Kelly Mason-Wynne

One of the most rewarding itineraries I've arranged was for a couple celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. Their vision was to revisit the destinations and experiences that had become meaningful throughout their marriage, creating a journey that reflected their shared love of travel.

The result was a carefully curated round-the-world itinerary featuring Queenstown, Victoria Falls, a European river cruise, the Eiffel Tower, Central and South America, Memphis and finally Hawaii, where they had spent their honeymoon 30 years earlier.

What made this journey so special was that every destination held a story, a memory or a milestone in their lives together. Being entrusted to bring that vision to life was a true privilege and a wonderful reminder that travel is about so much more than simply visiting new places; it's about celebrating the moments that matter most.

I love taking the time to really get to know my clients and understand the 'why' behind their travels. Every journey is different, and it's often the personal stories, special occasions and dreams that make a trip truly meaningful.

By understanding what matters most to my clients, I can create an itinerary that feels genuinely personal rather than offering a one-size-fits-all holiday. I also believe that providing a seamless experience from the initial planning stages through to their return home is incredibly important.

Nothing is more rewarding than seeing a client's travel vision come to life and knowing I've helped create memories they'll treasure for years to come.

One of my most memorable travel experiences was in 2017, when I retired from the New Zealand Water Polo team following my final World Championships in Budapest. My mum flew over to support me, and once the tournament had finished, we celebrated by taking an Avalon river cruise along the Danube.

Together, we explored incredible destinations, including Salzburg and Vienna. They were places I hadn't necessarily considered visiting before, but they left a lasting impression and have since become some of my favourite travel memories.

Being able to share that experience with my mum made the journey even more special and is a lovely reminder that sometimes the best travel memories are the ones we create with the people we love.

Japan is right at the top of my travel bucket list. I'm a big foodie, and Japanese cuisine is incredible, so I'd love to explore the country's food scene, visit the famous snow monkeys and experience its unique pop culture and energy firsthand.

I'm also a huge history enthusiast and have been fascinated by Egypt for as long as I can remember. Somehow, I still haven't made it there, so exploring its ancient history, temples and iconic landmarks is an absolute must for me.