a beautiful array of costumes and textiles. People of the World guided tours are available daily at any time during opening hours by prior arrangement.
Maritime
Maritime history is an important part of the New Zealand story, & the Maritime Gallery is a treasure trove of elaborate scale-models, nautical artifacts and builder's models considered to be among the best in the Southern Hemisphere. Taking pride of place in the centre of this gallery is the skeleton of a great fin whale. Maritime guided tours are available daily at any time during opening hours by prior arrangement.
Animal Attic
At the very top of the Museum you'll find this magnificent timbered Victorian gallery - a museum within a museum! Immerse yourself in the style of museums gone by and gain not only an insight into all things animal, but also the museum culture of the 1800's when this gallery was first opened. This is a unique experience in New Zealand - don't miss it! Animal Attic guided tours are available daily at any time during opening hours by prior arrangement.
Highlights of the Museum
For an introduction to the extensive breadth and depth of the Otago Museum's collections, join us for a 'Highlights of the Museum' tour. Explore the best of the Tangata Whenua, Animal Attic and Nature Galleries in our 'recommended components' tour. Or choose to visit the remainder of our permanent collections (excluding Southern Land, Southern People, which is covered extensively in the official 15:30 guided tour) in our 'optional components' tour, which can be tailored to suit your interests.
Discovery World Tropical Forest
Take the hottest tour in town - join our Tropical Forest Communicator to get the in-depth, inside stories of the rainforest & the creatures that live within.
Southern Land, Southern People
Discover a region of superlatives & extremes… driest, wettest, coldest, highest, windiest, wildest, most remote. Southern Land, Southern People explains the origins of our demanding landscape & environment, how people discovered & explored it, how they utilized its natural resources, & how its challenging nature rubbed off on the people in the form of 'southern character'.
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Overview
Discover the great range of activities on offer at Otago Museum!
From special exhibitions to guided tours, from Discovery World Science Shows to Gallery Talks, there's something for everyone at Otago Museum.
Both in-house and traveling exhibitions have consistently proven to be very popular with all ages. The Community Events that support our outstanding exhibitions are also a huge hit, providing you with the opportunity to delve deeper into the topic and further enrich your experience.
There are always a great range of talks and tours on offer. Gallery Talks are available daily at 2pm and focus on a particular collection item, allowing you to gain a greater understanding about the history of the exhibit.
Guided tours are also available daily at 11:30am and 3:30pm (or other times by prior arrangement). We have a great range of guided tours for you to enjoy, including a tour of our landmark gallery, Southern Land, Southern People or a Highlights of the Museum tour.
So make a day of it and plan your visit to Otago Museum by using the Daily Calendar below. All you need to do is simply select the day(s) that you would like to visit… and there you have it - a complete itinerary of all of the options available for that day!
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