Milford Sound Voted Number One - By Trip Advisor

30 April 2008

Major South Island tourism operator Real Journeys is elated that Milford Sound and Queenstown have been voted the world’s top destinations by members of the world’s largest online travel community – TripAdvisor.

“We are absolutely thrilled that the beauty and importance of these areas has been recognised by so many overseas visitors,” says Real Journeys CEO Dave Hawkey. “Kiwis have a great deal of pride in Fiordland and the Southern Lakes. It’s incredibly exciting - and actually quite humbling - to see these places being feted on the world stage.”

Milford Sound topped the list of 100 global destinations, with Queenstown right behind in second place. The two New Zealand destinations were named in the top 10 ahead of Cayo Largo in Cuba, Rhodes in Greece, and California’s Lake Tahoe.

The awards were determined based on the opinions of TripAdvisor’s six million members worldwide.

Mr Hawkey said it was particularly pleasing to see Milford Sound came out on top. “It’s all too easy for New Zealanders to get a bit complacent about places like Milford Sound, and to take them for granted.

“The reality is that when visitors go to Milford Sound they are blown away by the area’s incredible landscape. It really is an amazing experience. We’re lucky to have a place like that right on our doorstep.”

He said Real Journeys felt proud and privileged to operate in such a magnificent part of the world. In 2007, the company was recognised as the tourism industry’s highest achiever in conservation matters at the national Tourism Industry Awards. Real Journeys were also recipients of the 2007 Qualmark Mark of Quality Award.

For further comment, please contact:

Real Journeys CEO Dave Hawkey
Email: dhawkey@realjourneys.co.nz
Phone: 03 249 8627 or 027 233 7931

For images and more information, please contact:

Real Journeys marketing communications manager Diana McCurdy
Email: dmccurdy@realjourneys.co.nz
Phone: 03 442 4830