Tourism in Piopiotahi Milford Sound has entered a new era, with the launch of RealNZ and Altitude Tour’s new collaboration; Milford Sound Business Class.
Tourism in Piopiotahi Milford Sound has entered a new era, with the launch of RealNZ and Altitude Tour’s new collaboration; Milford Sound Business Class.
Milford Sound Business Class is a genre-defining adventure, with every aspect considered to deliver on its promise – to experience Milford Sound like never before.
Guests are collected from their accommodation in custom Mercedes X-Clusive vans featuring glass roofs, leather seating, and bespoke touches such as wellness shots and woollen blankets. The first stop is the exclusive Milford Sound Business Class Lounge in Te Anau for coffee and morning tea, before continuing along the scenic route to Milford Sound via select sites.
On arrival, guests board the newly remodelled MV Sinbad, which has been transformed into an intimate floating restaurant set against the dramatic backdrop of Fiordland National Park.
But it is once guests sit down to dine that the experience is truly taken to the next level. The menu has been designed by Michelin-trained, award-winning New Zealand chef, Tom Hishon. Hishon is the co-founder of sustainable seafood restaurant kingi, DAILY BREAD bakery and conservation led wild food company WithWild.
Dubbed “A Taste of Murihiku”, his menu champions the best Southland has to offer, through Hishon’s creative culinary genius.
“The menu was inspired by the natural elements of Southland and my connection to the land. By design it celebrates the region's natural beauty through the selection of key produce and the expression on the plate,” says Hishon.
“It is a true "Taste of Murihiku", each bite coming from and expressing the land; whether it be wapiti/elk from the mountains of Fiordland National Park, tĪtĪ from the remote Mutton Bird Islands, freshwater eel from the braided rivers of the Southland Plains, or sustainably farmed blackfoot pāua grown in the cold, clean waters from the Foveaux Strait in Bluff.
Southland is my turangawaewae and I am proud to share these stories with guests coming from around the world to visit this majestic place, to help them understand our local cuisine and culture.”
At the heart of Milford Sound Business Class is RealNZ’s long-standing commitment to conservation: reflecting RealNZ’s long-standing belief that every experience should protect and celebrate the places it showcases. From the use of recycled materials in the MV Sinbad refit, to locally sourced ingredients and the onboard Putangi Conservation Wine - which contributes $10 from every bottle to predator-control projects in Milford Sound’s Harrison Cove - sustainability is built into every detail.
The journey also weaves together local storytelling through the legend of Tū te Rakiwhanoa, brought to life with carvings by Queenstown artist Steve Solomon, connecting guests to the cultural and environmental fabric of Fiordland.
RealNZ Chief Customer & Sales Officer, Scott McNab, says Milford Sound Business Class marks a turning point for the way the business considers and designs new offerings.
“This is our first experience that has been truly end-to-end designed for a specific segment in the market, which will ensure every Milford Sound Business Class guest will leave with a great story to tell,” says McNab.
“The collaboration between RealNZ and Altitude to deliver next-level manaakitanga to our guests, through every carefully-considered detail, is something we are very proud of.”