Rugged Rakiura on a southern safari and NZ's best travel deals

Seagoing Albatrosses in Rakiura. Photo / Supplied

MARINE SAFARI BY KAYAK

Take a seal watching kayaking tour at Kaikoura – fur seal-sightings guaranteed – and you could very well see some other magnificent beasts, ranging from whales and dolphins to penguins and various seabirds, including albatross. Book your sea-kayaking tour by spring for a $20 discount. Adult price will be reduced to $100, and a child's price will be down to $49. Seal Kayak Kaikoura offer kayaks which guests can pedal, and tours are between 2.5 and 3 hours long. Seal Kayak Kaikoura, 027 261 0124, levi@sealkayakkaikoura.com or SealKayakKaikoura.com

See the seals on a Kaikoura sea kayak. Photo / Supplied

RUGGED RAKIURA

Recommended by Lonely Planet as "an excellent ecotourism operator," Ruggedy Range is a small, locally owned and operated wilderness tour business with guides who'll happily guide visitors through the beautiful nature and bird-abundant forests on Stewart Island and Ulva Island. There are overnight hikes on offer, trips to go kiwi-spotting and native birdwatching, wildlife cruises to see penguins, seals, dolphins, sealions and seabirds, photography tours and scenic road tours. Prices range from $45 for a one-hour scenic road tour, to an evening's kiwi spotting tour for a couple of hours, priced from $100. There's even a three-day fully catered guided tour priced from $1400pp. Combining Ruggedy Range tours will earn you discounts. Contact: Ruggedy Range, mail@ruggedyrange.com or ruggedyrange.com/packages

See in 2023 on Rarotonga at the Crown Beach Resort. Photo / Supplied

RAROTONGA RESOLUTIONS

Soak up the New Year's sunshine in Rarotonga with a five-night stay at the four-star Crown Beach Resort. Based in a one-bedroom Garden Villa at this beachfront resort, your stay and return airfares from Auckland are priced from $1909pp, double share. Travel from Wellington or Christchurch, and the package is priced from $2069pp, double share. Daily breakfasts, return airport transfers in Rarotonga, and a NZ$150 Resort Credit with your room, are all included. Book by July 24. Travel next year between February 1 and March 31. This is an 'adults only' resort, so the minimum age for guests is 16 years.
Contact: Flight Centre, 0800 427 555 or flightcentre.co.nz/crownbeachresort-akl, flightcentre.co.nz/crownbeachresort-chc, or flightcentre.co.nz/crownbeachresort-wlg

Head to the Rydges Rotorua. Photo / Supplied

REDWOOD ROTORUA

Near the magnificent Redwood Forest and overlooking the glistening waters of the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley, Rydges Rotorua is quite the spot for travellers, whether you're looking for adventure, exploring nature with your children or winding down after a day of business in Rotorua city. The hotel is currently offering 10 per cent discounts on one-night bookings, 15 per cent discounts on two-night bookings and up to 20 per cent discounts if you're staying three nights or more. An overnight stay starts at $197. Members of the hotel's loyalty programme receive an additional 10 per cent off. Book by August 30. Travel by September 16. Contact: Rydges Rotorua, (07) 348 1189 or
rydges.com/accommodation/new-zealand/rotorua

See the best of West Australia on the Margaret River. Photo / Supplied

BEST OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Spend six days on a luxury tour of the beautiful Margaret River in Western Australia, priced from $3795pp – a saving of $600 per couple. You'll get to hike on a stretch of the Cape to Cape Trail, sample some of Margaret River's sweet produce, such as chocolate and nougat, and visit Leeuwin Estate, which is one of the region's oldest, most prestigious wineries and considered a landmark in the region. Book by August 31. This six-day, small group tour departs from Perth on October 20 and again on November 3. Airfares and transfers from New Zealand are additional. Contact: Travel Associates, 0800 951 655 or travel-associates.co.nz/margaret-river-tour