New small group tours from New Zealand specialist

Silver Fern Holidays 2018 brochure has been published, with several new elements in its programme of escorted tours. 

The New Zealand specialist offers six itineraries in its small group tours programme, with the emphasis on ‘up close and personal’ experiences.

Wanaka in Mount Aspiring National Park on South Island, is introduced to five of the itineraries.

More free time is made available in key destinations so that guests have the flexibility to pursue their own interests, from eco-experiences to adrenalin thrills. These experiences are optional extras, but facilitated by Silver Fern Holidays leaders.

B&Bs and smaller hotels are introduced to the accommodation range.

“The programme changes reflect our ethos that ‘small is beautiful’,” says managing director John Lightwood.

“With groups of eight to 16, we can work directly with family-run businesses to offer our guests greater flexibility and individual experiences that are just not possible on standard tours.”

Silver Fern Holidays is based in Southwell, Nottinghamshire and has its own New Zealand office in Hamilton on North Island.

“I think we are unique in offering such personal service, not only to agents when we are helping them to secure a complex booking but, to their customers in New Zealand, providing 24 hour support from our in-house team.”

The operator also tailor-makes holidays so that ‘independent’ itineraries can dovetail with any of its small group journeys.

Sample package: ‘Kowhai’ is a 17-day Small Group Journey starting in Auckland and ending in Queenstown. Inclusions are walking in the Waipoua Kauri Forest, the award-winning Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Napier (the southern hemisphere’s most complete Art Deco city), discovering Abel Tasman National Park by boat, Wanaka and Milford Sound. From £4,694 excluding international flights.

Silver Fern Holidays is a member of AITO and the Elite Travel Group, and ABTA. All flight-inclusive packages are ATOL-protected.