Cecil Peak


production across Northland, Gisborne and the Wairarapa should be top of your wine-loving clients’ list. One of the best wine regions is


Hawke’s Bay, home to luxury lodge The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, as well as stunning vineyards and accommodation. Book a cycle, classic car drive or a guided tour for your clients. Wineries such as Craggy Range and Clearview Estate Winery are well worth the cellar door experience.


South Island The wild, rugged and dramatic landscapes of the South Island will leave a lasting impression on everyone who visits. There are countless opportunities to gawp at never-ending vistas because all of the world’s best natural beauties can be found here – from glaciers and mountains to lakes, rivers and fiords. There’s a stunning setting around every corner, with nine of the country’s 14 national parks, five of the largest glaciers in New Zealand’s and four of the five largest lakes: Lake Te Anau, Wakatipu, Wanaka and Ellesmere. Seeing Mount Cook National Park and the Fiordland are bound to be on


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many client’s bucket lists, yet the most northern tip of the South Island offers turquoise waters and marine reserves in the Nelson Tasman region, home to the Abel Tasman National Park. Sailing, kayaking and walking the Abel Tasman track are ideal for clients who want an adventure, with plenty of boltholes such as Edenhouse, Bronte Country Estate or Split Apple Retreat to lay their heads. As well as adventure, an emerging wine scene, craft ales and art, make Nelson a great start to a South Island itinerary, combined with exploring the epicentre of New Zealand’s wine scene in Marlborough. While the west of the island is known for glaciers, heading down the east coast means driving through the heart of the Canterbury plains and no South Island itinerary is complete without a stop in Christchurch or Akaroa. Nature shows off here – with year-


round whale watching in Kaikoura, seeing the world’s smallest dolphin in Akaroa and Oamaru’s penguin colony. Further south, the Otago coast is also a wildlife hotspot. Base your clients in Dunedin if they want opportunities to see the three-metre wing span of the


Royal Albatross, penguins and seals. For serious nature buffs, include


a trip to Stewart Island. This hidden gem is home to the country’s largest and most-diverse bird population, with kaka, albatross, penguin, weka and kiwi-spotting all possible. With the next landmass being Antarctica, this place epitomises ‘off the beaten track’.


EXPLORING NEW ZEALAND Air New Zealand has an


extensive network around the country. For itineraries of two weeks or more, recommend a mix of domestic flying and self-drive. For cash-rich but time-poor clients, ensure


helicopter transfers are part of their trip. It will drop them at the door of luxury properties, while wowing them with NZ’s ever-unfolding landscapes.


TOURISM NEW ZEALAND 5


CREDITS: James Heremaia; Camilla Rutherford; Shutterstock; Chris Sisarich


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