Tourism New Zealand hosted a famil for Product Managers from Germany and Switzerland to showcase some of the regions and products they may not have seen before. They particularly wanted a focus on walking, wildlife and adventure activities with some luxury as well.

Their first stop was New Zealand's sunniest region, Nelson, and of course the famous and beautiful Abel Tasman National Park. The first day was hosted by Wilson's Abel Tasman which offers a comprehensive range of holidays including Vista Cruise, Vigour Water Taxis, Guided Walks and Sea Kayaking with overnight trips staying in the only Beachfront Lodges in the Park where skilled hosts serve fine food accompanied by wines and beers from the local region. They spent the following day with Abel Tasman Kayaks.

The group also had a day in the region's other famous National Park; Nelson Lakes. They did a full day guided walk with Southern Wilderness, then their last day in Nelson the group split up with one group fly fishing with Stonefly Lodge, and the other at Happy Valley Adventures where they did everything from riding a 4 wheel farm bike to riding a flying fox.

The next region was the wine region of Marlborough where the group spent the first morning on a personalised wine tour, followed by a Greenshell Mussel Cruise in the Marlborough Sounds before stopping for the night at the Portage Resort Hotel. The next day the group split once more, with one walking a portion of the Queen Charlotte Track and one taking a Dolphin Watch Eco Tour in the Marlborough Sounds.

The group then took a flight to Wellington in the North Island where their first stop was Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, before overnighting on the bird sanctuary of Kapiti Island with Kapiti Island Alive where the group were very lucky to see Kiwi in the wild.

They spent half a day in the wine region of the Wairarapa before taking the train ride back to Wellington. For their last day in Wellington they were able to choose from either the Zest Food Tour, Flat Earth - Maori Treasures, Flat Earth - Lord of the Rings Tour, or Seal Coast Safaris.

Quote from participant:

"I have been so far on 6 different famtrips going back and forth through NZL and I frankly have to say that my time in Nelson just thrilled me. Apart from the beautiful landscape I have never seen such a high density of truly dedicated and nice people. All product managers were amazed and the hospitality we experienced was world class!!!!"