" The idea of GOOT started to emerge when I was working for another outdoor Adventure Company. In my role marketing for the company I spent time at various backpacker hostels in Auckland. Each time I visited a hostel I noticed large numbers of people just sitting around watching TV while the sun shone outside. Nobody seemed very positive about Auckland and many people appeared to be just filling in time before their trip around the country began or their flight out.

On numerous occasions I asked people whether they had been to see this or that? “How do you get there?” they would ask... a question I admittedly always struggled to answer. But I knew of so many excellent things to do in and around Auckland and even more for those prepared to go a little further afield.

It wasn’t the lack of things to do that was the problem - it was the inaccessibility of these activities to those without a car. As Aucklanders we all have cars and think nothing of heading out to the West Coast for the day or to one of the northern beaches. So how were these people meant to get out of town?

A few years later I met a group of American students at Auckland University (I teach geography there). They came away with us on a field trip to Northland and impressed me with their enthusiasm and sense of humour. We had a great trip and upon our return to Auckland they were always asking me what they should do and where they should go next. Having to attend classes their time was limited to weekends and holidays but I was amazed at how much they managed to pack in.

But there's only so much I could scribble down on a scrap of paper or a napkin and when they returned from these trips with great stories I always realised they had missed something, whether it was an amazing view, a secret beach or a natural hotpool. Obviously one can’t be expected to see everything – most of the best places are off the beaten track anyway – but I felt that these students could really benefit from a little local knowledge... and perhaps on something more than a napkin! So I got talking with Jon... "


"After hours, days and weeks of brainstorming (and a few beers) we established GOOT (Get Out Of Town!).

It's just as much about the journey as it is the destination. We all love road trips - a good group of people, windows down, landscapes drifting past as a great tune plays on the stereo. Sometimes it's just good to be away, to get out of town for a while. Well that’s GOOT. We want to send you to some amazing places and make sure you know plenty of cool things to find along the way.

We ran a few packaged trips but soon recognised that people want to get out and do it themselves which is why we developed the GOOT Passport and an Online Guide that is not only an expanded version of the 'napkin' guide... but a way to save money with discounts provided by our GOOT partners.

We fully love the idea of getting a good bunch of people together, jumping in an old car (or a new one if you can afford it) and driving off into the unknown. Still we couldn’t help think that a little local knowledge wouldn’t go amiss. I mean, what is the point of just going from A to B, when you can go via G, K, X and maybe even Y. Sure it will take you a little longer but surely it is better to take your time and actually experience a place. You know, take off your shoes, smell the sea and meet the locals.

So combine the GOOT Guide written by people who know New Zealand inside out... with the GOOT Passport full of discounts and savings for all the recommended places and activities along the way and you have everything you need to experience this awesome country of ours.

Welcome to Aotearoa – the land of the long white cloud. Welcome to New Zealand. Now Get Out Of Town and get into it! "

Joe & Jon