Nature tour in New Zealand

Planet

Accommodation: In general, New Zealand is a very environmentally friendly country, but certain properties have excelled in their eco-friendly approach. The Nightsky Cottage is completely eco-friendly and is focused on reduction on carbon emissions.

Wilderness Lodge in Arthur's Pass was specifically set up to show that ecotourism can contribute to the economy and also protect the environment through nature conservation. Here naturalist guides can take you on guided tours of the farm, the mountains and the forest.

New Zealand excels in its small, family-run bed and breakfast properties, where visitors experience true kiwi hospitality as well as often learning more about the area they are staying in and meeting the people who live there. This itinerary includes a variety of such properties, many of which are buildings of historic interest and are in stunning locations.

Excursions: No trip to New Zealand is complete without observing the fantastic array of wildlife which is found in every region. By carefully choosing which operators we recommend, visitors to New Zealand can get up close to the wildlife in its natural environment without causing any disturbance. Many of these excursions are small, family-run businesses with a real focus on the environment and giving the visitor a truly unique experience with minimum impact on the environment.

For example, Kiwi Dundee Adventures is owned and managed by John Rich, who has committed his life to nature conservation and eco-friendly practices in New Zealand Tourism and education.

Whale Watch Kaikoura is a Maori-owned enterprise, hugely proud of their commitment to education and their affiliations with international organisations involved in the research of marine life in the Kaikoura Trench. Along with keeping an eye out for sperm whales, seals, dolphins and off-shore birds, on-board naturalists offer a wealth of information about both the wildlife and the local Maori history and culture.

When we travel, we have a responsibility to make sure that the countries we visit are left in the same or better state than we found them. With this in mind, our itinerary features hotels, tours and transportation means which minimize the impact on the environment. We choose suppliers who are dedicated to preserving the environment by minimizing their impact on the surroundings and so we have carefully hand-selected properties with this in mind.

Within this itinerary we have included properties offering boutique accommodation, which have small numbers of guests who can be catered for specifically, reducing excess waste. Not only does this create a more personalized and unique experience, our guests are minimizing their impact on the environment whilst they travel. The Nightsky Cottage has been included in this trip because it offers an eco-friendly accommodation in a region that is great for hiking and biking - more carbon neutral activities.

Aligned with our responsible travel values, we have also selected tours which provide up-close encounters with native wildlife, without impacting the animals in their natural habitat. Included is a walking tour around Stewart Island to spot the endangered and flightless bird, the Kiwi.

People

Local Culture: The Maori heritage is an inherent part of New Zealand life, and there are countless opportunities to experience Maori traditions, crafts, food and dance. Te Puia in Rotorua is an excellent place to learn more about all facets of Maori life. It is a working Arts and Crafts Institute, founded by the government in recognition of the real threat to the indigenous race of New Zealand and the need to encourage, foster, train students, exhibit works and restore the Maori culture and Maori arts and crafts. Again, local guides offer an insight into the lives of the local people, their activities and their land.

As mentioned above, we support family run and locally owned accommodations throughout this trip. From the lodges that we stay at to the trips we take guests on. For example, Kiwi Dundee Adventures is owned and managed by John Rich, who has committed his life to nature conservation and eco-friendly practices in New Zealand Tourism and education while Whale Watch Kaikoura is a Maori-owned enterprise, hugely proud of their commitment to education and their affiliations with international organisations involved in the research of marine life in the Kaikoura Trench.