As the months go by quickly and summer is fast approaching, Tourism Results New Zealand products, activities and accommodation providers are preparing themselves for the upcoming summer season –  With many upgrades, enhancements and changes to be rolled out over the coming months. This newsletter will touch on some of these and also welcome new clients to the family, please read on for more.

• Waka Quest sails into Auckland Harbour
• Bella Vista - A nationwide accommodation network
• Hamilton Gardens - Traditional Maori Garden
• New Agroventures package
• Distinction Hotels Group goes WIFI free

TRNZ welcomes Waka Quest

Polynesians including Maori trace their origins to their canoe – a living representation of their ancestors. When the first European explorers arrived they found hundreds of Waka plying the waters of the Waitemata providing local transportation, coastal travel and means for warfare.

Waka Quest is proud to bring Waka back to the Waitemata. Our flagship Haunui, is berthed at Voyager Maritime Museum. A double hulled ocean voyaging canoe, able to take 20 passengers on short journeys, this catamaran style 70’ vessel is wind powered, safe and stable for guests of all ages.

Waka on the Waitemata is a 2.5hr real-life Maori cultural experience that begins with gathering in the Hawaikii Gallery at Voyager followed by a traditional welcome and karakia on board the Waka where you ‘buddy-up’ with a crew member to man the ‘Hoe’ and prepare to take an active role. Hoist the sails, sit with the navigator and listen to stories about recent journeys on Haunui that saw them travel 20,000 miles around the Pacific guided by the stars and ancient knowledge.

Much more than a harbour sail our waka experience will take you to the heart of Maori culture and show how ordinary people have taken extraordinary journeys to rediscover and revitalise their cultural heritage. Authentic, true to life, no other cultural adventure compares.
Adult $150
Child $110
Under 5 years – no charge
Daily experience 01 November – 30 April
Departs Voyager Maritime Museum at 2pm

Introducing Bella Vista Accommodation Network

Bella Vista Accommodation Network, popular throughout New Zealand for its purpose built single design properties that are easily recognisable inside and out.

Offering 27 properties nationwide, with consistent internationally recognised Qualmark standards and friendly local hosts, each facility represents a safe secure option, guaranteeing great value for money.

Facilities include:

• Ground floor and first floor room options
• Heating and electric blankets
• Hair dryers
• Wardrobes
• Free off street car parking on site, adjacent to units
• All towels, linens, soaps
• Onsite tour booking service
• Onsite live-in friendly local managers
• FREE internet access
• Tea, coffee and toast making facilities
• Kitchenette facilities – microwave, sink, utensils etc.
(not available in compact studios)
• All units feature showers and 1 bedroom also feature spa baths
• Under bench refrigerator
• Local or multi-channel TV, in room phone
• All units non-smoking
• Access units

Motels are available in 3 convenient room types:

Compact Queen - Often all that is needed for 2 people. Rooms feature ensuite bathrooms, fridge and tea and coffee making facilities. Competitively priced for maximum value.

Queen, King, Spa & Triple Studios - Offering slightly larger floor areas and kitchenette facilities and ensuite bathrooms. These units can sleep a 3rd person (on request) on a fold out couch or rollaway bed.

1 Bedroom Units - Available in a variety of room layouts with a small dining/lounge area and ensuite bathroom. Often with 2 single beds in the separate bedroom and a queen sized bed in the open plan lounge/kitchen area.

Locations Include: Ashburton, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier, Gisborne, Greymouth, Hamilton, Hanmer Springs, Hokitika, Invercargill, Kaikoura, Mosgiel, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Oamaru, Palmerston North, Queenstown, Rotorua, Taupo, Te Anau, Wanaka, Wellington, Westport & Whangarei

Hamilton Gardens introduces Te Parapara guided tours

Explore New Zealand's only traditional Maori productive garden at Hamilton Gardens.

Guided tours engage with New Zealand’s horticulture heritage in the productive Te Parapara Garden to deliver fascinating insights into pre-European life.

Following the tour, a Maori inspired lunch with seasonal flavours is served in front of New Zealand’s only outdoor traditional pataka (storehouse). The Maori fusion delicacies are prepared by local chefs and offer an alternative to traditional hangi products on offer within the region.

Te Parapara Garden was once the home of Haanui, a famous Ngati Wairere chief, and renowned as the site of sacred rituals associated with the harvesting of food crops. This is a tradition the Gardens continues with the planting and harvesting of kumara each year. Experience a productive pre-European garden in the heart of the Waikato.

Bookings can be arranged through bookings.gardens@hcc.govt.nz or 07 838 6629. Or by emailing Jason

Hamilton Gardens tells the story of gardens through themed garden collections that explore different civilisations, and recreates historically important garden styles from the farthest reaches of the world. There are 21 garden areas to explore. The Gardens are located halfway between Auckland and Rotorua, Auckland and Waitomo, and only a short 45 minute drive from Hobbiton. It is the perfect stopover for your clients to stretch their legs, take a guided tour or river cruise, and indulge in morning or afternoon tea, or lunch.

Agroventures Adventure Park

Agroventures have just launched an exciting new package:
The Pick Two Package includes:

• Any 2 Agroventures activities from Agrojet, Freefall Xtreme, Shweeb or Swoop
• PLUS Entry to aMAZEme
• AND a NZ Fish n’ Chip Lunch Pack (2x pieces of fresh fish, chips and salad delivered)

Retail Rate (commissionable)  - $95pp or Family $229 (2 adults & 2 children)

Transfers can also be arranged if required.

Distinction Hotels Go WiFi Free

The Distinction Hotels Group has commenced its rollout of complimentary, unlimited WiFi in their New Zealand wide hotels. Access to this free WiFi will be incorporated in all guest rooms, meeting rooms and public areas of Distinction and Discovery hotels.

Guests staying at Distinction Wellington Century City Hotel were the first to receive this free WiFi service in early July, followed by Distinction Palmerston North Hotel & Conference Centre, Distinction Rotorua Hotel & Conference Centre and Discovery Settlers Hotel Whangarei.

As of 1 August 2014 all four properties now offer guests complimentary, high speed WiFi throughout all areas of their respective hotels.

Distinction Hotels’ two Te Anau properties will begin offering complimentary WiFi to their guests by the end of 2014.

Duncan Fletcher, CEO of Distinction Hotels said “We understand that demand for high quality, free WiFi has increased and this now influences a customer’s decision to stay at a particular hotel. We are pleased with this significant development and look forward to our business and leisure customers’ enjoyment of this service”.

TRNZ Products:

• Agrodome
• Agroventures Adventure Park
• Bella Vista Accommodation Network
• Caveworld
• Distinction Hotels Group
• Hamilton Gardens
• Lakeland Queen
• Lakeland Princess
• Tamaki Maori Village Rotorua
• The Spencer on Byron Hotel
• Waka Quest Tours

PS - Don't forget to like us on Facebook to be kept up to date with changes as they happen.

Thanks for reading this month's newsletter, should you require any additional information, rates or training on any of these products, please email me - We have more exciting news to report in the coming months, so keep an eye out.

Jason Baker