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TravelEssence UK - Tailor-made holidays through Australia and New Zealand

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TravelEssence UK - Tailor-made holidays through Australia and New Zealand

TravelEssence is a specialist in tailor-made holidays to New Zealand and Australia. What this means is that your holiday with us is completely CO2 neutral.

TravelEssence is an independent, owner-managed Australia and New Zealand travel specialist, first launched in 2006 by New Zealander Andrew Morten. The head office is in the Netherlands with branches in Germany and more recently the UK. You might recognise us as A Journey DownUnder in the UK, but after a recent rebrand, we have taken the parent company’s name of TravelEssence. Founding Partner

Andrew Morten, the founder of TravelEssence, has been at the forefront of small-scale, sustainable tourism in Australia and New Zealand for almost 30 years. He created the company, in essence, to give you the chance to experience the Down Under he fell in love with as a curious and free-spirited child: Natural, beautiful, relaxed, rich in stories and steeped in fascinating cultures. Destinations off the beaten track, where oceans are still clear and blue, creatures are weird and wonderful, and trees older than London. A leading Australia and New Zealand travel specialist in Europe

Over the years, TravelEssence has become a prominent Australia and New Zealand travel specialist in Europe for tailor-made holidays Down Under. Our specialists have lived, worked, and travelled extensively in Australia and New Zealand. We provide expert advice and personal knowledge about the most exclusive accommodations and out-of-the-ordinary travel adventures.

“Travel is supposed to be enlightening and enchanting, beautiful and magical. It’s why we do things the way we do them, focussing on people so that your journey Down Under is far more than just what you see. “ - Andrew Morten. We know our hosts personally and work with them directly

Due to our roots Down Under, we have carefully selected high-quality, eco-friendly places to stay. We focus on properties that host only a few people at a time, or even exclusively just you. We work directly with our suppliers with a simple reservation system that eliminates administration. That means your needs and wishes are managed preferentially and arranged quickly. Commitment to sustainable travel

We are passionate about making travel more sustainable and have taken an action-driven approach to using the positive power of tourism. TravelEssence offsets all carbon emissions from our customers' flights, road travel, and business operations. As of 2020, we have been Travelife Certified for excellence in sustainability. That means that after an extensive environmental, social and financial audit, we comply with several standards around our internal and external operation regarding who we work with and what we offer. An experience Down Under quite unlike what you will find anywhere else

As a company, we have always aimed to be the very best. Over 2000 clients have reviewed and rated their TravelEssence holiday with an average of 9.4 out of 10, based on over 20 criteria. Your journey Down Under should be the best holiday of your life. Combining your wishes with our experience, unique places to stay and things to do, we are confident it will be.

25/09/2026

First came a faint rustling. Then a thump. And suddenly, a tiny nose and two bright eyes appeared in the darkness… 👀

While glamping in Yungaburra in the Atherton Tablelands, our travel specialists Antonia and Eva were woken in the middle of the night by a curious short-nosed bandicoot. It was an unexpected start to the day and only the first of several wildlife encounters to come.

Later, they set off into the rainforest with local guide Clayton, spotting platypuses and a pademelon along the way before stopping for something to eat at a local pub in Yungaburra.

As night fell, the torches came out. 🔦 Among the trees and undergrowth, ringtail possums, long-nosed bandicoots and geckos began to appear. Clayton pointed out what to look for and shared his knowledge of the rainforest and the animals that call it home.

Then came the highlight: a rare Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo high in the trees. 🦘✨

Exploring the rainforest after dark reveals a very different side of the Atherton Tablelands. It’s the sort of experience our specialists love to recommend because they’ve experienced it for themselves, alongside the local guides and small-scale stays that can make an Australia holiday feel far more personal.

Would you explore the rainforest after dark?

23/09/2026

Where could the journey between matches take you? 🏉

Perhaps sailing around the Whitsundays, driving the Great Ocean Road, spotting wildlife on Kangaroo Island, road-tripping from Perth to Margaret River, or watching the sun set over Uluru are already on your Australia wish list. 🇦🇺

With Rugby World Cup fixtures spread across several weeks and cities, our travel specialists can work these experiences into your plans alongside lesser-known places and local experiences you won't find in a guidebook.

Sometimes the best part of the trip is the journey itself, with time to explore properly between one fixture and the next.

Explore our Rugby World Cup 2027 page for more ideas on where the journey between games could take you. 👇

https://hubs.ly/Q04y1dYH0

18/09/2026

🏉 Got your Rugby World Cup tickets for 2027?

Why not spend five days exploring Sydney while you’re there? Start with the city’s most iconic sights, taking in the Opera House and Harbour Bridge before wandering through the historic streets of The Rocks. Then swap the city for some sea air with a ferry to Manly and a walk along the coast, where bushland, quiet coves and harbour views show you a completely different side of Sydney.

There’s time to enjoy the harbour properly too, perhaps over a relaxed private lunch cruise, before heading out to the Blue Mountains for a day of big landscapes and fresh mountain air. Back in the city, Surry Hills is perfect for slowing things down with local shops, good coffee and one or two excellent bakeries.

The rugby might bring you to Sydney, but there’s plenty worth staying for. 🇦🇺

16/09/2026

🐚 Abel Tasman is beautiful from the shore, but seeing it from a traditional Māori waka brings a whole new meaning to the coastline.

Setting off from Kaiteriteri, you will paddle alongside your guides in a double-hulled waka, learning about Māori voyaging traditions, local history and the customs that have shaped journeys along these waters for generations.

It is an experience you take part in, rather than simply watch. Everyone picks up a paddle and works together, giving you a real sense of the teamwork, tradition and cultural significance behind travelling by waka.

What would you ask Todd and Lee-Anne about waka and Māori voyaging traditions?

11/09/2026

A touch of France in New Zealand? Welcome to Akaroa. ⚓️

Tucked away on the Banks Peninsula, a scenic drive from Christchurch, Akaroa is a small harbour town that is well worth slowing down for. Colourful colonial buildings, independent cafés and peaceful waterfront views give it a character all of its own.

🐬 Our tip: make time to explore the harbour as well as the town. Akaroa is home to the rare Hector’s dolphin, and a boat or kayaking trip gives you the chance to see them in the wild. You may also spot seals and penguins along the way.

🥾 Prefer to explore on foot? Head up onto the walking trails above the bay, then round off the day with a glass of New Zealand w**e and dinner by the water.

Akaroa is one of those places that often becomes an unexpected favourite. Have you visited?

09/09/2026

🏝️ Leave Brisbane’s skyline behind and make your way across the water to ‘Straddie’.

On North Stradbroke Island, a local guide can take you along the spectacular Gorge Walk, sharing stories about the island and the Quandamooka people as you go. Keep your eyes peeled too. Koalas can sometimes be spotted in the trees, while dolphins and other marine life may appear just offshore.

☕ Back in Brisbane, our colleague Inge-Margriet recommends a wander through Paddington. Along Latrobe Terrace, classic Queenslander houses are mixed with independent boutiques and welcoming little cafés. It’s just the place to slow down, rest your feet and enjoy a good coffee after a day of exploring.

So, which side of Brisbane would you choose: the wild coastline of Straddie or the laid-back streets of Paddington?

04/09/2026

🇳🇿 “We’re not tired here. This country gives us energy.”

After 6.5 weeks travelling through New Zealand, that was how Ton and Mirjam summed up their journey.

From the lush rainforests of the West Coast to sunny days in Wanaka, they took the time to explore at a relaxed pace. But some of their strongest memories came from the people they met along the way.

Their hosts shared local knowledge, stories and personal recommendations, turning each stay into something more memorable than simply a place to sleep.

For Ton and Mirjam, discovering New Zealand was as much about these personal connections as the landscapes themselves.

02/09/2026

🇦🇺 Did you know this about Australia?

Australia is famous for its extraordinary landscapes, but there’s so much more to the country than its scenery. Aboriginal cultures stretch back more than 60,000 years, making them among the oldest continuous cultures in the world.

Its coastline is just as impressive. If you visited a different Australian beach every day, it would take more than 27 years to see them all. 🏖️

From its ancient cultures to its vast coastline, Australia is full of stories and surprising details that make every journey feel different. 💚

💬 What’s something you’ve discovered on your travels that really surprised you?

28/08/2026

🚗 Campervan or hire car: what’s the best way to explore Australia or New Zealand?

Our travel specialists know both countries from first-hand experience, and for a tailor-made road trip, we find that a hire car gives you more flexibility.

✨ You can take smaller roads, reach places that are harder to get to in a campervan and explore well beyond the main tourist routes.

🏡 Instead of staying on campsites each night, you can spend your evenings in small-scale, characterful stays, often with local hosts who are happy to share their favourite spots nearby.

💡 Those local tips can make all the difference, whether it’s a quiet beach, a great walk or somewhere good to eat that you might otherwise have missed.

🚗 A hire car is also easier to handle, uses less fuel and means you don’t have to think about finding campsites, filling water tanks or dealing with the practical side of campervan travel.

So, which would you choose for your Australia or New Zealand road trip: campervan or hire car? 👇

26/08/2026

🇳🇿 Meet Crazy Pete!

Some hosts have a way of making a stay a little bit more memorable. Pete and his wife Janine are a perfect example. From their lodge in the tiny mountain village of Makarora, on the edge of Mount Aspiring National Park, they welcome travellers into one of New Zealand’s most spectacular corners.

Known to many as “Crazy Pete”, Pete loves sharing his stories and knowledge of the area. He’ll point you towards places you might otherwise miss and show you some of the best ways to experience the surrounding wilderness. As he puts it:

“I can take you places where all you need to spend is a little bit of energy. You can keep your credit card in your pocket, and I can show you some incredible things.”

It’s this kind of local knowledge that can make such a difference to a journey. Staying with local hosts like Pete and Janine gives you the chance to experience New Zealand through the eyes of the people who call it home.

Address

1 Bridge Place
London
SW1V1QA

Opening Hours

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

Website

http://www.travelessence.co.uk/

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