RealNZ facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Tourism, travel |
| Predecessors | Wayfare Group, Real Journeys |
| Founded | 2021 |
| Headquarters |
Queenstown
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Area served
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Stewart Island, Fiordland, Doubtful Sound, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Wānaka, Christchurch |
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Key people
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Dave Beeche (CEO) |
RealNZ is a tourism company in New Zealand. It is based in Queenstown. The company offers many ways to explore New Zealand's beautiful places. You can go on boat trips, tours, and adventures. These include places like Queenstown, Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, Te Anau, Fiordland, and Stewart Island / Rakiura.
RealNZ also runs two ski fields: Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone. They also operate the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch. The company was created in October 2021. It brought together many different tourism businesses. These businesses had been growing for over 60 years.
Contents
RealNZ's Story
The company's story began in 1954. That's when Les Hutchins and his wife Olive bought a tour company. It offered trips to Manapouri and Doubtful Sound. Later, they bought Fiordland Travel. This company ran tours to the Te Anau glowworm caves.
In the late 1960s, the Hutchins family bought the historic steamship TSS Earnslaw. They then started offering tours in Milford Sound / Piopiotahi. By 2002, their company, Fiordland Travel Ltd, used the name Real Journeys for all its tours. The company officially changed its name to Real Journeys Ltd in 2006.
Les Hutchins was honored in 2002. He received a special award for his work in protecting nature and helping tourism.
In 2013, Real Journeys bought the Cardrona Alpine Resort ski area. This was a very important step for the company. In 2015, they bought the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch. Other businesses joined the group too. These included Stewart Island Experience (started in 2004) and Wild Kiwi Encounter (bought in 2016). Wild Kiwi Encounter is a joint project with the Rakiura Maori Lands Trust.
Real Journeys also bought Queenstown Rafting completely in 2016. They had been a 50% owner since 1996. They also bought Kiwi Discovery, a coach service company.
In 2018, a new company called Wayfare Group was formed. It was like a parent company for all these businesses. But on October 1, 2021, Wayfare Group was relaunched as RealNZ. The Hutchins family still owns most of RealNZ today.
Air Tours
In 1987, Fiordland Travel started offering flights. These flights took people between Queenstown and Milford Sound. They used small planes for sightseeing and transport. Later, they joined with Mount Cook Airlines. They formed a company called Milford Sound Flightseeing. Fiordland Travel eventually bought this company entirely.
After becoming Real Journeys, they combined their flights with another company. This new partnership was called Milford Sound Flights. Real Journeys later sold its share of this company. However, they still have an agreement for air services to Milford Sound.
Company Leaders
Richard Lauder was the Chief Executive of Real Journeys (later Wayfare Group) from 2012 to 2020. He helped the company buy many new businesses. In October 2020, Stephen England-Hall took over as Chief Executive. He used to be the head of Tourism New Zealand.
In 2021, Paul Norris received a special award. He was the General Manager of Real Journeys and Go Orange. He was honored for his great work in tourism and conservation.
Fun Trips and Adventures
RealNZ offers many exciting trips and activities. Here are some of them:
- Cruises on Lake Wakatipu aboard the old steamship TSS Earnslaw.
- Day visits to Walter Peak Station, a high-country farm.
- Day trips to the amazing Milford Sound / Piopiotahi.
- Tours to the glowworm caves on Lake Te Anau.
- Boat trips across Lake Manapouri.
- Overnight boat trips in Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound / Patea.
- Week-long cruises to Preservation Inlet and Stewart Island.
- Exciting whitewater rafting adventures.
- Fast-paced jet boating rides.
- Peaceful kayaking trips.
- Bus connections in Queenstown, Te Anau, and Milford and Doubtful sounds.
Rafting trips happen on rivers like the Shotover, Kawarau, and Landsborough Rivers. Since October 2021, all these experiences are offered under the RealNZ brand.
The Historic Steamship
The TSS Earnslaw was launched on Lake Wakatipu in 1912. It used to carry sheep, cattle, and people to farms. In the 1960s, people thought about sinking the ship. But in 1969, Fiordland Travel took over. They started carrying goods and passengers. In 1982, the company bought the ship completely.
In 1991, Fiordland Travel also took over the Walter Peak high-country farm. The TSS Earnslaw then started daily trips to the farm. Today, visitors to Walter Peak can enjoy farm experiences, bike rides, and horse trekking. The Earnslaw also takes people to the historic Colonel's House restaurant at Walter Peak.
The TSS Earnslaw is known as the Lady of the Lake. It is a famous symbol of New Zealand tourism. In October 2012, thousands of people celebrated its 100th birthday. It is said to be the oldest coal-fired passenger steamship in the Southern Hemisphere still running for business. In 2021, the owners announced they are looking into ways to power the ship without creating carbon pollution.
Skiing at Cardrona and Treble Cone
Cardrona is a popular ski resort in New Zealand's South Island. It is near Wānaka. The ski field is between 1,260 and 1,860 meters high. It has slopes for all skill levels:
- 25% for beginners
- 25% for intermediate skiers
- 30% for advanced skiers
- 20% for expert skiers
Real Journeys bought Cardrona in 2013. In 2019, they also got approval to buy Treble Cone Investments Ltd. Cardrona and Treble Cone ski resorts are now working to combine their operations and marketing.
International Antarctic Centre
The International Antarctic Centre is in Christchurch. It is right next to Christchurch Airport. It offers many cool experiences for visitors:
- An Antarctic gallery with special exhibits.
- A storm room that feels like Antarctic weather.
- A live penguin rescue exhibit.
- Rides on a Hägglund, which is an all-terrain vehicle used in Antarctica.
- A "4D" cinema for an immersive experience.
Real Journeys bought the International Antarctic Centre in October 2015. However, in July 2023, RealNZ announced that they plan to sell the center.
Protecting Nature
The company's founder, Les Hutchins, cared deeply about protecting nature. Especially in Fiordland National Park. He helped set up the Guardians of the Lakes in 1973. He worked with them for 26 years. He also helped start the New Zealand National Parks and Conservation Foundation.
Real Journeys has held a special charity event called "Birds of the Feather." This event raises money for the Department of Conservation. In 2015, they raised $40,000 to help the endangered kākāpō bird. In 2016, they raised $65,000 for the Tamatea/Dusky Sound Restoration Project. Some of this money helped make Cooper Island predator-free.
In 2013, Real Journeys bought a 155-hectare piece of land at Walter Peak. They started a big project to restore the land. In 2015, they received an award from the Department of Conservation. This was for clearing invasive wilding pines and planting native trees. The award also recognized their work helping kakapo and moving rare whio (blue ducks) to new areas.
The Leslie Hutchins Conservation Fund was created by Sir Les Hutchins. It helps protect New Zealand's southern lakes and conservation areas. The fund also helps all New Zealanders, especially those who are disadvantaged, experience Fiordland. Visitors to Doubtful Sound contribute over $50,000 to this fund each year. The fund supports projects like dolphin research, bird protection, and outdoor education.
Awards and Recognition
Real Journeys has won many awards for its excellent tourism services:
- In 2013 and 2015, they won the Operator of the Year Award at the Tourism Export Council's conference.
- In 2017, Real Journeys won the People's Choice award at the New Zealand Tourism Awards.
- Also in 2017, they won the Supreme Award at the Diversity Awards. They were praised for training older workers to teach young people.
- The company also received Certificate of Excellence awards from Trip Advisor in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
- In 2019, Real Journeys won a special Qualmark 100% Pure New Zealand Experience Award. Only seven companies received this award that year.
