Planning your holiday in New Zealand for an “outside the square” experience? Silverpine highly recommends the following agents and guidebook in planning your holiday to New Zealand.

As the Internet is filled with many different companies offering their travel services, we have chosen these companies who have consistently proven themselves to their clients and our guests in providing bespoke, intelligent itineraries.  In fact, many of their competitors have copied their itineraries.  Some people don’t mind Louis Vuitton bags from street markets in Hong Kong, but our guests know the difference and don’t buy fakes.  

These owner/operator companies listen to the desires and sophisticated tastes of our guests.  Nothing is a problem.  They understand budgets.  They take your personal interests to heart.  We are consistently impressed with their detail in planning and also their annual travel and review of each activity and place.

They will suggest places and activities that avoid busloads of tourists.  You will experience the brutal and beautiful landscapes as well as the egalitarian friendliness of New Zealanders.  

Every year the owners of these travel companies drive the distances of the North and South Islands and evaluate operations to ensure that their clients/readers have the right travel plans to experience and see the best of New Zealand.  Having worked in previous occupations around the world, these agents understand the best on offer in New Zealand.

You have taken the extra step and effort to get to New Zealand, so why not use these companies that “think outside the square” and who create the bespoke experience and make the extra effort to make you feel like you are the only guests in this country.

THE GREENWOOD GUIDE

Is not a travel agency.  The guide is published as a book and a website of hand-picked accommodation.  The venues are reviewed before every new publication.  This user-friendly and thin, straight to the point book gives a detailed description and pictures of every place.  To quote from the back of their guidebook: Things we like: ……open fires, real coffee, hidden places. Things we don’t like:  tourist traps offering little individual experience, megalithic conference centres, identikit bedrooms, tour guides that treat you like cattle, the bland and the boring, swirly, frilly, lacy décor, falsely friendly service and bad value for money. www.greenwoodguides.com

 Craig Somerville is based in Wanaka. He specialises in creating coherrent itineraries around New Zealand for the fly fishing visitor.  Castabroad is a single point of reference for specialist knowledge that has to be current and well informed. Trust him. We do:   www.castabroad.com  

Is New Zealand’s most innovative, intelligent and exciting luxury tourism operator.  Many other travel agencies follow his lead and copy his itineraries, lacking his integrity.  Jean Michel Jefferson and his team can communicate fluently in English, Russian, French, Mandarin, Spanish, Portuguese, and Afrikaans.  Their specialty is tailoring your expectations to exceptional and innovative experiences.  We count Ahipara as friends – it is easy, as they are charming, friendly, efficient, and fun – like their clients.   www.ahipara.com - Forbes Perfect 10 – Robb Report January 2009-03-10

LUXURY ADVENTURES, New Zealand based

Want to feel that you are not a number?  Tony Townley and Kay Campbell are very meticulous in their itineraries – well researched with much attention to detail for travel in New Zealand and around the Pacific.   Not only do they look after you before you get here, but during your whole trip. The relationship is there between Tony, his clients, and his providers:  no vouchers needed.  Nothing is a problem and that is why at the end of their tour, the clients have seen and done a lot in New Zealand, but feel relaxed. www.luxuryadventures.co.nz

NATURALLY NEW ZEALAND HOLIDAYS, based in New Zealand

Trish and her team have never put a client anywhere they would not go themselves.  Their thoughtful travel plans for the free and independent traveller are a masterpiece.  Their website boasts few technical booking connections.  The reason is simple:  they like to get on the phone and answer your questions and give quality advice.  What else would you expect from people who live in our “rural heartland”? www.nzholidays.co.nz

BEACON TRAVEL, based in Mumbai

Is India’s New Zealand holiday specialist.  Once again, their interest in Silverpine started with a visit – over a glass of local Pinot Noir and venison sandwiches.

DISCOVER DOWNUNDER based in the USA

Are New Zealand and Australia travel specialists.  Talk to them about organizing a fly fishing or a heli-skiing vacation at Silverpine.  Once again, this company is owner operated by an expat Kiwi living in the USA.  Iain’s company has been serving travellers Nationwide from their Rocky Mountain base since 1992.  They pride themselves on keeping current with accommodation and activity providers.  They ask questions and match the client’s expectations to the best New Zealand experiences. www.discoverdownunder.com

Ironic though it may be, starting a business enterprise is often a non-commercial decision.  When a person has a passion for their business, they find a way to make it work.  All these recommended businesses are owner operated and have been driven to success by the fact that their founders believe in what they sell.  In this instance it is an experience of New Zealand and its people.  We do not let them down.