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Malaysia

Bold bites, big sights and endless colour

Malaysia Thean Hou Temple

A melting pot of culture, nature and mouthwatering flavour

Malaysia is a fascinating fusion of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Indigenous cultures, making every encounter a window into something new. Everyone you meet brings a little of their story to your holiday – and that diversity runs through everything.

It’s also a country of contrasts. In Kuala Lumpur, sleek skyscrapers and mega malls sit side by side with bustling night markets and fragrant street food stalls. In Penang, colonial-era buildings frame streets that pulse with bold modern art and creativity.

Nature lovers are spoiled for choice – hike through Borneo’s lush rainforests, spot orangutans in the wild, or sink into the golden sands of Langkawi. And the food? It’s the ultimate cultural mash-up – from spicy laksa and rich beef rendang to buttery roti canai, smoky satay and hand-pulled noodles.

Chase waterfalls, temple-hop, snorkel turquoise bays, explore centuries of history or simply follow your nose to the next hawker stall – Malaysia is an adventure for all your senses.

Let our Malaysia specialists plan your perfect Asian escape.


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Flight time

The flight from Auckland to Malaysia takes roughly 11 hours nonstop. It takes a while to get there but the sights and sounds of this vibrant destination will soon have you ready for action.

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Best time to go

Malaysia is a year-round destination, but December–February is best for the west coast, March–May for wildlife and beaches, June–September for Kuala Lumpur and diving, and October–November for Melaka and the Cameron Highlands.

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Time difference

Malaysia is 4–5 hours behind New Zealand depending on Daylight Saving in NZ. It won't take too long to get your body on to local time.

Meet our Malaysia specialists

Nicci Smith

Nicci Smith

House of Travel Ellerslie

I love everything about travel - the exploring new or much loved places, the landscapes, food, drink, history, culture, language, adventure, time with loved ones and the anticipation!

I have travelled a lot of the world and now love to do so with my family.  We return to UK/Europe to visit family but I also love the amazing places we have closer to home - the Pacific Islands, Australia and Asia.  I also love getting into the outdoors you can't beat NZ for that.

Planning holidays is my dream job - and taking the time to listen to your needs, make suggestions where needed and matching it all up with something that suits you and your budget is always my goal.

Having worked in travel for 20 years + in a range of roles including wholesale reservations, corporate travel and retail, you can rest assured you are dealing with experience.  I am friendly, responsive and efficient, and love to find good deals for my clients.

I really look forward to meeting and working with you. 


Nicci

Jared Wilson

Jared Wilson

House of Travel Christchurch City


No. of countries visited: 40+ 

Favourite place to visit: Anywhere in South America

Next place on the list to visit: Kenya


Quote: “Never pass up a bathroom”

About me: With over 2 years of solo travel across 40+ countries, I am passionate about immersing myself in new cultures and uncovering the unique experiences each destination has to offer. Fluent in Spanish, Latin America is my particular area of experience and expertise. Whether you're after an exciting adventure or a peaceful getaway, I’m committed to designing a memorable and seamless trip tailored specifically to you. 

Why I love travel: It allows me to escape the sometimes repetitive nature of daily life. I enjoy experiencing new places or returning to ones that I love. I like making connections with people from places around the world and having experiences that can’t be replicated.

My travel tips:

  • Meet the locals Almost all of my favourite and most cherished travel experiences have involved meeting and making friends with the local people. It is a sure-fire way to have a more unique and intimate holiday experience.
  • When in Rome A cliché but one to that will enrich your travel, observe how the locals live and learn from it. Try the local brew or dish, join in on the fun. Also respect local customs and traditions, this will allow a richer and safer experience.
  • Expect the unexpected- Be ready for unforeseen circumstances that will inevitably occur at some point during a trip. If you are expectant and prepared for troublesome scenarios you can save yourself a lot of grief. After all, you want to make your break from reality as stress free as possible.

My top 3 favourite destinations:

  • Colombia- An up and coming travel destination, a country cursed with the reputation earned from its past. It is extremely geographically diverse and amazing bang for your buck. I still haven’t found a country with warmer and friendlier people.
  • Spain- A country full of amazing destinations to discover, with a rich history and a world class gastronomical scene. The fun loving people, the nightlife and the picturesque towns with uniquely their Spanish architecture are a must experience.
  • Mexico- Mexico is a country which is truly fascinating, an amazing place to get to know. It’s a big country with lots to explore - like the US it is made up of states (32), the more you see the more you’ll want to see. It is full of the most beautiful places you’ve never heard of. The locals are extremely friendly and of course the cuisine one of the best and most famous on the globe.

What’s in my suitcase:

  • Spare phone, cables and a travel adaptor- Fact is electronics are a very important travel tool and to be prepared is important so you don’t have to go in the dark.
  • A Journal- A great way to record all the little details and memorable moments. When moving fast and or experiencing a lot we naturally forget things. Writing it down will help to recall in future and also to have what you’ve written forever is something special.
  • Travel cubes- Will help you to keep your suitcase nice and organised for easy packing and ultimately will save you time making things easier to find.

My most memorable travel stories:

  • Walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain together with part of the Camino Portugues from Lisbon to Porto – totalling 1200kms. My hiking shoes broke so I did the last 1000kms in Sandals.
  • Doing a 32 day Top Deck bus tour around Europe. Easily one of the best months of my life full of laughs and all round good times. I made some strong friendships and saw a lot in such a short space of time.


Jared

Wendy Harrison

Wendy Harrison

House of Travel Tauranga: The Crossing

I am an adventure seeker with a passion for exploring the world and experiencing everything it has to offer. I'm always on the lookout for new and exciting experiences and have a particular love for small group tours and adventures. Whether it's cruising in the Galapagos Islands or exploring new cities, I love the intimacy and camaraderie that comes with traveling in small groups. 

When I'm not adventuring, you can often find me at live sports and events, cheering on my favourite teams and soaking up the excitement of the crowd. Or I'm equally at home soaking up the sun during a beautiful island beach holiday.  

I also have a love for cruising and have had the opportunity to explore new destinations such as the Mediterranean, the coastlines of Spain and Portugal, the Rhône and Saône Rivers in Southern France, canal boating in England, and cruising across the Tasman. All while enjoying the comforts and amenities of life on the water. 

One of my favourite pastimes is people watching whether it's from a cafe in Paris or on the streets of New York. For me, there is nothing more fascinating than observing the unique and diverse cultures of the world and the interactions of the people within them. I'm always seeking out new experiences and adventures, driven by a deep curiosity and a thirst for knowledge and understanding. 

Wendy

Rhonda Bignell

Rhonda Bignell

House of Travel Ferrymead

Travel is a passion for me, I have been in travel for quite some time (too long to remember) from Corporate to Leisure. 

I aim to help people no matter what their plans are to create the best holiday experience possible. I enjoy being part of our travellers experience and making the whole process as easy as possible & to create fantastic memories that are special and will last a lifetime for themselves and their families.

I have travelled to some amazing places, but one stands out, the 6 months I spent working on Antarctica at McMurdo Station is a highlight & backpacking through India was a challenge.

From visiting the many aspects of Australia, Asia, South Africa & South America to basking in the sun on the Maldives or hitting the beaches and shopping in Thailand I would love to help you create some new stories & memories. I love active holidays and have followed the Moto GP / Formula 1 and the Isle of Man TT was particularly exciting. Followed by walking up on Mt Kinabalu was another eventful trip.

However, every great adventure starts with a plan, and I would be honoured to help you with that plan, whether you take the road less travelled or one of the many roads that lead to Rome.

I look forward to helping you to create more wonderful stories and memories in the coming years.

Rhonda

Best. Holidays. Ever!

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