Real Journeys facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Tourism, Travel |
| Founded | 1954 |
| Founder | Les Hutchins Olive Lady Hutchins |
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Area served
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Te Anau, Queenstown, Stewart Island, Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Wanaka |
| Parent | Wayfare Group |
Real Journeys is a South Island tourism company that is one of the main brands of the privately owned Wayfare Group. Other tourist ventures that are also owned by Wayfare include Cardrona Alpine Resort, Go Orange and the International Antarctic Centre.
Real Journeys operates cruises in Milford and Doubtful Sounds, the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu, the Te Anau-au glowworm caves, Stewart Island ferry services, excursions and lodge accommodation.
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.
Contents
History
Real Journeys founders Les and Olive Hutchins were pioneers in the Southern Lakes tourism industry in the 1950s. Les Hutchins was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002 for services to conservation and tourism.
It was the Hutchinses' vision and foresight which led to the formation of the Manapouri-Doubtful Sound Tourist Company in May 1954, after purchasing the assets – two old launches, the Pilgrim and the Constance, and a small hut – from the estate of Les Murrell who had been transporting tourists across Lake Manapouri and connecting with a walk to Doubtful Sound since 1921.
The Manapouri-Doubtful Sound Tourist Company's excursion followed the same itinerary with a cruise on Lake Manapouri to West Arm followed by a 17 km walk over Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove in Doubtful Sound. Here the company built a lodge, incorporating the original Murrell hut, to accommodate tourists during the four-day trip.
Later the company was awarded the transport contract during the construction of the Manapouri Power Station carrying staff and materials from Manapouri to West Arm.
The Hutchinses were, however, motivated by an overriding desire to share their passion for the Fiordland region with visitors, and in 1966 they purchased Fiordland Travel (Te Anau). The company had been established by tourism identities Lawson Burrows and Wilson Campbell in the 1940s and operated various contracts on Lake Te Anau, including tours of the 12,000 year old Te Anau-au glowworm caves which Burrows discovered in 1948.
Vintage steamship
In 1969 Fiordland Travel turned its attention to Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.
The TSS Earnslaw, launched by the Government on Lake Wakatipu in 1912, was floundering under the ownership of the New Zealand Railways Department. There was even talk of scuttling the vessel but she was chartered to a private syndicate at the eleventh hour on 1 January 1969. The new ownership was short lived and, eyeing an opportunity, Fiordland Travel applied for was granted the lease of the historic steamer and on 12 December 1969 and began transporting freight and passengers to the head of the lake under their colours.
In 1982 the company purchased the vessel outright and today the TSS Earnslaw is the oldest coal fired passenger steamship still operating in the southern hemisphere.
In 1991, Fiordland Travel secured the lease of the Walter Peak high tourist operation and the TSS Earnslaw began daily excursions to the high country station on the western shores of Lake Wakatipu. Visitors to Walter Peak today can enjoy a farming experience, guided cycling excursions and horse trekking.
The historic Colonel's House restaurant at Walter Peak, which takes its name from an early owner, is recognised for its outstanding cuisine and is a popular dining out venue for visitors and Queenstown residents.
The TSS Earnslaw, affectionately known as the Lady of the Lake, is one of New Zealand's best known tourism icons. When she celebrated her 100th birthday in October 2012 thousands of people took part in the festivities reinforcing the high regard she is held in around the world.
Exploring Fiordland
In 1966 Milford Sound was on Fiordland Travel's radar but discussions with the Tourist Hotel Corporation (THC) to buy their tourist launches broke down and it was not till 1970 that the Hutchinses made their foray into Milford, challenging the government monopoly there.
The Department of Lands and Survey indicated at the time that it would let another concession for a tourist launch service in Milford Sound. Determined to win the privilege, the Hutchinses purchased a 16-metre cruiser, the MV Friendship, which was tailor-made for the purpose. However, when the department inexplicably decided not to appoint another concessionaire, Fiordland Travel was left at the crossroads.
Standing firm over their plan to enter into the Milford Sound market, the Hutchinses sailed the MV Friendship from Doubtful Sound to Milford overnight late in December 1970 and set up business from a prefabricated pontoon wharf at Milford Sound village, catching the THC unawares.
Business quickly took off largely because Fiordland Travel already had a contract with inbound operator, Trans Tours, to provide Milford Sound cruises for their tour groups.
Despite the strong opposition from THC, Fiordland Travel held its ground playing a major role in the development of tourism in Milford Sound which has led to the area becoming one of the country's most significant tourist destinations.
In 1974 the company launched its first tourist vessel at Doubtful Sound. Today Real Journeys operates over 15 vessels in Fiordland and provides both daytime and overnight cruises in Milford and Doubtful Sounds.
Discovery expeditions to Dusky Sound in Fiordland and along the Stewart Island coast are also operated ranging from five to seven days on the Milford Wanderer which is purpose-built for the voyages.
In 1984 Fiordland Travel introduced a luxury coach service from Queenstown to connect with their tourist excursions at Manapouri, Te Anau and Milford Sound. Today the distinctive Real Journeys "bullet" coaches, with their glass roofs and tiered and angled seating for better viewing, are state-of-the-art.
Air tourism
Fiordland Travel added another dimension to its tourist activities in 1987 establishing a flightseeing air service between Queenstown and Milford Sound. Firstly it flew Cessna planes followed by the introduction of Nomad aircraft.
In 1993 Fiordland Travel's airline operation and the Mount Cook service to Milford merged to form a joint venture under the banner of Milford Sound Flightseeing. Fiordland Travel subsequently purchased the company outright.
Later, Real Journeys combined its fixed wing airline services with those of Totally Tourism in another joint venture called Milford Sound Flights.
Totally Tourism's 50 per cent shareholding was subsequently purchased by Skyline Enterprises and in late 2015 Real Journeys sold its half share to Skyline, retaining a supply agreement for air services to Milford.
Awards
In 2013, Real Journeys was a winner of the Operator of the Year Award at the Tourism Export Council's annual conference. Real Journeys was a joint winner of the same Operator of the Year award at the Tourism Export Council's conference in 2015.
In 2017, Real Journeys won the People's Choice award at the New Zealand Tourism Awards ceremony held in Christchurch.
Also in 2017, Real Journeys won the Supreme Award at the 20th Diversity Awards run by Diversity Works NZ. The award citation commended Real Journeys for its training initiative that utilises the experience of older workers to provide learning opportunities for young people in Otago and Southland.
The company has also received Certificate of Excellence awards from Trip Advisor for 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Real Journeys won an inaugural Qualmark 100% Pure New Zealand Experience Award in 2019. Only seven companies received this award - from 41 finalists and over 100 entrants.
Several other awards are recorded on the Real Journey's website.
Conservation
Conservation has an important place in the Real Journeys story and is a cornerstone of its business. Inspired by Sir Les Hutchins who was committed to Fiordland and its protection the company is dedicated to continuing his legacy to protect the heritage and preserve the environment of the communities it works in.
Considerable funds are donated annually to conservation projects that support habitats, recovering species and clean-up initiatives. An annual Birds of the Feather charity ball organised by Real Journeys helps fundraise for the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) work in the area. In 2015 the inaugural ball raised $40,000 for the preservation of the endangered kakapo.
In 2016 the function raised $65,000 for the Tamatea/Dusky Sound Restoration Project. Some of the funds are earmarked for a $300,000 project, adopted by Real Journeys, to make Cooper Island in Dusky Sound predator free.
In 2013 Real Journeys purchased a 155 hectare site it had previously leased at Walter Peak on the far shores of Lake Wakatipu and embarked on a major land restoration project. In 2015 the company was awarded a Department of Conservation (DOC) Certificate of Appreciation, for its role in clearing the land of vast areas of invasive wilding pines that threaten the Queenstown and Central Otago landscape, and replacing them with native bush and grassland.
The Certificate of Appreciation also recognised the company’s kakapo fundraising and awareness projects and relocation support for the rare whio (blue duck) from the Milford Track to near the Routeburn Track to help boost breeding pairs.
The Leslie Hutchins Conservation Fund, set up by Sir Les Hutchins before his death, reflects his enthusiasm for supporting efforts to protect and preserve New Zealand’s southern lakes and conservation areas. The aim of the fund is also to reduce financial barriers to allow all New Zealanders to experience and enjoy Fiordland, particularly people who are "at risk" or disadvantaged.
Every year visitors to Doubtful Sound contribute more than $50,000 to this fund via a $1 passenger levy. Projects supported in the past include dolphin research, protection programmes for endangered birds, track and interpretation signage, outdoor education camps and wilding pine eradication.
Images for kids
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Real Journeys office on Steamer Wharf in Queenstown
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Captains Basin view at Cardrona Skifield
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International Antarctic Centre
