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House of Travel​ Riccarton

138 Riccarton Rd (opposite Westfield Riccarton)
Riccarton
Christchurch

P+64 3-341-3900
F+64 3-341-3909
E riccarton@hot.co.nz

Hours:
Monday: 9:30am - 3:30pm
Tuesday: 9:30am - 3:30pm
Thursday: 9:30am - 3:30pm
Friday: 9:30am - 3:30pm

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Welcome to the House of Travel Riccarton team page!

We are the team dedicated to finding the holiday to suit you! Perhaps somewhere with great food, food that also feeds your soul. Or a great value family holiday full of priceless memories. Wherever it is you dream about, we can make a reality. 

So we invite you to come visit us in store and meet our team. We have over 100 years of combined travel experience, and a lot more life experience that some of us would care to acknowledge! Here you’ll begin the journey on your dream holiday. 

Sometimes it is hard to believe it’s our job to build dreams. It’s a wonderful reward for us to hear about the awesome experiences of our clients (the HOT family) on return from their various holiday destinations. We are here to assist, inspire and take away any worries you may have, and save you possibly the most valuable commodity in modern society, time! We use our knowledge and experience doing what we do best; finding the best connections, destinations and documentation details so that all set in place for the holiday tailored specifically to suit you.

Have you ever wondered why people build sandcastles? All that time and effort to building to what purpose as it will just get washed away? We have thought about it, and our answer is that at the end of the day we know that life is not about the things you have, or that you can tangibly touch, but about the experiences and enjoyment of the many memories we create. And that’s what holidays are all about, enriching lives through travel.


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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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HOT Riccarton staff

Locals supporting locals

James Greer
Owner Operator

"Travelling leaves you speechless then turns you into a story teller"
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Julie Woods
Senior Travel Consultant


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TAANZ and House of Travel 

93%
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* Satisfaction rating based on 12 month period 01 April 19 – 31 March 20




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Your passport to worry-free travel to Australia in 2021 and 2022 - Jill Worrall Tours

Jill Worall

Jill Worrall is a Canterbury-based tour operator and manager who has been running tours around the globe for nearly 20 years. Over this time, she has taken more than 60 groups – more than 1000 people - to destinations ranging from the Russian Arctic to Sri Lanka, Mongolia to Morocco. She also runs highly successful tours to more mainstream destinations, including Ireland, Italy and Croatia.

Jill is also one of New Zealand’s most successful travel writers. She’s been named New Zealand Travel Writer of the Year, has won two Qantas Media Awards for feature writing and a wealth of other awards and has published three travel books.

Since the arrival of Covid-19 and its impact on international travel, Jill organised five extremely popular tours around New Zealand. Now that the travel bubble between New Zealand and Australia has opened, she is offering four tours to Australia in 2021 and 2022, along with an early summer tour exploring Nelson and Marlborough.

Jill receives outstanding feedback on her tours and she has about a 90 per cent return client base. Many of her clients have travelled with her more than 10 times. She is recognised as highly organised, works tirelessly to make sure her travellers are well cared for and have memorable holiday, deals calmly and efficiently with the unexpected and most importantly, is lots of fun to travel with! All crucial attributes in these uncertain times.

So, if you’re longing to enjoy some overseas travel again there’s no-one better than Jill to take you. She’s travelled extensively in Australia, having been invited many times by various state tourism organisations to visit and write about Australia’s most iconic destinations.


Where is Jill Travelling in 2021 and 2022?
(All tours fully escorted by Jill)

western-aus

The Great South-Western Edge – Western Australia
14-DAY TOUR: 02 – 15 OCTOBER 2021

Western Australia is the country’s largest state; it’s so huge that if it was a nation of its own it would be among the top 10 countries by size in the world. Its capital, Perth, is one of the most isolated cities on the planet – it’s closer to Indonesia and Singapore than it is to Australia’s own capital of Canberra. This is a hugely diverse region – with 1000km of coastline, forests, national parks and outback - and we’re going to do a loop right around its south-western edge, a region little explored by international travellers and little known even to most Australians. The landscapes are stunning and the human history is fascinating. Along with sightseeing in Perth and Fremantle, there are cruises to look for whales and around the Recherche Archipelago, wine tasting at Margaret River, the National Anzac Centre, a ride on the Pemberton Historic Train and walks in spectacular national parks. If you wish you can extend your return to travel by the Indian Pacific train to either Adelaide or Sydney. This is one of the world’s longest and greatest train journeys, from one major ocean to another.

Trans-Tasman travel will be on the direct international service from Auckland to Perth return.

from $8,295 per person on share twin basis ex-Christchurch or Auckland
There is limited availability for s single supplement at $1,395
tasmania

Tasmania -The Grand Circuit 
15-DAY TOUR: 24 OCTOBER – 07 NOVEMBER 2021

I’ve travelled extensively around Australia but I’ve never managed to get to Tasmania! So now is the time to discover this island, which is about the same size as Ireland and Sri Lanka and is the 26th largest island in the world. With about half of the island protected as World Heritage, National Park or reserves, it’s a place of outstanding natural beauty but also a land of history, great yarns and superb natural produce. We will visit Hobart, including its famous Salamanca Markets, then set off to Bruny Island, the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park; travel along the West Coast Wilderness Railway, cruise the Gordon River and stay a night at the luxury Cradle Mountain Lodge. We will visit Launceston, historic farm estates, taste Tasmanian wine and specialty foods; see platypus and the Tasmanian devil before looping back to Hobart via the gorgeous Freycinet Peninsula and Port Arthur. My tour is not an “off-the-peg” journey, but an itinerary carefully prepared by me in conjunction with expert Tasmanian tour operators. This tour will be fully escorted to and from NZ by me and I’ll be tour manager throughout, assisted by local guides during the tour. The tour is designed for people wanting to be active but also those wanting to take things at a gentler pace.

Trans-Tasman travel will be on the direct international service from Auckland to Hobart return.

from $9,650 per person on share twin basis ex-Christchurch or Auckland
There is limited availability for s single supplement at $1,950
top-of-the-sourh

Top of the South in Summer – Marlborough, New Zealand
11-DAY TOUR: 16-26 NOVEMBER 2021

With international travel largely off our radars at present, these last months have been a great opportunity to explore NZ more fully. This was something I’ve never had the chance to do before, staying in special accommodation that I’ve never been able to book before. My Top of the South tour combines all those wish list items! The tour starts in Nelson and then takes us across to Golden Bay, where we will be based in Collingwood for three nights. An expedition along Farewell Spit will be a highlight of these first few days on tour. It’s a superb day out combining stunning scenery, wildlife viewing and local history. Then we’ll head into the Abel Tasman National Park for a twonight stay in the stunningly situated Awaroa Lodge, which we will reach by water taxi. . There will be free time here to swim, kayak, walk or simply relax in one of the most beautiful parts of NZ. Then we head to the Marlborough Sounds and a three-night stay at another wonderful water-only access lodge in the heart of the Queen Charlotte Sound, Furneaux Lodge. I’ve organised a cruise to Ship Cove (a favourite anchorage for James Cook) and to one of NZ’s island wildlife sanctuaries that few people get to visit. If the rail timetable (due to be released later this year) works in with the itinerary, there will be an overnight stop in Kaikoura to enable us to go whale-watching!
Lord-Howel

Lord Howe Island
(with bonus Snowy Mountains sojourn and Canberra visit)
12-DAY TOUR: 18 FEBRUARY 18 – 01 MARCH 01, 2022

All of Lord Howe Island is a Unesco-listed site, it has a visitor number cap of 400 people at any one time and David Attenborough described it as: “so extraordinary, it’s almost unbelievable”. Australia’s Lord Howe is just a two-hour flight over the Tasman Sea from Sydney and for the next year or so the island is almost completely booked out. We got in early so this really is your opportunity to come to this amazing island. The combination of spectacular volcanic geography, rare endemic species, the world’s southernmost coral reef, a huge lagoon and an amazing mix of marine life sustained by a mix of warm tropical and cool temperature ocean currents is unique. The whole island is a superb example of a world class conservation project with 75 per cent of the land in a protected reserve surrounded by a marine reserve. The more you read about Lord Howe, the more remarkable it seems! Because it is so isolated, with so much of the island’s supplies having to be imported, Lord Howe is not a budget destination. We have five nights on the island, which will give us ample time to explore it, but still keep it affordable. With day temperatures in the mid-20s and sea temperatures averaging about 25C, Lord Howe’s mild summers are perfect for exploring and relaxing. To add to the highlights of this tour and to make the journey across the Tasman extra worthwhile, the last five days of our tour are going to be a complete contrast as we head back to the Australian mainland up into the Snowy Mountains, and ending our tour in the nation’s capital Canberra, which often gets missed off New Zealanders’ Aussie itineraries!

from $9,980 per person on share twin basis ex-Auckland
There is limited availability for a single supplement at $1,395

WHY TRAVEL WITH JILL?

• Unique itineraries planned by Jill with expert local help.
• Tours are fully escorted from NZ by Jill, a highly experienced and efficient tour manager – you only have to enjoy yourself.
• Highly inclusive tours – plenty of included sights and activities, all flights, quality accommodation and most meals.
• Some free time and independent meals to give you some time to do your own thing.
• Single travellers are always well catered for.
• High percentage of return travellers and excellent feedback

 

JILL WORRALL TOURS AND HOUSE OF TRAVEL RICCARTON

All Jill Worrall’s tours are run solely in conjunction with House of Travel Riccarton. Moray Johnston is the dedicated JWT consultant, who looks after bookings, flights and any extra travel you might wish to do before or after a JWTour.

This partnership offers you the security that your money is safe and that JW Tours have the back-up of the House of Travel’s extensive network and expertise in case of any travel issues.

Jill’s overseas operators and tour organisers are almost always people with whom she has a personal connection and who are experts at tour planning.

 

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?

If you would like to receive a full itinerary of any of these tours, it’s very easy! Either call Moray on 03 3341 3900 or email her at morayj@hot.co.nz and we will have the info to you straightaway. Moray can also help with your queries about flights and travel before and after the tour. If you’d like to know more about the tour destinations Jill is very happy to talk to you in person over a cuppa at a time and place convenient to you, or by phone 027 538 995 or by email jill.worrall@xtra.co.nz.

 

A NOTE ON THE NZ/AUSTRALIA TRAVEL BUBBLE

What happens if, when you are on a JW Tour in Australia, there is a community case of Covid-19? There’s a link here  to the New Zealand Government’s website that covers this issue in great detail but in short the policy is one of Continue, Pause or Suspend. With any travel delays, providing all bookings are made through House of Travel, we will make any necessary rearrangements. If travel is suspended, we can’t bear the cost of any extra day’s accommodation and living expenses, but we will do everything we can to mitigate the extra expense. Jill will also be on hand at all times to help with all necessary rearrangements, to look after you during any pause in travel and to make sure your tour remains as stress-free as possible!

 

Moray Johnston
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Moray Johnston – Jill Worrall Tour Specialist

House of Travel Riccarton is an IATA-bonded consultancy, managed by dedicated and passionate Owner Operators with many years of experience. We offer a commitment to helping Jill Worrall provide the very best by way of hassle-free adventures.

Moray Johnston is dedicated full time as a Jill Worrall Specialist, looking after all aspects of the booking process and will coordinate your entire travel experience from flights, tours, insurance and visa’s.

Having lived in Europe, the Middle East and Australia her travels have led her to some diverse destinations from the Great Wall of China to sailing a felucca on the Nile; from the Medinas of Marrakech to the wildlife Eden of Botswana’s Okavango delta; from the Riviera coastline of Cinque Terra to the picture postcard island of Santorini; from the skyscrapers of New York to ancient city of Petra.

Moray has enjoyed a decades-long career in the travel industry, ranging from arranging travel adventures for leisure travellers and escorting groups to complex travel schedules for high-powered executive business trips.


 


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