New Zealand is a tiny island country of about 100,000 square miles situated in the South Pacific. It has a population of about 4 million people, millions of sheep and a reputation of having one of the most pristine environments on the planet. New Zealanders jokingly refer to this land as "Godzone," and are quietly proud of their country.

The first inhabitants were from Polynesia and the main wave of immigration took place some one thousand years ago. Legends tell of the early Polynesian navigators on their epic migration south to Aotearoa - Land of the Long White Cloud. Europeans arrived less than 300 years ago.

New Zealand is a unique country, with a special claim to being different from any other. When it split from the ancient super-continent of Gondwanaland, New Zealand became geographically isolated from other land masses for at least 80 million years. Its flora and fauna have developed species that are found nowhere else. Ancient plant and animal species such as primitive pines, ferns, flowers, birds and reptiles evolved in isolation. The flightless kiwi and the tuatara can both trace their ancestry back to this long vanished world. This land has many features which are not unique in themselves, but is one of few places where so many can be found so close together. It is a land of contrasts and one which has been described as "a pocket edition of the world," with coastlines and beaches, alps and glaciers, rivers, lakes and forests, green pastures and some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Within a few miles the West Coast of the South Island changes from mountains and glaciers to rain forests to rugged coastlines with penguins, seals and dolphins.

Geologically, much of New Zealand is very young and being situated in a geologically unstable area there are still phenomena such as upward thrusting mountains and geothermal activity.

Travelling Around New Zealand....

Many travellers have chosen to experience New Zealand by way of a large coach tour, or they have chosen to "self-drive". But you’ll miss a lot of wonderful experiences with either of these options. We decided to provide an alternative with our own intimate small group tours of New Zealand's South Island.  With a small group we have the time to talk to you and answer all your questions.

Travellers mistake New Zealand for a small country requiring a short time to explore. In reality, with dramatically changing scenery, walking tracks to explore, and winding roads, one day on tour can be like a week of a normal holiday!  We have local knowledge of the distances, terrain, weather, seasonal highlights, local specialities, and our own favourite places.

The people are so friendly...
Exploring New Zealand is like stepping back in time. People speak English, they say hello to you in the street and in the small towns you'll get talking. Away from the main tourist centres, shop keepers show a genuine interest in your affairs.

New Zealand lies on a latitude similar to between Seattle and Los Angeles, but without the continental influence, the weather can have dramatic changes within one season or even one day. Be prepared for any weather and remember southern hemisphere seasons are reversed compared to the North - it’s summer in New Zealand when it’s winter in the northern hemisphere!

Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to make an enquiry. Talk to us about where you want to go and what you want to see and we will design a tour around your needs.

Your visit to New Zealand is not complete without seeing
how New Zealanders live and enjoy their beautiful country.