Real Journeys informations and photos

Real Journeys is a South Island tourism company and is privately owned by the Wayfare Group. Other tourist ventures that are also owned by Wayfare include Cardrona Alpine Resort, Go Orange and the International Antarctic Centre.

Real Journeys operates cruises in Milford and Doubtful Sounds, the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu, the Te Anau-au glowworm caves, Stewart Island ferry services, excursions and lodge accommodation.

The group of companies owned by Real Journeys include the Stewart Island Experience launched in 2004 and Wild Kiwi Encounter, operated as a joint tourism venture with the Rakiura Maori Lands Trust, which was purchased in 2016.

Real Journeys founders Les and Olive Hutchins were pioneers in the Southern Lakes tourism industry in the 1950s. Les Hutchins was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002 for services to conservation and tourism.

It was the Hutchinses' vision and foresight which led to the formation of the Manapouri-Doubtful Sound Tourist Company in May 1954, after purchasing the assets – two old launches, the Pilgrim and the Constance, and a small hut – from the estate of Les Murrell who had been transporting tourists across Lake Manapouri and connecting with a walk to Doubtful Sound since 1921.

The Manapouri-Doubtful Sound Tourist Company's excursion followed the same itinerary with a cruise on Lake Manapouri to West Arm followed by a 17 km walk over Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove in Doubtful Sound. Here the company built a lodge, incorporating the original Murrell hut, to accommodate tourists during the four-day trip.

Later the company was awarded the transport contract during the construction of the Manapouri Power Station carrying staff and materials from Manapouri to West Arm.

The Hutchinses were, however, motivated by an overriding desire to share their passion for the Fiordland region with visitors, and in 1966 they purchased Fiordland Travel (Te Anau). The company had been established by tourism identities Lawson Burrows and Wilson Campbell in the 1940s and operated various contracts on Lake Te Anau, including tours of the 12,000 year old Te Anau-au glowworm caves which Burrows discovered in 1948.

In 1969 Fiordland Travel turned its attention to Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.

The TSS Earnslaw, launched by the Government on Lake Wakatipu in 1912, was floundering under the ownership of the New Zealand Railways Department. There was even talk of scuttling the vessel but she was chartered to a private syndicate at the eleventh hour on 1 January 1969. The new ownership was short lived and, eyeing an opportunity, Fiordland Travel applied for was granted the lease of the historic steamer and on 12 December 1969 and began transporting freight and passengers to the head of the lake under their colours.

In 1982 the company purchased the vessel outright and today the TSS Earnslaw is the oldest coal fired passenger steamship still operating in the southern hemisphere.

In 1991, Fiordland Travel secured the lease of the Walter Peak high tourist operation and the TSS Earnslaw began daily excursions to the high country station on the western shores of Lake Wakatipu. Visitors to Walter Peak today can enjoy a farming experience, guided cycling excursions and horse trekking.

The historic Colonel's House restaurant at Walter Peak, which takes its name from an early owner, is recognised for its outstanding cuisine and is a popular dining out venue for visitors and Queenstown residents.

The TSS Earnslaw, affectionately known as the Lady of the Lake, is one of New Zealand's best known tourism icons. When she celebrated her 100th birthday in October 2012 thousands of people took part in the festivities reinforcing the high regard she is held in around the world.

In 1966 Milford Sound was on Fiordland Travel's radar but discussions with the Tourist Hotel Corporation (THC) to buy their tourist launches broke down and it was not till 1970 that the Hutchinses made their foray into Milford, challenging the government monopoly there.

The Department of Lands and Survey indicated at the time that it would let another concession for a tourist launch service in Milford Sound. Determined to win the privilege, the Hutchinses purchased a 16-metre cruiser, the MV Friendship, which was tailor-made for the purpose. However, when the department inexplicably decided not to appoint another concessionaire, Fiordland Travel was left at the crossroads.

Standing firm over their plan to enter into the Milford Sound market, the Hutchinses sailed the MV Friendship from Doubtful Sound to Milford overnight late in December 1970 and set up business from a prefabricated pontoon wharf at Milford Sound village, catching the THC unawares.

Business quickly took off largely because Fiordland Travel already had a contract with inbound operator, Trans Tours, to provide Milford Sound cruises for their tour groups.

Despite the strong opposition from THC, Fiordland Travel held its ground playing a major role in the development of tourism in Milford Sound which has led to the area becoming one of the country's most significant tourist destinations.

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