The Canadian tourists finish a month-long heli-tour in the next fortnight, and by then will have flown with Over The Top helicopter company from Kauri Cliffs in the Bay of Islands to Stewart Island.
For most of the $80,000 trip, the Toronto-based owners of a printing company with 70 branches in Canada have been flown, entertained and educated by Queenstown pilot Louisa Patterson.
"She is probably one of the best ambassadors of New Zealand that I have ever met," Mrs O'Born said.
"When you have a personality, knowledge and a helicopter pilot all rolled into one bundle, that's what makes it special."
One of the highlights of the trip had been the freedom that travelling by helicopter afforded.
"You can literally see a nice spot and land there, and enjoy a nice walk or a picnic, or picking up rocks on the beach.
"It's just so extraordinary, totally an unbelievable experience and even better than what we thought it was going to be."
