Auckland is New Zealand's largest city and will most likely be your entry point into New Zealand. Also known as the City of Sails, or as Kiwis themselves name it Little Big City, Auckland is certainly the most vibrant and most happening city in New Zealand. By international standards it's quite small, but it's also one of the world's most exciting waterside cities. Situated in the Hauraki Gulf the city is surrounded by water, and this is reflected in the number of leisure boats per capita, which is the highest in the world. To really appreciate it, you have to take to the waters, sailing on the harbour or taking a ferry to one of the numerous islands, including Waiheke and Rangitoto Islands, or a little bit more off the beaten track, Great Barrier Island.

Northland is a region in New Zealand rich with historic significance, and it is also the birthplace of New Zealand. It is one of the first regions settled from Polynesia, and also the place where the European settlers first made contact with the Maori. The main attraction in this region is the sublime maritime park of the Bay of Islands, with no less than 144 islands and secluded bays. Most visitors queue up for the Bay of Islands, but all along the East Coast you'll find scenic, sheltered bays and exquisite beaches.

Also called the "Winterless North", the subtropical climate is pleasant throughout the year, and an aquatic playground for a whole range of leisure and adventure activities such as diving, fishing, sailing, surfing, kayaking and dolphin swimming. The main gateway for these activities is Paihia.

Green rolling hills and lush farmlands are the main decor in Waitomo/Waikatoa, and it is home to some well known icons such as the world class surf breaks in the bohemian seaside town of Raglan, which also happens to be our home. The set for the Shire in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbiton movies in Matamata is a unique experience not to be missed, and the world famous Waitomo Caves are a magical place, with numerous options to explore the caves, whether participating in one of the many adventure activities or marvelling at the wonderful light display created by glowworms.

Rotorua is New Zealand's main geothermal area and a centre where Maori culture thrives. It is situated on the shore of Lake Rotorua, and the whole region offers a mix of pristine lakes to enjoy. Explore the many geothermal wonderlands with boiling mud pools, geysers, steamy and colorful lakes, and unwind at a natural hot spring spa or choose from one of the therapeutic spa and massage therapies

The Coromandel Peninsula is a favourite among New Zealanders themselves, and it's not hard to understand why. Its only a 2 hour drive from the major cities Auckland and Hamilton, but yet it feels quite remote and isolated, so it's an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The fact that is also boasts some of New Zealand's finest and most pristine beaches may obviously play a big role as well!

Lifestyle in the Coromandel is very relaxed and there are many coastal towns each with their own distinct character scattered across the peninsula. It is a haven for those seeking an alternative lifestyle away from the city. 

New Zealand's main volcanic area, the Taupo Volcanic Zone, stretches in a line from White Island, north of the Bay of Plenty, through Rotorua and down to Tongariro National Park, which proudly claims the title of dual UNESCO World Heritage Area. The Central Plateau, at the heart of the North Island, is the centre of New Zealand's volcanic activity, and the volcanoes put on a spectacular show from time to time, perhaps once  around every 7 years.

The Ruapehu/Tongariro National Park region is a mecca for outdoor lovers, year round! Summer is a great time to hit the hiking or biking trails, and in winter you can ski down an active volcano, and it is also the largest ski field in New Zealand! The world famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing is New Zealand's premier day hike, if not one of the world's! For an even greater appreciation of all the volcanoes, the Tongariro Circuit is a 3-4 day tramp around the volcanoes and is one of New Zealand's Great Walks. The fresh rivers near Turangi provide for world class trout fishing, which can also be found in Taupo.

Lake Taupo is New Zealand's largest lake. In fact, it is the largest fresh water lake in Australasia, and with the plethora of activities on offer (from fishing and boating on the lake or scenic flights over the voclanoes to the adrenaline pumping activities such as skydiving, bungy jumping, jetboating) it is on most traveller's itineraries. Taupo is also the source of New Zealand's longest river, the Waikato River, and the Huka Falls are a spectacular sight to behold.

The East Coast of New Zealand is a sun blessed region and receives most sunshine hours annually across the entire country. No surprise it is also one of the largest wine regions in the country, and there's no shortage of world class wine to sample on a variety of available wine tours. 

Beautiful beaches can be found all along the East Coast, and as the first place to see a new day in the world, the sunrises on show every morning are devastatingly spectacular. Inland you'll find towering forested hills in the Kaweka and Raukumara Forest parks, and a little more inland the majestic Te Urewera Park, taking you back in time with ancient and enchanting forests.

The East Cape is a scenic, isolated and little known region in the North Island where the pace of life is laid back and the settlements are predominantly Maori.  The drive around the Cape offers magnificent views of the wild coast dotted with little bays, inlets and coves that change their mood together with the weather. For a unique, remote experience off the main tourist trail, this is a must place region to visit in New Zealand.

Southland is most famous for Milford Sound, and while a visit to Milford Sound simply cannot be missed, it is well worth spending a little more time in this incredible frontier of rugged fiords, mountains, spectacular coastal scenery and an abundance of marine and bird wildlife.

The spectacular Fiordland National Park, part of Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area, includes some of the best walks in New Zealand such as the world famous Milford and Routeburn Tracks. Along the Milford track you'll find a sign somewhere "the finest walk in the world", and we don't argue that. It is right up there and the scenery is jaw-dropping from start to finish. Three of the walks in Fiordland National Park also belong to the Great Walks of New Zealand, the Milford, Kepler and Routeburn. The gateway into Fiordland National Park is Te Anau, beautifully situated on the shores of Lake Te Anau.

Wellington is a destination with many superlatives. It is beautifully nestled between bush clad hills and one of the most picturesque harbours in the world, it was named the best city to live in the world in 2017, and it is also one of the windiest cities in the world. But as Wellingtonians say : You can't beat Wellington on a good day, and we certainly have a soft spot for this fantastic city.

Wellington is the nation's centre for arts and culture, with the National Museum Te Papa one of the main icons of the city.  The city also contains a plethora of restaurants, cafes, bars, nightlife and activities and is also home to New Zealand's parliament. Due to its compact size it is easy to explore the city on foot.

Taranaki might be a slightly less known region in New Zealand, unless you're a keen surfer or windsurfer. The landscape is dominated by the perfectly shaped volcanic cone which is Mt Taranaki, or Mt Egmont. At 2500m not only does it entirely dominate the landscape, but it also creates its own climate. On any given day, the winds may be reaching gale force on one side of the mountain, while on the other side you may be relaxing on the beach without a sigh of wind, such is the impact of the mountain.

In winter you may ski down the mountain in the morning, and in summer there are a number of excellent hiking opportunities, including hikes to the summit or right around the mountain.

Surf Highway 45 offers word class surf and windsurfing conditions and the black iron sandy beaches are wild and beautiful and aplenty.

When travelling from the North Island to the South Island on the Interislander ferry, the sheltered waterways of the Marlborough Sounds are the first sight. Picton is the destination port, and a good base to go walking, fishing, sailing, kayaking and exploring the many secluded bays in the Sounds. 

The Marlborough region is internationally recognized for its world class wine, most notably its Sauvignon Blanc, and there are many different ways to sample these wines as their are many wineries offering excellent wine tours. By bike, or by luxury old timer cars, the creativity with which these tours are organized is brilliant. The seafood in this region is also sumptuous, great to combine with a glass of the local wines.

Those put off by the large crowds on the Abel Tasman Track will love the Queen Charlotte Track. The beaches are a little less exquisite, but the coastal scenery is still stunning and there are many accommodation options aolong the track.

The Nelson-Tasman region is blessed with an incredibly diverse natural beauty, offering no less than three of the finest National Parks in the country. From the golden beaches of Abel Tasman National Park, dramatic and lush rainforests in Kahurangi National Park, to the alpine environment of Nelson Lakes National Park, this region has it all. The area around Nelson is also one of the sunniest in the country, due to the protecting surrounding hills, so it's a popular region with travelers.

Nelson is the South Island's second largest city, noted for its fruit-growing industry in the Motueka Valley, wineries and micro-breweries. It also has an energetic local arts and crafts community with local artists exhibiting their products on the famed Nelson market every Saturday. Nearby Rabbit Island boasts great swimming beaches, boating fishing and forest walks. 

Further west, Motueka is the centre of a green tea, hops and fruit-growing area, and is a good base to explore the nearby parks. The drive over Takaka Hill takes you into Golden Bay, whre you may find the biggest cave in the Southern Hemisphere as well as New Zealand's largest freshwater spring, the Waikoropupu Springs, simply called "Pupu Springs", with reputedly the clearest water in the world.

Kaikoura is a unique place by the sea where marine wildlife lives in abundance, against the backdrop of the impressive Kaikoura mountain ranges. It is well known for its range of eco-tourism activities and getting up close with the main inhabitant along its shores, the giant Sperm Whale.

Whale watching in Kaikoura is simply a must-do as you're guaranteed to see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat, and along the way you're most likely to see a pod of bottlenose or duksy dolphins play in the water, be impressed by the take-off and water landing of the Royal Albatross, and see a bunch of sea lions lazing about on a rock, suc is the diversity.

The ocean here also provides some spectacular seafood, and a stay in Kaikoura may not go by without having tried the crayfish

The approach to new Zealand's tallest mountain, Mt Cook, via the blue lake of Lake Pukaki is something you will remember for a lifetime. At 3754m Mt Cook entirely dominates the landscape and as you draw ever closer, its imperious glaze on you only gets more and more impressive.

Mt Cook National Park, along with Aspiring and Westland National Parks, have been incorporated into a World Heritage Area extending from the Cook River in Westland down to the base of Fiordland. Of the 27 mountains in New Zealand which are over 300om, 22 of them are in Mt Cook National Park. The park also boasts New Zealand's longest glacier, the Tasman Glacier.

The park offer numerous hikes to get up close with Mt Cook, but also offer many other exciting adventure activities, such as mountaineering, helicopter flights, heli-skiing and sea-kayaking on glacial waters.

The West Coast or Westland is a rugged and wild land with rocky beaches, deep river gorges,  bush-clad hills and towering icy-peaks. Extending across a 600km long stretch on the western side of the Southern Alps, a visit here takes you through a myriad of five National Parks, yes five!!, including the World Heritage Area - Te Wahipounamu. Each of the national parks - Kahurangi, Paparoa, Arthur's Pass, Westland and Mt Aspiring National Parks - have their their own unique and distinct features. You'll find New Zealand's highest mountains, most dense and lush rainforests, natural rivers, glacial lakes, deepest gorges,  and of course the two phenomenal Glaciers themselves, Fox and Franz Josef.

Wanaka receives slightly less attention than it's more famous neighbour Queenstown, only about an hour away, but one may argue which of the two towns is nestled in the most impressive scenery. While that may be a very difficult question to answer, Wanaka boasts a similar range of adrenaline activities, but with some more serenity about it all.  The town offers fine dining and living and is the gateway to Mt Aspiring National Park and the Treble Cone, Cardrona, Harris Mountains and Pisa Range ski areas. Every second Easter, Wanaka hosts the incredibly popular Warbirds over Lake Wanaka, a huge international air show that sees the town swell with visitors.

The central feature of the region is Mt Aspiring, surrounded by the national park with the same name. The alpine scenery does not get any more dramatic than this in New Zealand, and offers some of the best hiking in the country. The park has wide valleys, secluded flats, more than 100 glaciers and towering mountains. The southern end of the park around Glenorchy receives most visitors and includes popular hikes such as the Routeburn Track, one of New Zealand's great walks, but there are also excellent shorter walks and more demanding hikes in the Matukituki Valley close to Wanaka. 

For a long time Queenstown in Central Otago has had an international reputation for its spectacular scenery and adventure activities, but the region is now also recognized for its award winning wines. 

Queenstown is the unofficial 'adventure capital of the world', but the entire Wakatipu region with its stunning lake and surrounding mountains alone are a real attraction. The aptly named Remarkable mountains provide the most breathtaking backdrop, whether snow capped in winter, or at sunrise or in the afterglow at dusk.

Facilities in Queenstown are excellent as well, from budget to boutique accommodation options, some of the best dining in New Zealand and a buzzing nightlife with numerous cafes and bars. 

There's also great skiing in winter on Coronet Peak and Cardrona and plenty of substitute adrenaline activities in summer. Bungy jumping was invented in New Zealand and Queenstown offers a plethora of jumping options. There's also skydiving, jetboating, mountainbiking, canyoning, white water rafting, hiking, sledging, parapenting, the list is simply endless.

Dunedin is the second city of the South Island after Christchurch, a quaint city with many historic buildings and blessed with a magnificent harbour. The surrounding Otago Peninsula and area is renowned for its incredible diversity of marine wildlife, and eco-tourism thrives here.  You can get up close with the world's rarest penguins, visit the world's only mainland breeding ground of the Royal albatross and see fur seals ans sea lions laze about on a rock or beach.

The dramatic coastline in this region has many stunning white sandy beaches with excellent surfing as well, though the water is cold here. Tunnel Beach just south of St Clair beach has sea-carved limestone cliffs rock arches and caves and kids will love the walk through an the excavated cave to a secluded and spectacular beach.

Further down the coast is the region known as the Catlins, which stretches from Waipapa Point to Nugget Point. It includes a number of fine forests with many beautiful waterfalls, bays and scenic reserves and also a great place for wildlife spotting. 

1.0   Interpretation and general

1.1   “We”, “our” or “us” means SOUTHERN JOURNEYS LIMITED

1.2    “Services” means the services undertaken by us as travel agents on your behalf in arranging “package tour” holidays in New Zealand

1.3   "The CGA” means the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993

1.4   You acknowledge that these terms and conditions shall apply to all contracts and transactions between us and you, and that any other conditions, descriptions and representations are    expressly excluded. Any addition or variation must be in writing and signed by both of us to be enforceable.

2.0  Contract

2.1   These terms and conditions shall be the only terms and conditions of the contract between us and you, and shall apply to all transactions between us.

2.2   The contract becomes effective upon your acceptance of the travel package proposal prepared by us and presented to you.

2.3   Any quotation may be withdrawn by us at any time.  Quotations otherwise remain open for acceptance for a maximum period of 14 days from the date of quotation and shall then be deemed to be withdrawn.

3.0   Price, forfeiture and price variations

3.1   All prices set out on our website and our quotations are in New Zealand Dollars and include Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 15%.

3.2   You are required to pay us a deposit of 20% immediately upon receipt of our invoice. The invoice will be issued to you upon your acceptance of our travel package proposal. 

3.3   We reserve the right to vary our quoted price at any time prior to the payment of the deposit and any variation in price thereafter due to changes in exchange rates, transport, freight, insurance, GST, or circumstances beyond our control between the date of quotation and the date of the tour, are payable by you.

3.4   The balance of the price must be paid not later than 45 days prior to the commencement of the tour. All payments are to be made in New Zealand Dollars by way of electronic banking or credit card. Failure to pay timeously will result in the cancellation of the tour and forfeiture by you of the deposit.

3.5   If you wish to vary the tour booking in any way, you must request it in writing. Any such variation/s may incur additional costs and any additional extras will increase the original contract price. You must pay any such additional costs before the tour commences and you acknowledge that our agreeing to any variations or extras is entirely within our discretion and that we are not obliged to accept any such variations or extras.          

3.6   You accept and acknowledge that certain costs are not included in the contract price and remain your responsibility such as the cost of insurances, insurance cover for cancellation, repatriation costs, medical expenses, emergency evacuation, gratuities and beverages, optional meals and any optional excursion not reflected on the booking reservation. Meals are not included in the price unless otherwise stated. We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance.

3.7   All accommodation prices listed on the website are based on twin/double occupation, unless otherwise specified. Any cost incurred by the hotel resulting from any act or damage to the hotel will be payable by you. We will not be liable for any loss, theft or damage of personal belongings while staying in one of our accommodation options

4.0          Cancellations and refunds

4.1   If you wish to cancel a booked tour, you must notify us in writing and the date of receipt by us of your notice of cancellation will be deemed to be the date of cancellation. Cancellation fees will apply.

4.2   The following are the cancellation fees that will apply:

• Where the date of cancellation is a date 45 days or more before the start of the tour, the cancellation fee will be equivalent to the deposit paid
• Where the date of cancellation is a date 30 to 45 days before the start of the tour the cancellation fee shall be 25% of the contract price
• Where the date of cancellation is a date 7 to 30 days before the start of the tour the cancellation fee shall be 50% of the contract price
• Where the date of cancellation is a date 7 days or less before the start of the tour the cancellation fee shall be 100% of the contract price

4.3   The cancellation fee is due and payable on the date of cancellation and we have the right to take such fees from the deposit or from any other monies paid by you. If payment is not made in full promptly on the due date, you will be liable to pay penalty interest at the rate of 2% per calendar month from the due date until the date those monies are paid in full, together with all or any costs (including solicitor and own client costs) incurred by us in collecting any such payment from you.   

4.4   No refunds will be made once travel has commenced, or where you fail to show up at a particular activity/meeting point/accommodation.

4.5   Refunds may be made at our discretion as a result of weather conditions, natural disasters, or lack of availability of services. You accept and agree that there may be some variance in the amount refunded compared to the amount initially charged due to exchange rate fluctuations, and we accept no liability for any such fluctuations or any subsequent card/bank

5.0          Liability and ACC

5.1   Whilst we fully accept our obligations under the CGA and undertake to exercise reasonable care and skill in performing the services we are contracted to perform for you:

        5.1.1  You acknowledge that activities such as skydiving, jet boating, bungee jumping, horse riding and any other activities of an adventurous nature, carry inherit risks and that you   undertake any such activities entirely at your own risk and will sign all or any indemnities presented to you by our agents or third party operators; and    

        5.1.2  We shall not be liable in any way if we are unable to perform our obligations as a result of circumstances beyond our reasonable control such as fire, floods, earthquakes, strikes, lock outs, and delays or breakdowns in transport; and

        5.1.3  We shall not be liable whether in contract or in tort for any loss or damage resulting from injury or death or theft whilst you are on tour, either in connection with any activities undertaken by you or services performed by any of our employees or agents, or otherwise.

5.2   In the event of any personal injury caused by accident, compensation cover is available through ACC in New Zealand. However, you acknowledge and understand that ACC cannot be sued for personal injury - ACC replaces that right. ACC also only covers treatment costs whilst in NZ and does not count as a replacement for travel insurance.

5.3   For the avoidance of any doubt, we shall not be liable under any circumstances for any consequential, indirect or special damages or loss of any kind whatsoever nor shall we be liable for any damage or loss caused by our agents, contractors or other persons whomsoever.

6.0   Documents

6.1   You are responsible for carrying valid travel documents, such as passports and visas, and a valid driver’s licence.

6.2   In the event that you are refused entry to New Zealand for whatever reason, no refund will be made.

7.0   Car/Camper rentals

7.1   In the event that the travel package includes the rental of a car or camper, you will be subject to the terms and conditions provided by the rental agency, which terms and conditions will be provided by the agent on its website. It is your responsibility to read and understand those terms and conditions.

7.2   Hire includes unlimited kilometres and basic daily insurance. An excess applies to all rentals. The amount of excess depends on type of vehicle.

7.3   The Excess may be reduced to nil by including Accident Excess Reduction in our quote. You can also purchase excess reduction directly with the rental agency upon arrival.

7.4   All drivers must be 21 years old and over. There is no maximum age for drivers providing they hold a full, valid driver’s licence. All  drivers must present a valid full national driving licence which has been held for at least one year and a current International Driving Licence must accompany driving licences issued in a language other than English

8.0   Third party services

8.1    Many activities offered during the tour or which can be booked individually are operated by independent companies. These companies have been carefully selected by us and are well established, professional companies who assume all responsibility for their safety and satisfactory delivery.

8.2   We only act as your agent in procuring these 3^rd party services. The third party suppliers are not our agents and we shall not under any circumstances be liable for their acts and omissions

9.0   Special requests/complaints

9.1   We will endeavour to accommodate any special requests made by you provided that you must advise us of any special request at the time of booking, and provided further that we accept no liability in this regard.

9.2   Any complaints that you may have in regard to the services we provide must be made by you in writing, and no later than 30 days after your return home. We will endeavour to resolve any complaint in a timely fashion.

10.0   Governing Law

10.1   These terms and conditions will be interpreted in accordance with and governed by the laws of New Zealand and the New Zealand courts will have exclusive jurisdiction in respect of all disputes between us arising therefrom

Taranaki might be a slightly less known region in New Zealand, unless you're a keen surfer or windsurfer. The landscape is dominated by the perfectly shaped volcanic cone which is Mt Taranaki, or Mt Egmont. At 2500m not only does it entirely dominate the landscape, but it also creates its own climate. On any given day, the winds may be reaching gale force on one side of the mountain, while on the other side you may be relaxing on the beach without a sigh of wind, such is the impact of the mountain.

In winter you may ski down the mountain in the morning, and in summer there are a number of excellent hiking opportunities, including hikes to the summit or right around the mountain.

Surf Highway 45 offers word class surf and windsurfing conditions and the black iron sandy beaches are wild and beautiful and aplenty.