Queenstown’s Nomad Safaris has always been strongly focused on customer comfort, so even at a time when tourism budgets are tightening it continues to invest in the overall customer experience.

“The introduction of these new coach-built vehicles is a concerted investment in our 16-strong fleet, because we recognise how much that fleet is central to the Nomad experience,” said Nomad Safaris co-director David Gatward-Ferguson.

Nomad Safaris has over two decades of expertise operating small, personalised tours in Queenstown and the wider region, with a diverse portfolio of guided tours for both independent and group travellers.

Its current fleet enables it to take up to 100 passengers at any one time.

Mr Gatward-Ferguson said three of the new vehicles would be in place for the winter 2012 season, with others to be introduced in a rolling programme.

“The Land Cruiser is a true “off-road” vehicle, capable of taking six passengers in forward-facing leather seats. These latest additions to our fleet have been fitted to our specifications with the customer in mind, including a big, easy-access door,” he said.

“They have wonderful revolutionary skylights embedded into a higher roof so passengers can easily see the towering peaks and stunning scenery above and around them as they travel, and which enable a huge amount of light to come into the vehicle.

“For our customers that means they get a real sense of spaciousness and of their surroundings, while still travelling in a vehicle that’s intimate enough for our drivers to communicate without needing microphones on what is an interactive, personal tour.”

Mr Gatward-Ferguson said the new vehicles were also more environmentally friendly and economical, being biofuel-ready, and featuring a bigger engine which was much quieter and requiring a lot less fuel to drive at low speeds.

Nomad Safaris has more than 20 tour options operating year-round, ranging from 4WD pioneer adventures in rugged Skippers Canyon and remote goldrush country Macetown, to quad bike safaris, guided walks and Lord of the Rings tours.

Nomad Safaris has run a series of tours in to the gold mining historical areas of Queenstown since 1988 and introduced Lord of The Rings location tours early in 2002.

Mr Gatward-Ferguson said trips ranged in length from two hours to all day, and operated year-round.

“Our trips can be fully customised for special interest and conference groups on request,” he said.

For more information about Nomad Safaris please visit www.nomadsafaris.co.nz