OUR STORY, OUR TEAM, OUR HOME
Meet the People Behind Timeless NZ
Timeless NZ is a small, family-owned travel company based in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Founded by Kathy and Wayne Hansen, we create personalised journeys that bring together exceptional accommodation, private touring and experiences selected around each traveller.
Formerly New Zealand Luxury Travel Agents, Timeless NZ reflects the way we believe travel should feel: personal, thoughtfully paced and supported by people who genuinely know New Zealand.
Queenstown-Based | TIA Member | 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist | Local Support
Travel Has Shaped the Way We Plan
Kathy and Wayne have always been curious travellers.
Wayne is a born-and-bred South Islander, while Kathy grew up in Australia. Together, they have lived in New Zealand, Australia and Europe and travelled extensively throughout the world.
In 2010, they sold almost everything and set off on a two-year journey around the world with their children.
They travelled in many different ways—staying in hotels and private accommodation, joining small tours, exploring independently and travelling by motorhome. Along the way, they experienced both beautifully planned journeys and days that looked sensible on paper but did not work particularly well in reality.
That experience shaped the way Timeless NZ plans travel today.
We understand that a memorable journey is not created by simply including as many places as possible. It comes from choosing the right places, allowing enough time and understanding what matters to the people taking the journey.
From Travellers to New Zealand Hosts
After returning to New Zealand, Kathy and Wayne began sharing the South Island with visitors through their Queenstown-based touring company, Remarkable Scenic Tours.
Working directly with travellers and operating tours gave them practical experience that could never be gained from a booking system or guidebook.
They learned how weather affects a day, which routes are genuinely enjoyable, how long journeys really take and when guests need more time to simply relax and enjoy where they are staying.
Timeless NZ grew from this combination of personal travel experience, local knowledge and years spent looking after visitors throughout New Zealand.
Meet Kathy and Wayne
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Wayne is a born-and-bred South Islander with a strong connection to Queenstown, Central Otago and the wider southern region.
His relaxed personality, local stories and natural sense of humour help guests feel comfortable from the moment they meet him.
As a former President of the Queenstown Photography Club, Wayne also understands the landscapes, viewpoints and changing light that make this part of New Zealand so rewarding to photograph.
Wayne believes travel should feel relaxed and personal. Whether he is helping shape an itinerary or guiding guests through the South Island, his focus is always on creating a journey that flows naturally.
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Kathy’s warmth, curiosity and love of travel are at the heart of Timeless NZ.
She enjoys getting to know each traveller, understanding what they value and bringing together the accommodation, guides and experiences that will make their journey feel personal.
Kathy regularly visits accommodation and meets with lodge teams, guides, chefs and experience providers. These relationships help her understand not only what a property offers, but which type of traveller it will suit.
She particularly enjoys solving the practical details, discovering special experiences and finding the right balance between seeing New Zealand and having time to enjoy it.
Meet Our New Zealand Travel Specialists
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Jen is a New Zealand travel specialist with over a decade of local experience and a genuine love for sharing the beauty of Aotearoa. Having lived in Central Otago’s renowned wine country for many years, she brings strong regional knowledge, a passion for scenic journeys and an understanding of the special places that make New Zealand so memorable.
Her love for the Deep South has now led her to settle in the seaside town of Riverton, often called the “Riviera of the South.” From this beautiful coastal base, Jen brings a deep appreciation for New Zealand’s southern landscapes, local communities, wildlife, coastline and relaxed way of life.
Jen specialises in creating personalised itineraries that showcase New Zealand’s diverse scenery, boutique accommodation, wine regions, unique culture and exceptional experiences. With her warm approach and local insight, she helps design journeys that feel thoughtful, well-paced and tailored to each guest.
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Sheena Tunnicliff is originally from the UK and now proudly calls New Zealand home. Since moving here, she has fallen in love with the country’s spectacular landscapes, welcoming communities and hidden gems, and has spent her time exploring as much of Aotearoa as possible.
With more than 30 years of experience in the travel industry, Sheena brings a wealth of knowledge to New Zealand Luxury Travel Agents. Travel has always been more than a career for her — it is a genuine passion. Her journey began working aboard cruise ships around the world, giving her first-hand experience of international destinations, cultures and the cruise industry.
Over the years, Sheena has become a true cruise specialist, with extensive knowledge of cruise holidays, cruise extensions, pre- and post-cruise touring, and how to create seamless land arrangements around a client’s voyage. She has also owned and operated a successful travel agency in Perth, Western Australia, helping thousands of clients plan memorable journeys.
Her background includes luxury travel, escorted tours, independent holidays, tailor-made itineraries and complex travel planning. Today, Sheena is delighted to be part of the New Zealand Luxury Travel Agents team, helping visitors experience the very best of New Zealand with care, local insight and thoughtful planning.
Whether guests are looking for breathtaking scenery, luxury accommodation, cultural experiences, cruise extensions or a once-in-a-lifetime New Zealand journey, Sheena brings warmth, experience and attention to detail to every itinerary she helps create.
PLANNING BACKED BY REAL TOURING EXPERIENCE
We Don’t Just Plan New Zealand. We Guide Here Too.
Kathy and Wayne also own and operate Remarkable Scenic Tours, their Queenstown-based touring company.
Since 2015, its local guides have been sharing Queenstown, Wānaka, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Fiordland and the lower South Island with travellers from around the world.
This gives Timeless NZ something many travel planners cannot offer: practical knowledge gained from operating tours and looking after guests on the road. We understand realistic driving times, changing weather, vehicle comfort and the small details that determine how a day actually feels.
In the lower South Island, parts of your journey may be operated by our own guides and premium touring vehicles. Across the rest of New Zealand, we work with carefully selected local guides and trusted touring partners.
Remarkable Scenic Tours is Qualmark Silver accredited and supported by hundreds of traveller reviews.
QUEENSTOWN-OWNED · LOCAL GUIDES · PREMIUM VEHICLES · QUALMARK SILVER
A Small Team With a Nationwide Network
No single company can personally operate every experience throughout New Zealand.
Where we do not provide the guiding ourselves, we work with carefully selected local guides, drivers, accommodation providers and experience operators.
These relationships allow us to create journeys throughout both islands while keeping your planning coordinated through one small New Zealand-based team.
Personal From the Beginning
You are not passed through a large call centre. One of our team takes the time to understand what you are looking for.
Honest Local Recommendations
We will tell you when a route is too rushed, when a longer stay would be worthwhile or when an experience may not suit your preferred style of travel.
Accommodation Chosen for You
We recommend accommodation according to location, atmosphere, service and suitability—not simply its star rating.
Support While You Travel
Once you arrive, our local team remains available if weather, flights or other circumstances affect your plans.
How Timeless NZ Fits Within Our Travel Family
Timeless NZ is the luxury travel division of New Zealand Private Tours and part of the KWH Journeys family.
Our planning systems and email are shared with New Zealand Private Tours, so your reply may come from an @newzealandprivatetours.nz email address. You are still communicating directly with the same Queenstown-based team.
Kathy and Wayne also own and operate Remarkable Scenic Tours. Australian journeys are planned through our sister brand, Australian Custom Tours.
Together, these businesses allow us to coordinate private touring and personalised journeys across New Zealand and Australia.
Experience New Zealand With People Who Live Here
We know that choosing someone to plan an important journey requires trust.
Our role is to listen carefully, offer honest advice and bring the many parts of your journey together so that travelling through New Zealand feels effortless.
You may already know exactly where you want to go, or you may only have a list of places and experiences that interest you. Either way, your journey can begin with a relaxed conversation.