Southern Discoveries continues business expansion

Media Release from Southern Discoveries
May 16 2011

Southern Discoveries continues business expansion

Premier New Zealand tourism company Southern Discoveries Ltd is continuing to expand with the acquisition of Go Milford, a Te Anau-based coach and tour operation.

Just last month Southern Discoveries announced that it had invested in a 50% shareholding in Queenstown’s Kawarau Jet.

The latest deal will take effect this Thursday (May 19 2011) and will see Southern Discoveries take over the running of Go Fiordland’s Information Centre in the Te Anau town centre, and Go Milford Coach & Cruise which operates three coaches, one of which is glass-roofed.

Go Milford was set up in 2007 by Bryan McChlery, an award-winning Te Anau-based businessman who owns and operates the Te Anau Top 10 Holiday Park. In 2009 he won the PATA Young Tourism Professional Award in the Tourism Industry Awards.

Mr McChlery said he was “very happy” to be handing over the company to Southern Discoveries, another family-owned business.

“We’ve worked with Southern Discoveries for a number of years,” he said. “Now I want to look to some new projects and concentrate on the continued growth of the holiday park.”

Southern Discoveries’ General Manager John Robson said buying Go Milford was a “very natural” expansion for the company.

“We’ve worked with them very closely in the past, so we’re really comfortable with knowing how it operates and we’re confident it will continue to be supported by our loyal local agents,” he said.

“From the travellers’ perspective, Go Milford passengers will continue to enjoy a personal, small group tour in a luxury coach through some spectacular Fiordland scenery.

“The trips link to our stunning Discover More cruise in summer and Scenic Cruise in winter including lunch and a visit to the Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory which incorporates Milford Deep, New Zealand’s only floating underwater observatory.

“The acquisition of Go Milford means we can offer a complete one-stop-shop for visitors in Te Anau looking for that once in a lifetime experience, without impacting on the great relationships we already have with our Queenstown transport suppliers.”

Three full and part-time drivers will be retained by Southern Discoveries to operate the coach service.

“They’re all long-term Te Anau locals with lots of experience of driving the Milford Road and great knowledge of the outstanding Fiordland environment and its history,” said Mr Robson.

For further information on Go Milford go to www.gomilford.co.nz. Go Milford is committed to protecting the environment. Its philosophy is to leave as small a footprint on the planet as possible.

ENDS

About Southern Discoveries

Southern Discoveries is the oldest and most well-established operator in Milford Sound, taking visitors around the fiord on its fleet of modern, comfortable, dolphin-friendly boats to encounter unique wildlife, tumbling waterfalls and the towering beauty and majesty of Mitre Peak. It has a fleet of three spacious catamarans and the Encounter Cruise, and also operates the Blue Duck Café and Bar in Milford Sound.

The Discovery Centre features stunning information panels, videos, pictures and a guided tour which takes customers through a historical journey covering early European settlement and tourism, Maori history, the building of the Homer Tunnel and developments of the Milford Road and Milford Track.

Southern Discoveries also offers scenic cruises, private charters and fishing on Lake Wakatipu.

Southern Discoveries was bought by the Dunedin-based Skeggs Group in September 2008.

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