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Freedom Destinations - The New Zealand Experts

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Freedom Destinations - The New Zealand Experts

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Our friendly team have all travelled throughout New Zealand and would love to help you design your perfect itinerary. By booking your whole holiday in one place you will also benefit from full ATOL protection.

11/09/2026

Tomorrow Gary & Jason hit the road in Central Otago!

The next stop on Gary Barlow’s Food & W**e Tour: New Zealand takes the pair through the spectacular landscapes of Central Otago, travelling in their Maui motorhome as they explore more of the South Island.

Along the way, they get a taste of classic Kiwi life with a pie for breakfast, explore one of Central Otago’s walking trails and, of course, discover why this part of New Zealand has become so famous for its w**e.

There’s a little more speed involved too, with a visit to Highlands Motorsports Park along the way.

See where Gary and Jason end up tomorrow on ITV1 and ITVX.

**etour

08/09/2026

Why does New Zealand have so many unusual native birds?

For millions of years, New Zealand developed in isolation with almost no native land mammals. Without the same mammal predators and competitors found elsewhere, birds evolved to fill many of the role’s mammals would normally occupy.

Some even lost the need to fly. The kiwi spends its life on the forest floor, the kākāpō became the world’s only flightless parrot, and the takahē developed strong legs rather than relying on flight.

Other native species are just as distinctive. The kea is the world’s only alpine parrot, while the tūī is known for its complex calls and distinctive white throat feathers.

This isolation also left many native birds vulnerable when introduced predators such as rats, stoats and possums arrived. Today, conservation projects and predator-free islands and sanctuaries play an important role in protecting the species that remain.

Which native New Zealand bird would you most like to see?

04/09/2026

Gary & Jason’s New Zealand adventure continues tomorrow…

This week, Gary Barlow and Jason Manford head to Queenstown, surrounded by the mountains and lakes of New Zealand’s South Island.

Travelling in their Maui motorhome, they explore more of the region, discovering two very different sides to Queenstown, from sampling local food and w**e to taking on one of its most famous experiences, the Shotover Jet.

There’s also time to slow things down beside the lake, although a cold plunge might not be everyone’s idea of relaxing!

With incredible scenery, adventure and some of New Zealand’s best known w**e country right on its doorstep, it’s easy to see why Queenstown features on so many New Zealand itineraries.

Watch Gary Barlow’s Food & W**e Tour: New Zealand tomorrow on ITV1 and ITVX at 12pm.

**etour

01/09/2026

Why do New Zealand's glowworm caves glow? 🌟

Some of New Zealand's caves look as though they have a night sky hidden underground, but the thousands of tiny blue-green lights covering the ceilings are actually glowworms.

New Zealand's glowworms are the larvae of a native fungus gnat called Arachnocampa luminosa. They produce light through a chemical reaction in their bodies, which they use to attract small flying insects towards sticky silk threads hanging beneath them. Essentially, the brighter the glow, the better their chances of catching dinner!

They thrive in dark, damp places, which is why caves, grottoes and sheltered forest areas provide the perfect conditions.

Waitomo is New Zealand's best-known place to see them, where visitors can take a boat through the Glowworm Grotto beneath a ceiling covered in thousands of tiny lights. But the glowworms can be found in other parts of the country too, including Waipu.

It's one of New Zealand's smallest native creatures, but definitely one of its most memorable.

Have you ever seen glowworms in New Zealand?

29/08/2026

Gary Barlow’s Food & W**e Tour: New Zealand starts tomorrow!

The new six-part ITV series follows Gary Barlow and Jason Manford as they travel through New Zealand in their Maui motorhome, discovering some of the country’s best food, w**e and experiences along the way.

Gary begins his journey in Auckland, where he receives a traditional Māori welcome and gets his first taste of New Zealand’s food scene, before heading across the Hauraki Gulf to beautiful Waiheke Island.

Known for its beaches, vineyards and olive groves, Gary gets to experience a little of everything that makes the island special, including local produce, w**e and a zipline through a native forest.

And before the episode is over, Jason Manford arrives to join him for the adventure ahead.

Watch the first episode of Gary Barlow’s Food & W**e Tour: New Zealand tomorrow at 12:30pm on ITV1.

**etour

25/08/2026

All aboard the Coastal Pacific 🚆

Running between Christchurch and Picton, the Coastal Pacific is one of New Zealand's great scenic rail journeys, travelling along the South Island's east coast with the Pacific Ocean on one side and mountains on the other.

Along the way, the train passes through the vineyards of Marlborough, the coastal landscapes around Kaikōura and stretches of coastline where the railway runs remarkably close to the sea. Keep an eye out for wildlife too, with seals often seen along the Kaikōura coast.

Large panoramic windows make the most of the views, while the open-air viewing carriage gives you the chance to step outside and take in the scenery without the glass between you and the landscape.

It's a great alternative to driving between Christchurch and Picton, you can simply sit back and enjoy the journey.

23/08/2026

How can glaciers and rainforest exist side by side in New Zealand?

It sounds like an unlikely combination, but on the South Island's West Coast, temperate rainforest grows remarkably close to the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers.

The reason is the Southern Alps. Moist air arriving from the Tasman Sea is forced upwards over the mountains, where it cools and produces huge amounts of rain and snow. At higher elevations, that snowfall feeds the glaciers, while the milder, wetter conditions closer to sea level support dense native rainforest.

The glaciers then flow down from the mountains towards much lower elevations, bringing ice into an unusually green landscape filled with ferns, mosses and native trees.

There aren't many places where you can experience scenery quite like it, rainforests, glaciers, mountains and the Tasman Sea all within a relatively small area.

Just another reason New Zealand's West Coast is such an interesting place to explore.

19/08/2026

Spend a night under some of the clearest skies in the world 🌌

New Zealand is an incredible place for stargazing, particularly on the South Island, where the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve covers a huge area around Lake Tekapo and Aoraki/Mount Cook.

With very little light pollution, a clear night can reveal thousands of stars, constellations and the Milky Way, with planets and passing satellites also visible at certain times.

Being in the Southern Hemisphere also means there are some different sights to look out for, including the Southern Cross and the Magellanic Clouds. And if conditions are just right, you might even catch the Aurora Australis - the Southern Lights.

You can join a guided stargazing experience and use powerful telescopes, or simply head outside after dark, look up and enjoy the view.

Who would you take stargazing in New Zealand?

15/08/2026

North Island Natural Wonders Self Drive 🛻

If you’re looking for a road trip that shows just how varied New Zealand can be, this one covers it all, from geothermal landscapes and native forest to coastlines and clear blue waters.

This self-drive takes you through some of the North Island’s most striking scenery, with time to explore at your own pace. Think steaming valleys, powerful waterfalls, quiet beaches, and those easy roadside stops that end up being highlights of the trip.

It’s the kind of itinerary where the driving is as memorable as the destinations, with plenty of chances to slow down, take a detour, and see parts of New Zealand many people miss.

If you want a trip that mixes well-known highlights with places that feel a bit more off the radar, this is a good place to start.

Take a look at the full itinerary here: https://freedomdestinations.co.uk/new-zealand/self-drive/north-island-natural-wonders

11/08/2026

Beach day or mountain views?

It’s one of the hardest choice in New Zealand… and sometimes you don’t even have to pick. One minute you’re by the coast, the next you’re surrounded by peaks, and the drive between the two is half the experience.

Some days call for salt air, bare feet, and a relaxing swim. Others are all about cooler air, quiet trails, and views that stretch for miles.

That’s the beauty of travelling here, you can follow whatever mood you’re in.

So… which are you choosing?

Address

18 Mead Lane Business Centre, Mead Lane
Hertford
SG137BJ

Opening Hours

Monday	9:30am - 6:30pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 6:30pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 6:30pm
Thursday	9:30am - 6:30pm
Friday	9:30am - 6:30pm
Saturday	9:30am - 5pm

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Website

https://freedomdestinations.co.uk/new-zealand

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