Immersive Luxury Travel in New Zealand
You are probably aware that New Zealand is well known for the quality and breadth of our experiences. You are probably not aware that we at Ahipara Travel have been leading New Zealand luxury travel for high end clients since 2001. We specialise in developing fresh, innovative and exclusive travel experiences for our clients and have done well before the current wave of enthusiasm. We have been recognised with a wide number of awards and mentions in the luxury travel press for our hard work. We continue every year to scour the country for visionaries, storytellers and charismatic people to help us define what New Zealand is and connect our lucky clients with this country.
We have always worked closely with activity providers, coaching, tweaking, asking. Spending time with them, truly understanding them and helping them understand our clients. This investment has resulted in close relationships with a number of star performers who have created warm bonds with our clients over the years. This is what we offer our clients when it comes to luxury travel in New Zealand.
What you see below is a line-up of some of our favourites, but by no means a comprehensive list of all of our activities. Given the tendency by some people in the market to copy some of what we do, or to make promises that they can do similar things, we have put some of these experiences together on a truly exclusive level. They are simply not available elsewhere.
Powhiri - a Maori welcome
Often ranked first by our clients when they tell us what they most enjoyed about their journey through New Zealand. So what...
Harvey Hutton - A Helicopter Legend
One of the most beautiful places in the world to discover by helicopter, together with one of our helicopter legends as your...
KAI WAHO - Maori Food in the Wilderness
Tom Loughlin, like many of our key partners, is an old friend. Multi-talented chef, outdoorsman, search and rescue tracker,...
Tutanekai - Authentic Ecology and Culture in the Marlborough Sounds
Pete and Takutai Beech are acknowledged as the guardians of the Marlborough Sounds. Their empathy with and knowledge of the...
The Hollows Brothers - Deep South West Fiordland by Helicopter
This pair are behind the iconic Fiordland film Ata Whenua. They have a strong and deep connection with Southern Fiordland, in...
Mamakan
This is quite an unusual experience. Set in Auckland's Waitakere Ranges, an often overlooked area full of beautiful rich bush...
Bevan Climo - The Heart of Pounamu (jade)
Bevan brings to life the West Coast for us. Quite a character, as most true West Coasters are, he blends being the descendant...
Royalburn
Royalburn Station is a farm visit with a difference. On our private tours New Zealand farms tick the usual boxes of history,...
HIKING IN SOUTHERN FIORDLAND
We’ve been working with Steve Norris for a number of years. In our opinion the finest hiking and local tour guide in the...
Andy McKay - North Island Helicoptering
Andy McKay has been our “go to” helicopter pilot since 2004. He and Jean-Michel used to guide clients as a team. Andy’s...
HUNTING WITH LOCALS
In New Zealand, hunting is a part of life. We have abundant introduced animals (deer, chamois, tahr) which the Department of...
FISHING
New Zealand is well known as a trout fishing destination and has attracted people from all over the world. We're not going to...
AUCKLAND'S VIBRANT FOOD SCENE
About 10 years ago, the food scene in Auckland suddenly woke up and has been reinventing itself every year since. ...
Hone Mihaka, Passionate Northland Maori Leader
Rangatira is the Maori word for a chief or leader. These could be either bloodline or exceptional individuals. Hone is both....
A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING PRIMER
We applaud the current interest around the world in wellness. We're also involved in this ourselves. In our usual vein of...
REMOTE WILDERNESS AND RACING BUGGIES
This is a day we have designed together with the remarkable Columb family who have been involved with offroad racing for...
SPIRITUAL/WAIRUA TRAVEL
Maori are the soul of New Zealand. And as such are also the guardians of the country's holy places. Many people feel, during...
EDGY ART IN AUCKLAND
A one-of-a-kind contemporary art experience in New Zealand.
OAMARU GEOPARK
This is New Zealand's first Geopark - a geopark is a defined area which celebrates, preserves and educates people about the...
TE ANAU BACKCOUNTRY
This is an expedition into a wilderness area west of Te Anau. The location is a secret and it's closely guarded by locals. ...