Real Journeys

Providing authentic, remarkable tourism experiences in some of the country’s most difficult to access areas, Real Journeys has been enjoying strong growth over the past few years.

This has inspired the family-owned business to increase its conservation work and focus efforts on ensuring the community benefits from the upturn in tourism.

Two years ago it launched the annual Cruise-for-a-Cause, where the proceeds of the first overnight cruise of the season in Doubtful and Milford Sounds are donated to local charitable and not-for-profit organisations.

So far more than $100,000 has been raised for six community groups, including the Southland & Otago Cancer Society, Forest & Bird, Wakatipu High School Foundation and Queenstown Lakes Family Centre.

Real Journeys also runs the wonderful ‘Birds of a Feather Conservation Ball’. It foots the bill for this annual event, with the money raised going towards conservation work. This year’s sold-out ball generated more than $100,000, with most of the proceeds going to the Wakatipu Wildlife Trust and Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust.

Real Journeys is also committed to being one of the region’s most progressive employers. Staff numbers have more than doubled since 2013 and a lot of effort goes into continually improving staff engagement through initiatives such as increased and customised training, creating more permanent staff employment opportunities, setting up a Diversity and Inclusion Council, and the construction of new staff accommodation.

This year Real Journeys was delighted to take out the top prize at the Diversity Awards NZ, recognition of a company that strives to ‘be remarkable and do it better’.