Company History Active Downunder was formed in 2002 by Jane Turner, a native New Zealander, originally from Wellington. Jane formed the company to combine an expert, firsthand knowledge of her beautiful native country with her passion for travel, culture, nature and the outdoors.
Mission Active Downunder is a boutique travel company specializing in New Zealand offering highly customized vacations and travel packages for the discerning traveler. Connecting with customers through our website and referrals, we use our expert destination knowledge, local connections and personalized service to guide our clients to the real people and places of New Zealand, one trip at a time.
Our Trips Our trips are ideal for those who wish to travel independently on a pre-planned customized itinerary and interested in culture, nature and active travel, with a high level of comfort along the way. Our goal is to create the perfect vacation, matched to our clients unique set of needs, allowing them to focus on fun, relaxation and enjoying their trip.
Our Style We deal directly with all suppliers in New Zealand, and have formed personal relationships with many of those lodges, bed & breakfasts and small businesses that will be part of your travel experience. Whenever possible, we choose to work with hosted properties (smaller and more intimate than a typical hotel) which include boutique hotels, wilderness-lodges and high-end bed and breakfasts. Often we combine several accommodation styles throughout an itinerary to provide a variety of experiences. We visit and hand-pick these small properties, many of which are situated in unique locations, and always with fabulous hosts. The larger travel companies do not bother with these "hidden treasures" because many have as few as three or four rooms – not very accommodating for those big bus tours!
Regular trips back to New Zealand allow us to maintain tight-knit relationships with our suppliers, discover new treasures and stay up-to-date. This means we are able to continually offer our clients the best possible experiences. Don’t be surprised if you land in New Zealand and find that some of your hosts refer to us on a first name basis!
Awards etc Active Downunder has gained many accolades in the Tourism Industry which include: 2010 Listed as New Zealand Travel Specialist in Frommers Guide 2010/2011 Certified Kiwi Specialist with Tourism New Zealand 2007 Condé Nast Traveler Recommended Travel Specialist for New Zealand 2006 New Zealand Travel and Tourism Awards Winner ~ Best New Zealand On-line Content Award 2006 American Chamber of Commerce-UPS Success and Innovation Awards Winner ~ Contribution to Tourism
Jane Turner: Owner - Founder Jane originally hails from Wellington, New Zealand and is of Maori descent. She has been based in the US for thirteen years, after living in both the UK and Japan. She is well-traveled, and that along with her passion for the outdoors prompted her to guide walking tours in New Zealand for several years. During that time, she walked all of the major guided tracks in New Zealand, and gained an understanding of what makes for a well-rounded vacation in her home country. A background in marketing and entrepreneurial endeavors combined with her extensive experience on the ground set the stage for Jane to start Active Downunder in 2002.
Jane travels back to New Zealand several times each year, attending trade shows, scouting new experiences and accommodations, spending time with the people who are hosting our clients, and of course trying out new restaurants and local wines! Jane's interests include triathlons, running, cycling, yoga, rock climbing, skiing & hiking (tramping as the Kiwis call it!) An adventurous Kiwi, she has bungy-jumped several times in New Zealand, and believes in investing in experiences, not things.
Dana in Abel Tasman National Park
Dana Vaughn: Dana grew up in Boston and then spent four years at Tulane University where she received her undergraduate degree in Marketing. She began her career in email/website design and development during the height of the Internet boom in Boston, working at an agency servicing Fortune 500 companies such as AT&T and Bank of America.
A move to San Diego in 2003 led Dana to a fortuitous career shift into the travel industry, one of the best decisions she ever made! Her favorite thing about her job is the daily opportunity to delve into other cultures, work with colleagues internationally, and assist people in planning one of life’s most enjoyable experiences – a vacation to a far-corner of the world. In her spare time Dana enjoys reading, running, cycling and cooking.
