OUR MOTTO: TRAVEL IS BETTER WHEN IT IS CUSTOMIZED. IT'S MORE PERSONAL, MORE REWARDING AND MORE FUN!
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination. Our goal is to create a creative and inspired itinerary for each individual or group.
Our team goes the extra mile to make sure that we really understand you and your expectations, connecting you with the real New Zealand.
We start by gaining understanding by talking to you and really listening to what you have to say. The process is fully collaborative so we can ascertain what you like and don’t like, the type of accommodation you require, any specific areas you want to visit or attractions that are a ‘must see’ on your holiday.
Our team understands firsthand the geography, pace, and objectives of our travellers when creating a tour plan. We sit down and start from scratch, working out an itinerary within the budget and time frame that you have set.
Our Company is built upon the happiness and well-being of ‘Our People’. We greatly Value and Care for our employees, customers, business partners and community. We nurture and encourage a supportive, collaborative work environment.
We strive to maintain the highest standards of courtesy, respect and professionalism. We believe in open, honest communication and delivering on our promises.
Aroha’s guides aren’t just drivers. They are cultured, educated experts who are on hand to provide their advice and expertise and ensure that the people in their care are looked after and have the best holiday possible. They act as both private concierge and personal guide, invested in crafting memorable experiences and showing guests the true New Zealand through authentic experiences. They excel at unobtrusive, intuitive service – quick to jump in when needed, they also know when to slow down and step back and give guests time and space to themselves to relax, take a deep breath, and really soak up their surroundings.
Our guides are trained in first aid and hold Passenger Endorsement licences. They are also having a permit to operate guiding activities on Public Conservation Land.
All guides are a member of Pro-guides Association and have a permanent resident or citizen of New Zealand. They currently work full or part-time as a Guide for Aroha NZ Tours and have work experience in New Zealand of no less than TWO seasons of guiding.
Aroha New Zealand tours Ltd operating since 26th of October 2000. (HN 1096350)
Aroha Luxury New Zealand Tours is owned and operated by Veronika Vermeulen, the person you can expect to greet you upon arrival in this country. Whether in the company of Veronika or one of her hand-selected guides you will feel personally assured you are in the best hands this country has to offer. This European-born "Kiwi" has earned her tour business an exceptional reputation as a leader in NZ's tourism trade, both here and abroad.
Eden is an AUT graduate, focussing her studies on Tourism and Sustainability with a Bachelor of International Tourism Management. Eden strives to assist sustainable and cultural development within Aotearoa's tourism industry, with a background in sustainable consultancy. Eden is fascinated by the synergy between nature and humankind, aspiring to preserve natural and cultural environments to amplify the human experience."
Mariana was born on a desert farm in Namibia, so she never complains about the rain. "I love the beautiful pure nature and most of all the rain in New Zealand as I know how precious water is." By running her own business in Namibia for more than 15 years, she has all the experience to support the team behind the scenes - organising all the logistics and giving support to Veronika. "It puts a smile on my face knowing I am contributing to visitors enjoying their holiday.”
"New Zealand is the country that finally captured me after travelling and Tour Guiding in some of the most beautiful countries on this planet. My love for the outdoors, my fluency in 6 languages and my vast experience in leading different tours over the past 15 years make me the perfect host for discovering the hidden and most exciting corners of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Even though I was not born in this country, it is a mission and privilege to do all I can to transmit my uncommitted love and passion! As a result, my work has been highly rated by organisations such as National Geographic Television, renowned french guide book Le Guide Du Routard (Sicily), Rough Guides Sicily, as well as VIP customers like Hollywood stars such as Andie MacDowell during private guided excursions in extreme places like the active Volcano Stromboli (Sicily)."
Keni is a fourth generation Taiwanese born, New Zealand raised kiwi, he landed in Aotearoa with his family in the summer of 89’. Keni majored in business and marketing and has almost 20 years of career experience in many Asia Pacific countries as a senior executive and corporate consultant. He has a unique talent in water technology and has created his own Nano Electro-negative Hydrogen Water known as “Alqua” (Alpha Living Aqua) which is uncompromising in its quality. Growing up in New Zealand has made him an adventurer, practitioner, and explorer. He is ridiculously Epicurious and has a great loud voice, he loves music and he enjoys singing in his leisure time. Keni’s outgoing character makes him fun to be around with and his pursuit of exceptional quality and service standards which make him perfectly placed with Veronika and Aroha Tours.
Both Kemara and Tiare have been immersed in and around the Māori culture their entire lives. Both of Māori descent and have strong tribal affiliations predominantly around Te Puku o te Ika a Māui (central North Island). The Māori language has always been at the forefront of both their upbringing from Kohanga Reo (Early Childhood equivalent) through to Kura Kaupapa Māori (Total Immersion Language School) and this journey continues on with their 3 children. Kemara, is currently working at the Tongariro Correctional Facility, facilitating a Māori-based programme and when he is not at work he is in the shed wood carving. Tiare has a degree in Early Childhood and is currently teaching at Waihi Kõhanga Reo. Te Rua Māuri is a family-based initiative formed in 2016 to establish a forum for cultural understanding of Tikanga (Māori belief systems) by bridging past knowledge to present, to preserve and perpetuate its organic essence for the next generation. Te Rua Māuri has participated at various Indigenous festivals locally and internationally. Both Kemara and Tiare have travelled extensively as cultural ambassadors around the world. They enjoy an active life alongside their children and love the outdoors whether it be fishing and diving for kaimoana (seafood), hiking or snowboarding the various skifields of Ruapehu.
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