Holiday Helpline: New Zealand
We asked three operators – Travel 2, Ausbond and British Airways Hotel – to come up with a recommendation and sample price for three clients who have special requests for a holiday in New Zealand.
Request 1: Clients A are a couple in their 50s who want to experience the best of the North Island.
British Airways Holidays
Area: from Auckland to Wellington on the Great Northerner coach tour.
Product: fly with British Airways to Auckland, via Los Angeles, and join a seven-night coach tour which includes a catamaran trip around the Bay of Islands, time in Rotorua and at the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, and a drive through the Tongariro National Park to Wellington.
Price: £1,839 per person including flights, overnight accommodation in Auckland and Wellington before and after the tour, internal flight back to Auckland, accommodation and admission fees during the tour. Departing March 2000.
Travel 2
Area: from Auckland to Wellington on the Geyserland coach tour.
Product: fly with Garuda Indonesia to Auckland and join a six-day coach tour operated by Australian Pacific Tours. The tour includes exploration of the Coromandel Peninsula as far north as Cape Regina, a drive along the spectacular Ninety-Mile Beach, cruise around the Bay of Island, sightseeing in Rotorua and Whakarewarewa to experience Maori culture and visit Lake Taupo.
Price: £1,357 per person including flights and coach tour with five nights’ accommodation, all meals and touring. Departing March 2000.
Ausbound
Area: from Auckland – self-drive exploration of the North Island.
Product: fly scheduled airline to Auckland and after two nights in the city collect a hire car and tour the Bay of Islands, Rotorua and Waitomo to discover the scenic delights and Maori culture at leisure. Return to Auckland for two nights before returning to the UK with Britannia.
Price: £1,087 per person including flights, taxes, car hire, two nights at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, two nights at the First Imperial Hotel in Auckland and all accommodation during tour. Departing November 1999.
Request 2: Clients B are a couple in their 30s wanting to explore the South Island. They are very keen on eco-tourism.
British Airways Holidays
Area: Christchurch, Fjordland and Queenstown on the Scenic South coach tour, plus independent self-drive touring and a guided coastal walk through Abel Tasman National Park.
Product: fly Air New Zealand to Christchurch, via Los Angeles. Join an eight-night coach tour which takes in Mount Cook, Dunedin, a cruise on Milford Sound, Queenstown, Franz Josef Glacier and a spectacular rail journey across the Southern Alps back to Christchurch. Take eight days’ car hire and travel to the northern tip of the South Island for whale-watching and trekking in the Abel Tasman National Park.
Price: £2,870 per person including flights, coach and walking tour, car hire and accommodation. Departing March 2000.
Travel 2
Area: from Christchurch – a round trip ‘Panoramic South’ self-drive tour.
Product: fly with Singapore Airlines to Christchurch and follow a nine-day self-drive itinerary which includes the Canterbury Plains, the Southern Alps, Franz Josef Glacier, two nights in Queenstown, Fjordland National Park and Milford Sound returning to Christchurch via Dunedin, Twizel and Mount Cook National Park.
Price: £1,129 per person including flights, car hire, guide books, maps, eight nights’ accommodation and some meals. Departing March 2000.
Ausbound
Area: Queenstown.
Product: fly with Britannia Airways to Auckland and connect for a flight to Queenstown for a two-week stay. Explore the alpine attractions of the town and then join a five-day walking tour along the Milford Track trekking a maximum 13 miles a day. Independently explore the waterfalls, wildlife and spectacular views of Milford Sound.
Price: £1,578 per person with return charter flights, connections, 10 nights at the A-Line Hotel in Queenstown, guided walk and all taxes. Departing November 1999.
Request 3: Clients C are two men in their early 30s who want action and adventure on either islands – or both if possible.
British Airways Holidays
Area: Christchurch, Queenstown and the Milford Track.
Product: fly with Air New Zealand to Christchurch, via Los Angeles, for a 14-night trip. Join a four-night Milford Experience tour which includes a trek along the Milford Track and an overnight stay on Milford Sound. Take the Awesome Foursome excursion package which includes bungee jumping, jet boating, helicopter canyon ride and white-water rafting.
Price: £1,964 per person including flights, car hire, tours, accommodation in Christchurch and Queenstown and internal flights. Departing March 2000.
Travel 2
Area: tailor-made South Island itinerary including self-drive motorhome and Milford Track walking tour.
Product: fly with Singapore Airlines to Christchurch and collect a Maui motorhome. Drive to Queenstown via Mount Cook National Park – ideal for hiking, climbing or skiing. After a couple of days move on to Queenstown for three nights and a Shotover Trio adventure package of jet boating, white-water rafting and a helicopter flight. Opportunity to join off-road bike tours, river surfing and bungee jumping tours. Finally, join the five-day Milford Track Walk – a 33-mile trek in the Fjordland national Park including accommodation.
Price: £1,526 per person with flights, three nights’ accommodation in Queenstown, Shotover package and Milford Track walking tour. Departing March 2000.
Ausbound
Area: from Auckland tour North and South Islands independently by motorhome.
Product: charter flights with Britannia to Auckland. Collect a motorhome for a month – plenty of time to explore both islands. Highlights will include the scenic Bay of Islands, the Maori culture and thermal activities at Rotorua and the adventure options of Queenstown.
Price: £1,089 per person including flights, taxes and 30 days motorhome hire. Departing November 1999.