New Zealand Program Offers Deals for Travel Agents

The 100 % Pure New Zealand Specialist Program is gaining traction across North America with a surge in sign-ups and agents moving up through status tiers since its re-launch nine months ago. The program's growth is attributed to the September debut of Explore PLUS, a heavily discounted independent familiarization benefit designed to help travel professionals build in-depth destination knowledge first-hand. Starting March 12, Tourism New Zealand is incentivizing travel agents even further with a special $500 USD trip credit available to the first 50 agents to book an independent fam trip to New Zealand, where you can visit lovely spots such as the Kauri Cliffs Golf Course and Lodge, pictured here. Other participating airlines include American Airlines and Fiji Airways. The independent fams must be booked by August 12, 2018 to qualify for the trip credit, and travel must occur between Sept. 1, 2018 and Nov. 11, 2018. "We recognize agents have limited time and so we developed a program that lets them travel when they want, the way they want, and with whom they want," said Michelle Rosenberg, Tourism New Zealand's Senior Manager of Trade Partnerships, North America. "The program is very flexible and allows agents to design their very own New Zealand experience." To apply for the Explore PLUS program, travel agents must complete the 100 % Pure New Zealand Specialist Program at the Bronze or Silver levels. Agents will earn Gold level status by completing their FAM.

A Segway ride is a fun way to explore the hilly terrain in and around Auckland. There are tons of great parks and fun neighbourhoods to explore, including Ponsonby, Devonport and Mission Bay. You can do a bridge climb and bungee jump off the Auckland Bridge if you're so inclined. The city's waterfront is a sparkling destination with lovely restaurants and cafes.

New Zealand is famous for adventure travel, with everything from bungee jumps to downhill kart races and jet boats. I took a trip on a jet boat a few years ago in Skippers Canyon, not far from Queenstown on the South Island. The road to get there was probably more scary than the ride itself, which features skilled pilots who twist and turn their boats at high speed as they traverse a canyon lined with massive rocks.

Wanaka is a beautiful town on a lake on the South Island of New Zealand, not far from Queenstown. It's a famous area for wine, especially the fruity, flavourful Pinot Noir that the Otago region of the South Island is famous for. Top wineries include Rippon he town of Cardrona features a funky old hotel and displays of vintage automobiles. Several scenes in the popular Lord of the Rings movies were filmed in the area.

Waiheke Island is one of the truly wonderful areas of New Zealand. It's a short ferry ride from Auckland, passing pretty hills and lovely bays. You'll find dozens of excellent wineries on the island, including Peacock Sky, which is run by a woman from Montreal and her British husband, who met while staying at the Holiday Inn Hotel near Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto. The town of Oneroa has nice shops and pretty restaurants overlooking the water.

Cape Kidnappers is a remarkable hotel and resort on the North Island. The food is superb, and they have one of the top golf courses in the country that spreads out over bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The nearby town of Napier is famous for its Art Deco architecture, dating back nearly a hundred years. The nearby Hawkes Bay region makes wonderful, rich red and white wines.

Wings over Whales offers fantastic airplane rides over the waters outside Kaikoura, on the northeast part of the South Island of New Zealand. When I took the trip we spotted several whales and enormous pods of dolphins, with literally hundreds if not thousands of them thrashing in the water below. Kaikoura is a fun place to explore, and the drive along the highway both north and south of the town is tremendous.

The beach at Mount Maunganui is wonderful, as is the hiking around the edge of the mountain itself. There's fun shopping in the town and calm waters on the other side of the peninsula. Maunganui is a one-hour drive from Rotorua, a popular spot on the North Island for geysers and thermal pools, as well as for exploring Maori culture.

The Giants House is a truly unique garden and Bed and Breakfast in the town of Akaroa, a lovely town on a hilly peninsula on the South Island. The tile work is simply astonishing, as are the flowers. I didn't get to stay in the rooms but they look lovely. French settlers came here before the British, and you can still find shops selling baguettes and foie gras. Take a ride on the bay to check out small dolphins called Hector's Dolphins, or take a hike through the glorious hills.

Napier is a fun city to visit on the North Island of New Zealand. Much of the city is built in the Art Deco style of architecture, and you can take old-time tours. You're also in the middle of the luscious Hawkes Bay wine region.