In 1986, long before the term “bespoke travel” became part of the luxury travel industry’s everyday vocabulary, Southern Crossings was founded on a simple but powerful belief: that travellers were beginning to seek something more personalised and meaningful.
That idea came from a MBA thesis which explored a then-emerging trend; that the Baby Boomer generation would travel differently from the generations before them. Rather than following rigid itineraries and standardised tours, they would seek authentic experiences and deeper connections, delivered through journeys designed around individual interests.
At the time, it was a bold prediction.
Forty years later, it has proven remarkably accurate.
More importantly, it became the foundation upon which Southern Crossings was built and remains the guiding philosophy of the company today.
The Beginning of a New Way to Travel
When Patrick Bourke founded the business in Auckland in 1986, luxury travel looked very different. Independent travel was less common, information was harder to access, and truly bespoke itineraries were rare.
There was an opportunity to create something unique.
Instead of simply selling destinations, Southern Crossings would design personalised journeys.
Instead of just asking travellers where they wanted to go, the company would ask why they wanted to travel in the first place.
Each itinerary would begin with a blank canvas.
The goal was not simply to provide a picture-perfect showcase of this beautiful part of the world, but to design experiences that reflected each traveller’s individual passions and interests to create meaningful connections to the destinations.
This commitment to customisation was revolutionary at the time and would become Southern Crossings’ defining point of difference for decades to come.
A Partnership That Helped Shape the Future
In 1992, Trevor Thomas joined the business, beginning a partnership that would help guide Southern Crossings through its next stage of growth.
Patrick and Trevor shared a belief that exceptional travel experiences are built on relationships: with clients, travel advisors, guides, hoteliers and local communities.
Together they strengthened Southern Crossings’ position as a trusted destination management company, building a network of partnerships, across New Zealand and the globe, that would become the foundations for growth and success.
The Southern Crossings team also began to grow with travel professionals who shared Patrick and Trevor’s vision and commitment, and a number of whom remain in the business today, including current owners and directors of the New Zealand business, Sarah Farag and Helen Flinkenberg.
Expanding Across the Tasman
As international interest in Australia and New Zealand grew throughout the 1990s, Southern Crossings was perfectly positioned to meet the demand for highly curated journeys that could not be replicated by traditional tour operators.
In 2001 the time had come to expand across the Tasman and Stuart Rigg launched the Australian operations in Sydney.
Importantly, the Australian and New Zealand businesses developed as one seamless brand with the same dedication to excellence that enabled Southern Crossings to deliver integrated journeys across both countries, and the South Pacific, with a level of consistency and expertise that very few could compete with.
Staying True to the Original Vision
The travel industry has changed dramatically over the past four decades.
Southern Crossings has witnessed the transition from paper airline tickets to online booking systems, from fax machines to smartphones, from guidebooks to artificial intelligence.
Traveller expectations have evolved too.
Today’s luxury travellers increasingly value privacy, authenticity, sustainability and meaningful cultural connections. They seek transformative experiences that go further and builder deeper connections to the destination.
Changes and challenges that Southern Crossings has evolved with and risen to, without ever wavering from the principles on which the business was founded.
Every itinerary still begins with a blank canvas.
Every journey is still individually curated.
Every traveller is still treated with the utmost thoughtfulness, care and attention to detail.
The company’s continued success is testament to the enduring relevance of that philosophy.
Building a World-Class Reputation
Over four decades, Southern Crossings has earned international accolades and recognition as one of the leading luxury destination management companies in the Southern Hemisphere.
The company has been honoured with prestigious industry awards, invited into elite global luxury travel networks and trusted by many of the world’s most respected travel advisors.
But the true measure of Southern Crossings’ success lies in the relationships built over 40 years.
Many team members, local suppliers and international travel advisor partners have worked alongside the company for decades. Many guests have returned multiple times, entrusting Southern Crossings with milestone celebrations, family adventures and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
A Business Built on People
While the Southern Crossings story began with a visionary idea, it has always been a people business.
The dedication of the Southern Crossings team and a culture of collaboration remain at the core of Southern Crossings’ greatest strengths.
Every itinerary benefits not just from the expertise of one person, but from the collective experience of a team deeply passionate about Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.
This collaborative approach has enabled Southern Crossings to continually innovate while maintaining the personal touch that has always set it apart.
The Next Chapter
As Southern Crossings celebrates its 40th anniversary, it does so with confidence, momentum and excitement for the future.
Today the company is led by a passionate and professional team of Owners | Directors – Sarah Farag, Helen Flinkenberg, Stuart Rigg, Paul Groves-Berry and Jacki Lang; all still active in the business and with a commitment to the core values and high standards that have defined Southern Crossings for four decades.
They are supported by a team of dedicated travel professionals on both sides of the Tasman, together with a network of trusted, long-standing supplier partners throughout the region.
As travel continues to evolve, Southern Crossings remains perfectly positioned to lead the next generation of luxury travel experiences.
New technologies will create new opportunities. Traveller expectations will continue to evolve. Emerging markets will bring new audiences to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.
Yet the company’s mission remains unchanged.
To listen first.
To understand what truly matters to each traveller.
To create journeys that are deeply personal and seamlessly delivered.
Today, as we celebrate this remarkable milestone, we honour the visionaries, leaders, team members, partners and travellers who have been part of the journey; and look forward with excitement to the next chapter of the Southern Crossings story.
Our journey is only just beginning.