Just a small update this month, but this does not mean there isn’t a lot going on in New Zealand! Don’t let these fantastic operators escape your attention. We have everything from picturesque train journeys to amazing food and wine tours.

The kaleidoscope of colours that embraces New Zealand in autumn is slowly fading as winter is ready to settle in. So make sure you find a nice warm place for your clients to rest each night and make sure they pack their jacket (and their camera!).

NATIONAL

Northern Explorer - KiwiRail’s new North Island service

KiwiRail’s new North Island train service, which will begin service in the middle of this year, has been given a new name - Northern Explorer. The name was announced yesterday at TRENZ. "The new name signals a fundamentally different train service for the North Island and the transformation of the service into an internationally recognised tourism product," says KiwiRail’s Scenic Manager Tom Evers-Swindell. "Feedback that KiwiRail received from Overlander passengers about the service is that while the scenery is beautiful and the staff are fantastic, the carriages are very old and the journey time is too long. The introduction of the Northern Explorer service with its new scenic carriages and shorter journey time will be a big shift in the experience that will be offered to our international and domestic passengers." Mr Evers-Swindell says that KiwiRail has and will continue to work with tourism operators to develop tourism packages.

www.tranzscenic.co.nz

NELSON

Wine, Art and Wilderness

Wine Art and Wilderness Tours is a true expression of all those things held dear and highly valued by Nelson and Marlborough locals - Wine, Food, Art and Eco diversity. A number of new tours have been developed, please visit their website for more information.

www.wineartandwildernesstours.co.nz

WEST COAST

Kiwi Experience - Green not Mean

Kiwi Experience - New Zealand’s legendary ‘green’ bus adventure network - has just introduced a multi-day eco-adventure for travellers who’re prepared to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty on a very personal discovery of the South Island’s spectacular West Coast region. Called ‘Green not Mean’, the Conservation Volunteers project is based at Punakaiki - an iconic coastal landscape in the northern part of Westland - and runs for either four or six days. The programme of tree planting, seed collection, and removing pesky exotic weeds will help create an ecological corridor spanning from the majestic Southern Alps to the rugged west coast beaches.

www.kiwiexperience.com/nz-bus-travel-green.aspx

QUEENSTOWN

Hollyford Track

Hollyford Track Guided Walks, one of New Zealand’s premier guided walks, is adding the ‘wow’ factor to its walks with the inclusion of a new scenic helicopter flight from the start of the 2012 summer season. The scenic flight from remote Martin’s Bay will come at the end of each guided walk, flying over pristine rivers, dramatic alpine vistas and glacial formations, thundering waterfalls, wild coastline and down the length of majestic Milford Sound, landing at Milford Airport.

www.hollyfordtrack.co.nz