A new travel trend is on the rise and influencing Australian travel habits, with Australians turning to the world of gaming to inspire their next holiday.
New research commissioned by Flight Centre and Tourism New Zealand has revealed gaming is emerging as a new source of travel inspiration for Australians. ‘Virtual Voyaging’ extends established inspiration from TV and films, showcasing the power of the virtual and gaming worlds in inspiring travel, with visitors taking inspiration from the realms of ‘play’.
The research revealed half of Aussie travellers (50%) say their travel plans could be inspired or influenced by gaming or the metaverse – compared to 48% of ‘active gamers’ who say that gaming already influences their travel and one in ten (10%) finding it very influential and inspiring.
Turning Pixels into Plane Tickets: How Virtual Voyagers can ‘play’ New Zealand for real
In response to the predicted surge in ‘Virtual Voyaging’, Flight Centre, in partnership with Tourism New Zealand, has curated a selection of Minecraft-inspired itineraries, which include:
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8-Day The North’s Thermal & Nature Explorer: Auckland – Taupō (via Waitomo) – Rotorua – Auckland $1999 for two (save upto $495)
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Get ready to discover the geothermal and underground wonders of Aotearoa New Zealand’s central North Island on this 8-day itinerary where you can have real-world adventures like exploring a subterranean cave filled with glowworms in Waitomo or rejuvenating in the healing mud pools of Rotorua.
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9-Day North Island’s Natural Wonders: Auckland – via Matamata – Rotorua – Via Waitomo – Ruapehu – Wellington $2149 for two (save up to $345)
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Get ready for an incredible 9-day self-drive adventure, travelling the length of Aotearoa New Zealand’s North Island with a trip including the power of a pōwhiri (Māori welcoming ceremony) or discovering behind-the scenes movie magic at Wētā Workshop.
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13-Day New Zealand’s Coasts, Lakes and Fjords: $4,399 for two.
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From Ōtautahi Christchurch’s revitalised city centre to Tāhuna Queenstown’s adrenaline-pumping thrills, spend 12-days exploring Aotearoa New Zealand’s South Island incliding your own real-world adventure cruising on the inky-black waters of Milford Sound.
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Andrew Stark, Global Managing Director of Flight Centre, said: “We’ve continued to see the effects of set-jetting on travel behaviours, and now we anticipate more Aussie travellers will seek influence and inspiration from the immersive virtual worlds they play on their screens – especially following the drop of “A MINECRAFT MOVIE” and the world-first destination DLC (downloadable content), Aotearoa New Zealand on Minecraft.
“With these Minecraft itineraries and special deals to New Zealand, we’re putting play first, but also making the planning easier.”
Available on Minecraft Marketplace, Australians can explore a variety of real-world activities in the Minecraft world via the Aotearoa New Zealand DLC.
Andrew Waddel, General Manager – Australia, Tourism New Zealand said: “We invite Australians to take their virtual adventures into the real world. The whole family will be able to craft their next holiday together in New Zealand, with the Minecraft-inspired itineraries and packages.
“Families can watch the film, play the Aotearoa DLC and together travel to New Zealand to play for real, with an amazing range of activities fit for all ages.”
The 100% Pure New Zealand Minecraft Itineraries are available for booking now.
Begin planning a journey to New Zealand and bring virtual voyaging to life at https://www.flightcentre.com.
