Maher Tours

01/06/2026

🇨🇳Lee Kelly and the Maher Tours group have begun their journey through one of the world's most fascinating destinations, experiencing the vibrant energy of Shanghai, beautiful restaurants and an incredible array of delicious Chinese cuisine.

🍚"Beautiful restaurants and delicious Chinese food. So many unique and tasty dishes at lunch and dinner, plus excellent service," reports Lee from the road.

🌍 Over the coming weeks, the group will explore ancient history, iconic landmarks, bustling cities and the spectacular Yangtze River, discovering firsthand why China continues to captivate travellers from around the globe.

✈Follow along as we share stories, photos and highlights from this unforgettable journey through 5,000 years of history and culture.

31/05/2026

✈Travel With Confidence: Why Experience Matters More Than Ever. The world of travel has changed, and for many people, confidence has become just as important as the destination itself.

🛳Over the past year, the Maher Tours team has continued travelling extensively across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and beyond. We've seen firsthand that thoughtful planning, trusted local partnerships and experienced tour leadership make all the difference when travelling in an ever-changing world.

🗓From monitoring travel advisories to working closely with reliable local operators, a great deal happens behind the scenes to ensure our travellers can relax and enjoy the journey.

🧭 Whether it's navigating unexpected changes, providing support when plans need adjusting, or simply offering the reassurance that you're not travelling alone, experience matters.

🌅 For many of our travellers, that's what travelling confidently is all about.
Read our latest blog and discover why experience is one of the most valuable things you can pack for your next adventure.

https://mahertours.co.nz/travel-blog/travel-with-confidence-why-experience-matters-more-than-ever/

Travel with confidence. Discover how Maher Tours combines experience, trusted local partnerships, careful planning and on-the-ground support to help you explore the world with peace of mind.

28/05/2026

🐨ON TOUR: From Darwin to Cairns, this recent Maher Tours journey has been filled with sunshine, wonderful scenery, great food and plenty of laughs along the way.

🚂Travelling aboard The Ghan was a real highlight, giving everyone the chance to relax and take in the vast Australian landscape rolling by. Along the way there were wildlife encounters, including some very popular koalas, beautiful tropical scenery and plenty of memorable shared moments between the group.

👭One particularly special part of the tour was seeing family members travelling together, including a lovely mother and daughter duo making memories side by side as they explored Australia together.

Tour leader Annie Selander summed the tour up perfectly when she shared: “I have a great group, all happy, I am blessed.”

🛳With dinner cruises, early starts, warm weather and good company throughout, this has been one of those tours where the people have made the journey just as memorable as the destinations themselves.

Check out our 2027 tour! https://mahertours.co.nz/tours/2027-grand-australian-rail-tour-inc-indian-pacific-the-ghan/

24/05/2026

🏚 From medieval towns and mountain landscapes to fascinating history, warm hospitality and the sparkling waters of the Adriatic, this journey through Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia offers a wonderful mix of culture, scenery and slower travel experiences.

🛳 After travelling by land through some of Eastern Europe’s most interesting regions, we finish with a relaxing seven-night Adriatic cruise along Croatia’s spectacular coastline, exploring beautiful islands, historic towns and crystal-clear water along the way.

🌅 For many travellers, the Balkans become one of the most memorable parts of Europe, not because they are overrun with tourists, but because they still feel authentic, welcoming and full of discovery.

Are you coming with us?

✈ Tour Length: 30 Days
🗓 Tour Departs: 18 August 2026
💳 From $24,000

https://mahertours.co.nz/tours/2026-balkans-explorer-adriatic-cruise/

22/05/2026

🕌NEW TOUR ALERT: Bali to Australia with Viking!Discover some of the best of Indonesia and Australia in luxury with Viking.

🌅This beautifully curated journey begins with four unforgettable days in Bali, where lush rice terraces, intricately carved temples, vibrant markets and warm island hospitality create the perfect start to the adventure.

🛳From there, step aboard the elegant Viking Orion and cruise towards Australia through some of the region’s most captivating waters. With just 930 guests, Viking Orion offers a more intimate style of ocean cruising, accessing destinations larger ships simply cannot.

📸Blending immersive cultural experiences with the comfort and ease of small-ship luxury, this is a journey designed to be savoured every step of the way.
🕌NEW TOUR ALERT: Bali to Australia with Viking! Discover some of the best of Indonesia and Australia in luxury with Viking.
🏚Check out the tour details here: https://mahertours.co.nz/tours/2026-bali-to-sydney-with-viking-cruises/

Late this morning, we report to the airport and join our flight to Denpasar. After clearing customs and immigration, we transfer to Sanur (approx. 45 minutes). We enjoy a welcome dinner at our hotel and settle into the relaxed coastal atmosphere.

20/05/2026

🚄ON TOUR: Across Australia with Annie. From the vast outback landscapes aboard the Indian Pacific and The Ghan, to tropical sunsets in Darwin and butterfly sanctuaries in Cairns, Annie’s group has been enjoying some of Australia’s most iconic experiences together.

✈️While a rail strike meant one unexpected flight between Cairns and Brisbane, the group has travelled beautifully, adapting with ease and continuing the journey in good spirits.

🏩Wonderful hotels, welcoming staff, shared laughs and ever-changing scenery have all combined to make this a memorable Australian adventure.

17/05/2026

💫Escorted or independent? You don’t have to choose. With Maher, you can enjoy the ease and camaraderie of a fully escorted tour, then add a few days travelling at your own pace, or even choose from a small range of independent journeys designed with the same care.

⭐It’s about finding the right balance for you, a shared experience alongside a little space to explore further.

🎡Talk to our team about shaping a journey that works as one.

📸Read our full blog post here: https://mahertours.co.nz/travel-blog/escorted-or-independent-you-can-do-both/

For many of our guests, travelling with Maher means the ease of a fully escorted tour. The planning is done, the details are managed, and you can settle into the rhythm of the journey knowing everything is taken care of. But that is not the only way to travel with us. Alongside our escorted tours, [...

15/05/2026

🇯🇵 Japan: a country of contrasts, where ancient traditions sit comfortably alongside some of the world’s most modern cities.

✨On this journey we explore the vibrant energy of Tokyo, experience a traditional sumo training session, visit temples and shrines, and spend time in the beautiful Mt Fuji region around Lake Kawaguchiko.

🌟We then join Mitsui Ocean Cruises for an eight-night voyage showcasing Japan from a Japanese perspective, with cultural excursions, artisan workshops, scenic cruising and immersive local experiences along the way.
From bustling streets to peaceful waterways, this is a journey through the many layers of Japan.

💫Discover more in our latest blog https://mahertours.co.nz/travel-blog/japan-tradition-modern-life-and-a-different-perspective-from-the-sea/

12/05/2026

🕌 ON TOUR: Turkmenistan — quietly remarkable. The least visited of the Five Stans, yet full of surprises. In Ashgabat, Elaine’s group explored a city of bold claims.

🎡 The whitest city in the world, thanks to the extraordinary number of white marble buildings that line its wide boulevards, home to the largest carpet and the largest indoor Ferris wheel. There’s something quietly endearing about it, a bit like our own giant peach or gumboot: proudly unusual and hard to forget.

🕌 Then in Merv, the experience shifted completely. Among the ancient ruins, locals stopped to say hello, curious and warm, often asking for photos together.

🏚A country of contrasts, and one few travellers reach, which makes it all the more memorable.

Check out the blog here: mahertours.co.nz/on-tour-turkmenistan-quietly-remarkable/

10/05/2026

📸 The Moment or the Photo? When you’re travelling, it’s easy to fall into the habit of photographing everything. Something catches your eye and the camera is out before you’ve really taken it in. It’s normal, and most of us do it without thinking.

🤳Of course there is value in it. Photos help you remember where you were and what you saw. They pick up details you won’t hold onto otherwise, and they give you something to come back to later. But they do change how you experience things.

🎥 The moment you start framing a shot, you step slightly outside of what’s happening. You’re thinking about composition, light and timing. You’re still there, but your attention has shifted.

📸 On tour, you see people find their own way with this. Some take a lot of photos and enjoy having a full record of the trip. Others are more selective and spend more time simply observing. Most settle somewhere in between once they get into the flow of travelling.

🌅 If there’s time and it feels natural, take the photo, then put the camera away and look again properly. Give yourself a second pass at the moment without the lens in between. And sometimes, don’t take it at all.