I know I know. The idea of a “group tour” makes you think of old people in weird sun protective hats shuffling from one tourist trap to another. Or perhaps it brings up decidedly unglamorous images of crowded cruise ships, over eating and drinking and cheezy entertainment. Not all bad, but definitely not all good, either — and certainly NOT how you see yourself spending your precious vacation days and dollar in New Zealand.
I know I don’t!
But —
what if the group were all people like you? A group of fun, adventurous, good hearted folks you got to know before you even arrived*? How awesome would it be to embark on an adventure with those people?
That’s what I thought, which inspired me to create Quest Retreats in 2015. I have lead several small group Quests here in the USA and overseas. New Zealand is my biggest, most epic trip yet!
And now for Something Completely Different! ( No, not a man with 3 buttocks. But we’d get that joke, cause…NERDS!)
I’m doing something new.
And here are the Top 5 Reasons you should join me.
#5 – It’s on your bucket list.
You have heard about gorgeous New Zealand, and seen the images from films such as The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit, What We Do In The Shadows, Wolverine, The Last Samurai, The Chronicles of Narnia, Whale Rider, Mission Impossible 6 and many more.
Your curiosity has been set aflame! And just like that, New Zealand has been added to your bucket list! I get it! When I saw the gorgeous forests, plains and mountains in LotRs I had to go. Plus, just the vibe of the place! The green, peaceful deep woods and snow capped peaks spoke of a wild natural freshness my spirit needed.
But where to start? How do I even begin to plan for such a journey and ensure I have the time of my life? This got my imagination firing on all cylinders and I knew I was destined to create this Quest.
I pull out all the stops, using my personal connections from my long, wild career as an actor and stuntwoman to make every Quest Retreat an adventure like no other.
AND THEY ARE! Just Click Here to read all about them!
If you are not a massive fan of LotRs and The Hobbit, what’s your frame of reference for NZ?
Why not experience NZ through the lense of these films? It’s fun and magical.
And a fantastic way to take in the majestic nature of NZ.
Following the path of the Lord of the Rings films leads you through the most beautiful parts of New Zealand!
From the North Island all the way to the South, the makers of the films chose the most epic views and landscapes of New Zealand that even locals were not aware of.
From little spots of intimate beauty to incredible views to blow the mind, many of these places are on private land and you cannot go there unless you are on a special Lord of the Rings tour, like mine!
#4 – Community
You’re going to meet and travel with like minded people who want to do the same things you want to do.
I have a lot of clients who join me because they really don’t want to go alone, so this is perfect!
If you are unsure about traveling in a group, consider this:
On your own, you would STILL will be with other people on EVERYTHING you do, unless you buy out the whole tour. And that’s IF you could even get the tickets.
Isn’t it be better to be with folks you are becoming friends with?
We get each other’s jokes and references, and cheer each other on as we ride our horses into Rohan. Plus, we all become a tribe before we have even arrived.
*Before we leave for NZ we will get to know each other over social media and in our private groups. We will have two video conference calls before we go (and another after).
And there are only 15 of us on this Fellowship! A lovely, small new family of friends. I interview everyone to make sure this group is a good fit.
These will be friends you’ll have for the rest of your life. Many join me again and again, just so they can have another Fellowship adventure!
#3 – Adventure
Speaking of adventure, have you ever wanted to:
Ride across the plains of Middle-earth on horseback? We’ll do that.
Explore a forest where the wood elves once lived? We’ll go there.
Feast in the ancestral village of the Hobbits and discuss the architectural advantages of a round front door (or the disappearance of 2nd breakfasts)? Yes, we’ll do that too!
Or, back in the Time of Man:
Explore places where the stories were brought to life and meet the creative people who made films you’ve enjoyed?
How about trying something you just were not sure you could actually do, like slide down a rope, learn to swing a sword like Aragorn, or shoot a bow like Legolas?
Adventures like these are difficult to plan and, maybe you’re a bit daunted to try?
Now you can! With experts by your side and your Quest Team cheering you on, there’s very little you can’t do! We make sure you are safe and sound.
I find all the coolest things to do and some you might think I’m crazy for asking you to do ( **there was this time in these lava tubes…) but I promise you’ll be exhilarated. And so glad you did it! Your adventures will be the source of great stories! Stories you’ll share forever.
#2 – Amazing Value
Yep! My goal is to provide you with a bespoke experience at an incredible value. If you were to price out the same itinerary, you wouldn’t be able to beat the price. I have been to NZ twice and the cost of things has gone up almost 30%. This trip will not get cheaper! ( Plus we are going in the BEST season!)
And the whole trip is planned out for you, in detail, designed to make this an incredible life journey.
From “impossible to get” tickets to a Hobbiton Celebration Feast, having the insider scoop to awesome things to do, to meeting actors from iconic sci fi/ fantasy movies and TV shows, this is a trip you won’t find anywhere else.
Consider this:
Even if you only take these expenses to start-
$200-$400 per excursion
$200-350 ( and UP! It is High Season!) per night hotel
$50 a day car rental
Gas & Food-$$$
That’s between $450-$800 PLUS a day.
AND:
~ Deciding which excursion is the best.
~Trying to get the tickets to the things you want to do, on the day and time you want to do them.
~Time spent on figuring out how to get there & how much time it will really take to get from A-B.
~Where, when, and what to eat.
~You’ll be on the excursions with people you do not know.
~You’ll hear the same stories over and over again by bored tour guides.
Can’t you just feel the stress building?
With me, on a Quest Retreat, you will be in a carefully curated, meticulously constructed quest, with a small group of folks you’ll get to know and become friends with.
You’ll travel in a comfortable luxury Mercedes Sprinter, with our private guide and driver who will attend to us as we do what WE want to do, when we want to do it
The atmosphere on a Quest encourages your imagination to take in the beauty and wonder of the place, by setting the scene and taking care of all the details. All you have to do is enjoy!
#1 You Deserve It!
YES! YOU DO!
You’ll get ME…and my personal attention! This isn’t just a job, it’s my passion. And, with my contacts I’m able to provide you experiences you simply couldn’t arrange on your own. My love for traveling, my background as an actor and stunt person have all come together in creating adventure retreats for nerds who love what I love.
You are with your new friend, Patti Tallman. Not some stranger you haven’t met yet. I’m there every step of the way to enjoy the moment with you and handle anything that comes up.
My heart is in this connection with you. I love doing this, which is why I started this business! I’m staking my reputation on making this a trip of a lifetime for YOU.
Just for YOU, I’ve created a unique, creative lense through which you will experience an unexpected adventure and life experience instead of just a vacation.
If you are going to travel this distance to a place you may never have the opportunity to get to again, this is the trip you want to take. I have made this adventure full of the best, most unusual and gorgeous places, and plugged in free time. (Because I have been doing this a few years now and know that you need that free time!)
You won’t have to think about anything but stay in the moment!
I took two month-long trips to NZ and got on every excursion I could find. Like you, I not only wanted to be immersed in the LotRs world to feel the magic, but also to have the adventure and fun that NZ is becoming so famous for.
Thinking about you, and what would make this incredibly special for you, I created this epic journey.
I’d love to share all this with you!
#loveyoumeanit
Pat
Please check out Your New Adventure and get your invitation to Join The Fellowship: http://www.questretreats.com/new-zealand-nov-2019/
Read what previous Questers have to say about being on a trip with Pat: http://www.questretreats.com/kudos/
** someone did wander off while exploring the lava tubes but we got him back…eventually. No lasting damage done. Let’s not be too dramatic.
