April has been and gone, and with it, a fresh round of product updates from across our New Zealand and Australia portfolio. This month we’re spotlighting six standout operators — from wild-frontier expedition cruising and living Māori culture to boutique Barossa vineyard stays and an exceptional trio of Queenstown-based experiences. Whether your clients are chasing wildlife at the world’s edge or sipping Central Otago pinot in the back of a luxury vehicle, there’s something here for every itinerary. Here’s what’s new and what’s worth selling right now.
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1. Heritage Expeditions – Small Ship Expedition Cruising
For more than 40 years, Heritage Expeditions has pioneered conservation-led small ship expedition cruising to some of the most remote and biologically rich corners of the planet. From Antarctica’s Ross Sea and New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands to Australia’s Kimberley Coast, these voyages are built for travellers who want more than a scenic cruise — they want genuine discovery.
The fleet is intimate by design, with guests travelling alongside expert naturalists, ornithologists and conservation guides who bring each destination to life with depth and passion. It’s expedition travel at its most purposeful.
Why recommend Heritage Expeditions to your clients:
Heritage Expeditions is the gold standard for wildlife-focused expedition travel in the Southern Ocean and beyond. Their small ship model means genuine access — zodiac landings, wildlife encounters and expert commentary that larger vessels simply can’t replicate. Ideal for nature lovers, birders, photographers, and any traveller who has Antarctica or the Subantarctic Islands on their bucket list. Their commitment to responsible travel also resonates strongly with today’s conscious traveller.
What’s new/exciting:
- The Second Wave 2027-28 Sale is live now — clients can save up to 20% across the upcoming Southern Ocean season, including coastal New Zealand, the Subantarctic Islands and Antarctica’s Ross Sea aboard the 140-guest Heritage Adventurer. Offer must be booked by 30 April 2026, making this a timely conversation to have with clients today.
- Heritage continues to expand its New Zealand offering, with voyages into Fiordland, Stewart Island, the Marlborough Sounds and Abel Tasman National Park — ideal extensions for New Zealand-bound clients seeking something beyond the standard road trip.
2. Te Puia – Rotorua, New Zealand
Te Puia is New Zealand’s foremost Māori cultural experience, set within the dramatic geothermal landscape of Whakarewarewa in Rotorua. Home to Pōhutu Geyser — the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere — Te Puia combines the raw power of the earth with the living culture, arts and traditions of Ngāti Wāhiao, the local iwi.
Guests can explore guided day and night experiences, witness traditional kapa haka performances, discover the New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute (where master carvers and weavers continue their craft), and encounter kiwi at the on-site conservation centre. The Pātaka Kai restaurant and Āhua Gallery complete the picture as a truly full-day cultural destination.
Why recommend Te Puia to your clients:
Te Puia delivers on the promise of authentic New Zealand. For international travellers, particularly those eager to understand the living culture of Aotearoa beyond the surface level, this is one of the country’s most rewarding experiences. It’s accessible, immersive and appropriate for a wide range of travellers — from families and couples to corporate groups. A Supreme Tourism Award winner, Te Puia is a name that carries genuine credibility when you’re building a Rotorua itinerary.
What’s new/exciting:
- Te Puia has recently been recognised with a Supreme Tourism Award — a strong selling point for agents positioning this as a premium, must-do New Zealand experience.
- Night experiences have been expanded, offering guests the atmospheric combination of dinner, guided geothermal tours and cultural performances under the stars — a compelling evening option for clients spending multiple nights in Rotorua.
- The Āhua Gallery continues to grow as a showcase for contemporary Māori art, adding a culturally rich retail and gallery element that complements the wider experience and appeals to travellers interested in arts and heritage.
3. The Villas Barossa – Barossa Valley, South Australia
Set among the vines of Marananga — one of the Barossa’s most picturesque and historically rich villages — The Villas Barossa is a boutique vineyard accommodation offering unlike anything else in the region. Run by hosts Grant and Cathy, the property invites guests to slow down, reconnect and rediscover life’s simple pleasures in a genuinely personal setting.
Private villas surrounded by working vineyards, wildlife-rich gardens and the warmth of hands-on hosts make this a property your clients will talk about long after they’ve checked out. It’s the Barossa at its most unhurried and authentic — a world away from the big cellar door circuit.
Why recommend The Villas Barossa to your clients:
This is a property for clients who’ve done the Barossa before and want to experience it properly — or first-time visitors who deserve to start with the best. The intimate scale, vineyard setting and genuine hospitality from Grant and Cathy create a sense of place that polished resort hotels simply can’t manufacture. Ideal for couples seeking a romantic escape, honeymooners, and discerning FITs looking for something they can’t find anywhere else. It packages beautifully alongside Barossa cellar door itineraries and South Australian wine touring product.
What’s new/exciting:
- The property’s location in Marananga village positions guests within walking distance of some of the Barossa’s finest producers — a key selling point for wine-focused travellers who want to explore the valley on foot and at their own pace.
- Romantic getaway and honeymoon packages have been refreshed, with enhanced inclusions designed to create a seamless, memorable experience for couples — simple to sell and easy to package.
- The property’s focus on nature and wildlife sets it apart from standard vineyard accommodation; guests regularly encounter native fauna right on the property, adding an unexpected natural element that resonates with travellers interested in the full Australian experience.
- Well-suited to clients combining South Australia’s wine regions — pairable with McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills and a city stay in Adelaide for a beautifully rounded self-drive itinerary.
4. Tourism Innovation Group – Queenstown & Fiordland, New Zealand
Altitude Tours | Black NZ | Fiordland Tours
Three brands. One outstanding team. The Tourism Innovation Group (TIG) is a privately owned New Zealand company operating three of the most exciting touring products based in Queenstown and Fiordland — Altitude Tours, Black NZ and Fiordland Tours. Each brand occupies its own distinct niche, but all share the same TIG philosophy: systemise the extraordinary, personalise the ordinary, and never offer something that isn’t genuinely different.
Altitude Tours – Queenstown
Altitude Tours is Queenstown’s go-to for small group day tours with big adventure. Whether it’s Milford Sound, Mt Cook, Central Otago wine country or the Glenorchy backcountry, Altitude keeps groups small and the experience personal — no crowded coaches, no rushing.
Their wine tour offering is particularly strong, spanning a Queenstown Wine Sampler, a Helicopter Wine Tour, Twilight Wine & Craft Beer experiences and even a dedicated Gin Tour circuit. Combo packages make it easy to bundle activities for clients with a few days in Queenstown.
Why recommend Altitude Tours:
Small groups mean flexibility, better access and guides who can actually engage with guests. For clients who want to explore Queenstown’s surrounds without the bulk-tour feel, Altitude is an easy recommendation. The wine and gin tour range is a natural add-on for any food and wine itinerary built around Central Otago.
What’s new/exciting:
- Milford Sound Business Class is a standout addition — a premium, small-group Milford Sound experience with elevated inclusions for clients who want more than the standard coach-cruise-coach.
- Combo packages continue to grow, making it easier to build multi-activity days for clients that deliver excellent value and variety.
- Conference and incentive options are available for groups, with private charter capabilities that suit corporate travel programs.
Black NZ – Queenstown & South Island
Black NZ is the luxury touring arm of TIG — bespoke, private, unhurried, and entirely tailored to the individual. Operating across Queenstown, Nelson and the broader South Island, Black specialises in signature experiences that range from luxury wine and art tours to glacier heli-hikes, private guided walks, fly fishing and ski concierge services.
Everything Black offers is designed around the client — their interests, their pace, their style. The fleet of luxury vehicles and team of expert hosts and guides make it the obvious choice for premium FITs, incentive groups and high-net-worth travellers.
Why recommend Black NZ:
For luxury-segment clients, Black is the answer to virtually any Queenstown or South Island experience request. The “Design Your Own” model means agents can work with Black to craft a completely personalised itinerary — wine, art, adventure, scenery, or all of the above. Strong upsell potential for clients who are already spending significantly on flights and accommodation.
What’s new/exciting:
- Art Touring has been added to the signature experience lineup — a unique offering that takes guests through galleries, studios and artistic landscapes across the South Island, ideal for culturally curious luxury travellers.
- The Wine Making Experience provides rare, hands-on cellar access for serious wine lovers — a level of access that goes far beyond a standard cellar door visit.
- Ben Lomond High Country Experiences open up dramatic alpine terrain as summer arrives, perfectly suited for active luxury travellers chasing scenery and exclusivity in equal measure.
Fiordland Tours – Te Anau & Milford Sound
Fiordland Tours operates daily guided sightseeing tours to Milford Sound from Te Anau, as well as guided walks on some of New Zealand’s most celebrated trails — the Routeburn, Kepler and Lake Marian. Groups are capped at no more than 16 guests, ensuring an intimate and flexible experience in one of the world’s great national parks.
Based in Te Anau — the gateway town to Fiordland — Fiordland Tours’ local knowledge runs deep, and their guides are as passionate about the landscape as they are skilled at bringing it to life for guests.
Why recommend Fiordland Tours:
For clients routing through Te Anau or building a serious Fiordland itinerary, Fiordland Tours provides an experience that simply can’t be replicated from Queenstown on a bulk day tour. The smaller group size, local expertise and carefully paced itineraries deliver exactly what travellers come to Fiordland to find. The guided walks program is ideal for active clients who want something beyond Milford Sound — and the Kepler Hike & Helicopter combo is a showstopper.
What’s new/exciting:
- The Milford Sound Extraordinaire Tour remains the flagship product — an extended day trip from Te Anau with optional walks, photo stops, home baking and a nature cruise on Milford Sound. Client reviews are outstanding.
- The Kepler Guided Hike & Helicopter combination is a premium option growing in popularity — a beautifully packaged active experience that suits clients who want to earn their views.
- Private guided walks across the Routeburn, Lake Marian and Kepler trails provide flexible options for groups and FITs who want the Fiordland experience on their own terms.
- Fiordland Tours has been recognised with a Tripadvisor Best of the Best award — a powerful trust signal to share with clients when recommending this operator.
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