Tongariro River Rafting is the Tongariro’s most experienced operator and we know the river like the back of our paddles.  We create journeys and share stories, bringing people closer to nature through biking, fishing and rafting. All you need to do is pack your sense of adventure and we will take care of the rest.

We are so dedicated to preserving the natural environment of the Tongariro River that they founded the Blue Duck Project – with the goal of returning the rare native Blue Duck to its traditional habitat along the Tongariro River.

At Tongariro River Rafting, we’re 100% Kiwi-owned and operated by local husband and wife team Garth and Leigh Oakden.

We’ve been rafting these waters since 1987 and are passionate about what we do! We offer a variety of rafting options for families with little ones or intrepid adventurers wanting multi day excursions. All our rafting guides are experienced, fully trained using top-quality equipment, and are totally committed to your safety and enjoyment.

Tongariro River Rafting also hire mountain bikes, and offer raft fishing excursions.   Transfers from Taupo are available.

Reef Ecology Tour interact with Wild Stingrays – Our interactive Reef Ecology tour is famous for its interaction with Wild Stingrays and is one of the most popular and unique things to do in New Zealand. Our knowledge guides will walk you across the reef to meet the Tamariki (Children) of Tangaroa the Maori God of the sea. Whilst meeting the residents of the reef our guides will provide insightful information about the different species you may encounter.

The Reef Ecology tour is a walk over the reef at low tide, you are kitted out in waders to keep you dry. When arriving at the drop off (similar to scenes from the movie Finding Nemo) you stand in the water whilst our resident Short Tail Stingrays and Eagle Ray Stingrays and other reef dwellers swim around at your feet. Let Pancake and Waffle two of our Short Tail stingrays sit on your feet and wait for a gentle stroke, hard to imagine that Stingrays are perceived to be dangerous.

During the Reef Ecology tour, you’ll have the opportunity to observe and interact with the Stingrays, Eagle Rays, Kingfish and other reef dwellers under the guidance our guides. The guides will provide information about the local inhabitants who live on the reef. The marine life on our reef is not enclosed all animals are free to come and go.

Guide and Waders included – bookings essential as tour is run around the low tides daily and is weather and sea dependent.

Private Tours available on request.

Registrations for the Tourism Export Council annual tourism conference are now being received.

Click here to view the Conference programme and pre conference famil options. More information to follow re times for the pre conference famil options

Abel Tasman Sea Shuttle is the largest transport operator in the national park with a current capacity of over 300 passengers at any one time. As a locally owned family business, Abel Tasman Sea Shuttle prides itself on giving your clients an experience to remember. Our purpose built boats are designed, built, maintained and driven by our team which makes us unique in that we know every inch of our vessels intimately, providing you the best in comfort and safety.

With the on-board toilets and excellent viewing areas these vessels are arguably the most comfortable plying the waters of the Abel Tasman National Park! With the recent acquisition of Kaiteriteri Kayaks we now offer complete Kayaking packages, guided and unguided walks from Kaiteriteri or within the National Park.

IS THE SKYCITY CONVENTION CENTRE OUR CATHEDRAL BUILDING PROJECT? (Opinion piece)

It is with utter surprise and dismay that in recent weeks I am reading the Skycity Convention Centre discussion is back to “why do we need this” rather than when is it starting”? Yes, the budget construction forecast show increases and some discussion is warranted re how to fund the increases, but let’s not go back to the laborious drawing board of why and what is its value to Auckland and the wider New Zealand economy.

It is desperately needed and for no other reason than it keeps us ‘up with the international Jones destinations’ who are all vigorously vying to attract international convention and conference delegates. It will also stimulate economic growth for accommodation providers, restaurants, caterers, transport, attraction & activity operators and with that comes job creation.

We should be treating the Convention Centre’s as our modern version of “Cathedral Thinking”.  Cathedral Thinking stretches back through the centuries to medieval times, when architects, stonemasons and artisans laid plans and began construction of the structures that served as places of worship, community gathering spaces and safe havens. Given that life expectancy at the time was less than 40, most of these pioneers knew that neither they, nor their children, would see the final benefits. They were thinking for the 3rd generation and beyond. Since then, the concept has been applied to space exploration, city planning and other long-term goals that require decades of foresight and planning so future generations can enjoy their full realization.

When you consider ‘cathedral thinking’ it makes you think – what are our ‘cathedral thinking’ projects in New Zealand? We don’t have the ancient ruins or iconic structures of the world and aside from the Auckland and Te Papa museums, our biggest game changes in tourism makes you think of Shotover Jet, AJ Hackett Bungy, Tamaki Tours and perhaps latterly, Hobbiton Movie Set Tours. These tourism operators developed something ‘new’ that are must visit attractions and known globally either for their activity or technology. The Milford Tunnel and Monorail proposals were rejected and if we don’t start thinking more long term re new tourism projects, we may lose our place in the melee of attractions and activities other destinations can throw big dollars at.

Let’s look at a neighbour’s example of a “Cathedral Thinking Idea”. The Sydney Opera House was mooted in 1940s but took until 1955 before the global competition idea was initiated and it was opened formally in 1973. The 1957 budget was $7 million dollars and on completion of Phase Two 10 years later it was 14 times over its budget. The process from start to finish was fraught with controversy from politicians, local ratepayers, architects and environmentalists of the day but the final product is a world architectural masterpiece.

The Convention Centre’s in our major destinations, particularly Auckland could represent our version of ‘cathedral thinking’.  Heather Shotter’s NZ Herald article 29 January 2015 re why the Skycity Convention Centre must go ahead has supporting economic data for those that need to see the data again. The Government has the NZ Major Events team, Tourism New Zealand has a Business development team with a Conference Assistance Programme fund and in April 2014 year IRD announced a ‘non-resident’ GST policy to rebate gst for conference and conventions delegates.  Government is showing their support and now it’s our turn.

A Convention Centre may not seem like a ‘cathedral thinking’ idea compared to the Sydney Opera House but if it adds value and benefits to the community, then we absolutely need the Skycity Convention Centre as the start point with others to follow. Who knows – it might even generate a world class attraction ‘cathedral thinking’ idea for the Auckland waterfront?

Sudima Hotels Reaches Another Benchmark by Becoming

the First Accessible Hotel Group in the Country!

Earlier this year the three-year-old hotel Sudima Auckland Airport notched a win by becoming the first hotel in New Zealand to attain carboNZero certification. Now, the Sudima Hotel Group as a whole, comprising five properties in New Zealand and Australia, is further demonstrating its progressive credentials by becoming the country’s first accessible hotel group.

What this means is that the group has gone beyond long-standard hospitality features such as accessible car parks and ramps to include a comprehensive assortment of features that make each hotel fully available to the 24% of New Zealanders who at any given time will identify as having an accessibility issue – and the 20% of tourists who need some form of assistance to manage their own disability. Issues can range from the permanent, such as sight and hearing impairment and paralysis, to the temporary, such as people with infants and toddlers and those recovering from injury.

The social enterprise Be. Institute, which runs the nationwide Be. Welcome assessment programme, has assessed and rated Sudima Auckland Airport in five categories for access, and given the hotel an overall rating of Silver (71%). The other New Zealand properties, in Hamilton, Rotorua and Christchurch, all have Bronze accreditation.

Sudima Hotel Group’s goal is to ensure all guests can enjoy every aspect of each hotel’s facilities regardless of their individual needs. To that end, it has achieved its accessible status by including:

• Lower check-in desks;
• Elevators with tactile numbering;
• Accessible rooms that adjoin to additional rooms if required (most have lowered security peepholes);
• Trained teams for emergency evacuation;
• Fully accessible conference facilities and restaurant and bar areas. All menus at Sudima Auckland Airport are available in Braille;
• Accessible bathrooms on ground and conference floors, with non-slip floors in those and all other accessible rooms.

Sudima Hotel Group’s director of operations Les Morgan says the group’s new status sets a benchmark for the industry in the same way that its carboNZero certification has done. “Tourism is one of the country’s biggest industries, and domestic travel for business and pleasure are also major revenue drivers for hotel operators, so in order to maintain prominence and success you must be in touch with what consumers are looking for – what your customers need and how you respond to the social changes that are constantly occurring.

“We’re proud of our unprecedented accessibility status, and will use it not only to improve our service, which we always strive to do, but examine how our business operates. We will continue to develop our accessible services, which will require further investment on our part and more education of our team members as to the challenges our guests face.

“There is, of course, no better organisation than Be. Accessible to work with towards these goals. An example of the extent of Be.’s service is our Christchurch hotel rebuild, on which Be. collaborated in the early planning stages with our branding, design and architectural consultants to ensure accessible clients’ needs would be met.”

Be. Institute founder and CEO Minnie Baragwanath says, “It is thrilling to see that Sudima has made an authentic commitment by being the first hotel chain in New Zealand to submit all properties for assessment through the Be. Welcome programme.

“The Sudima Hotel Group is incredibly progressive in its thinking and approach to service. We cannot commend them highly enough and look forward to a relationship that will see the hotels move from Bronze through to Gold and Platinum rating. This is a true partnership that is leading social change in the New Zealand tourism and travel sector.”

The need to manage greenhouse gas emissions is proving a bugbear for many New Zealand industries, but one hotel operator is setting a benchmark in its sector by becoming the first hotel in New Zealand to attain carboNZero certification. It achieved carbon neutral status by measuring its greenhouse gas emissions through the internationally accredited programme in accordance with the ISO standard for reporting greenhouse gas emissions and removals, and by taking the additional step to put in reduction plans and offset all remaining emissions.

Sudima Auckland Airport, one of five properties owned by Sudima Hotel Group in New Zealand and Australia, was opened by the Prime Minister in 2011 and from its first day of operation was distinguished by its sustainable design and features, which include refrigerator-free guest rooms, LED lighting and Chilled Beam airconditioning, which is unique to Sudima in the South Pacific and uses hot and cold water to maximize energy efficiency and provide twice the fresh air of any comparable system.

Rooms feature paperless compendiums and the property is designed to harvest rainwater that is filtered and recycled for non-potable use. The hotel has a Qualmark rating of 4.5 and consistently operates near full capacity.

Now the challenge has been set. Sudima Auckland Airport achieved carboNZero status by scrupulously determining current actual carbon emissions, a six-month process that involved measuring all goods and products supplied to the hotel by more than 20 other companies; assessing use of natural gas and electricity and the quantities and disposal of waste; and tracking air and car travel by the hotel’s staff.

Once emissions were determined the equivalent carbon credits were purchased by the hotel, which is now required to change practices and features where necessary to reduce and mitigate its emissions year-on-year.

Sudima Hotel Group’s project executive Kanika Jhunjhnuwala says the carboNZero certification is valuable proof of Sudima Auckland Airport’s superior green credentials. “We know that more and more travellers – whether for business or pleasure – are factoring in sustainability when they decide which hotels to patronize. And we knew that while we have many green elements in our design, construction and décor, guests and potential visitors weren’t necessarily aware of our advanced position, so the certification is a crucial proof point and something people recognize.”

Sudima does not intend to rest on its laurels; aside from the task of reducing Sudima Auckland Airport’s emissions on an annual basis, the group intends to achieve certification for its other four properties, in Hamilton, Rotorua, Christchurch and Brisbane. In the Christchurch hotel’s case, a $25 million upgrade is underway and the emission benchmarking process will begin after this is completed and full operation is restored, taking into consideration what it is now learning from the Sudima Auckland Airport experience.

Ms Jhunjhnuwala says, “It’s early days and this is a great enterprise for us. One of the reasons that no other hotel in New Zealand has yet achieved carboNZero status is that it is not easy for an operation of this type, and older buildings in particular are less efficient and require more electricity and natural gas expenditure for heating, cooling and other elements.

“It is our hope that as we progress in this area, other hotels will follow suit. It seems to us that the combination of New Zealand’s 100% pure tourism marketing campaign and high international visitor numbers means that our hotels should be walking the talk, and we are happy to be the first to demonstrate that carbon neutrality is possible in our industry.”

Enviro-Mark Solutions, a subsidiary of Landcare Research, owns and manages the carboNZero certification programme. Its CEO Dr Ann Smith says of Sudima Auckland Airport’s new certification, “It’s exciting to see a sector leader challenging the industry to step up its game on the sustainability front. We’re already observing a response from the industry, with other hotel operators in the region contacting us to discuss certification.

“The travel industry is one where consumers have a more sophisticated awareness of related carbon emissions and the environmental costs, and we’re working with Auckland Airport and a number of travel agents to help make the whole sector more sustainable. It requires operators like Sudima to really push the boundaries and not just rely on superficial green measures. There is also an increasing degree of collaboration and knowledge-sharing among our members, which is hugely productive and great to see in the transition towards a low-carbon New Zealand.” 

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Excel Travel are widely recognized by customers and local communities.

Excel Travel consultants customize the travel deals for international students, local Chinese and local Chinese communities. It includes summer camps, winter camps, North and South Island travel plan. Excel travel also targets overseas market, such as China, Korea and other South-East Asian countries. Excel Travel consultants customized every travel deal to “Tailor made” customers from different background. All tour guides in Excel Travel are qualified and experienced. They help tourists easier and faster to understand New Zealand customs and culture.