New Zealand unlocks Mindful Journeys for business events

Sounds on the New Zealand Spotify channel include kiwi birds at night, the rush of waterfalls and the sound of the Pacific Ocean colliding with the Tasman Sea.

As travel restrictions drag on, more destinations are upping the ante at designing virtual experiences to engage the senses. Tourism New Zealand has launched a Spotify channel. The album for the channel is called Mindful Journeys and features four meditative audio tracks (two with narration and two without).

While international visitors cannot visit New Zealand right now, the album has been carefully designed to transport listeners virtually to New Zealand, helping them arrive at a place of calm, disconnect from their stresses and calm their minds.

Through the soundscapes, listeners will journey through the North and South Islands, being calmed through sounds unique to New Zealand including native birds, bubbling geothermal mud pools and the gentle sound of the breeze moving through the forest.

Lisa Gardiner, Global Manager of Business Events for Tourism New Zealand, said, “In New Zealand, we are lucky to have nature at our doorstep. Given the noise of the world at the moment, we wanted to share a piece of that calm and serenity. Take a moment to soak up some inspiration for your next business event. We saw the launch of this new channel and the release of our first album as a simple way to share a small experience of New Zealand with the world, while the world can’t visit us. A gift from our backyard to yours.”

To listen, search 100% Pure New Zealand on Spotify and look for the official 100% Pure New Zealand logo or click here.

What is on the album?

1. North Island – Far North to Rotorua (x1 narrated in English, x1 non-narrated):

Begin your journey on the iconic beaches of the upper North Island, listening to the gentle sounds of surf and seabirds. With the breeze move into our forests, hearing the native birds and insects as well as the soft noises of the forest floor. Travelling through the earthy sounds of the bush, emerge in the geothermal area of Rotorua. Steaming water, bubbling mud pools and the distinctive rush of the natural geysers can be heard.

2. South Island – Marlborough Sounds to the Canterbury Plains (x1 narrated in English, x1 non-narrated):

Start off in the gentle lapping waters of the Marlborough sounds, then head down the rugged beaches of New Zealand’s West Coast. Stop off at the Punakaiki Rocks, with their distinctive sounding blowholes. Move inland, briefly travelling through the foothills, up into the Southern Alps where we are in mountainous air, wind whips and distant keas call. Then head down the other side via one of the many rivers that is fed by the mountain range. End up in the peace of a Central Otago valley, with regional birds and insects keeping things rich and textured.

Unique sounds that can be heard in New Zealand:

• The call of the kiwi bird at night
• The song of the tui bird while they feed on nectar
• The sound of the Pacific Ocean collide with the Tasman Sea at Cape Reinga
• Bubbling geothermal mud pools and the Pōhutu geyser at Te Puia
• The rush of waterfalls in Milford Sounds
• The sound of snow falling on the top of the highest mountain range in Australasia
• The quiet sound of stargazing in one of New Zealand’s International Dark Sky Reserves
• The quiet solitude of watching the sunrise from atop Maunga Hikurangi – one of the first places to see the sun in the world
• The chinking of jugs of Southfarthing Sackville Cider and Frogmorton Ginger Beer at Green Dragon Inn at Hobbiton

Where to experience mindfulness in New Zealand:

• Forest bathe and breathe deep in nature at Whirinaki Rainforest
• Forest therapy walk and sensory experience on Waiheke with forest therapy guide
• Sail through Doubtful Sound, also known as the Sound of Silence
• Take a kayak or SUP on the water in Abel Tasman
• Hire a mountain or e-bike and head out onto the thousands of kilometres of bike trails for active mindfulness
• Rest your head under the stars at unique accommodation like PurePod or SkyScape

Where to stay for a mindful experience in New Zealand:

• Split Apple Retreat: An ultra-luxury wellness retreat on the edge of Abel Tasman National Park with expansive views out to sea. Each suite is designed to give a feeling of restful calm, and the menu is designed to positively impact health and wellness from the inside.
• Aro Hā Wellness Retreat: Aro Hā is a purpose-built wellness retreat, a first in New Zealand, designed to refresh, rejuvenate and reignite from its spectacular alpine location. Combining nutrition, exercise, adventure, alternative health and self-development and some of the most jaw-dropping scenery New Zealand has to offer to transform and re-centre.
• Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses: Nestled 30 feet in the air in one of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand, these treehouses sit amongst native Kanuka Grove and underneath the majestic Kaikoura mountains. With wild deer, an olive grove and a vineyard, this 5-star eco-retreat offers fresh, organic local produce and mountain or ocean views from every window.
• Resurgence Luxury Eco Lodge: Set amongst 50 acres of tranquil wilderness alive with birdsong in the Nelson region, Resurgence eco-lodge offers kayaking, hiking, cycling as well as art and wine trails. Farm to table dining enjoyed immersed in your bush suite or a range of therapeutic treatments available for ultimate absorption in relaxation.
• The Landing: A unique heritage and conservation property, The Landing is a thousand acres of beaches, vines, rolling hills and wildlife sanctuaries. A sacred coastal setting in the far north, the beauty of the land is celebrated through the variety of experiences on offer; from paddleboarding to wine tasting and garden to plate dining.

Tourism New Zealand’s tips and tricks for being more mindful:

• Consider carving out 10 minutes first thing in the morning for a mindful activity such as listening to music, this encourages natural habit development and starts your day off mindfully before the activity and distractions of the day begin
• Listen to one of Tourism New Zealand’s audio tracks on their Mindful Journeys album during your work commute, focus on your breath and awareness at the start or end of your day
• Don’t be frustrated if your thoughts wander as you listen, be curious about where your thinking goes, allow yourself to drift off before bringing your focus back to your breath.

Featured image: Kiat Chua

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