Help me meet my biological father

Im 28years old, and my father left when my mother was pregnant. I have been wanting to track him down for years now, and with little help got no where. I then applied to the series Lost and Found, and thankfully after a few months anticipation, they located him. He did not want part of the show due to personal reasons, however we did exchange numbers. I have spoken to him a few times, and feel that the next step is to meet him. He lives up north, Wellington and I live down south, Invercargill. I want to use funds for travel and accommodation, and would like to take my children up there as well , to meet there grandfather. Thank you for reading