Bradford Travel - Cruise and Travel Specialists

13/01/2026

🐘🐅 Discover your inner adventure-ess 🐅🐘

Step into the heart of Kenya on a thoughtfully guided, women-only journey designed to inspire curiosity and connection.

This experience goes beyond sightings of the iconic Big Five, inviting you to slow down and truly immerse yourself in Kenya’s rich culture, sense of purpose, and vibrant spirit.

Share meaningful conversations with Maasai women as they open their world to you, offering insight into their traditions and way of life.

More than a safari, this is a deeply moving journey …..one that continues to resonate long after you return home.

It is always fun to go with someone you know so invite a girlfriend, sister, cousin, daughter and experience Africa.
If you wish to travel on your own there is no extra charge for you having your own room.

We’d love to welcome you—there are just 8 seats remaining.

07/01/2026

🌍✈️ NEW YEAR TRAVEL DEALS ARE HERE! ✈️🌍

Ready to make 2026 your year of travel? 🇳🇿💫 We’ve just updated our Bradford Travel Specials page with epic deals you won’t want to miss! From city escapes to bucket-list adventures — there’s something for every kind of traveler!

🔥 Featured Specials Include:
✨ Air New Zealand fares from just $215 one-way to Australia & great deals to Asia, the Islands, USA & more!

🌴 Hawaiian Airlines return flights to Honolulu from $897pp 🇺🇸

🗺️ Insight Vacations & Trafalgar big sale — explore Europe, UK, North America + more in style!

🌏 G Adventures sale — up to 25% off amazing trips across the globe!

🛳️ Luxury cruise & expedition savings with Silversea, Viking & Celebrity Cruises

…and much more across airlines, tours & world-wide travel! 📍✈️

✨ Why wait? These deals are often the best of the year and only around for a limited time!

👉 Check them out now: https://www.bradfordtravel.co.nz/specials

📩 Contact us for personalised travel ideas or to book your next adventure!
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +64 21 782 840

06/01/2026

🌊✨ How much of your own backyard have you really explored? ✨🌊

Hugh and I recently experienced something truly special — uncovering the Unseen Queen Charlotte Sound aboard the Heritage Explorer. It was a powerful reminder that some of the world's most breathtaking travel experiences are right here at home. 🚢🇳🇿

From sweeping views over the Marlborough Sounds to slow mornings with optional dips in the water, exceptional onboard dining, and genuine Kiwi hospitality, this 5-night small-ship cruise surprised us in all the best ways.

🌿 Walk through lush native bush
🦜 Visit predator-free island sanctuaries and spot rare birdlife
🚶‍♀️ Step ashore at historic Ship Cove, where Captain Cook first landed
🍷 Enjoy outstanding local food and wine while cruising one of NZ’s most spectacular regions

👉 If this has you thinking about how much of New Zealand you’ve still yet to see, read our full blog post here:
🔗 https://www.bradfordtravel.co.nz/blogs/unseen-queen-charlotte-sound-on-the-heritage-explorer

Sometimes the most unforgettable journeys are closer than you think ✨🇳🇿

07/12/2025

On our final day, we reluctantly said goodbye to our wonderful cruise crew—people we grew so fond of that we briefly considered stowing them away in our luggage.
From there, we plunged straight into the beautiful chaos of Saigon—a modest little place with only 18 million residents and a casual 14 million Vespas. The constant hum of engines is practically the city’s heartbeat, and watching tourists attempt their first road crossing is both a spectacle and a mild cardio workout. But once you understand how the city flows, it all somehow makes perfect sense… in its own thrilling, slightly terrifying way.

Riding through the streets on a Vespa that afternoon was easily one of the highlights of our journey—part adventure, part trust exercise, part “please let me survive to dinner.”
Shopping at the markets, meanwhile, deserves its own chapter entirely, and we also couldn’t resist soaking in Saigon’s skyline from a rooftop bar—because every great city looks even better with a drink in hand.

A heartfelt thank-you to Uniworld Cruising for this incredible experience. If you’d like to hear more about Cambodia and Vietnam as unforgettable holiday destinations, please register your interest for an evening event I’ll be hosting in early 2026.

07/12/2025

Upon crossing the border into Vietnam, we immediately noticed one thing: the “hard-working locals” theme was still going strong. Honestly, we were tired just watching them. Our visit to the village of Vinh Long—translated as “eternal prosperity”—made it feel less like a name and more like a polite warning: “Prepare to feel unproductive.”

We climbed aboard sampans and rowboats and floated through the waterways like professional relaxers while everyone around us was busy running nurseries, crafting tree pots, tending orchards, weaving fishing cages, and operating rice factories that somehow produce rice paper, popped rice bars, and rice candy. Meanwhile, our main contribution was nodding appreciatively and trying not to fall into the river.

And the best fun fact of the day? In Vietnam, the women are the business owners—proper bosses—and the husbands proudly serve as “wife’s assistants.” It’s a system that runs with impressive efficiency. Some might even say… inspirational.

03/12/2025

Hugh's not long returned from an incredible travel-agent famil on Hurtigruten’s North Cape Line, sailing from Oslo up Norway’s spectacular coastline to Tromsø. 🚢🇳🇴
From dramatic fjords to the stunning Lofoten Islands, it was an unforgettable journey — and he's shared all the highlights in a new blog post on our website.

👉 Want to hear more? Read the full story on our blog via the link below!

If a Norwegian coastal adventure and the Northern Lights are on your bucket list, I’d love to help you plan it. ✨🌌

Family adventure on a Hurtigruten Norway cruise. Explore Oslo, Vigeland Park, Holmenkollen, and board the M.S Trollfjord.

28/11/2025

After a blissfully relaxed second day on the river — making the most of the pool and all the onboard activities — day three shifted gears as we ventured out to learn more about local life on two nearby islands.
Cruising toward these remote communities gave us a real glimpse into how families here live day-to-day. Many rely on the river through fish farming, while others work the land with orchards and homegrown produce. Everywhere we went, we were met with hard-working families whose humility and resilience were truly inspiring.
Such an eye-opening and meaningful day on the Mekong.

27/11/2025

Another standout moment of this trip has been spending five nights aboard the beautiful Mekong Jewel with Uniworld.

The hospitality on board is everything you’d expect from the humble, gracious Cambodian people — warm, genuine, and unforgettable. Within 24 hours the entire crew knew us all by name, and it instantly felt like home on the river.

The ambience, comfort, and generous space throughout the ship just ooze relaxation. Whether you’re unwinding in the lounge or watching the river drift by, it’s impossible not to slip into holiday mode.

And the food… honestly, it’s like a floating Michelin restaurant. You can brave local delicacies like crickets and tarantulas (if you’re feeling bold!), or stick with classics — from steaming bowls of noodles at lunch to bacon and eggs at breakfast.

There’s always something happening on board too, with a fresh daily program to keep you entertained. Or, if you’d rather take it slow, grab your book, head to the pool, and enjoy a cocktail in hand while the Mekong works its magic.

26/11/2025

Today we were once again wrapped in the warmth of the Cambodian people as we visited a local village and spent time with the beautiful children in their classroom.

One of the sweetest moments was meeting my little student, Nicky. She proudly read her English lesson to me, then looked up and asked if I could stay and be her mum. 🥹 She was absolutely delighted playing on my phone and trying on my sunhat — a tiny moment that somehow felt so big.

We also had the chance to step inside a traditional stilt home. The family welcomed us with such kindness, and it was incredible to see how self-sufficient they are — growing their own rice and vegetables, and raising chickens and a cow. Their simplicity, resilience, and happiness are truly inspiring.

Another beautiful day in Cambodia that I’ll never forget.

25/11/2025

I’m currently in Cambodia, and what an incredible, humbling (and slightly mind-blowing) experience it’s been so far!

From the moment I landed in Siem Reap, I’ve been absolutely swept up by the warmth and kindness of the Cambodian people. Honestly, they make you feel so welcome you start to wonder if you accidentally became royalty overnight.

And Angkor Wat… wow. Built in the 12th century and still the largest religious monument in the world, this place is every bit as impressive as you imagine. The sheer scale, the carvings, the history—you wander around feeling like you’ve stepped into another world.

Loving every moment in this beautiful country and soaking up all it has to offer!

09/09/2025

✨ Expressions of Interest Now Open! ✨

Join the wonderful Christine Wardell on a 4 night trip to New South Wales to see Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary Phantom of the Opera under the stars paired with a relaxing getaway to the beautiful Hunter Valley. 🎭🌙🍷

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of this timeless masterpiece at a spectacular floating stage on Sydney Harbour — complete with breathtaking sets, dazzling fireworks, and world-class performances.

📅 25-29 March 2026
📍 Fleet Steps, Mrs Macquarie’s Point, Sydney

Contact Debbie via email at [email protected] today to register your interest and secure your place!