About Us

Wellington, Kāpiti & Wairarapa
Private Tours for the Discerning Traveller
Tom

I am the Director, Primary Travel Guide and your ‘Memory Creator’ at Kaewa Tours.

After having over 35 years in the Banking/Financial and IT sectors primarily in Account/Relationship Management roles it was time for a change.  So if you’re going to make a change you may as well make it one heck of a big change!

Since 2016 I have been a contract tour guide for two other tour companies and have absolutely loved doing this. In February 2021 we took the logical step to launch our own tour company – Kaewa Tours. Meeting new people and talking about our common love of travel, experiencing new cultures and countries is something Jill and I absolutely love.

My travel highlight was in 2015 where we went to Kenya and Tanzania on a 14 day safari. Witnessing lions, cheetahs and other spectacular wildlife within 3-5 metres is a memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

I am a member of BNI Kāpiti Coast, Kāpiti Coast Chamber of Commerce, Skål Wellington and a very proud supporter/sponsor of the Kāpiti Kindness Trust.

A self confessed Foodie, lover of Fine Wine, Craft Beer, Test Cricket, Travel and everything about the greater Wellington region has to offer, I am well appointed to provide you with a fun filled day out leaving you with lasting memories.

Fun fact(s): I’ve appeared on TV in 1993 for 2 nights on the music game show ‘Face the Music’ hosted by Simon Barnett and was one of 8 finalists on The Voice (Of the Ocean) on board the cruise ship Ruby Princess, Mexico in 2017. By the way I didn’t win!

Jill

I operate my own business which I have owned since 2010.

My involvement with Kaewa Tours is to ensure your bookings and other administrative activities operates as smoothly as possible to ensure you have a great tour or homestay with Kaewa Tours.

Like Tom I have a genuine passion for travelling and meeting new people from New Zealand and around the world.

I am a member of the Kāpiti Chamber of Commerce, BNI Kāpiti Coast and a proud sponsor of Youth and Community Fishing.

You may also get to meet me doing one of your tours one day. I look forward to meeting you one day soon.

We can also plan wider, bespoke tours throughout New Zealand where you will have your personal driver/guide for the duration of your tour. Please contact us to discuss your specific requirements.

We also offer combo tours (2-3 days) of Wellington-Kāpiti, Wairarapa-Kāpiti or Wellington-Kāpiti-Wairarapa with a homestay which includes a continental breakfast.

I had friends from Barcelona visit New Zealand and Tom very kindly made up a custom package to the Wairarapa. What a fantastic day it was. Tom is very knowledgeable with the area and has a wonderful sense of humour. We visited C’est Cheese in Featherston, lunch at Poppies winery which was certainly a highlight, two other wineries, finishing off with a delightful dinner at the Martinborough Hotel.  I would have no hesitation in recommending Tom’s Kaewa tours.  A first class tour.

Ali – Waikanae, New Zealand 
Ali – Waikanae, New Zealand

No problem to make use of the kitchen to make our own breakfast. Would highly recommend Quiet and Cosy, very, very hospitable people.

Brian, NZ. November 2020. 
Brian, NZ. November 2020.

“Fantastic! I can’t recommend Quiet & Cosy highly enough. We had an awesome stay in a beautiful home. Our hosts Jill & Tom went above & beyond in looking after us and making sure we had a good stay. A big thank you to them both.”

 

Super comfortable quiet accommodation in a very tranquil setting which is ideal for exploring the area.

Colin, United Kingdom. February 2020. 
Colin, United Kingdom. February 2020.

Mid winter – the rooms were warm and the sheets devine… so soft and warm. Lovely separate space with our own bathroom and so clean and homely. Hosts would be difficult to top – such a lovely pleasant couple.

Isla, New Zealand. July 2020. 
Isla, New Zealand. July 2020.

“We booked a wine tour with Tom, who picked us up from our hotel in central Wellington.

From booking the tour Tom was great at communicating.

Tom chose four amazing family run vineyards which offered an amazing selection of wines. We were able to meet the owners and wine makers at all of the vineyards which made for a much more personal tour.”

Steven B - Christchurch 
Steven B - Christchurch

If you want to cover off Martinborough for value and time look no further than booking a private tour with Tom from Kaewa Tours. He took us to the top wineries and we got to go to an olive tasting as well. He is professional, on time and knowledgeable about the area and happy to accommodate all of our requests. We will be joining him again for another tour, all and all a great day out!! Book him he is great!

Vanessa and Colin - Palmerston North, New Zealand. 
Vanessa and Colin - Palmerston North, New Zealand.

“Excellent stopping point – lovely rooms and great value for money. We had a last minute addition with one of our children not being able to stay at her Grandma’s and our hosts were so accommodating. They were friendly and chatty and our rooms comfy, quiet and cosy – just as it says on the box. Would thoroughly recommend.”

 

Everything was absolutely perfect! Beautiful house and the location is close to the beach surrounded by garden and flowers everywhere, nice view from the balcony of our room, very comfortable bed and bathroom. The kindness of the owners Jill and Tom is wonderful. If you are traveling in Waikanae don’t miss this place!

Beatrice, Italy December 2019. 
Beatrice, Italy December 2019.

“Great stay, HIGHLY RECOMMEND. It was such a nice cosy stay, Tom and Jill were great hosts and made us feel very welcome. They went above and beyond to give us the best possible stay. Comfy beds and great little additions to the room like bathrobes, bottled water, chocolates etc. Highly recommended anyone to stay here.”

 
WANT A NIGHT AWAY?
Tom and Jill welcome you to their ‘Quiet and Cosy’ home in the ‘Garden Area’ of Waikanae.
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