Mondumo by Colin Mairs

30/11/2023

This is what makes us different…
• Mondumo Tours of New Zealand and Australia
🇳🇿 🇦🇺 🧳 🚌 🤠 🌱 🏝️👫🏻👭👨🏾‍🤝‍👨🏽

Mondumo Travel PhilosophyThis is what makes us different...1. We value experiences over luxury.2. We provide high-quality tours, with a down-to-earth approach.3. We are upfront. There are no hidden costs. Your tour guide is on your side and is not hawking for tips or commissions throughout the tour....

28/11/2023

This was Day 1 of our first ever Mondumo Tour back in 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣8️⃣ !!

Anyone out there with memories of these early tours 2018/2019/2020??? 🤔

We’ve changed hotels in Auckland now 😮‍💨 and I have different shirts 👔 👕👚

I’d love to read your comments below of the experience! - Good, bad (Devonport hotel?) and ugly (shirts) 😄, and about your “wow moment” of the tour? 🤩😮

🧳 🇳🇿 🏃‍♀️ 🚌

28/11/2023

New to our Aotearoa itinerary for 2024!
We can't wait to bring mondumo groups to Waiheke Whisky at The HEKE to meet some of these wonderful people 🤗 🥃 🇳🇿

20/11/2023

🖤 BLACK FRIYAY MONDUMO SALE! 🖤

Picture yourself exploring the stunning landscapes of New Zealand or watching the sunset in Australia – all with some extra cash in your pocket.

Black Friday is 11/24 so we thought we would be romantic, and we've set the biggest saving at a whopping $1124!

**New Zealand in 14 Days tour**
- Save $1,124 on our Feb 05-18, 2024, adventure! (Hurry, seats are filling up faster than you can say 'kiwi'!)
- Save $500 on our Nov 25 to Dec 08, 2024, adventure! (This one comes with a bonus, keep reading!)

**Australia in 15 Days tour**
- Save $500 on our Oct 10-24, 2024, adventure! (These spaces will go as fast as a kangaroo hopping across the outback at full tilt!)

And here's the scoop for our New Zealand in November travelers – imagine having your Thanksgiving feast at Hobbiton Movie Set!

Yup, you read that right. Immerse yourself in the magic of Middle Earth when you join our November 2024 tour and enjoy a delightful Thanksgiving lunch at the iconic Hobbiton Movie Set, surrounded by the enchanting landscapes that brought The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit to life. Now that's a holiday memory for the books!

**How can you snag these sweet deals?**
1. Head to www.mondumo.com now!
2. Pick your tour and dates – New Zealand (February 2024 or November 2024) or Australia (October 2024).
3. Submit the registration form. We'll follow up with an invoice for payment. Pay in full by Tuesday November 28th 2023, and let the countdown to adventure begin!*

*Offer open to existing bookings that have not yet been paid in full.

Easy peasy, right? These savings are available for a limited time, and when they're gone they're gone. So get ready to secure your spot on the adventure of a lifetime.

Feel free to reach out if you have any burning questions or just want to chat about Down Under dreams. We're here for it!

Best,
Colin and Claudia

20/11/2023

We have a whopper of a Black Friday saving to share with you! ✈️ 💸💸 🏝️ 🇦🇺 🇳🇿

We've got some exciting news that'll make your Black Friday brighter – big discounts on our awesome Australia and New Zealand tours!

20/11/2023

Congratulations Pūteketeke! 👑 A worthy winner 🏆 👏 👏 👏

Congratulations to Pūteketeke/Australasian crested grebe/kāmana for being crowned Forest & Bird's Bird of the Century! 👑

It's no surprise that this native, Threatened-Nationally Vulnerable, diving water bird took out the crown with a record number of votes, with all the international media attention it got 🗳️

If you don't know much about pūteketeke, here's a little bit about them.

They are found in alpine and sub-alpine lakes in the South Island of New Zealand, and Australia.

At least 100 South Island lakes once had grebes but there have been ongoing declines in Marlborough, the West Coast and in Fiordland. Only Canterbury and Otago remain as strongholds.

There are fewer than 1,000 birds in Aotearoa - Their numbers have declined mainly due to introduced predators; and loss of habitat through wetland drainage.

Animals like stoats, ferrets, and cats can prey on eggs and fledglings, while introduced fish and birds compete for food and breeding space.

You can help this taonga species by getting behind things like backyard trapping, supporting your local trapping groups and being mindful and responsible when visiting areas where pūteketeke live.

Find out more about Pūteketeke/Australasian crested grebe/kāmana here: https://bit.ly/3syw31n

📷 Australasian crested grebe parent and chick - Singer, Douglas

14/11/2023

G'day mates! 🇦🇺 Exciting news – our 15-day small group tour of Australia is calling your name! From the iconic Sydney Opera House to the rugged beauty of the Outback, get ready for a journey filled with mateship, laughter, and Aussie wonders. Limited spots available, so tag your travel buddies and let's make Down Under memories! 🐨✈️

This tour can be taken on its own or combined with our New Zealand in 14 Days tour.This tour includes a small group (average 13-20 people), a top-rated professional tour guide, centrally located hotels, all sightseeing mentioned on the itinerary, all breakfasts, 9 other meals (including a special la...

14/11/2023

Ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure? 🌄 Join us for a small group tour in stunning New Zealand! From breathtaking landscapes to cozy local spots, our tours are the perfect blend of fun, learning, and adventure. Let's create memories that last a lifetime! 🚐✨

Registration is open for touring in Novenber 2024 at https://mondumo.com/tours/new-zealand-in-14-days/

This tour includes a small group (min 13, max 24 people), a top-rated professional tour guide, centrally located hotels, tour bus with extra space for more comfort, all sightseeing, all breakfasts, 9 other meals (including a special last night dinner), all tips for drivers, local guides and wait sta...

13/11/2023

We received this beautiful book from friends as a gift for our baby daughter due to arrive some time next month. I can’t wait to read these stories to our Aotearoa New Zealand born kōtiro (girl) over and over again. The legends of the land where she’ll be born. And no doubt I’ll be recounting the legends to our tour guests too 😁 📚 🇳🇿

25/06/2023

Our tours schedule for the second half of 2024 will be published soon. Make sure you are on the mondumo mailing list to hear more… 📧 📥 ✈️

Mon -/ du -/ mo /.

Small Group Tours of New Zealand, Australia and ScotlandAre you looking to travel with a small group of like-minded free-spirited travelers, looking to burst the tourist bubble and do more than just tick items off a bucket list?If you are, you sound like a wonderful person, and you are in…

24/06/2023

Dead Horse Pinch. 💀 🐎 🤏

This was a steep hard pull for horse-drawn wagons on the Pigroot Road to the Central Otago goldfields 🐖 👑

Horses finding the going too tough often died and were buried over the bank 😢 🪦

Heavily laden wagons were drawn by eight or 10-horse teams. It was not uncommon for a wagon to become bogged down in some of the awful quagmires to be met along this route, or stuck on a steep hillside that proved too much for a tired team 😴 😴 😴

Wagons usually travelled in pairs for mutual safety, "double banking" over difficult sections when necessary ⛑️

The Dead Horse Pinch was the last major obstacle short of a night's rest at the halfway house, two miles west of here 🧭

In 1862 when the Dunstan gold rush commenced, the Pigroot became a major route to the goldfields 🏦 ⛰️

Lightweight, four-horse "express" coaches provided a two day long mail, passenger and gold es**rt service between Dunedin and the Dunstan (Clyde) 🐎 🐎 🐎 🐎

The coach was the recognised "king of the road" and the wagoners would hurriedly draw to the side to let it pass 🤴

The heavy, lumbering wagons carried up to four tons of goods, receiving anything from £8 a ton for the journey between Dunedin and the Dunstan, compared to £100 a ton paid at the height of the Dunstan rush 💰 💰 💰

In 1892 the Central Otago Railway penetrated inland as far as Middlemarch, bringing to an end the era of coach and wagon services on the Pigroot 🚂 🚂

18/01/2023

Are you joining us later tonight? 🚌 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Festival of Europe news: Tonight’s show is Scotland!

Join guest host Cameron Hewitt as he joins Scottish guide Colin Mairs (tonight, Jan. 18, at 6:00 p.m. PT) for a celebration of Scotland: exploring mossy mountains, windswept isles, mysterious lochs, and heathered glens along with Scotland's two big cities: royal Edinburgh and gritty Glasgow. Along the way, taste a wee dram at a whisky distillery and sort out how two different Rick Steves tour itineraries let you choose just the right amount of Scotland.

It’s show number 10 of our 22-day festival, and whether you’re joining a Rick Steves tour or adventuring on your own, we’ve got Europe covered for you. Tonight’s virtual tour is free to attend but registration is required: www.ricksteves.com/tours/festival-of-europe. Thanks for being a part of our Rick Steves Festival of Europe 2023.

14/01/2023

📣 Festival of Europe: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023 6pm
Pacific Time (US and Canada). Join us!

📺 Cameron Hewitt and Scottish guide Colin Mairs will take you on a virtual journey through Scotland — exploring mossy mountains, windswept isles, mysterious lochs, and heathered glens along with Scotland’s two big cities, royal Edinburgh and underrated Glasgow. Along the way, we'll try a wee dram at a whisky distillery and sort out how two different Rick Steves' Europe tour itineraries let you choose just the right amount of Scotland.

✍️ Registration is required but doesn't guarantee admission. These are popular events, and seats can fill up quickly. Your best bet is to join us on time (or even a bit early) — and if you miss a show, recordings of all past Festival of Europe events will be posted at www.ricksteves.com/tours/festival-of-europe.

👉 Register for this free event now at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jiZShtufR66sjwDxhRbZdg

24/05/2022

In case you missed it - last week’s virtual trip to New Zealand. The full show is just under 1 hour 30mins so make sure you are well stocked with Pavlova, Anzac biscuits, and NZ Wine before you click play! 😀 🎂🍪🍷

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g2f1DtXYyjo

Enjoy Rick's live Monday Night Travel party with this video recorded on May 16, 2022. Experience the fun, conviviality, intimacy, and spontaneity of joining ...

17/05/2022

This was a blast! The recording should be available to view soon via links below 😀 🇳🇿

New Zealand with Colin Mairs — Tonight on Monday Night Travel!

I always enjoy a dose of kilted Scotsman spirit with my friend and fellow tour guide Colin Mairs — and tonight (Monday, May 16), he’s joining MNT moderator Julianne Wurden for a virtual trek around his new home base of New Zealand.

Known to the Māori people as "The Land of the Long White Cloud" and to Lord of the Rings fans as Middle Earth, New Zealand is a country rich with indigenous culture, gorgeous fjords, lush rainforests, and serene beaches. Colin’s all ready to go with a Kiwi feast of pavlova, Anzac biscuits, and New Zealand wine — and he’s looking forward to seeing you soon! Register now at www.ricksteves.com/mnt.

16/05/2022

Join us tomorrow (Monday in USA) for an armchair tour of New Zealand! Registration for zoom via links below. See you there! 👋

13/03/2022

26/02/2022

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/travel-classes/monday-night-travel/scotland-favorites

05/08/2021

It was a pleasure to join Reid Coen of Imprint Tours this morning on The Guide Collective to discuss travel, life as an immigrant/ex-pat, and some of my favourite travel experiences and places. If you missed it live, catch up here! 👉
https://fb.watch/7c4t3XEmXg/

20/05/2021

I’m participating in a live Facebook chat on The Guide Collective, upcoming at 6am Friday (New Zealand) / 11am Thursday (Pacific) / 7pm Thursday (UK). Our topic for discussion with my friends Lisa, Nina, Trish and Andrew is
“True Stories from Expats and Immigrants”.

We’ll discuss our experiences of moving to a new country, what we miss from our home countries, what we love and hate about our adopted countries! Join us live if you can. And if you do please comment to let me know you’re watching!

03/02/2021

Il était une fois....
(Once upon a time..) in Edmonds Washington for Rick Steves' Europe Tour Reunion with my friend Véro 🤗 🇫🇷 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Meeting a friendly and dapper Scotsman, Colin Mairs (Mondumo by Colin Mairs)

25/12/2020

Merry Christmas from all of us in The Guide Collective! 🎄 🚗 🎅🏼 🎉 ✈️ 🎄

https://m.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR1ldGMAGbjzIGN1AOgrLUges0s4HJyxfLEq3uJK9k43Nbbm8pQrj_I_LKU&v=zeh7BRPQNrs&feature=youtu.be

Guide Collective members wish you a very Merry Christmas!

25/12/2020

Merry Christmas from our family to yours 🥂🎄🐶 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇲🇽 🇳🇿

15/12/2020

What a great opportunity for some travel dreaming! Join my friend Trish Feaster, The Travelphile, on this virtual trip to Vietnam this week 🇻🇳 ⛵️

Join me this Wednesday, Dec 16 for a virtual journey through Vietnam!

As part of the the Travel and Adventure Show's virtual travel showcase series, the Asia and South Pacific Show is accessible from 2pm-7pm PT. Presentations are on-demand, so you can watch my Vietnam event at your leisure in the comfort of your own home!

Plus, I'll be part of a Meet the Experts feature at 3pm PT.

You'll also be able to connect directly with SEAsia travel experts and vendors throughout the show so you can stoke your travel dreams.

If you follow the link below, you'll not only get FREE REGISTRATION for this event but also for the rest of the showcase series, which continues in January and features Africa, the Middle East, and Cruising. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-travel-adventure-show-asia-south-pacific-tickets-123521595417?discount=TRISH100

And if you're interested in traveling with me in 2021 & 2022 to Europe, Asia, Egypt, or South America, you can email me at [email protected] for details.

13/12/2020

In just under 24 hours I will be going live, opening another virtual door of The Guide Collective’s advent calendar, with a look at Christmas down under in New Zealand. Live on Guide Collective page.

Please join me if you can!

⏰🕰⏱
• 11am Pacific Standard Time, USA (Monday)
• 2pm Eastern Time, USA Monday)
• 8am New Zealand time (Tuesday)

Click “going” or “interested” on this event to get a reminder: 👉https://www.facebook.com/events/228822715259283/permalink/228822725259282/👈

More details:
https://www.guide-collective.com/events/colin-mairs-new-zeland-advent-virtual-tour-dec14-2020

Discover with Colin Mairs of MONDUMO tours how Christmas is celebrated in NEW ZELAND!

09/12/2020

This popped up on my Facebook memories...

7 years ago - trekking to Mount Everest Base Camp ⛺️ 🏔 (5,364 metres / 17,598 ft)

The altitude was probably the toughest physical and mental challenge I’ve ever experienced.

Trekking back down to lower altitude was exhilarating though!

At one point on one of the acclimatisation days where you “trek high and sleep slow”, meaning go a bit higher during the day but then come down again to sleep to help acclimatise to the higher altitude, I really started to feel that my body was not made to be at those altitudes (i.e. over 3,000metres / 9,800feet) and the line from Bob Dylan’s song “The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest", which says:
“Well, the moral of the story,
The moral of this song,
Is simply that one should never be,
Where one does not belong”
began to repeat over and over in my head 🤯

I continued though and I’m glad I did.

Every day on the trek I ate the same meal for lunch and dinner. Garlic soup (apparently the local natural remedy for altitude), followed by dal bhat (steamed rice and thick lentil soup, usually accompanied by steamed or sauteed vegetables, vegetable curry, popadoms, pickle, and curd 🍛 🥘

Thinking about the food now is giving me cravings for it 😋

I would love to go back to Nepal again some day but probably not that high up, or if I did I would do it at a slower pace 🚶🏼‍♂️
@ Everest Base Camp

08/12/2020

Last week I completed Level 2 of my Te Reo Māori journey. I’ve been attending class once a week (1.5 hours per week) for 16 weeks (levels 1 and 2). We had to do a Whaikōrero to our class - a formal speech to the gathering, with part of it being about my genealogy as far back as my grandparents and a bit more about where I am from and who I am.

08/12/2020

Last week I completed Level 2 of my Te Reo Māori journey. I’ve been attending class once a week (1.5 hours per week) for 16 weeks (levels 1 and 2). We had to do a Whaikōrero to our class - a formal speech to the gathering, with part of it being about my genealogy as far back as my grandparents and a bit more about where I am from and who I am.

02/12/2020

Have you seen the latest Air NZ safety video?

Featuring the personification of places throughout Aotearoa New Zealand!

I love how Milford Sound is so cocky and Invercargill so humble and modest 😁

23/11/2020

With a few easily forgivable mistakes and mispronunciations, I thought this was a very good video covering the geography and more of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Love the explanation about what continent NZ belongs to!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FtZaaKFi7RM

No but seriously watch your valuables around those Kea birds. Check out http://www.GeographyNow.com ! You asked for merch so we made it for you! We now have ...

07/11/2020

🐱

03/11/2020

A Festival of Education! Graduates celebrating their achievements in Auckland’s Albert Park 🎓 🍾

30/10/2020

Indie and I decided to stop for a coffee/water at Franc's ☕️💧 Let us catch you up on the latest newspaper headlines in New Zealand 🇳🇿

30/10/2020

Taking a walk Takapuna beach with Indie doggy dog 🐕 🏖 ☀️

27/10/2020

Tomorrow (Tuesday) at 8pm pacific time* I’ll be hosting an evening of scotch whisky explanation and tasting with my friend Sarah Murdoch, broadcasting live from her page Adventures with Sarah 🎥

Join us there if you can, and have your favourite drams** at the ready!

Sláinte!*** 🥃

______________
*Wednesday 4pm New Zealand time 🇳🇿
**drinks (preferably scotch or other variety of whisky) 😉
*** ”Cheers!”, but literally “health” in Scottish Gaelic 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

15/10/2020

Join me on this live virtual tour in Devonport (Auckland) New Zealand! 🚶🏼‍♂️

Please say hi 👋 in the comments and let me know where you’re watching from (even in you’re watching the replay later).

This is a free event but if you want to buy me a beer/coffee 🍺 ☕️, and make a contribution to supporting this and future live events, my “virtual-tip-jar” is open at www.paypal.me/mondumo and will remain open after the live broadcast.

Our tour will last about one hour.

I’ll take a timeout roughly half way to answers questions and will answer any more at the end too!

😁 Colin
{- www.mondumo.com}

Find more events like this wordlwide at:
• www.guide-collective.com/events
• www.facebook.com/guide.collective

14/10/2020

Kia ora koutou! 👋 Thought I’d share my pepeha with you and let you know that I’ll be back here in 24 hours for a live virtual tour 😁

Details in the events section on this page and on The Guide Collective.

(special appearance in this video from our puppy Indie 🐶)