The Life Back Promise

Any holiday can give you a break from your daily routine, but it takes a special kind of vacation to give you back your life. In New Zealand you can rediscover the things you love about yourself and the planet you live on. Start fresh with nine days (or more!) of fresh scenery, clean air and amazing adventures.

Leave for New Zealand Friday night and fly home the next Sunday - it’s only a week’s leave but it will make a world of difference to the rest of your year. If you have more time available, even better.

In the southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean, you’ll find breathing space, a change of pace and experiences that will recharge your batteries. And because the US dollar goes so far in New Zealand (you get about two of ours for one of yours), your vacation won’t be spoiled by the nagging feeling that you’re spending too much.
"The mist finally cleared and the views of this volcanic landscape were truly epic. I can understand why Peter Jackson filmed scenes of Lord of the rings here, it's a real mythical place." [Adapted from a blog by Christosp, Tongariro National Park, New Zealand Travel Blog]

A microcosm of the planet’s best features

"After five days and nights camping on the Heaphy Track, all we can say is WOW! What a beautiful and varied landscape. We covered 50 miles, climbed to 3000 feet, and crossed from the east to the rugged west coast, ending at the beach on the Tasman Sea." [Adapted from Nz2008's TravelPod blog]

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"Before I can think too much about it, we are in free fall. I can’t breathe. The wind howls in my ear. It is COLD! The first couple of seconds are scary, but once you are out, you are out. Time to enjoy the ride!"[Adapted from Skydiving: 12,000 feet over Lake Taupo, a blog by Melanie McMinn]

In New Zealand you’ll have both the time and the opportunity to tick some of those "things I want to do before I die" boxes. Have you always wanted to shoot rapids in a raft or skydive over snow-capped mountains? Would you like to float through caves or walk on glaciers? Or do you simply crave the pleasure of relaxing in a geothermal hot spring or watching the sunrise over a serene lake, without another person in sight? Our population is just 4.5 million and yet we have a land area greater than the state of Colorado, so crowds and queues are hard to find. If you dream it, New Zealand has it.

Touching Maori culture

"They are the most naturally friendly people you could wish to meet. No wonder the sun chooses to start its day in New Zealand."[Memories, TNZ, J Bolton]

New Zealand’s indigenous people, the Maori, keep their culture alive with music, art, story-telling and dance performance. Cultural shows, both traditional and contemporary, are an entertaining way to discover the language and spirit of the Maori people. In some parts of the country, such as Eastland, you will find carved meeting houses, beautifully painted Maori churches and children riding horses bareback on the beach.

Happiness on a plate

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[Adapted from a blog, Travels with Sunny D]

The beauty of the landscape has always drawn travellers to New Zealand, but now the word is out that some of the most breathtaking views are best enjoyed from a perfectly set table. Fresh seasonal ingredients, utilised to their full potential by talented chefs, have the power to rejuvenate your palate. And there are vineyards where you can tour the cellar before settling down with a cleverly composed degustation menu. You can taste New Zealand’s culinary passion every time you dine, but your credit card won’t be stretched to capacity - three courses at a top-end restaurant will only cost around US$35.

Quality all the way

When putting your New Zealand itinerary together, look for the Qualmark© logo on websites for accommodation and activities - it’s your sign that the operator has been independently quality assessed.