Published on the 10/05/2016 | Written by Clare Coulson

New Zealand’s unique scenery has to be seen to be believed and virtual reality technology is helping that to happen, starting with the TRENZ trade show…

“Augmented reality is really making its presence felt at TRENZ for the first time this year.” That’s according to Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand (TRENZ) chief executive Chris Roberts, talking on the first day of New Zealand’s biggest annual international tourism event taking place in Rotorua

Over the next four days TRENZ will showcase the offerings of approximately 300 New Zealand tourism businesses to international travel and tourism buyers. And with one of the key draws to New Zealand being its spectacular scenery it’s no surprise that augmented reality is being used by some forward-thinking exhibitors. Although he couldn’t give exact numbers, Roberts said a small number of New Zealand tourism operators are using augmented and virtual reality systems in their meetings with international travel and tourism buyers.

“Augmented reality is really making its presence felt at TRENZ for the first time this year.”

One of those operators is Southern Discoveries, which will be showcasing Milford Sound though an immersive 360-degree virtual reality (VR) video created by digital agency One Fat Sheep who worked with NZVR360 and Helicam Films. Southern Discoveries sales and marketing director Julia Savill says that using the relatively new technology is in keeping with the company’s ethos.

“We were the first company to operate cruises in Milford Sound and now to be the first operator presenting agents with this amazing technology is really exciting. It will be a key tool in our sales kit from now on.

“Milford Sound is the eighth wonder of the world and renowned for its dramatic vistas. To be able to sit in a booth at a trade show and look down on one of our boats sitting under a waterfall, then be on the deck of a catamaran underneath the same waterfall almost able to ‘feel’ the water misting over you is a spine-tingling experience,” she said.

Queenstown’s Ziptrek Ecotours has also taken the plunge into the virtual reality world, this time using the latest Samsung VR headset to allow users to experience ‘zipping’ through the trees and take in the sights, sounds and sensory experiences of a zipline trip.

Ziptrek Ecotours director Trent Yeo said “TRENZ is the perfect platform for us to launch the 360-degree immersive technologies, putting an experiential product such as this into the hearts and minds of our buyers.”

“For those who aren’t sure what this looks like, it’s like a live version of Google Streetview, only it’s Google Streetview on steroids!” he added.

Ziptrek is no stranger to using technology to enhance its tourism experience nad recently introduced a free new audio tour app called STQRY. The app can be downloaded onto any phone using a QR code at the Ziptrek store in downtown Queenstown so that guests can use their own earphones (or free disposable ‘in the ear’ earphones) to listen to the commentary in their own language as they take a Zipline tour. Initially only in Mandarin, French and Spanish versions are now also available.

“It’s like a live version of Google Streetview, only it’s Google Streetview on steroids!”

Also targeting the tourism (as well as the large real estate developments, golf courses and the entertainment industry) is a new service by Queenstown and Wanaka-based digital media company and are specialists in virtual tour creation 360nz. The service is called 360 Sky Tours and combines 360-degree aerial photography with other augmented reality to create a ‘sky tour’ or aerial view of an area which can be explored by navigating, zooming and clicking on icon which offer extra content such as video, sound, imagery and text.

“Over the past eight months we’ve been working hard to create a new 360 degree virtual reality product, shot from the air,” explains 360nz business partner Richie Johnston.

“The new 360 degree elevated perspective is unreal. It engages your audience far beyond traditional imagery, especially when they’re using a VR headset.” You can see a sky tour of Lake Wanaka here – we at iStart reckon it is pretty cool even in the desktop version.

Back at TRENZ Roberts says that the rise of augmented reality reflects the rapidly increase in use of this technology in many sectors.

“We expect to see increasing uptake of augmented reality technology in the future, as it’s a great way to show our international buyers the experiences on offer. Although it still not as good as being there!”

“The new 360 degree elevated perspective is unreal. It engages your audience far beyond traditional imagery, especially when they’re using a VR headset.”