Few things in life are as enriching as the thrill of travel or the camaraderie among friends. At Ryman’s Bert Sutcliffe Village in Auckland, a group of intrepid travellers have combined the two.

It all began when Bert Sutcliffe Village resident Marie began arranging evenings at the theatre for her neighbours. The theatre enthusiasts soon became close friends and as their friendships developed so did their adventures, expanding their horizons to include long lunches, winery tours, group dinners and adventurous holidays in New Zealand and overseas. 

Marie is the travel expert of the group and an extremely talented researcher and organiser who has a knack for finding interesting places. She laughs as she recalls how the group formed.

She puts the word out to the group to see who wants to come along on a trip, and from there, planning gets underway. When the group are asked what their top tip is for travel, they unanimously agree, “Have someone like Marie! She draws us all together and keeps an eye on what we’re doing and where we’re going, and she keeps us informed.”

Marie (pictured far right), and members of the Bert Sutcliffe travel group 

The group enjoy a variety of expeditions from dinners out to day trips to multi-day adventures. Places they have visited include Rarotonga, Rotorua, Southland, Stewart Island, Chateau Tongariro on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu, Vineyard Cottages Culinary Escapes, Te Aumiti/French Pass, the Awhitu Peninsula, Northland, and a Glacier Lake and Dark Sky Tour in the South Island, to name a few.

They all agree that living in a Ryman village makes travel easy. There's no need to worry about mundane tasks like lawn mowing or mail collection, and security is never a concern. They can lock up and leave, knowing everything is taken care of. And those who have lost loved ones or have partners in care, have found a community in the travel group.

Maxine, whose husband resides in the village's rest home care, sums it up beautifully.

With Marie constantly hatching new ideas and having plenty of destinations to choose from, the travel group continues to nurture both friendships and new horizons, both within and beyond the village. The travel group holds a special place for them all, giving them a chance to meet new people, make new friends, uncover hidden destinations, share cherished memories, and navigate travel while Marie makes it easy for everyone.

The group has a trip planned to the Wairarapa in the New Year, and the first stop on Marie’s list is the beautiful wineries the region is famous for.

Group travel tips & tricks from the trailblazers!