Real Journeys

One of the company's ships on Milford Sound

Buses constructed to improve view through glass roof

Real Journeys office on Steamer Wharf in Queenstown

Real Journeys is a major tourism company based in Fiordland, New Zealand. It is New Zealand's largest marine tourism operator, and operates a number of ships, as well as a tourism flight airline.

History

It was set up in the early 1950s as the 'Manapouri-Doubtful Sound Tourist company', and is known for its cruises (day trips and overnight) on Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound and Lake Wakatipu. It operates six major ships: the Milford Sovereign, Milford Monarch, Milford Wanderer, Milford Mariner, Milford Haven and the Fiordland Navigator, all, except for the 'Milford Haven', built in Southland. They also own a number of associated tourism activities such as a bus company and the concession to run trips to the Te Ana-au Caves.

In 1969, the company purchased the TSS Earnslaw, a steamship carrying passengers on Lake Wakatipu.

In 2006, Environment Southland, the Southland Local Government Authority, recognised the company for its work to minimise negative impacts of tourism on Doubtful Sound.

Air tourism

Milford Sound Flightseeing was originally Southern Scenic Air Services Limited, subsequently renamed to Tourist Air Travel Limited, then became part of the Mount Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Company-owned Mount Cook Airline. It later became Tourism Flightseeing, a joint venture between The Helicopter Line and Real Journeys. The most recent name change was to Milford Sound Flightseeing around 2002, when Real Journeys bought 100% ownership, and the Real Journeys brand was added to the hangars and aircraft.

Milford Sound Flightseeing is based at Queenstown Airport, Frankton, and is responsible for passenger flight operations between Queenstown and Milford Sound, and occasionally into Te Anau, as well as aircraft maintenance.

External links

• Real Journeys (official company website)