New Zealand... has a special claim to being different from any other land and indeed it is unique.

Geographically isolated from other land masses for at least 80 million years when it split from the ancient super-continent of Gondwanaland, New Zealand's flora and fauna have developed species that are entirely unique and found nowhere else. Ancient plant and animal species such as primitive pines, ferns, flowers, birds and reptiles evolved in isolation and the flightless kiwi and the tuatara can both trace their ancestry back to this long vanished world. Geologically, much of New Zealand is very young and being situated in a geologically unstable area there is still phenomena such as upward thrusting mountains and geothermal activity.

New Zealand - a tiny island country of about 100,000 square miles way down in the South Pacific, a population of around 3.5 million people and a reputation of having one of the most pristine environments on the planet. These farthest flung islands were the world's last sizeable lands to be discovered and occupied. 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. Barely 200 years ago the Europeans arrived.

New Zealanders jokingly refer to this land as "Godzone" and are quietly proud of their country. This land has so many features which are not unique in themselves but being so close together are in this way different from those found anywhere else. It's coastlines and beaches, alps and glaciers, rivers, lakes and forests, green pastures and some of the most spectacular scenery in the world - a land of contrasts and one which has been described as "a pocket edition of the world".

Travelling Around New Zealand....

When asking people what they like about New Zealand, we get the same two responses...

Firstly, the country has a breathtaking and diverse range of scenery. 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.

And secondly, the people are so friendly...

Exploring New Zealand is like stepping back into 1950's America. People speak English, they say hello to you in the street and in the small towns you'll get talking and be invited in for a cup of tea. Away from the main tourist centers, shop keepers show a genuine interest in your affairs and have been little influenced by the sales pitches of the cities.

This is what we like to call "The Real New Zealand".

The sad part is that we often meet travellers who haven't had the opportunity to sit down and talk to the local people and explore the magic of the country. Many of these travellers have chosen to experience New Zealand by way of a large coach tour or alternatively, they have chosen to "self-drive". It was in response to this need that we set up and guide our own intimate small group tours of New Zealand's South Island.

The key to every culture lies with its people. Visiting friends and relatives or even friends of friends is always the most direct encounter with the real world. And exploring Manhattan with a local New Yorker is immensely different to wandering blindly along the streets staring at the skyscrapers. But what do you do when you don't know anyone? Recently, travel in New Zealand has been enhanced by a growth in small group tours. With a small group the guides take the time to talk to their guests and you are able to let loose with all of those simple, but interesting cultural questions. Coach tours find it so hard to provide the same quality of personal experiences. Those who have chosen to "self-drive" miss so much because firstly, they "didn't know it was there" and secondly, they are so busy looking at maps and concentrating on driving, that the magnificent scenery just passes them by!

To plan a special itinerary within New Zealand needs a little advanced reading of a guidebook or contact with a travel agency that specialises in designing unique tours. Most large group tours are designed around booking constraints rather than around the practicalities and joys of touring. Travellers also mistake New Zealand for a small country requiring a short time to explore. In reality, with a dramatically changing scenery, walking tracks to explore and winding roads, one day on tour can be like a week of a normal holiday! Therefore it helps to plan each day around the visual features, rather than basic geography and location of cities. Specialised agencies will have local knowledge of the distances, terrain, weather, seasonal highlights, local specialities and their own favourite places (especially those that have yet to be discovered by the larger coach tours).

With only one minute to advise someone wishing to explore "The Real New Zealand", we would recommend the country's unique lodges such as the Wilderness Lodges at Arthurs Pass and Lake Moeraki, located in the remote and diverse landscapes and high quality small hotels such as Westwood Lodge in Franz Josef Glacier . As a tour operator planning the "ideal tour", we much prefer small groups where these types of accommodation can be utilised.

For the more exclusive tours, we would recommend The George Hotel, The Charlotte Jane, Grasmere Lodge, Matakauri Lodge, Blanket Bay Lodge and Kahurangi Lodge.

When planning your itinerary, a simple rule is to try to include the dramatic contrast of the east & west sides of the mountains in the South Island - touring in the South Island must include the wilder West Coast. Our favourite places are the ancient rain forests and glaciers of South Westland and the remote and rugged coastline. There are many easily accessible short walks around the country that allow you to step into the stunning scenery, for a few minutes or a few hours. Bring sturdy footwear so that you can explore your favourite areas by foot. Finally, the islands lie 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 its summer in New Zealand when its winter in the northern hemisphere!

When you travel "down-under", do take the time to sit down and talk to the local people and explore the magic of the country away from the coach tour crowds. All it takes is a little initiative and planning, and "The Real New Zealand" is yours to be discovered.

New Zealand - Where nature comes to you...

Avian Inhabitants - New Zealand's biodiversity plummeted following the arrival of humans. The Maori not only hunted, but introduced burn-offs, rats and dogs into what was formerly a predator-free environment. By the time the Europeans arrived, 32 species of birds had disappeared, including 11 species of moa. One of these, Dinornis giganteus, was the largest bird ever to walk the earth, eating as much grass each day as a bullock.

European settlement and the drive for pasture saw another nine avian species vanish. Forest cover is now down from an original 70 per cent to just 25 per cent. The work of human hands is readily apparent, but thankfully such significant alteration is now frowned on, and in recent times there have been impressive gains to protect and enhance what remains. Research and management programs have been introduced to aid the recovery of species struggling for survival such as the kakapo, kiwi, kokako and tuatara. The idea of New Zealand as an evolutionary enclave, or as Time magazine once put it, "the ultimate storehouse for discontinued zoological models", has become curiously attractive.

But New Zealanders have no desire to inhabit a discount paradise. In a beleaguered world, they have woken up to the fact that their natural heritage is rare and special.

Your visit to New Zealand is not complete without seeing how New Zealanders live and enjoy their silent, serene and green country.