Air New Zealand hosts Canada mission in Vancouver

Twelve tourism suppliers from New Zealand convened in Vancouver early this week, to kick off a trade mission that stopped in Victoria before heading south to the United States.

A contingent of New Zealand suppliers also attended the busy Outdoor Adventure Shows in Toronto and Vancouver that took place prior to the Air New Zealand Roadshow.

The Roadshow made a scheduled visit to Victoria to meet with about 30 travel advisors at the Victoria International Marina, with a New Zealand themed morning tea. Following that was a schedule of events in five U.S. cities, including Denver, Salt Lake City, Dallas, Austin, Scottsdale and Los Angeles.

Explore New Zealand

But the mission got started at Vancouver’s Stanley Park Pavilion, set amongst the tall trees of the park just outside the downtown core. About 40 travel advisors came to the late morning event, and they stayed mobile by rotating in groups to each of the supplier tables. They met reps for everything from scenic helicopter tours to a Maori village to Middle Earth explorations of Hobbiton.

For example, Tess Kelly of Heliworks took advisors on a quick virtual journey into the skies above some of New Zealand’s best known scenic sites. Heliworks, based in Queenstown on the South Island, has a comprehensive menu of flights to Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Fiordland and the exclusive Earnslaw Burn.

Flight tours last between one and three hours, depending on the distance covered and the number of stops made. Earnslaw Burn has become especially popular, with a stunning waterside landing spot at the foot of cascading waterfalls, framed by mountains.

Hobbiton, All Blacks

At the mission meeting, there was also a review of the expansion work done at the Hobbiton Movie Set, the setting for the mythical town in the Lord of the Rings novel and film. Hobbiton rep Henry Horne told advisors that a fully outfitted nine-room Hobbit “hole” or house, is now open for touring. The Hobbiton Movie Set remains a very popular tourism site, more than two decades after the films were released.

The All Blacks Experience by Ngai Tahu Tourism is based in Auckland, and is not only about sports, emphasized rep David Hurst. While the name references New Zealand’s famously successful national rugby team, the attraction offers much broader insights to the Maori culture and experience, he said.

The All Blacks Experience showcases the All Blacks through exceptional innovation and technology, says the site. The full sensory experience celebrates New Zealand’s rugby heritage, achievements and culture.

Maori Village

Te Pā Tū is a re-created traditional Maori village attraction located near the town of Rotorua, on New Zealand’s North Island. It invites visitors to experience many aspects of Maori culture during a visit, and it adjusts its tours and presentations according to the winter and summer seasons. It receives about 80 visitors per day who come for the immersive experiences. Te Pā Tū presents Māori history, culture, cuisine, traditions and future aspirations across four hours of celebration and feasting, says the website.

Great train trips

Great Journeys New Zealand was in attendance at the Outdoor Adventure Show, and they specialize in rail journeys throughout the country. The company currently offers 20 per cent off all GJNZ Classic tours departing from Sept. 1 2025 to April 30, 2026. This offer is valid for bookings made until March 15, 2025, using the code NZBYRAIL.

For instance, the discount can be applied to the six-day Classic Coastal Highlights Tour. It includes a dedicated guide, eight meals, all accommodations, on-train experiences and 4-plus ground tours, inclusive of wineries, whale watching and city tours. It is priced at about C$2,164 with the discount applied.

Other suppliers that attended the Roadshow included the Marlborough Tour Company, Fiordland Discovery, Hotel Britomart, Sudima Hotels, Alpine Luxury Tours, Southern Discoveries, Travvia Group (Jucy Campers / Star RV), and Adventure South.

Air New Zealand will host another Air NZ Roadshow in the fall with a different group of suppliers, visiting different cities in the U.S. and Canada. The airline operates one flight per day, seven flights per week, from Vancouver to Auckland until May, and then six flights per week until October – the winter low season south of the equator.

For more information, visit airnz.com.