News

When I was a student in Moscow in the Soviet era, actually being able to find food was a major task.  Until we discovered how to change our currency on the black market.  Then we would have wads of cash in our pockets (a comforting habit I've found it hard to break!), take taxis everywhere (once we hired a KGB limousine), and eat out at the finest restaurants with kilos of caviar and... > Read more

I had to double-check our previous articles as I was sure I had written about Greenhill Lodge in the past.  Amazingly not!  This is one of my favourites, and one which many clients also rave about.  A lovely Italian couple over the New Year break came here from Huka Lodge, relaxed back into their armchairs, and told me they preferred it. They were very happy to have been to... > Read more

We are delighted to have been profiled in this month's Robb Report as one of their "Perfect 10" travel specialists.  This was a worldwide list, so quite an honour for us.  Special thanks go to Jennifer Hall for the work she put into the article - she undertook some of the most rigorous research I have yet seen.  Some of our key partners also received a mention, but of... > Read more

Would you like to compete in the New Zealand Rally? Through our partners we can arrange for you to come to New Zealand, undertake any necessary training, and then compete in one of New Zealand's two rallies.  We can put together some special training stages (selected for difficulty as well as scenic beauty) and blend your trip with as much tourism as you wish.  We can of course... > Read more

Having just arrived back in the office after a number of tours over the Christmas/New Year period, I thought it might be useful to give a general update to the travel community. Firstly - the doom and gloom of the financial crisis has largely passed us by.  New Zealanders have borrowed less than many others and are consequently hurting less.  We've had a number of finance... > Read more

We were fortunate enough to be featured in the Russian edition of the Robb Report this month.  For those of you who understand Russian, the full text can be seen here:  http://www.robbreport.ru/article/?articleid=1937&rubricid=6  For those who cannot, the article focuses mainly on the quality of our guides, on the deep experiences the reporters had with us in-country, and on... > Read more

This was definitely more of an encounter than a welcome.  It was also the first time one of our clients has run from a Maori!  We were able to put together an authentic encounter as the buyer of our services was our clients' superyacht captain, a New Zealander.  He thought they would enjoy the surprise of being jumped in the bush by half a dozen Maori.   So our... > Read more

We have two team members heading off for the ILTM trade show in Cannes (France) tomorrow.  Marina Kovandina and Bonny Ibarrola-Johansen.  They have a full schedule of meetings but if you are attending the show and would like to see them, please let us know.  We are on the NET stand, as usual, where drinks are served from 5:00pm every day - and casual guests are welcome to join us... > Read more

Kourawhero doesn't really fit in any pigeonholes.  Run by a family, but a family of top-grade professionals and achievers.  A top lodge, but without top lodge pricing.  Suitable for overseas FITs, but also Auckland corporates.  Luxurious, but very relaxed and welcoming.   I'm embarassed to say it took me a year from opening to go and see Kourawhero, despite... > Read more

We've been working with Tuatua Tours in the Far North for seven years.  They were one of our first special suppliers and remain so.  One of the few commercial operations where the standard tour is so good, it needs little to no tweaking for luxury travelers.  Last year Bill Gates went on them too. A phenomenal experience which I have seen enjoyed by men (of course) but also... > Read more