15th May 2014
Hollyford launches new Two Day hiking product
After the busiest season in its history, Hollyford Track guided walks is launching a new product for the 2014–15 season. The two-day ‘Ocean to Alps’ departure using the stunning Martins Bay Lodge is an exclusive guided walk for small group tours.
Ocean to Alps trips will only be offered to travel trade, with group sizes set at a minimum of six and a maximum of 16 people. The trip includes a helicopter flight in, comfortable accommodation in a fully-catered private wilderness lodge, a jet boat trip and, of course, walking with specialist and experienced guides to bring the forest, coastal areas and personalities of the Hollyford to life.
“This product will enable the operator to have a more flexible cancellation policy than the existing three-day trip,” according to Hollyford Track marketing manager Nigel Kerr.
“A huge ‘plus’ is the chance to stay in the Martins Bay private Wilderness Lodge which includes twin-share bedding, hot showers, great cuisine and a warm and spacious lounge. It’s the perfect place to view those stunning Fiordland sunsets.”
“We’ve also scheduled the trips so that customers on the longer Three Day Guided Wilderness trips will never meet the two-day customers walking in the opposite direction, as the Hollyford’s isolation and the fact that guests never meet another person on the walk is a very frequently mentioned ‘plus’ in guest surveys.”
David Hurst, group account manager at Ngai Tahu Tourism which operates the Hollyford Track, said initial feedback from the few operators he had talked to pre-TRENZ had been “really positive”.
“This exclusive guide, lodge and a wilderness experience that only takes two days means it can easily fit into existing itineraries,” he said. “We have quite a few appointments at TRENZ that are in direct response to the Ocean to Alps product.”
