High Country Journeys
There’s been an ownership change for 4WD adventure business High Country Journeys. But don’t worry, the iconic South Island enterprise, which pioneered self-guided 4WD tours in this country, is in good hands, founders Mike and Karen Meares having sold it to one of their guides, Ranfurly-
based John Mulholland. John and wife Susan have long and very strong family ties in the Maniototo region and John has been involved in the 4WD scene in the south for a number of years and for the past five or six has done a lot of 4WD guiding work in his home region and many parts of Central Otago. John is also well known throughout the province as one of the organisers of the local Maniototo Lions Club’s famous 4WD trips that have spanned nearly 20 years. He and Susan took over the reins of High Country Journeys on May 01 and John says it will be very much business as usual. “Our plan,” he told NZ4WD magazine,” is to carry on much the same. Keeping our tours smaller and more personal and using regular well- known local farmstays along the way.” Having already developed his own, shorter, 4WD events in the Maniototo, John can now offer customers opportunities all over the South Island. “It gives us the opportunity,“he says, “to expand into the longer five and six- day tours and to add some fully guided options as well.” John says that the appeal of a trip through the South Island’s high country is universal. And that people who sign on come from all walks of life and all over the country. “I guess the main thing they enjoy is the landscape, the spectacular mountain scenery and also the hospitality of the many farming people and farmstays along the way.”