Air New Zealand is now offering beds in economy class

With a flight to New Zealand taking almost a day, the report that Air New Zealand will be implementing beds into their economy class cabins will come as welcome news to the airline’s passengers. 

From April passengers will be able to buy the seats, which work by foot rests rising to the level of three adjacent seats. Passengers will be required to purchase all three seats but the middle seat will be charged at approximately half the price of the standard economy fare. 

As an airline that we use regularly here at Audley I’m sure our clients will be pleased to hear about the new beds which will take up the first 11 rows Air New Zealand’s new Boeing 777-300 planes, as will our specialists, who often use the airline to visit New Zealand on familiarisation trips!

'Last Chance to See' on BBC2

Have you been watching the BBC’s news series ‘Last Chance to See’ which began on 6th September? Presented by Stephen Fry, the programme is a remake of a radio series from 1985 and book of the same name, released in 1990 as a companion to the radio series.

The aim of this programme is for Stephen Fry and zoologist Mark Carwardine to re-investigate a number of the species that appeared in the original series to see what has happened to both the animal and conservation efforts. 

Always a fan of anything presented by Stephen Fry, I was keen to watch this week’s episode in which Stephen and Mark visited New Zealand in search of the kakapo, a fat, flightless parrot on the verge of extinction (although I have to say my favourite part was one very amusing scene where a kiwi ’played dead’ as part of its defence!).

As always with Stephen Fry, this programme is informative and entertaining, and certainly worth adding to your series link, especially if you are keen to travel to Brazil, Kenya, Madagascar, Indonesia, Malaysia and New Zealand in the future – all of these countries are covered in the series and are also destinations that we cover here at Audley.

Alternatively catch up on this series through the BBC iPlayer.

Grapes in the Hawkes Bay area of New Zealand.

The summer season of client seminars kicked off on Friday 12th June with a presentation by some of Audley’s Australasia specialists. ‘Wildlife, Walking and Wines’ covered both Australia and New Zealand and was attended by 18 Audley clients.

The seminar began with Lucy Harrison who talked about a number of the walking and wildlife options available in New Zealand. From the Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island where you can enjoy a walk with Kiwi Dundee, New Zealand’s answer to Crocodile Dundee, to Kaikoura on the east coast of the South Island, famous for its marine life such as dolphins, seals and sperm whales, there are endless walking options for walkers of all levels.

Next up was Jenny Bouquet who talked about the walking and wildlife options in Australia. As a fan of Tasmania, Jenny started her talk here, picking out Cradle Mountain and the Bay of Fires as two of the options for keen walking and wildlife enthusiasts as well as focusing on the lesser known Maria Island Walk, cited by some as the most diverse of Tasmania’s walks. Other options included a walk along the Great Ocean Road on either 3, 4 or 6 day walks with the opportunity of seeing wallabies, kangaroos, seals, whales and numerous bird life, Kakadu National Park walks which are great for flora and fauna, and the Bibulum Track in Western Australia where walkers can expect to see quolls, wombats, cockatoos and southern right whales.

To conclude the seminar, Chris Wilson discussed the famous wine regions in both Australia and New Zealand. With Hawkes Bay, Martinborough, Marlborough and Central Otago regions offering excellent vineyards in New Zealand, and with the likes of the famous Hunter, Yarra, Barossa and Clare valleys easily accessible in Australia, there are plenty of ways in which you can incorporate wine into your trip to Australia or New Zealand – getting to enjoy a glass or two of the local tipple isn’t a bad thing either!

To find out more about a tailor-made trip to Australia or New Zealand and incorporating walking, wildlife or wine into your itinerary, call our Australasia department on 01993 838 800, or fill in a quote request form online.

Arthur's Pass, New Zealand

On friday I attended the ‘Seasons of New Zealand’ client seminar which was presented by members of the New Zealand team here at Audley. The seminar aimed to show New Zealand as a year-round destination by highlighting just a few of the attractions available throughout the various seasons.

It is generally considered that the best to visit New Zealand is during their summer (December to February), however, as I, and 20 other people discovered there are some real benefits to visiting during spring, autumn and winter, a few of which I have detailed below:

Autumn – Autumn in New Zealand falls during March, April and May. Anyone travelling during these months can expect to experience cool, clear days with temperatures between 16 and 20 degrees. The main attraction of travelling during this season though is the spectacular autumn colours that can be experienced, as well as numerous festivals including Arrowtown Autumn Festival. Another advantage of travelling during the autumn season is that, on average, flights can be approximately £200 cheaper. If you are interested in the local wildlife then autumn is a great time to visit.

Winter – Winter in New Zealand falls during June, July and August and is renowned for it’s stunning snow-capped mountains and clear, crisp days.  As with autumn, the dramatic landscapes during winter lend themselves well to photography enthusiasts, and this is the best time of the year for winter sports fans who can enjoy skiing and heli-hiking amongst other activities. Most operators continue their excursions during winter and being out of season means attractions will be a lot quieter than during peak times. Most properties also offer winter rates.

Spring - Spring in New Zealand falls between September and November and visitors during this time can expect anything from cool, frosty mornings to warm, sunny days. The South Island is particularly good to visit during the spring as the snow still lies on the mountains whilst spring flowers are in full bloom. Wildlife such as whales, dolphins and royal albatross are present all year round in New Zealand, but are particularly accessible during the spring, and activities such as jet boating and white water rafting are also good. Tramping (walking) through New Zealand’s various national parks is brilliant during this time of the year as temperatures are more comfortable and peak season crowds can be avoided.

Summer – Summer in New Zealand falls between December and February and is the most obvious and busy time to travel to the country. Temperatures can reach the high 20’s. Although this is the peak time to visit New Zealand there are some amazing attractions to enjoy from the famous Louis Vuitton yacht racing in Auckland to the South Island’s Annual Festival of Flowers. Classic Kiwi activities such as swimming with dolphins, kayaking and scenic cruises are at their best during the summer, but with them comes the crowds.

The seminars are a great way to learn a bit more about the countries you are considering travelling to as well as giving you the opportunity to have an informal chat with our specialists. If you are interested in attending one of our client seminars take a look at our Seminar Programme for information on upcoming events.

The New Zealand Sea Lion (formerly known as Hooker’s Sea Lion) has only recently returned to breed on the mainland after an absence of 200 years.

The New Zealand Sea Lion Trust was formed to support research on, and public education about, this native treasure that has chosen to return to New Zealand’s mainland shores.

The charity has just completed a schools’ education programme in association with the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre at Otago University, and is hoping to have a sea lion education road show in 2009.

In the meantime research into the movement, foraging behaviour and diet of these unique, charismatic marine mammals continues. Much of this work is undertaken on a voluntary basis by two scientists on the board of trustees, Shaun McConkey and Simon Childerhouse, assisted by a team of enthusiastic undergraduate scientists and volunteers.

An overview of the Trust, its goals and current projects, can be found on the Sealion Trust website.

Fliss & Rachel accept our award

Following the success of the Canada department at the BACTAs last month, it was with high hopes that Rachel and I set off for the annual Tourism New Zealand Awards in London in early May. The awards this year were comprised of eight categories, of which we were eligible to enter five, and so with the help of the whole team we prepared our submissions and handed them over to TNZ during their recent visit to the Mill.

The awards themselves were presented by Gregg Anderson, the Regional Manager for Tourism New Zealand UK, with the assistance of Simon Calder – travel editor for the Independent, broadcaster and industry expert. Simon was also part of the judging panel.

The first award was for Best Brochure, and we were disappointed to hear that we had lost out to Tailor Made. However, it was onwards and upwards from that point as we took awards for Best Online Content and Best Responsible Tour Operator to New Zealand.

The moment of glory came when they announced the shortlist for the Supreme Award – Travel Specialist of the Year. The list included several of our major competitors, but we came out on top. Gregg Anderson said the following in presenting the award: “Audley Travel have a remarkable and growing range of New Zealand product. They provide a great example of tailoring holidays specifically to the traveller. Rigorous staff training and on-going educational opportunities are reflected in the detailed knowledge of each country specialist. The dedication this company has shown to developing their New Zealand Programme since 2004 is outstanding and evident in their great results.”

The champagne went down well after that! Huge congratulations go to the whole team, whose hard work and commitment are ultimately what have won us these awards.

For many years I had a strong desire to visit New Zealand, thinking it would be the perfect place for me. I’m a real outdoors person and love hiking, biking, rock climbing and getting away from it all. Growing up I spent many holidays in the Alps hiking with my parents, and then later spent two years working in Austria as a ski, walking and mountain biking guide. When I finally got to New Zealand five years ago it did not disappoint, and joining Audley was a great opportunity for me to indulge in my passion for the country. It has also given me the chance to broaden my knowledge of the region, branching out into the South Pacific.

Up until a few years ago my only real experience of the South Pacific was through ‘reality’ television programmes and glossy holiday adverts in the back of magazines, but recently I have got beyond the lagoons and the honeymooners! With trips to Fiji, The Cook Islands and Samoa I have had a real insight into the many faces of travel in the South Pacific, fulfilling my craving for active, off-the-beaten-track adventure. Of these the place that epitomised all that was wonderful about South Pacific destinations was Samoa.

I visited Samoa last October and fell in love with it. The people are immediately welcoming and the drive from the airport to the main town on Upolu, Apia, is both exciting and intriguing. The villages along the road-side are all focused around one communal meeting fale (open-sided hut) where much of everyday life takes place. With the system of chiefs still very much in place, this central fale is the epicentre of everyone’s lives. Just driving from the airport I could see how community life was buzzing in the little villages.

In addition to the strong feeling of community and the people’s pride in their culture, one of the aspects that made Samoa so appealing is how many diverse things there are to do. I spent time wandering through the vibrant markets in the main town of Apia, swimming beneath plunging waterfalls in the highlands and relaxing on the beach with a cocktail! One of my real highlights was hiking through the forest on Savai’i to the edge of the Tafua Savai’i crater. Although I did not see the resident Samoan flying fox the walk itself was a challenge, and the view across the forestchoked crater at the end was well worth it. What I love most about Samoa is that everything can be explored at your own pace, taking to the road by hire car, and travelling by ferry between the two main islands of Upolu and Savai’i. The beauty of the South Pacific is that it offers different things to different people. If you want a luxurious stay in an overwater bungalow, a fantastic diving holiday, the chance to swim with whales, an activity trip or a stay with an historic and cultural twist then it is all possible somewhere in this scattering of beautiful islands.