At TravelEssence, we specialise in crafting custom-made holidays that take you off the beaten path and create memories to last a lifetime. We believe in connecting with the heart and soul of a place, introducing you to the locals who call it home. Engage in conversations with fascinating individuals who will share their stories, traditions, and way of life, leaving an indelible mark on your journey.
TravelEssence is an independent, owner-managed Australia and New Zealand travel specialist. Our head office is located in the Netherlands, where we were first launched in 2006 by New Zealander Andrew Morten. Since then, we have branched out to Germany with offices in several locations, and more recently to the UK.
We were previously known in the UK as A Journey Down Under. We initially took on that name because we were unable to purchase the URL for TravelEssence in the UK. After a few years, we finally succeeded to take over the mother company’s name of TravelEssence, and the rebranding took place in the middle of 2022.
A leading Australia and New Zealand travel specialist in Europe
Over the years, TravelEssence has become a leading Australia and New Zealand travel specialist in Europe for fully custom-made holidays Down Under. Providing small-scale, hand-selected accommodation and personal activities, all tailored into wonderful and perfectly organised journeys.


We know our hosts personally and work with them directly
Due to our roots Down Under, we have carefully selected a range of places to stay and things to do that are unique. Approximately 70% of the properties and activities we offer are not available from any other travel company or online reservation site in the world. We focus on properties that host only a few people at any one time, or even exclusively just you.
Many of our hosts prefer just to look after our clients. Why?
Because we create each journey with you, our client, and ensure the places where you stay are what you love. We also strongly advise travelling at a pace that gives time to enjoy each location, instead of a whirlwind tour around a few commercial highlights.
Thus, you arrive happy and relaxed, enjoying a journey away from the crowds. We know for a fact that we have the most unique and carefully selected accommodation and activity selection of any New Zealand and Australia travel specialist in the United Kingdom.


Even more uniquely, as a matter of principle, we pay your hosts in advance.
We also provide them with a simple reservation system that almost eliminates the administration required for working with us and also eliminates chances of any mistakes. This makes your hosts also happy and relaxed and means they can focus on making your experience all the more special. And they do so because as a TravelEssence client, they regard you as the best clients they can have.


We love to make our clients happy
From experience, we know that spending time talking to you to understand what you want and expect from your holiday means that you come home far happier. That’s why we don’t offer standard holidays online, but instead design and arrange each journey uniquely. As a company that only offers holidays Down Under, we have always aimed to be the very best. Over 2000 clients have reviewed and rated their TravelEssence holiday with an average of 9.4 out of 10, based on over 20 criteria. Even the Germans give us 9.6.
Your journey Down Under should be the best holiday of your life. Together with your wishes and our experience, and our great places to stay and things to do, we are confident that it will be.
Please get in touch to talk about your dream holiday to Australia or New Zealand. We can talk over the phone, via the computer or face to face.
Discover more
5 simple steps to book your dream holiday Down Under
Our other brands
United Kingdom
Little America: www.littleamerica.co.uk
The Netherlands
TravelEssence: www.travelessence.nl
Little America: www.littleamerica.nl
Germany
TravelEssence: www.travelessence.de
Little America: www.littleamerica.de
Ready for the holiday of a lifetime?
Discover a world beyond ordinary
At TravelEssence, we specialise in crafting custom-made holidays that take you off the beaten path and create memories to last a lifetime. We believe in connecting with the heart and soul of a place, introducing you to the locals who call it home. Engage in conversations with fascinating individuals who will share their stories, traditions, and way of life, leaving an indelible mark on your journey.
Contact us
We would love to discuss your dream journey