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active 2 hours ago

Sabina Din

Born in the UK, I always felt this strong desire to see the world!

It started with a light-hearted laugh with some girlfriends about how we would love to travel...2 months later I had swapped my life as I knew it for a backpack and embarked on my 7 month adventure...which just never ended. I have been fortunate enough to live and travel over 50 countries so far. Travel is my passion and I love being able to share this and inspire people!

Nowadays you'll find me in this beautiful place called Wanaka, sharing a beer with like-minded nomads, practicing reiki/ yoga, or hiking one of our many stunning mountains.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"All things New Zealand! Whether you want to throw yourself out of a plane, taste some of the best wines in the world (in my opinion!) or relax in a Sulphur pool, we have you covered!"

How did you get involved in travel?

"Travel led me to travel! After leaving the UK in 2012, I found myself on an epic adventure of discovery. As I am sure everyone will agree, once you have the 'travel bug', it truly never goes away! So what better career than to be able to help other people's dreams come true every...single...day! My love for what I do ensures an authentic and beautiful experience for everyone!"

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"I think my favourite memory of traveling was venturing into the heart of the Amazon. Surrounded by lush green, swimming with pink dolphins, fishing and eating piranha (yes it looked terrifying cooked too!). We came metres from wild anaconda, made friends with hand sized monkeys, and drank beers whilst watching the sunset on a elevated veranda to which we shared with the hostels 'pet'; a 3 metre Cayman called 'Santa'."

Sabina is part of the following groups: New Zealand Travel Agents
The setting sun turns the cliffs at Wangi Falls in Litchfield National Park a brilliant red
Australia & New Zealand Natural Wonders Road Trip - 21 Days

Natural beauty is at the forefront of this three-week road trip through Australia and New Zealand. Explore Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef in tropical Cairns, and take in the breathtaking beauty of Uluru in the Red Centre. Once you hop over to New Zealand, you'll see frozen glaciers, steaming thermal vents, and everything in between as you crisscross some of the most scenic highways in the world.

Road leading to Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, South Island
Self-Drive New Zealand: South Island Food & Nature Adventure - 13 Days

Experience the finest food and nature New Zealand has to offer on this 13-day South Island tour. Drive a loop of the island, stopping to cruise glacier lakes and paper-flat sounds, stay in a wilderness lodge, and spot seals on the Otago Peninsula. You'll even soar over Queenstown at sunrise in a hot air balloon. Along the way, dine on a historic tram in Christchurch, taste famous ales at Speights Brewery, and indulge in a traditional Kiwi feast at High Country Farm.

Sunset on Mount Ngauruhoe, Tongariro National Park
Best of New Zealand's North Island: Adventure, Culture & Relaxation - 13 Days

Ideal for those who want a road trip with a taste of everything, this itinerary will take you from the city lights of Auckland Harbour to the luminescence of Lake McLaren's glowworm canyon. Pamper yourself with a luxurious spa one day, then challenge yourself with whitewater rafting or an alpine hike the next. Experience Maori culture and art, then relax after digging your own beachside hot pool. Whether you choose to dine in Hobbit or Sky Tower-style, this trip will be unforgettable.

Milford Sound
New Zealand Highlights by Road, Rail & Air - 15 Days

Discover everything from trendy cities and staggering countryside to award-winning wines and gourmet food tours on this far-reaching 15-day trip around New Zealand's North and South Islands. Float over the Canterbury Plains at first light in a hot air balloon, be helicoptered up to the Franz Josef Glacier, and sit back while you enjoy a cruise through the breathtaking Milford Sound.

Cape Reinga in New Zealand's Bay of Islands
Unwind in New Zealand's Winterless North - 9 Days

Experience the best of New Zealand's North Island, known for its rich Maori culture, subtropical beaches, and buzzing city life. Launch your nine-day tour in Auckland with a bungee jump off the Sky Tower and a dinner cruise around its twinkling harbor. Then road trip your way north to the tropical paradise of the Bay of Islands to discover pristine beaches, charming coastal towns, and the magical Waipoua Forest.

Golden leaves on the vines of a vineyard in Otago, New Zealand
Christchurch to Queenstown Wine & Adventure Tour - 6 Days

Wine lovers and adventure-seekers can get all bases covered on New Zealand's South Island with this six-day itinerary. Space out your wine tasting with activities including gondola rides, zip lining, and canyon river rafting. You'll also have time for leisurely walks through Mt. Cook National Park. A scenic road trip portion offers opportunities to get out and see the glaciers and mountain ranges that make this region a must-visit spot for extreme sports enthusiasts.

Recent trip reviews for Sabina

What separates the excellent from the merely ...
New Zealand | Feb 18 - Feb 26, 2023

James
James L.
Gresham, OR | Reviewed on Feb 27, 2023

What separates the excellent from the merely very good is how they deal with problems. Sabina came through in spades.
Cyclone Gabrielle arrived the week before our arrival and disrupted our itinerary.
She worked overtime to ensure our trip was still wonderful.
While others were struggling with reservations and ferry crossings, everything went smoothly for us.
In addition, the hotels Sabina booked were great. As we had asked, she booked at various price points from moderate to... read more

What separates the excellent from the merely very good is how they deal with problems. Sabina came through in spades.
Cyclone Gabrielle arrived the week before our arrival and disrupted our itinerary.
She worked overtime to ensure our trip was still wonderful.
While others were struggling with reservations and ferry crossings, everything went smoothly for us.
In addition, the hotels Sabina booked were great. As we had asked, she booked at various price points from moderate to luxury.
Each was unique and lovely. In no way were they cookie cutter rooms.
Finally, Sabina worked hard to include all the activities we wanted.
In conclusion we recommend Kim-Kim and Sabina very highly.

Activity Review
Hukafalls Jet
New Zealand

An adrenaline rush.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Sabina Din

Very easy website, excellent specialist
New Zealand | Dec 19 - Jan 21, 2023

Y
Yi Yi H.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Feb 09, 2023

I was initially set up with a specialist who wasn't listening to my preferences and became increasingly more difficult to communicate with. Once I voiced my concerns though, I was matched with Sabina who was such a pleasure to work with! She was always quick to respond, worked with me on a good balance between budget and activities, and made my trip such an incredible experience. I'd love to work with her in the future when I go back to visit New Zealand and Australia!

Local specialist: Sabina Din

This was a trip of a lifetime for my husband ...
New Zealand | Dec 14 - Jan 5, 2023

Caley
Caley V.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jan 12, 2023

This was a trip of a lifetime for my husband and I. Sabina developed the most action-packed 23 days in New Zealand's south island. We did all of the helicopter items, mountain biking, hiking, canyoning, jet boating, kayaking, and stargazing. Our cups were full by the end of the trip. In fact we didn't want to leave!

Local specialist: Sabina Din
Sabina
Sabina Din
Local specialist in Wanaka | Reviewed on Jan 13, 2023

Thanks for the lovely reply, I'm so glad you and your husband had the best time here! :D

Breathtaking!
New Zealand | Nov 13 - Nov 24, 2022

N
Nancy P.
Calabasas, CA | Reviewed on Nov 26, 2022

The entire trip was amazing. It was such a wonderful experience to have everything all planned out in what in my opinion is the most beautiful country in the world. The only advice I would give is to remind the guide to make sure they're getting the best deals when they purchase tickets to various experiences. We were a family of 2 adults and 2 kids and one booking was made for 4 adults and another one could have been purchased as a family package instead of 4 separate tickets, which would... read more

The entire trip was amazing. It was such a wonderful experience to have everything all planned out in what in my opinion is the most beautiful country in the world. The only advice I would give is to remind the guide to make sure they're getting the best deals when they purchase tickets to various experiences. We were a family of 2 adults and 2 kids and one booking was made for 4 adults and another one could have been purchased as a family package instead of 4 separate tickets, which would have been a few dollars less. Other than those minor details, everything was extremely well planned out so that we did not have to rush anywhere, and we moved seamlessly from city to city. I would definitely use kimkim again.

Hotel Reviews
M Social Auckland
Auckland

Great food and central location with beautiful views.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mantra Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo

It was a cute and comfortable little house with all the amenities of an air bnb. It was located walking distance to the lake. My only recommendations to the staff is to update the pots and pans - they were very used and the Teflon was peeling. Also, there were no condiments, oils, or seasonings that one would normally find in a comparable an air bnb. Because we were only there for a few days, it didn't make sense to buy an entire bottle of oil or butter to cook with for example, so our use of the kitchen was limited. It was nice that it had a washer/dryer, heaters on both floors and a connected garage to keep the car warm.

Authenticity & Character
Super cute and user friendly
Location
Walking distance to the lake
Staff
There was nobody there when we checked in or out. A key was left in a locker.
Cleanliness & Comfort
It was very clean. Newer pots/pans were due in our unit.
Rydges Rotorua
Rotorua

It was a clean and comfortable stay. The restaurant downstairs had a buffet but the food was not the greatest. The gift shop is only open 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours at night. It was difficult to catch it open because we had daytime activities but once we did, we were pleasantly surprised at the variety and prices of the items sold. They had 2 EV parking spaces, which was nice because parking was sometimes full and we happened to have a hybrid. I would stay again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
It's a 5 min drive to all the restaurants next to the lake
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Distinction Christchurch Hotel
Christchurch

It's very elegant and clean. The restaurant downstairs was great and everyone was welcoming and nice. There is a charge for parking but it's worth it because there is no other parking nearby. I wish we would have stayed here longer.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Walking distance to great food and the theater
Staff
The front desk gave us wonderful ideas for things we could do on a rainy day.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rydges Lakeland Queenstown

Beautiful views from all the rooms. The room was clean but it had an awkward layout (I would imagine it's to ensure the beautiful views from both the bedroom and the sitting area. The walls are super thin as we could hear our neighbors having a regular conversation. There was no designated area for a coffee machine so the water pot was placed behind the TV in the sitting area but there were no cups. We went down to the lobby where they have a coffee machine, but the front desk attendant does not make coffee so we had to wait for the restaurant upstairs to open at 7am. There was a small refrigerator in the room but it would make a loud noise that wouldn't let us sleep so we had to unplug it and couldn't use it. Parking is limited and there is a fee if you are able to get a spot. However, you don't need a car as it's located walking distance from lots of great restaurants, stores and activities.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Fullers Ferry Auckland to Rangitoto Island return trip
Auckland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Milford Sound Full-Day Adventure
Queenstown (NZ)

Our guide Andy was amazing. It was a rainy day and yet everything about the drive was great despite the time and distance. Highly recommended.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Sabina Din