Goway Puts Spotlight on New Zealand
Those who have been “Hobbit-ually” dreaming of visiting New Zealand shouldn’t wait until the last minute when it comes to arranging their trip, says Goway Travel.
Goway’s Shirley Rourke told PressToday during an Oct. 3 gathering in Toronto that, “New Zealand is a hot ticket. Booking in advance is 100% necessary so as not to be disappointed.”
Goway’s Steve Martin in turn told an audience that New Zealand has some 4.4 million people, a sharp contrast with Japan, which is a similar size, but is home to 126 million residents, and Britain, also similar in size to New Zealand, but home to 64 million people. Those visiting New Zealand can count on finding a “lot of really open and beautiful landscapes,” he said.
Auckland serves as a gateway to the country and Martin said the “city of sails” is home to many marinas and yachts, and tourists can see much of the city from an “Americas Cup retired sailing boat.”
The city’s waterfront has been completely redone and is home to lots of cafes, restaurants and family activities, he continued.
Those touring the North Island can also visit Hobbiton, used for The Lord of Rings trilogy and one of the five most visited movie sets in the world, Martin reported.
Christchurch has rebounded from an earthquake and is often referred to “as the most English city outside of England,” he added.
Martin said Queenstown has a “really alpine feel to it” and is often viewed as a “thrill city,” being the home of bungee jumping and visitors can also go jetboating, hitting 80 km/h on river excursions he said have a great safety record.
Non-adrenaline types can watch “other crazy people” go bungee jumping, he joked.
Martin added that the region around the South Island’s Milford Sound is often called “Little Norway” because of its many fiords.
Those who appreciate wine will also be in their element, with “wines everywhere in New Zealand,” Martin added.
Pictured are Goway’s Aubrey Schmidt and Rourke, Tourism New Zealand’s Renata West and Goway’s Sam Cottar and Bruce Hodge.
