The best way to travel is in the hands of an experienced South Pacific based Inbound Tour Operator. We are committed to go that extra mile to ensure clients are totally satisfied with all arrangements.

Meet Our Staff

Frank Kerr

General Manager

Frank has had over 40 years in the tourist industry. Starting in Dunedin where he was born and raised, Frank joined the commercial arm of the then Tourist and Publicity Department and worked there for 19 years. This gave him a thorough grounding in all aspects of NZ tourism including 4 year postings in San Francisco and Brisbane.

After leaving the Tourist Department Frank worked in the car and campervan rental business and also the hotel industry.

Frank joined Travel Time South Pacific in 1992 and specialises in group itineraries. He has dealt with many unusual and challenging groups from a wide range of countries over the years.

Away from the office Frank enjoys sporting and musical interests and is an active member of a local golf club.

Darlene Jackson

Travel Planner – FIT Manager

Darlene is a born and bred ‘Kiwi’, having grown up in a small rural town in the Waikato Region. During her years studying at University she worked alongside the tourism sector and developed a strong interest in this industry. When the opportunity arose for her to make this a career choice she was delighted and has never regretted it. She began in Rotorua in 1984 working for the NZTP Travel Office and after 5 years left to travel overseas. On her return to New Zealand she started working for Travel Time in 1992 and is still here!!

If you ask her what she enjoys about her job she will say sharing a country that she loves with people from all around the world. “It has so much variety – there’s not too many places where you can drive from a great beach to one of the best ski-fields in Australasia, from lush rainforest to alpines lakes, from swimming with dolphins to ancient Kauri Forests, from excellent trout fishing to a thermal wonderland or from fertile farmland to remote fiords in just a couple of hours” she says.

Each year she tries to visit a different area of the country for more in-depth knowledge of what it has to offer – and her camera is always with her!

Marilyn Edgecombe

Senior Travel Planner - Groups

With a background in Geography, Marilyn has a keen understanding of the diversity of New Zealand. This appreciation combined with extensive travel throughout New Zealand gives her a unique perspective when planning itineraries - “I enjoy including a variety of landscapes, cultural insights and distinctive ‘Kiwi’ experiences for travellers” she says.

Marilyn is an experienced Tour Manager and has worked with groups from 10 people up to 100. Working as a Tour Manager has given Marilyn an in-depth knowledge of how to manage logistics and traveller expectations to create treasured memories. She loves introducing her favourite NZ places and ‘Kiwi’ experiences – maybe appreciating the sound of silence in remote Fiordland, a hideaway restaurant in vibrant Queenstown or helping travellers with an understanding of Maori language and culture.

Her speciality is designing and operating customised special interest and general interest itineraries for groups of all sizes. “Designing tailor-made trips combining traveller’s special interests with the New Zealand experience to make unforgettable vacations for my clients is extremely satisfying” she says.

Marilyn has worked with Travel Time South Pacific since 2000. She holds a Masters degree in Social Sciences majoring in Geography from the University of Waikato. After hours Marilyn is addicted to yoga and also loves swimming, training for triathlons, reading, playing tennis, watching movies, cooking and travelling.

Jill Forster-King

Senior Travel Planner - FIT

Jill spent her childhood growing up in Scotland, Barbados, Zambia, England and New Zealand so she inherited the travel bug. She joined Travel Time South Pacific in September 2000 to follow a passion to be part of the travel industry, creating interesting and highly enjoyable adventures of New Zealand. She loves the anticipation and adventure of exploring new places herself and has travelled extensively around New Zealand. Every couple of years she tries to get away and explore a new area the country - her last trip was to Stewart Island, a bird and nature lovers paradise. Her favourite destinations are the white sandy beaches and clear waters of Northland and the isolated wilderness and spectacular beauty of the Fiordland National Park.

After hours Jill enjoys bush walks, camping, swimming, yoga, meditating, sea and fly fishing, reading, playing flute, guitar and singing – particularly folk music. Her leisure time is also taken up learning to sail and major DIY renovations at her small rural home which overlooks prime Waikato dairy farmland and a lake used for rowing, sailing and fishing. She enjoys the supportive family atmosphere of working at Travel Time and the most rewarding part of the job is receiving reports from satisfied clients who have loved their time in New Zealand and often refer to it as a trip of a lifetime – which is exactly what we all aim for!

Katherine Martyn

Database Administrator

Originally from Scotland Katherine is married to a Kiwi and has been living and working in New Zealand for 10 years. Her work life started in hospitality and extended to customer service. After spending most of her time at home with two daughters (aged 7 and 4) she decided to take the step and get back into the work force. So in 2008 she joined the great team at Travel Time South Pacific where she enjoys a variety of duties from ensuring the comprehensive pricing database is up to date to occasionally helping out in accounts.

Her favourite New Zealand destination is the Coromandel Peninsula with its white sandy beaches, rugged hills, hot pools, fishing and breath-taking scenery. The magnificent volcanoes of the Central Volcanic Plateau also occupy a special place in Katherine’s heart. She recently accomplished the amazing Tongariro Alpine Crossing (the best one day trek in New Zealand and listed by many in the top 10 day treks in the world) – Katherine rates it as “out of this world!”.

When she is not busy with family life you can find Katherine watching the rugby, enjoying good food, going on a bush walk or hanging out with family.