Intrepid Travel's vote of confidence in NZ

Friday, 21 November 2025

Intrepid Travel’s business in New Zealand is growing disproportionately fast, and that has led the company to boost its long-term investment in its operations in the country.

The international adventure tour operator has just officially opened its new office in the Viaduct in Auckland’s CBD. It currently employs 34 office staff and 70 tour leaders.

Since announcing it was re-establishing a New Zealand base back in June, Intrepid has fully acquired local tour operators Haka Tours and ANZ Nature Tours.

Intrepid’s chief executive James Thornton, who was in Auckland for the office launch, said demand for the type of responsible, immersive small group travel his company offers was growing globally.

When he joined Intrepid 20 years ago it was a $30 million dollar company, and now it was on track to become the world’s first $1 billion adventure travel company, he said.

“We have a growth agenda, but New Zealand is growing disproportionately fast. Internationally, we grew by 15% over the last year, but in New Zealand our growth hit 23%.

“And it's not just growth in the Kiwi outbound tour market, we are proud to be bringing more people into the country.”

The company, which was founded in Melbourne in 1989, has a soft spot for New Zealand, and it was the second country it established an office in. During Covid it closed its local office and moved the operation to Australia, but it has returned with big plans.

Thornton said New Zealand was one of Intrepid’s most important destinations as it was a place where sustainability, community and connection to nature - values which were key to the company’s ethos - were deeply ingrained.

“Our new Auckland office is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to investing locally and growing our presence in the region.”

Intrepid’s New Zealand country manager, Simon Mckearney, was responsible for overseeing the development of local inbound and outbound travel operations, he added.

Mckearney, who was formerly chief executive of Helloworld NZ and executive general manager of Flight Centre NZ, said sentiment in the tourism industry generally has improved, and there was an optimistic outlook throughout the company.

“They see that it's only a matter of time before we get back to that 100% plus pre-Covid international visitor level. We’re seeing an impact from Tourism NZ’s investment, especially their Australian campaign.

“And the irony of our weak dollar is that once an international visitor is here they find it affordable, and are doing more activities for their dollar. That’s a positive, and it’s driving good sentiment and purchasing.”

Domestically, interest rates seemed to be having an impact, and that was reflected in outbound investment, he said.

“Our belief in the sector is evident in our investment here. There’s the new office, we are buying about 25 tour vehicles worth about $250,000, and we’ll be leasing the same number again.

“The final element to it is the marketing spend from New Zealand is being put back into marketing from a local basis rather than a centralised basis. Significant millions will be put through our media and channels.”

Looking ahead, visitors from many countries were interested in coming on a tour, and they were expecting about 10,000 on tours over summer, he said.

“We're well-positioned to be the inbound operator of choice, and that’s not a responsibility we take lightly. We have to give our travellers a good experience because that's what they will remember New Zealand for.”

In another new move, Intrepid was also looking at developing more tours and plans for New Zealanders who were travelling around the country, Mckearney said.

“Given the geopolitical times, there’s a portion of people who want to stay close to their backyard. To create domestic trips with learnings about places like Stewart Island or the West Coast, that are off the beaten path and experiences that you can't normally get … That's where the opportunity lies.”

It also fitted with the company’s mission to get off the beaten track, connect with and benefit local communities, and provide a more sustainable form of tourism, he said.

“From our side, unashamedly, we want people to go to places to immerse themselves in local culture and really learn about the country, and the nature of it.

“That’s a growth market in itself these days, and that’s why New Zealand is so well positioned: It has beautiful scenery, and it’s culturally unique with amazing Maori tourism experiences.”

Over the last year, Intrepid has expanded into accommodation, and it is building a portfolio of smaller, nature-based, community-led properties in locations around the world.

Intrepid’s Australia and New Zealand managing director Brett Mitchell has previously said it would look at potential properties in New Zealand. But, to date, it has not made a local purchase.