Wayfare Group

Wayfare Group (Wayfare) is a New Zealand tourism company based in Queenstown. Wayfare owns four major tourism brands: Real Journeys, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Go Orange, and the International Antarctic Centre.[2]

Wayfare
TypePrivate
IndustryTourism, Travel
Founded2018 [1]
Headquarters
Queenstown
Area served
Te Anau, Queenstown, Stewart Island, Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Wanaka, Christchurch
Key people
Stephen England-Hall (CEO)
Websitewww.wayfare.nz

History

Wayfare was incorporated in 2018, but is the successor of a series of acquisitions in the tourist sector over more than 60 years.[3][4]

Les and Olive Hutchins originally bought the Manapouri-Doubtful Sound tour company in 1954. Their next acquisition was the company Fiordland Travel that had been set up to provide tours of the Te Anau-au glowworm caves. In the late 1960s, the Hutchins bought the TSS Earnslaw. Then they moved into Milford Sound / Piopiotahi and competed with government tourism. From 2002, Fiordland Travel Ltd operated all tourist excursions under the Real Journeys brand, and the company name was changed to Real Journeys Ltd in 2006.[1]

The majority of the company is still owned by the Hutchins family.[4][5]

The purchase of the Cardrona Alpine Resort ski area in 2013 is one of its most significant acquisitions.[6] Real Journeys purchased Christchurch's International Antarctic Centre in 2015.[7] The group of companies owned by Real Journeys include the Stewart Island Experience launched in 2004 and Wild Kiwi Encounter, operated as a joint tourism venture with the Rakiura Maori Lands Trust, which was purchased in 2016.[8]

Queenstown Rafting, in which Real Journeys had been a 50% partner since 1996, was bought outright in 2016 along with the company's associate coach services company Kiwi Discovery.[1][5]

Management

The Chief Executive of the Real Journeys group (now Wayfare) from 2012 to 2020 was Richard Lauder who led the group through a period of major acquisitions.[9] In October 2020, Stephen England-Hall who was previously the Chief Executive of Tourism New Zealand, announced that he would be taking up the Chief Executive role at Wayfare.[10]

In the 2021 New Year Honours, the General Manager of Real Journeys and Go Orange, Paul Norris,[11] was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the tourism industry and conservation.[12]

Real Journeys
Real Journeys Milford Sound cruise vessel
Main article: Real Journeys

The company Real Journeys was first incorporated as Fiordland Travel in 1950. The name was changed to Real Journeys in May 2006.[13]

Real Journeys operates a wide range of tourist activities including:

  • Cruises across Lake Wakatipu on the historic steamer TSS Earnslaw
  • Day visits to Walter Peak Station
  • Day trips to Milford Sound
  • Excursions to Lake Te Anau's glow worm caves
  • Launch trips across Lake Manapouri
  • Overnight boat trips in Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound
  • Week long boat trips to Preservation Inlet and Stewart Island

Cardrona Alpine Resort
Captains Basin view at Cardrona Skifield
Main article: Cardrona Alpine Resort

Cardrona is an alpine resort in New Zealand's South Island, near Wanaka. The ski field ranges from 1,260m to 1,860m. The distribution of slopes is 25% beginner, 25% intermediate, 30% advanced and 20% expert.[14]

Cardrona was purchased by Real Journeys in 2013.[15]

In December 2019, the Commerce Commission gave approval for the purchase of Treble Cone Investments Ltd by Cardrona Alpine Resort.[16] In early 2020, Cardrona reported that they were working towards merging the operations and marketing of the Cardrona and Treble Cone ski resorts.[17]

Go Orange

The company was first incorporated as Fiordland Explorer Cruises in July 2012 but the name was changed to Go Orange in August 2013.[18]

Go Orange offers cruising, whitewater rafting, jet boating, kayaking and coach connections in Queenstown, Te Anau, and Milford and Doubtful sounds.[19] Rafting trips include the Shotover, Kawarau and Landsborough Rivers.[20]

International Antarctic Centre
Main article: International Antarctic Centre
International Antarctic Centre

The International Antarctic Centre is located in Christchurch, immediately adjacent to Christchurch Airport. The Antarctic Centre provides a range of visitor experiences including:

  • Antarctic gallery – a dedicated exhibition
  • a storm room – simulating antarctic weather conditions
  • a live penguin exhibit
  • rides on a Hägglund all-terrain vehicle
  • a "4D" cinema

In October 2015, Real Journeys purchased the International Antarctic Centre from Christchurch Airport.[7]

References
  1. Hartley, Simon (31 December 2018). "Tourism aligned with conservation". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020.
  2. "Wayfare". Tourism Export Council of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020.
  3. "Real Journeys establishes 'Wayfare'". Southland Express. 9 November 2018. Archived from the original on 1 January 2021.
  4. "Wayfare Group Limited (7068963)". New Zealand Companies Office. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020.
  5. Jamieson, Debbie (12 January 2019). "Real Journeys: From Fiordland Travel to tourism giant". Stuff. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020.
  6. "Real Journeys buys Cardrona". Otago Daily Times. 18 November 2013. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020.
  7. Jamieson, Debbie (16 October 2015). "Queenstown tourism company buys Christchurch's International Antarctic Centre". Stuff. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020.
  8. "Rakiura Maori Lands Trust and Real Journeys team up". Stuff. 16 August 2015. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020.
  9. Jamieson, Debbie (13 February 2020). "Chief executive and top manager leave Queenstown tourism company Wayfare". Stuff. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020.
  10. Cropp, Amanda (28 October 2020). "Tourism New Zealand boss resigns to head Wayfare Group". Stuff. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020.
  11. "Paul Norris – Real Journeys / Business interests". Predator Free Rakiura. Archived from the original on 1 January 2021.
  12. "New Year Honours List 2021". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  13. "Real Journeys Limited (154923)". New Zealand Companies Office. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020.
  14. "Cardrona Alpine Resort". Latitude. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  15. "Cardrona back in NZ ownership". Otago Daily Times. 16 November 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020.
  16. "Sale of Treble Cone Investments to Cardrona Alpine Resort approved". Otago Daily Times. 16 December 2019. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021.
  17. "Treble Cone 2020 Update". SnowNZ. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020.
  18. "Go Orange Limited (3921418)". New Zealand Companies Office. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020.
  19. "Double awards celebrations for tourism leaders Go Orange". Tourism Export Council. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020.
  20. Cropp, Amanda (24 December 2020). "Rafting companies grounded and WorkSafe fixes 'technical' lapse". Stuff. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020.
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