Personal Auckland tours...
If You're Looking For a Personalized
One-On-One Auckland Tour Experience,
You've Come To The Right Place!
Welcome to the website of "An Exclusively Auckland Experience"...
I am Verna Cook-Jackson the owner-operator of "An Exclusively Auckland Experience", the personalised tour provider for independent travellers to Auckland City.
Today's travellers are provided many choices when touring Auckland City. Some may prefer commodity sightseeing tours on tour coaches with many other tourists, but the larger percentage of my clients prefer to have a personal Auckland tour experience.
Whilst my clients are from all global nationalities, in recent years there has been a predominant number from North America, the UK and Europe here on business or vacation. Others are celebrating a special anniversary or birthday. All, be they business travellers or or those on vacation, are independent travellers who wish to have the personal touch I offer.
"We had a GREAT time in New Zealand. Our private tour of Auckland was amazing. We got to have a much fuller experience than the average tourist - we saw beautiful countryside, sampled Kiwi foods at an outdoor market, walked the streets of a quaint shopping area, saw plenty of "the sites," plus learned a few Kiwi phrases in the process! I'm convinced this is the best way to get an insider's look at the real New Zealand. And thanks to our guide for introducing us to hokey pokey ice cream! We really did have a great time on the tour!"
- Jayna and Kathy Richardson, Iowa USA
Here's what makes 'Exclusively Auckland' different...
Owner operated
You experience Auckland with the enthusiastic owner of the company, not a tour driver with a canned commentary.
Local knowledge
I am an Aucklander, born and bred, who has operated this company successfully for a number of years. I have spent most of my years living in Auckland, my city of choice. This gives me a deep understanding and extensive knowledge of all of Auckland's facets and foibles, which includes:
- The cultures of Auckland
- Auckland's history and how the city has developed and changed
- Auckland's future
- The cuisine of Auckland
- Auckland's peoples
- Auckland's geographical features
- The links between Auckland and its surrounds
- The links between Auckland and you
Ancestral ties to New Zealand's history
I am privileged to be a descendent from the original Maori peoples of New Zealand. Thanks to the other side of my family, I am also a descendent of the original Europeans who settled in the northern part of New Zealand.
With my ancestral links and my strong European culture I have the ability to explain the links to New Zealand history and culture as a 'Tangata whenua' - the Maori phrase for a native New Zealander, meaning "person from the land".
Your own individual, personalised and exclusive experience of Auckland
This is not a tour of Auckland; this is an Auckland experience. 'Exclusively Auckland' will provide you a one-on-one Auckland experience showing you Auckland as Aucklanders see it.
This is your opportunity to enjoy Auckland fully with a businesswoman who will personalise the day to fit in with you. We will explore the facets of the city and surrounds that you would like to see and make them part of our tour.
My approach is to understand what is meaningful to you, what interests you and what your preferred focus might be. Is it to focus on the history of the city? The culture? The fauna and flora? The cuisine? Whatever your interest, the day is tailored to suit your preferred focus.
No fixed agendas or tours
I do not restrict you to fixed agendas or tours. I will happily personalize a timetable for you and maximize whatever time you have available. The timetable is totally flexible to suit you, whether you are an individual traveller, a couple, or a small group of up to 6 people.
No large groups
So that you may fully enjoy the experience, we have a limit of 6 guests maximum. This guarantees you the utmost one-on-one time with your host. You may be a solo traveller, a couple or a small group of up to 6 people. Whichever way, you will have maximum time with your host compared to a typical tour coach sightseeing trip.
Unmarked vans, not tour coaches
Because we focus on maximizing the experience with our guests we only take bookings for a maximum of 6 people - therefore our vehicles are not large and obvious tour buses. Our vehicles are discreet and devoid of any sign writing which means you can integrate into Auckland easily and not feel like a "tourist" here to sightsee.
Kiwiana taste treats
A favorite memory of your day with 'Exclusively Auckland' will undoubtedly be the Kiwiana taste treats that we may have on board the vehicle for the day. Little 'tit bits' of the country's own iconic, nostalgic and traditional "Kiwi" flavors; these are optional but always enjoyed by our guests.
"The Jaffas were a big hit as were the kiwi berries and L&P. One of our land trips from the cruise also allowed us to have some more Hokey Pokey ice cream!" - Julie & Mark, San Francisco, USA.
Mark Swedelson from Encino, California was so impressed with his 'Exclusively Auckland' experience that he sent this email to Peter Greenberg of MSNBC...
From: Mark Swedelson
Sent: Friday, December 02, 2005
To: Peter Greenberg
Subject: RE: Tahiti/New ZealandHello Peter,
A quick update: The trip was absolutely fantastic. Air New Zealand changed their arrival times, so we landed about 8:00 am and left the same night at midnight.
I looked at your suggestions and found a great website specific to Auckland: http://www.aucklandnz.com/
My wife and I were concerned that we would be tired when we landed and so looked at some tour options. We came across one for a personalized tour of Auckland. The guide is a woman named Verna. Here is her website: www.exclusivelyauckland.co.nz.
Verna met us at the airport, drove us all around Auckland and the outlying areas and then returned us to the airport in time for our flight to Papeete. Our day in Auckland was exceptional.
On our way home, we again had a long layover in Auckland (8 hours). We decided to hire Verna for that day also. She took us hiking in the bush (Waitakere Ranges). Afterwards, we had a picnic dinner (which she provided) at an old church overlooking the bay. It really was an amazing trip.
I know you deal with a lot of people needing assistance with problems. I thought you may enjoy reading about a trip that was perfect.
Mark D. Swedelson, CPA
Encino, CA