House of Travel

24/07/2025

Discover why Singapore is so much more than you expect. 👇

House of Travel’s Cheryl Edwards discovers new adventures around the corner… from the cultural sights and beautiful gardens, the hustle and bustle and fabulous Hawker street food, ziplining over white-sandy beaches on Sentosa or sipping cocktails in a secret speakeasy tucked behind a humble coffee shop.

✨ "It’s the hidden gems that really make your holiday special – imagine having dinner in a cave at a wildlife reserve – a truly magical experience. And if you’re craving island vibes? Head to The Palawan @ Sentosa - a beachside playground bursting with family fun, high-speed thrills, and adults-only beach clubs.”

💬 Which side of Singapore would you explore first - the heritage, the hidden gems, or the island fun?

10/07/2025

Jetting off soon? ✈

Melissa Duder from House of Travel has one golden rule before every trip: don’t let a dodgy tummy or motion sickness catch you off guard. ✈️💊
There’s one thing she always packs - and it’s not in your standard toiletry kit.

Be ready for anything. 🧳✨

08/07/2025

🌴 Dreaming of Tahiti? 🐠🌺

This South Pacific paradise is every bit as breathtaking as the photos - and then some. If Tahiti is on your ‘wish list’, here's a peek at what it's really like!
Catherine Johnson from House of Travel just returned from an unforgettable island adventure and shares her top moments and must-dos:

🌊 Snorkelling in Bora Bora
“There were so many highlights, but nothing topped snorkelling and swimming with manta rays and black tip sharks in the coral reef at Bora Bora,” she says.
The water? “Crystal clear - like nothing I’ve ever seen. The blue hues of the ocean really does look just like the photos!” 💙

🛵 Explore Moorea by scooter or car
“While staying in Moorea, we rented a scooter and explored the island at our own pace - discovering hidden beaches, waterfalls, and local food spots.”
💜HOT Tip: Renting a car or scooter is the best way to take in the island’s beauty and find those off-the-beaten-path gems.

🧺 Visit Papeete Market in Tahiti
A must-do on the main island! “The vibrant Papeete Market (Le Marché de Papeete) is perfect for local culture, handcrafted souvenirs, and tasting traditional Tahitian dishes.”

🚤 Boat tour & Coco Beach in Moorea
“A small-group boat tour around Moorea’s lagoon gave us incredible views of the volcanic peaks and the chance to snorkel at submerged tiki statues beneath crystal-clear waters.”

To top it off? “We visited Coco Beach Restaurant on Motu Tiahura - only accessible by boat. Definitely book lunch and the boat shuttle in advance!”

Feeling inspired?
Chat to one of our Pacific Island specialists today 💬 https://bit.ly/4b3gbUS
Or check out our Tahiti deals 👉 https://bit.ly/4eENj8R

02/07/2025

Booked a cruise?
Here’s House of Travel’s Brigitta Moore's Best. Cruise tip. Ever! 🛥️📲

This one’s for the planners, the deal-hunters, and anyone who likes a stress-free trip. The secret? It starts before you even pack.

Cruise smart, not hard. 🧭✨

02/07/2025

🌸 A Family Adventure in Japan 🇯🇵👨‍👩‍👦‍👦
Thinking about taking the kids to Japan? Carla McKinnon from House of Travel Whanganui recently returned from a trip full of magic, memories and a few handy tips for families planning the same.

🎢 Disneyland Dreams, Delivered
“I promised my son Cooper a trip to Disneyland when he was 10. We were two years late… but we made it, and it was worth every second.” The kids were in awe at both Disneyland and DisneySea.
HOT tip: don’t skip the night parade, and yes - get the Mickey ears.

🌸 Cherry Blossoms in Hiroshima
Hiroshima stood out as a peaceful, powerful moment in the trip. “It took our breath away - quiet, beautiful, and humbling.”

✨ Ready to plan your own Japan family adventure?
Check out our deals 👉 https://bit.ly/3VtMqH4
Talk to an expert 👉 https://bit.ly/4b3gbUS

26/06/2025

✨ BEST. SHOW. EVER!

“MJ The Musical – “One of the best shows I’ve been to, an electrifying experience from start to finish!” 🎶 Halie Allan from House of Travel Invercargill experienced this incredible show in Sydney and loved every bit of it!

🔥 “I was literally on the edge of my seat the whole time.” The energy in the theatre was next level – being just four rows from the front made it feel like we were part of the action."

💜 Halie’s tip: "Stay at Sydney’s Novotel or Sofitel, you can’t beat the location with awesome shopping and dining options right on your doorstep" 💃🌃

But be quick to catch it in Sydney as the season ends in August. But the great news is the show is heading to Melbourne in September!

25/06/2025

Heading to Bali?
Check out House of Travel’s Yonah Croize’s Best. Bali Holiday Tip. Ever! 💜

If you’re keen to swap the sun loungers and poolside cocktails to discover one of Bali’s hidden gems, head out tot Tukad Cepung Waterfall. Think early morning stillness, a dash of adventure, and that kind of natural magic you’ll be bragging about long after you’ve unpacked. 👣✨

Trust us, this one's a memory-maker.

24/06/2025

Some of our top selling Aussie experiences just got even HOTTER with news that Air New Zealand are boosting the number of seats across the ditch this summer. More seats = more competition = more deals!

It’s perfect timing to jump the ditch.

With 130,000 extra seats to Aussie and the South Pacific between October 2025 and March 2026 - what’s on your wish list?

Surprise the fam at Christmas?
With more premium seats available travel like a king to catch the king of pop at M.J The Musical in Melbourne (our very own HOT travel guru Tanya Aitken says it’s a must-see – “BEST. SHOW. EVER!”)
Soak up unbelievable match points and roaring crowds’ courtside at Rod Laver Arena?
Swap the grind for turquoise waters and cocktails at your favourite South Pacific getaway?

What are you waiting for? Check out the HOTTEST Aussie Events this summer 👉http://bit.ly/44cplwH.
Or make your South Pacific Soiree a reality 👉 http://bit.ly/4nj631A

19/06/2025

Happy Matariki!

In celebration of the Maori New Year, our stores will be closed today. Our teams will be taking a break to reflect on the year that’s been and gathering with friends and family to celebrate and look forward to what the New Year will bring. For most of us we see exciting adventures on the horizon. 💜

How are you celebrating Matariki?✨🌟

19/06/2025

HOT HACKS 🔥
Cook Islands Edition 🏝

Check out House of Travel’s David Simms Best. Cook Islands Holiday Tip. Ever! 💜

And if you’d prefer more of a dessert treat, ask us where to find the best crepes filled with bananas and topped with Baileys! Yummm!”

What’s your best Cook Islands holiday hack? ☀

18/06/2025

🎬✨ Celebrating Our People – Welly-wood Style! ✨🎬

Over 770 team members from our retail stores, HOT HQ, and our valued partner suppliers gathered in Wellington for an unforgettable celebration of people, passion, and performance at our Annual Awards Event.

Festivities kicked off with our fast-paced supplier ‘speed dating’ day, where our retail consultants connected with key partners to upskill and share insights, then we came together to recognise and celebrate our people.

Congratulations to all of our award winners. Among those recognised, some of the major award recipients included:

- Supreme Customer Champion Store: House of Travel Whanganui
- Supreme Customer Champion Consultant: Alana Dresner, House of Travel Tauranga
- Consultant of the year: Brendon Maguire, House of Travel Nelson
- Store of the year: House of Travel Motueka
- Top Small Store 2025: House of Travel Kapiti Coast
- Top Medium Store 2025: House of Travel Motueka
- Top Large Store 2025: House of Travel Papamoa

Huge thanks to our incredible preferred partner suppliers and of course to our amazing customers – our teams, love nothing more than bringing your travel dreams to life and creating your Best. Holidays. Ever!

04/06/2025

🛫 New direct flight alert! You’ll soon be able to hop from Christchurch to Adelaide direct with Air New Zealand! 🦘
Think: Waipara Pinot 🍷 meets Barossa Shiraz, punting to kangaroo spotting 🦘, flat whites to fine art 🎨.

Our very own Chris Atkinson from HOT Hornby has just returned from Adelaide - and wow! He shares his top must dos...
🧀 Barossa Valley day trip? A must. Wine, lunch, unforgettable views.
🌳 City ringed by 29 parks - the Parklands Trail is a full-day adventure (or dip into a section).
🍸 Leigh & Peel Streets = nightlife central. Hidden bars, small plates, buzzing vibes.
🛒 Adelaide Central Market is foodie heaven - and it's about to double in size.

The first flight is set to take off on Monday 27 October 2025, with two flights a week operating direct through to Friday 27 March 2026.
Check our more inspiration and great value deals 👉 https://bit.ly/3SwKtsj
South Australia’s calling - and your tastebuds are packing.

11/05/2025

We are looking for a customer service super star! If you are passionate about travel and know how to turn “I need a break” into “Best trip ever”, let’s chat!

What we are looking for:
- Someone who LOVES travel ( bonus points if you have the passport stamps to prove it)
- Great with people, calm under pressure, organised-ish
- Knows their way around booking system (GDS is a plus!)
- Previous travel industry experience? Even better

What You Will Get:
- A fun, supportive team
- competitive pay + bonuses
- Room to grow and learn new skills
- Occasional office snacks and the best coffee in Auckland ( thank you Luscious and Pastrami&Rye)

Get in touch today and join our team at House of travel Ellerslie!

03/12/2024

Thinking of a trip to BALI?
We can help you plan a perfect trip!

Tania just came back from a 9 day trip to Bali with her family and bursting with excitement for this destination. Please see below some of her tips:

- Apply for your visa and fill out health declaration and customs form online prior to departure. This will save a lot of time on arrival. Please see below the links to the online forms:
Visa on Arrival - https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id/
Tourist Levy - https://lovebali.baliprov.go.id/
Customs Declaration - https://ecd.beacukai.go.id/
Health Declaration - https://sshp.kemkes.go.id/

- Arrange your arrival transfer in advance: Denpasar Airport can be very overwhelming on arrival and seeing a friendly face of a personal driver holding a sign with your name on it takes away any anxiety you might have.
- For your first visit I would recommend at least a 2 week trip staying at 2 or 3 different locations. Bali is such a diverse country with many experiences on offer. From beautiful beaches to bustling markets to serene rice plantations and breathtaking volcanoes. Aim to spend some time on the beach and some time in Ubud to make your trip diverse and exciting.

- Bali is not a big island, but traffic can be very busy and getting from place to place can take a long time. If you need to transfer from one location to another, why not make it an adventure and hire a driver for a day. Balinese people are so friendly and proud of their island and love showing it to tourists. We have a list of reliable drivers we can recommend.

- For shorter trips, download Gojek App. It is similar to Uber and you can also order takeaways through it, which is fantastic if you are staying in a villa.

- To avoid cash scams, use WISE card. It is easy to top up and readily accepted everywhere.

For more information and advice, please reach out to our team of experts at House of Travel Ellerslie on either 09 525 2363 or via email at [email protected]

21/10/2024

Nicci just came back from a family trip to Phuket and shares her insights with us!

We had a wonderful family holiday in Phuket over the school holidays. Highly recommend Katathani Resort – it is huge with around 6 pools, 5 restaurants and on a good swimming beach – also less hustle and bustle than other areas of Phuket. It is the perfect location for relaxing! However not as many options to dine outside the resort in this area, but a short Tuktuk ride over the hill to Kata Beach with a lot more options – one restaurant we loved in Kata is the small family run eightfold - https://www.facebook.com/eightfo8d/.

Also, Phuket is fabulous for exploring the surrounding islands such as Phi Phi – we chose a kayaking tour of the limestone islands around Phang Nga Bay.

Our absolute highlight was the 2 day jungle safari at Elephant Hills – this is a sustainable elephant rescue staying in luxury tents in the middle of the jungle, so unique and SO worth visiting if you ever get the chance!

10/10/2024

Are you ready to embark on a journey like no other? 🌍🚢

Say farewell to traditional travel and embrace the incredible experience of cruising! With transportation, accommodation, dining, and more all in one, cruising is the ultimate way to explore the globe.

Join us for an evening of discovery. Experience the magic of Europe’s most stunning destinations from the comfort of the high seas.

When: Tuesday 15 October 2024
Time: 6:00pm
Where: House of Travel Ellerslie,
108 Main Hwy, Auckland

Please RSVP to [email protected] by 13h of October, 2024.

19/09/2024

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU - #1 FOR BRAND EXPERIENCE

We don’t like to brag, but we’re super proud to have been recognised as New Zealand’s best brand for customer experience in Kantar’s Customer Leadership Index survey.

This recognition means the world to us because they reflect our dedication to our customers, our customer first approach and enriching lives through travel.

When you travel with us you aren’t just a booking reference number, you become part of the House of Travel family. We believe that holidays are super special. We believe every moment counts, from big adventures to the smallest details that can make your experience extraordinary. Our experienced and passionate owner operators and consultants take the time understand exactly what you are looking for from your travels, and we go the extra mile to make holidays unforgettable.

So thank you New Zealand, we are truly humbled.

12/01/2022

Helpful tips from Air New Zealand how to be ready to travel within NZ this summer!

How to upload your domestic My Vaccine Pass to your Air New Zealand Airpoints profile, verifying your vaccination status so you’re ready for a summer of safe...

11/01/2022

The countdown is on!
COOK ISLANDS open their borders to New Zealand on 14th of January and with quarantine-free travel in BOTH directions, you can be enjoying cocktails on white sand beach or near the pool and island hospitality after just a 3 hour flight from Auckland.

We have a fantastic opportunity to visit four of the Cook Islands unspoiled islands of the Southern Group — Mangaia, Mauke, Mitiaro and Atiu on an 8 -day fully escorted small group tour. You will experience the unique natural beauty and the authenticity of each islands history and culture.
There are 5 departures:
• 10—18 February 2022
• 24 March — 01 April 2022
• 18—26 August 2022
• 13—21 October 2022
• 10—18 November 2022
The tour cost starts from $ 3226NZD per person (max 11 people in a group)
Click on the images to read about each island.
Contact Tania for detailed itinerary and to secure your spot on 09 525 7208 or [email protected]

23/12/2021

CRUISE FLASH!
Brand new super yacht Island Escape has government approval to cruise New Zealand waters this summer January – March 2022. Be the first to enjoy this luxury superyacht experience – departing Auckland for Nelson on 12th January from only $8950pp share twin. Fiordland including Stewart Island cruises also available. With 32 guests this is super luxury yachting, not cruising!

For detailed itinerary please contact us on either 09 525 7208 or via e-mail [email protected].

22/12/2021

Presents are wrapped and under the tree and countdown is now on for the arrival of Santa!

While we are taking some time off we are also staying open for a few days which presents a great opportunity to pop in and chat about travel options for 2022. Please let us know if you'd like to come in and we can make an appointment for you.

Our Xmas hours:
24th of December – 4th of January: CLOSED
5th of January: 10am - 2pm
6th of January: working remotely
7th of January: working remotely
10th of January: 10am - 3pm

We'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Best regards, Tania and Olga
Ph: 09 525 7208
E-mail: [email protected]

24/11/2021

INCREDIBLE announcement today around New Zealand's border plan! And we are SO EXCITED ABOUT IT! We now have some clarity and a way forward that will enable us to start planning and assisting with all your travel requests
We are still waiting on more information from airlines and suppliers
BUT in the meantime if you are
keen to feel the warm sand between your toes in Fiji
or sample some street food at night market in Phuket
or marvel at 500 year old cathedral in Venice
or just get away next year to see your loved ones

THEN please get in touch!

E-mail: [email protected] or phone us on 09 525 7208

16/11/2021

MIQ ROOM RELEASE

The next MIQ room release is scheduled for 1 pm on Thursday, 18th of November, NZT (Lobby opens at 12:00 Noon).
Approx. 4,200 rooms across November, December, January and February ill be available for booking.

Getting an MIQ allocation is half chance & half expert planning - you secure your MIQ spot and we’ll take care of the rest.

Call us to discuss and hold flight options & we’ll be ready and waiting on Thursday via phone, email or messenger to make sure everything lines up if you hit the jackpot. Let the travel experts help make your dream a reality and make everything easy. It really is “Better Together” with House of Travel. Call us for more details.

16/11/2021

TAKE A LEISURELY JOURNEY ACROSS THE SOUTH PACIFIC:

Your journey will start with a one way flight from Auckland to Honolulu on 29th of September 2022. Enjoy 3 nights in Honolulu (some shopping therapy, perhaps!) before hopping aboard the Royal Princess for a 17 night cruise across the South Pacific, stopping at postcard perfect Tahiti & Bora Bora and including New Zealand's own stunning Marlborough Sounds

Package price starting from $3399 per person + USD$365 Onboard Spending for Interior cabin.
Balcony Twin room from $5199 per person + USD$365 Onboard Spending
Or for something special treat yourself to a suite - from $7599 per person + USD$365 Onboard Spending

Upgrade to Princess Plus for $600 per person and Get US$515 Free Spending Money per room, PLUS Drinks package +Wifi Package

Deal Includes
✔ One way Flight Auckland to Honolulu
✔ 3 Nights in Honolulu at the Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach
✔ Royal Princess® 17 Night Cruise from Honolulu to Auckland
✔ Accommodation onboard the cruises in your choice of Stateroom: Choose from Interior, Oceanview, Balcony, Mini Suite or Full Suite
✔ All main meals from a choice of dining venues, including 24 hour room service onboard cruises
✔ World class entertainment & enrichment lectures onboard
✔ All port taxes & applicable government fees

For more details please contact us on 09 525 2363 or via e-mail [email protected]

If you are holding Princess Cruises Future Cruise deposit, please get in touch and we can advise how you can use it towards this or any other Princess cruises trip.