ABOUT US
GeoSavvy Tours of New Zealand was started in 2002 by the Managing Director, Jo Bagrie, an experienced international travel guide who is passionate about sharing her New Zealand with YOU! If you would like to contact Jo to see what she can organize for your New Zealand vacation then email info@geosavvy.com
Since 2002 we have had many international clients take part in a GeoSavvy Tour, ranging from 2 days to 20 days and this is what some of them have said about their New Zealand experience with GeoSavvy Tours:
July/August 2007
"Thanks, Jo, for a great time in New Zealand! We will always have fond memories of you and your country. You did a spectacular job of putting together a trip for the 12 of us, ages 12 to 78. The itinerary really worked well - particularly since we were looking for more of a "nature and activities" trip than a "shopping and museums" trip, though we got a bit of both. You provided a great value trip - the accommodations were impressive, and the restaurants that you took us to were great. We had so many fun days and evenings with you and your driver/guides, Mark and Murray, both of whom were excellent! And of course, New Zealand was incredible, both South and North Islands - we only wish we could have stayed longer." Barnard family, USA
 "On the subject of New Zealand, it is impossibility for my recent South Island visit to have been any more exceptional than it was - thanks entirely to GeoSavvy Tours and Jo Bagrie.
I stumbled upon GeoSavvy Tours on the Internet, and soon after a few volleys of emails I boarded a flight to Christchurch. Jo Bagrie awaited - and a most extraordinary experience began to unfold. From minute one to minute end I felt safe, flawlessly accommodated, genuinely appreciated, and engrossed in Jo's knowledge and enthusiastic sharing of her native country.
The efforts and attentions spent on my personal itinerary were consistently apparent - and truly benchmark.
I certainly recommend GeoSavvy Tours and I cannot wait to again travel with Jo Bagrie. I welcome anyone to contact me for further endorsement of this rare company.
Sincerely, Andria Friesen, Friesen Gallery, Sun Valley Idaho USA, Seattle Washington USA" friesen@friesengallery.com
A Singapore family who traveled with GeoSavvy Tours in June 2006 had the following to say:
First and foremost, Joanne Bagrie is not your average tour guide. She is an Eco-Tourism companion. Armed with a degree in Environmental Science, she is idealistic and represents the new generation of tour specialist who brings thrill, enrichment and the silent wonders and beauty of New Zealand to life.
Her organizing is free and easy. She has a relaxed attitude but with a very keen mind tuned to the need of the discerning travelers. People who have traveled extensively would find her tours extremely refreshing. She opened up the very different seasons that was unknown to my three sons and I. We drove through many remote narrow mountains and country roads and her driving skills were extraordinary.
People going on a road tour to cover more places within a time constraint will find her driving skills comforting. We will certainly return to the South Island knowing that we have a friend and guide who will open up many more places for my family to enjoy. Thank you.
Another nice email from some May 2006 clients we now consider friends...
The purpose of this e mail is to give our opinion that our tour with you deserves an A+ grade. You have an excellent knowledge of your country, its flora, its fauna, its geography and its people. You provided us with interesting and accurate information on many subjects. You and Mark selected the nicest accommodations, with very gracious hosts.
We were very impressed with the selection of places that you chose to take us, and the safe and comfortable way that you transported us to those places.
We spent over a week with you, day in and day out, and found you were delightful company. Your choice of restaurants was very good. Please feel free to to share our opinion of our tour with your prospective clients, and do not hesitate to have them contact us for any questions.
You have a wonderful, incredible country!!! We loved New Zealand and its Kiwis.
George & Victoria Penfield, Washington, USA
Going with Jo meant that I could watch the scenery instead of the road. I discovered the natural secrets at the end of those no-end roads that I might have passed by. My particular interests were included in the tour and Jo is really great company.
Frances Robinson, Nova Scotia, Canada Here's a few from Aug/Sept 2006...
Anyone contemplating a visit to the stunningly beautiful islands that are Aotearoa/New Zealand should consider traveling with Geosavvy Tours. I engaged Geosavvy for a two week tour of both the north and south islands; instead of a canned itinerary, activities were based on what I was interested in.
I thoroughly enjoyed varied and gorgeous scenery with nary a worry regarding accommodations, transportation, or entry fees - it was a real vacation. On top of that, I was in the company of a native Kiwi who provided insightful explanations of the social structure as well as the natural history of the amazing places we visited.
Nancy Schein, Hawaii, USA
Anju and I took Jo as our tour guide and planner for New Zealand trip and being stationed there and doing such work, she made our trip memorable and extremely pleasant. Not only did Jo book us at each place in first class boutique hotels but provided her personal service at all times and at other times services of other local professionals who knew the area very well to be our guide and driver as well. This enabled us to travel extensively in the South Island of New Zealand and go to places which we would not have otherwise done on our own.
Ashok & Anju Khanna, New Delhi, India
GeoSavvy Tours was recommended to me by a friend and it is not hard to
see why. Jo Bagrie provides one of the best tour operating services I
have experienced. From local knowledge and history through to
ecological information, Jo kept us informed and entertained throughout
the whole trip.
Our tour consisted of 13 days of amazing food, fabulous adventures and
excellent accommodation. We saw New Zealand without all the fuss and
hassle of organizing everything ourselves. Jo provided us with a
refreshing outlook throughout this amazing country.
Susan Cotterill, Melbourne, Australia
19 Sept 2006, 11pm, Hong Kong time: I watch the news during my foot massage session: Thailand's government has been overrun by the Army. Oh my god, I have a flight to Bangkok within 12 hours. Plan changes: I should choose another destination - New Zealand? Ok.
I booked our trip 2 days before arrival, and Jo's cooperation and planning (route, tickets, etc) was excellent, giving me a good feeling that we had chosen the right people. We took a 4 day tour around the South Island and it was fantastic. Strictly recommended!
Edward & Alexandra Ostrobrod, St Petersburg, Russia
October 2006
Jo took me on a short trip in the south of the South Island and I had a great time. She was informative, courteous, a good driver and great fun to travel with. I am a single woman in my 60s, slightly challenged in the walking department and she accommodated this well with her choice of suitable activities. I would highly recommend her to others.
Jean Hall, Melbourne, Australia
November 2006
Thanks for leading us on a great adventure in your beautiful country. You have great spirit and energy, made wonderful choices of things to do and places to stay - and you did a great job of figuring our our personal quirks and adjusting to them! Again many, many thanks for a fabulous two weeks.
Barbara Buckley, San Francisco, USA
It is a tour to remember for a long time. Geosavvy Tours with Jo Bagrie gave us nothing short of the best. In 13 days, we saw and discovered so much of beautiful New Zealand and did exactly what we went there to do - have fun and relax at the same time. My family and I (there were six of us) enjoyed the special company of Jo. Her choice of the different types of accommodation - homestay, farmstay, apartment and cottage were impressive, not forgetting the ever gracious hosts. We are vegetarians and she did a good job finding suitable restaurants for us. If we visit your country again, Jo, you can be sure we will go with Geosavvy Tours anytime. Salam Sejahtera.
Fauna, Boo, Wei, Steve & Sian, Malaysia
February 2007
Now that I’m back in reality it’s hard to believe just over a week ago I was on the holiday of a lifetime in NZ. Thanks so much for showing me some of the highlights of your magnificent country. I truly enjoyed the laughs, the food, the wine, the ZORB and of course the wildlife and scenery. Your knowledge of the country and avid interest in the environment, along with the personalized travel plans, was exactly what I was looking for and you delivered to the highest calibre. I think I have seen more of the true New Zealand with our “off the beaten track” adventures than I would with any other guide. Geosavvy Tours coordination of my trip allowed me to sit back, relax and enjoy. I will definitely be back.
Debbie Bettencourt, California, USA
March 2007
I cannot recommend Geosavvy Tours and Jo Bagrie highly enough. What a
pleasure it was to make a "wish list" of all the things we wanted to see
and do in New Zealand, then have Jo incorporate our ideas and her
suggestions into a fantastic itinerary. My sister and I enjoyed our 3-week
tour immensely.
This is definitely not your average tour company. After taking many trips
with large tour groups and their highly regimented schedules, it was a
wonderfully refreshing change to travel New Zealand with Jo (and Murray!)
and be able to explore at our own pace, with the flexibility to adjust our
itinerary on a whim. We didn't have to worry about a thing. Jo handled all
the arrangements for travel, tours, accommodations, and even made excellent
restaurant recommendations that suited both the vegetarian and the omnivore
sister.
Thanks Jo, for making our visit to New Zealand such a memorable one.
Marty Macdonald, Ontario, Canada
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