Prince Harry and his wife Meghan visiting Abel Tasman National Park next month will raise the profile of the "iconic but secondary visitor destination", says local tour operator Darryl Wilson.
The Duke of Sussex and Duchess of Sussex attend a gala performance of the musical 'Hamilton' in London on August 29, 2018. Photo: AFP PHOTO / POOL / Dan Charity
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive in Wellington on 28 October, flying out of Auckland on 1 November, and plan to visit the Abel Tasman and Rotorua.
"I looked at their itinerary and thought 'thank goodness it's them not me'," Wilson tells Morning Report's Susie Ferguson.
They are likely to make a flying visit to the area, cruising into the National Park by boat for a two-hour walk, he says, but he has faint hopes of a more thorough visit.
"My fantasy would be that they join a three-day lodge-based walk or kayaking walk, and go through the park and actually immerse and meet the people, see what it's about, get the stories."
Darryl Wilson of Wilsons Abel Tasman Photo: RNZ/Tracy Neal
Wilson suspects the Duke and Duchess chose the Abel Tasman region because of its commitment to conservation which, along with youth development, is a focus on their tour.
The NZ public-owned Awaroa Beach could even be on the list, he says.
"It would be easy to access and a good story."
Awaroa Beach Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal
Wilson doesn't know whether the Duchess of Sussex visited the Abel Tasman National Park on her earlier visit to New Zealand, but says he wouldn't be surprised if – like many other tourists – she missed out the first time around.
"The Abel Tasman is certainly one of those special spots that New Zealanders know, but the international community is just catching on to."
New Zealand is the final stop on the royal couple's first official foray abroad, which includes a visit to this year's Invictus Games in Sydney and stops in Fiji and Tonga.
