What is Ahipara?

Ahipara is a luxury tourism company which prides itself on putting together the most varied and exciting New Zealand itineraries.  We have satisfied grandparents, parents, young couples, teenagers, children and corporates.  We have put together packages focused on sightseeing, on adrenaline, on discovery, on sport, on food and wine, on hunting and fishing, on helicopter touring, and so on.

All of our trips have several things in common:

  • they are unique.  Never have we repeated one.
  • they are designed for you.  No one else.  Someone once asked us not to reinvent the wheel.  We told them it was our corporate philosophy to re-examine and if necessary reinvent the wheel in the light of each client's requirements
  • in luxury terms, they are affordable.  You tell us the budget, we meet it.  Or we tell you if we think your ambitions are unrealistic - trips in the past have ranged from a very affordable NZ$5,000 to a rather extravagant NZ$950,000.
  • they are competitive.  In certain cases we are cheaper than package solutions as we make a very ethical margin.  In other cases we are slightly more expensive as the quality of the people and places we put together is generally higher than what is ordinarily out there.
  • they are human.  You deal with human beings who find human solutions for you.  No bureaucracy, no rigid procedures and an attitude which strives to be able to say "yes" to whatever you wish
  • they are comprehensive - we are interested in what interests you and develop high-quality options during the day which focus on those interests.  Whereas most itineraries only include accommodation and transfers, ours also include high quality activities

Over the years we have developed wonderful relationships with a range of wonderful people around New Zealand - hosts, guides, pilots.  These have resulted in a deep appreciation of the variety of requirements a luxury traveller may have and the ability to meet those requirements (taking for granted the desire to meet them!)  Most of our competitors focus on accommodation with a few off-the-shelf activities thrown in.  The best feedback they receive is "the accommodation was great".  The best feedback we have received runs like "the best day's fishing I have ever had"; "she changed my life"; "he's a national treasure"; "I saw God"; "the best trip I have ever had"; "can I stay?"; "can I work for you?".  And so on. 

For us, the philosophy we have at Ahipara is a way of life.  We are here to serve and delight our clients.  And along the way, we enjoy meeting old friends and doing again the things we love doing.  Some of our competitors have better marketing and others are better at networking and the big ones have better distribution channels, but we have the best clients!  We have clients who are interested in going beyond the norm, in digging deeper than the usual, in understanding more than the average.

Images from New Zealand

A lovely private home available for single party bookings in the relatively unknown area around Timaru. We are developing some activities here which will allow our clients to reach into the local community.

A lovely private home available for single party bookings in the relatively unknown area around Timaru. We are developing some activities here which will allow our clients to reach into the local community.

  • A lovely private home available for single party bookings in the relatively unknown area around Timaru. We are developing some activities here which will allow our clients to reach into the local community.
  • A client relaxes while his wife does the boutiques in central Auckland. While not up to the great shopping centres of the world like London, Paris, NY, Sydney - Auckland does give a pleasant, uncrowded, unhurried experience with a few gems for those who care to find them.
  • Relaxing in the angler's chair after a hard day's fishing. Taken off the Isle des Pins in New Caledonia. If the island in the distance was green it would be a typical New Zealand photograph!
  • Lunch in the Cavalli Islands. Your private island, your private chef. We've had people stay here and done a few private days including fishing, diving, island activities. Expensive but definitely memorable.
  • This is one of the few places in the world you can get behind the wheel of a full-specification rally car with expert tuition and learn to drive it around a part of the national rally circuit. If you're really keen, we can even enter your team into the New Zealand rally.
  • Our clients have sailed and raced champion yacht Antaeus.
  • Bethells Beach - a venue on the West Auckland coast which we have used for a number of our clients - private as well as corporate. Crashing surf, black sand beaches and dense bush make this coast rather special. We've had Land Rovers, land yachts and chariots on that beach!
  • We had a group of young ladies abseil 55 metres down this waterfall as part of a confidence building programme.
  • Bruce Kendall, Olympic champion windsurfer, seen here with his champion sister Barbara, has guided a number of clients for us windsurfing, surfing and kite surfing. He now also sails Tornados.
  • We put together a rugby event with Caltex New Zealand. Here you can see the cheerleading contest with the Auckland Blues cheerleaders. Also on the field were Auckland Blues junior players and former All Blacks.
  • Motorcycles from our Brazilian tour group outside the Cardrona Tavern between Wanaka and Queenstown.
  • The 1930s Catalina flying boat. Only a handful of these left in the world now. We have a flying one in Auckland which can comfortably take a group of 12 for a trip down to Taupo and a landing on the lake.
  • One of Jean-Michel's daughters feeding a white tiger cub as a special birthday treat.
  • One of our favourite swimming pools - at Sacred Space, Eagles Nest, Russell
  • One of our private chefs - award winning, presentable and fun to talk to.
  • A lovely classic launch - very much understated - operated by a husband and wife team steeped in Maori knowledge and culture. They do an interesting and relaxing eco-tour of the Marlborough Sounds.
  • Get up and close to the New Zealand seals, sealions and penguins on the animal-rich Otago Peninsula. We of course use a private guide with exclusive access to the lovel bay you see here.
  • There are 6 of these (2-seater) Harvards available in Auckland. We have developed an activity where our clients are treated to a briefing of a mock-attack on a nearby island, climb into the machines, attack the island in formation (dive bomb), do a low level pass on the beach, and then return to base.
  • Landing on the snow near a high country lake with OTT of Queenstown.
  • North of Wanaka near Mount Aspiring with Aspiring Helicopters
  • After the event. Putting back to sea in the Cavalli Islands after we had the waka attack the island and the Maori warriors present birthday gifts after a fierce welcome.
  • Demonstration of how to use the taiaha. (Maori quarterstaff)
  • Jean-Michel dressed up for his lead role in the 300-person 'Communist Party' event we put together in Auckland. This included a steam train, original weapons and uniforms, gypsy violinists and dancers and lambs on spits.
  • Jolie - a talented Mirimiri healer from Roma Marae up at Ahipara. This is the marae which gave us permission to use our name and with which we cooperate when clients are interested in deep connection with Maori.
  • The Lady Gay. Beautiful 1930s Kauri 46ft launch. Formerly the Royal New Zealand Squadron's starter boat. Now available for some special days around the Hauraki Gulf together with highly experienced skipper Chad Thompson.
  • Quad biking at the bottom of 90-Mile Beach, up in Northland.
  • A deserted beach on the South Island's West Coast where our clients are relaxing after their journey there (helicopter and jetboat safari) prior to being rejoined by the helicopter which will be bringing two divers and some fresh crayfish.
  • A Maori war party on the beach
  • Fly fishing the Mohaka from Poronui Station
  • Roma Marae, our marae at Ahipara, Northland
  • Bridal Veil Falls at Treetops Lodge. Not a bad place for a picnic!
  • A pair of decent sized Kingfish caught off White Island. New Zealand holds a number of world records for Yellowtail Kingfish (and Striped Marlin).
  • Wai o Tapu thermal park, near Rotorua. In our opinion, the best of the thermal park options in the area.