What’s New?
Appellation Central Wine Tours Wins International Award
Posted on 05. Nov, 2011 by Campbell.
Queenstown based premier wine tour company Appellation Central Wine Tours has received an International Best of Wine Tourism Award in the Wine Tourism Services category. Their win followed a jury meeting of the Great Wine Capitals (GWC) Global Network in Mainz, Germany last week. GWC judges said Appellation Central Wine Tours won the award thanks [...]
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Two New Adventure Cruises Added
Posted on 25. Oct, 2011 by Campbell.
Relaxing Journeys are continually adding new tours and cruises to our range of tours that we can confidently recommend to vistors to our amazing country. This week we highlight two adventure based experiences that showcase the best of the Bay of Island and Queenstown. 2 1/2 Hour Ocean Adventure Experience the Ocean Adventure that the [...]
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The Classic New Zealand Wine Trail
Posted on 27. Jul, 2011 by Campbell.
New Zealand was a latecomer to making wines but has more than made up for it. Today, New Zealand wines receive international acclaim and New Zealand winemakers work all around the world. Our wines are what are known as ‘cool climate’ wines where the long growing season produces subtleties and nuances in the flavours. The [...]
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121 New Zealand Day Tours & Counting
Posted on 27. Jul, 2011 by Campbell.
Experience the scenery, world famous guided walks, mountain scenery, prisitine rivers & lakes, and snowshoeing just to name a few of our newly introduced day tour trips around New Zealand. You can add any of these experiences to your self drive tour or just book them individually before you arrive in New Zealand. It’s painless, cheaper [...]
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Christchurch Quake Updates
Posted on 13. Jun, 2011 by Campbell.
Update 13th June 2011 – More Tremors in Christchurch The largest tremor today, a 6.0, struck at about 2.20pm. The first shake hit at 1pm and was a magnitude 5.5 quake, but there have been other minor earthquakes over the afternoon. The first earthquake to hit Canterbury today struck near Darfield, but the remaining quakes [...]
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New Zealand Touring Reviews
Posted on 03. May, 2011 by Campbell.
We receive a lot of feedback from past clients and sometimes the comments we receive just hit the spot. Jim and Joan Bowman recently finished a coach tour of New Zealand with Grand Pacific that we help organise. Have a read…. Dear Georgie, We’ve been home now for three weeks, enough time to go through [...]
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Overnight Cruise in Bay of Islands for $NZ 249pp!
Posted on 06. Apr, 2011 by Campbell.
An all inclusive overnight cruise through the picturesque Bay of Islands for $249pp (twin share)! Your overnight cruise includes: Ocean view cabin with private en suite Buffet dinner and cooked breakfast Complimentary activities: snorkelling, kayaking, island walks Valid for bookings made and travelled this month only (April 2011). So hurry! To book the cruise click [...]
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Positive Signs Emerging From Christchurch
Posted on 01. Apr, 2011 by Campbell.
A new day spa has opened in Christchurch in what many are interpreting as a sign of confidence in the city’s ability to recover from last month’s quake. The new Linden Leaves Day Spa is the first of its kind in New Zealand and has opened in the Chateau on the Park hotel, opposite Hagley [...]
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Blog4NZ
Posted on 23. Mar, 2011 by Campbell.
Blog4NZ is a grass-roots effort on the part of the international travel blogging community to promote all that is good about travel in New Zealand, Canterbury and Christchurch. It is a worldwide blogging event that is running from the 21st to 23nd of March — the one-month anniversary of the quake. Following the devastating earthquake [...]
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Christchurch Loses RWC 2011 Hosting Rights
Posted on 16. Mar, 2011 by Campbell.
Tournament partners have today reluctantly decided that Christchurch will be unable to host the seven matches scheduled to be played at Stadium Christchurch and these will be rescheduled to be played at other venues in New Zealand. The decision was unanimously supported by Tournament owners the International Rugby Board, the New Zealand Government, the New [...]
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Doubtful Sound One of World’s Top 7 Cruises
Posted on 15. Mar, 2011 by Campbell.
Doubtful Sound in Fiordland has been picked by American travel website AOL Travel, as the place to experience one of the world’s top seven “unbelievablys scenic cruises”. AOL Travel writer, Janna Grabber rated it as“ breathtaking” along with cruises in Antarctica, Alaska, the French Riviera, French Polynesia, Maine’s Penobscot Bay and the Norwegian Fjords. “Fiordland [...]
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Self Drive Tours of Middle Earth
Posted on 22. Dec, 2010 by Campbell.
Relaxing Journeys have just introduced 3 new self drive tour itineraries for fans of the Lord of the Rings movies. Our itineraires are perfectly suited for those wanting to explore Middle Earth at their own pace, and include a comprehensive travel compendium, including Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook, maps, vouchers and travel guides to help [...]
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Motorhomes & Campervans on Sale!
Posted on 17. Dec, 2010 by Campbell.
Finally, you can now book your motorhome or campervan holiday to New Zealand with Relaxing Journeys! It’s taken us a while, but we didn’t want to rush into it and we had to find a partner that we were confident would provide our clients with top of the line service. The freedom of travelling by motorhome & [...]
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2011 NZ Coach Tours Running Out!
Posted on 21. Nov, 2010 by Campbell.
The lucky and wise, over the last few months have picked up some great deals on coach tours to New Zealand this summer. It’s been a very busy booking season and that means one thing – departure dates with availbility are thin on the ground! It is becomning increasing hard to secure a place on any escorted coach [...]
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Christchurch Earthquake Update
Posted on 06. Sep, 2010 by Campbell.
To all our clients currently visiting New Zealand, and to those that have planned an upcoming trip – no need to worry! Relaxing Journeys is operating as per usual and we have not been affected personally as our offices are located in Auckland & Australia. We’d like to thank those clients that have emailed or contacted us to express [...]
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Relaxing Journeys Gets A Plug From Frommers
Posted on 08. Aug, 2010 by Campbell.
Since the 1957 publication of Arthur Frommer’s revolutionary Europe on $5 a Day, the Frommer’s collection of travel products has expanded to include over 300 guidebooks, reaffirming Frommer’s as one of the most trusted names in travel today. Relaxing Journeys have been mentioned in the latest (6th Edition) Guide to New Zealand: “Relaxing Journeys specializes [...]
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All aboard!
Posted on 30. Jul, 2010 by Campbell.
Relaxing Journeys are now selling 5 brand new cruise itineraries from Island Escape. Showcasing the Abel Tasman National Park, the Marlborough Sounds, Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf and the Bay of Islands, the 42 metre (140 feet) ‘Island Passage’ is unique in that other vessels of her size carry more than double the 20 passengers that she can [...]
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2010/11 EARLYBIRD SALE NOW ON!
Posted on 24. Mar, 2010 by Campbell.
Relaxing Journeys have just released their earlybird specials for all escorted coach tours and small group tours. All coach tours are now on sale for next seasons departures. In most cases the ‘next season’ starts in September/October and runs through to April 2011, so if you are planning a trip to New Zealand during this [...]
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Relaxing Journeys Awarded ‘AAT Kings Top NZ Wholesaler’
Posted on 09. Mar, 2010 by Campbell.
‘AAT Kings Annual Champions Trip’ has come and gone for another year. This year 40 of AAT King’s top consultants in Australasia were treated to a 5 day tour of Tasmania. Our tour commenced in Hobart (fabulous city), then on to Port Arthur. The next day we drove across the state to Strahan on the west coast where [...]
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Happy New Year Sale!
Posted on 01. Jan, 2010 by Campbell.
Happy New Year to all our past clients, clients on the road now and to those visitors to our site who we hope will be our future clients! The Summer season has well and truely begun in New Zealand, and typically for this time of year we are having our ups and downs. From now until March/April [...]
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Kaikoura Whale Watch Takes First Prize
Posted on 22. Dec, 2009 by Campbell.
As I’m struggling to find my sea legs I am quickly distracted by a call from the skipper that there is a Whale about to breach! My eyes quickly scan the blue horizon as I search for this majestic beast. I am so busy looking as far as the eye can see that I don’t [...]
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44 New Scenic Day Tours, Scenic Flights, 4WD Tours & Cruises
Posted on 05. Nov, 2009 by Campbell.
Relaxing Journeys have added 44 new day tours to our repertoire today. Thats more that 70 day tours to choose from! Departing from all the major centres in New Zealand, your choice of tours include scenic flights throughout the South Island & Northland as well as half & full day cruises and sailing adventures in the Bay [...]
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Ipipiri – Discover The Bay of Islands
Posted on 26. Oct, 2009 by Campbell.
Craig at Relaxing Journeys was recently invited by Grand Pacific Tours to join them in the inaugural launch of the Ipipiri (E-pip-e-rey), a scenic overnight cruise of the Bay of Islands. Ipipiri, the sacred Maori name of the Bay of Islands, is a four storey, state of the art vessel, with stylish interior and 30 king state rooms, [...]
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Relaxing Journeys Australia Relaunched
Posted on 23. Sep, 2009 by Campbell.
We’ve finally, finished the relaunch of Relaxing Journeys Australia. (www.relaxingjourneys.com.au). 346 guided coach tours of Australia and New Zealand catering for the over 50′s. That inclues over 140 days tours throughout Australia and 13 brand new city explorer and flyaround tours. City Explorers & Flyarounds are the perfect way to discover the best bits of [...]
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Earthquake Felt in South Island
Posted on 16. Jul, 2009 by Campbell.
An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, and causing a small tsunami (of 17 centimetres) in the southern Fiordland region was felt last night. New Zealand has between 10,000 and 15,000 earthquakes every year, so locals are used to feeling the earth move. This particular undersea quake was located about 160 kilometres west of [...]
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11 Day South Island Christmas Tour
Posted on 10. Jul, 2009 by Campbell.
Luxury coach holiday specialist Grand Pacific Tours has just released an 11-day South Island Tour incorporating the festive season. The tour, on a luxurious 20 seat Ultimate Coach, departs on the 22nd Deceber 2009. The Ultimate Coach is a regular sized coach, designed to exacting standards with 20 leather reclining seats, entertainment consoles with 4 [...]
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Queenstown Winterfestival Starts in 2 Days
Posted on 24. Jun, 2009 by Campbell.
The Southern Hemisphere’s biggest winter party is the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival and this year it runs from 26 June to 5 July. The Queenstown Winter Festival attracts some 60,000 people for a frenzy of concerts, balls, competitions, races, fireworks, bands, comedy, debates, food, wine… you name it. Thirty five years ago a bunch of [...]
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2009 Ski Season Has Now Begun
Posted on 23. Jun, 2009 by Campbell.
What is your idea of the perfect ski holiday? Great snow? Gentle slopes, or steeps for thrills? A variety of resorts? A buzzing après scene and the backdrop of picturesque scenery? Look no further as New Zealand has all this plus more, and is about to become the ideal winter paradise for your next ski [...]
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Party Central
Posted on 22. Jun, 2009 by Campbell.
The Rugby World Cup 2011 is creeping up very fast, and progress is finally being made on many of the infrastructure developments required to make this the best World Cup ever. Speaking at the TRENZ tourism event in Auckland, Prime Minister John Key announced that Auckland’s Queens Wharf will be used as ‘party central’ during [...]
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Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses on New Zealands South Island
Posted on 19. May, 2009 by Campbell.
Relaxing Journeys have recently added Hapuku Lodge to our range of boutique properties offered on our premium self drive tour range. Premium self drives touring the east coast of the South Island have the opportunity to experience this unique lodge. Situated in one of the most spectacular settings in New Zealand, nestled between the Kaikoura [...]
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Update on Swine Flu
Posted on 18. May, 2009 by Campbell.
Health authorities are warning that Influenza A (H1N1) remains of concern, although it has dropped out of the headlines. Border authorities are continuing to screen arriving passengers into New Zealand and a number of people remain in quarantine, although all New Zealanders with confirmed cases of H1N1 have recovered. Source: Tourism New Zealand
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New Zealand Swine Flu Update
Posted on 05. May, 2009 by Campbell.
The New Zealand government has moved quickly to respond to cases of Swine Flu in New Zealand. A small number of people in New Zealand have tested probable or are suspected of having the illness – all have been isolated and treated promptly. As soon as the Government was notified in late April of suspected [...]
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New Zealand Swine Flu
Posted on 29. Apr, 2009 by Campbell.
The New Zealand government has moved quickly to respond to cases of Swine Flu in New Zealand. A total of 14 people in New Zealand have tested positive for Influenza A today (Wednesday April 29, 2009) and are being treated as having Swine Flu. As soon as the Government was notified of suspected cases from [...]
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NZ hotels on world’s hot list
Posted on 20. Jan, 2009 by Campbell.
Five of New Zealand’s top hotels have made it onto the list of 500 best hotels in the world just published by international magazine Travel + Leisure. Queenstown’s five-star Millbrook Resort scores a spot on the magazine’s sixth annual ‘500 best hotels’ list, as do Rotorua’s Treetops Lodge, Taupo’s Huka Lodge, Auckland’s new Hyatt Regency [...]