Travelling as an Honoured Guest | The Tāpoi Way
When we reflect on our journey at Tāpoi Travel, we see not just a company, but a living story. One shaped by our whakapapa, values of manaakitanga and whanaungatanga, and the deep privilege it is to welcome guests as whānau. Travellers who choose Tāpoi don’t simply see New Zealand and Australia, they experience these lands through eyes and hearts shaped by generations of care, intuition, and indigenous connection.
Bespoke Travel with a Foundation of Care
Every Tāpoi journey begins with a conversation, a kōrerorero.
When E, a fellow travel partner from the USA, approached us about a Southern Hemisphere summer adventure for her grandparents, K&M, we wanted to create an Australian itinerary that invited them to feel simultaneously at-home and exploratory. E shared, “Grandma wants a mix of relaxation and exploration. Tasmania has always intrigued and she LOVES kangaroos…Learning about aboriginal culture (they would be interested in an art project). Spending time in cities and seeing Australia’s highlights are equally important too.”
We listened. We asked questions. We took time to understand who K&M are; their aspirations, comfort levels, likes and dislikes, the moments they hoped to experience and remember. Through this process, insight emerged, guiding every detail. Our travellers are never just a booking to be processed; they are honoured guests whose needs shape the very bones of their journey.
Crafting Stories, Cultural Connections and Special Touches
K & M’s adventure began in Melbourne - a city woven from cultures past and present. Extensive migrant history is reflected in a flourishing food scene, renowned laneway street art stems from an underground graffiti movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and international events such as the Grand Prix, Australian Tennis Open, the Melbourne Cup, and Presidents Cup make Melbourne Australia’s sports capital. The city is also home to Koorie Heritage Trust, an exuberant cultural hub celebrating the living traditions of First Peoples from south-eastern Australia. This cultural depth allowed us to introduce K&M to a fantastic collection of experiences as their ‘Welcome to Australia’.
We curated experiences that spoke to M’s love of art and heritage. The couple spent time with a First Nations guide, learnt traditional pendant making techniques to craft meaningful jewellery for each other, and dined at Mabu Mabu, an indigenous owned restaurant showcasing natural flavours and indigenous ingredients. All such special ways to connect with the local people of Australia.
While sport was not on K&M’s original wish list, when we suggested Australian Open Tennis Tournament their answer was a resounding YES. We approached seat selection with the same thoughtfulness we would show for our own grandparents – considering comfort, shade, and easy access to amenities, as well as a fantastic view. This allowed K&M to fully relax and enjoy the Australian Open.
“The tennis was GREAT! Except for extreme sadness when Coco lost. She should have been in the finals! The guide Matt was terrific” they enthused.
After the match we arranged for K&M’s guide to collect them from inside the stadium to ensure their entire experience was effortless, another example of what it means to be truly looked after.
Wildlife and Wonder in Tasmania, Kangaroo Island, and the Barossa Valley
Kangaroo Island and Tasmania became spaces of joy and awe. M delighted at standing among the kangaroos she adores, a bucket list experience we were thrilled to make happen for her. Waking up in lodges surrounded by Australia’s untamed beauty, and seeing incredible wildlife in their natural habitat, meant these encounters didn’t feel like tourist activities to tick off. K&M felt enveloped in the landscape and its spirit, which is exactly what we hoped for them.
Even the road itself became an adventure. In the Barossa Valley, K&M savoured the wind in their hair as they explored famed wine country from a convertible Mustang. E’s delight at receiving “adorable pictures in this funky car” from her grandparents captures the essence of what we create - moments that become stories, reflecting the guest’s personalities in every experience.
The images E’s grandparents sent - grins in the winelands, heartfelt notes from hotels, wide-eyed wonder at Freycinet - spoke more than any itinerary.
“They were obsessed with Kangaroo Island and loved the hotel. Tasmania hotel was fabulous as well and their guide on the Maria Island tour was fantastic.”
Touring the Barossa Valley wineries in a classic car, K&M meeting an adorable native wombat in Tasmania, and kangaroos grazing on Kangaroo Island, Australia.
Trust, Involvement, and Lasting Connections
Trust built through care and collaboration blossomed during our travel consultation process. Toni, our director, visited E and her family while in New York: discussing plans in person, reading physical cues, engaging with them as friends and family rather than clients. These meetings impart subtle but crucial refinements; choosing a property with easier access, adjusting the pace to suit, and understanding preferences that go unspoken until face-to-face.
With Tāpoi, our involvement doesn't end with booking confirmations. We stay in touch during your adventure, checking in, handling any adjustments, and advising you of any special opportunities that arise. After her grandparent’s journey E commented;
“You were extremely involved and super helpful at all times - I am so appreciative. Thank you!”
K&M were thrilled with their journey, “My grandma had so many wonderful things to say about their trip. My grandpa even thanked her for pushing him to go!” E reported. She loved our attention to detail, creativity and personal connection so much that she arranged two more family trips through Tāpoi Travel. We curated an active adventure for her parents, and E's sisters travelled with us on a girls’ Australian road trip. There’s no higher praise for us than a client returning with more of their whānau.
Reunion and Transformation
One year on, Toni’s annual US trip became something more. It turned into what could now be considered a family reunion – full of drinks, laughter, and K&M sharing fond memories of their Australian travels. M greeted Toni with a warm hug, exclaiming “you’re my guardian angel”. For us, this is the heart of Tāpoi, journeys transforming strangers into lifelong connections.
To travel as an honoured guest with Tāpoi is to be welcomed, understood, and celebrated at every turn. To see Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand as we see them. We prepare your journey with insight and care, honouring who you are and the memories you bring and seek to create. Each bespoke itinerary is woven with meaning, crafted for you by people who know these lands and what it means to belong here.
If your story is ready for its next chapter, let us welcome you as whānau. Discover New Zealand and Australia the Tāpoi Travel way.
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