New Zealand South Island tour, gardens and goldfields

Planet

We are committed to operating environmentally sustainable tours. By nature small group touring using one vehicle to transport multiple clients is more environmentally friendly than usual modes of travel including rental car or campervan. We have monitoring systems in place to ensure our vehicles are serviced and driven in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines making the running of the fleet as efficient as possible.

We are a Qualmark Approved Visitor Service which means we have been independently reviewed and deemed to operate in an ethical, professional and environmentally sustainable way. Wherever possible we select suppliers that are also Qualmark approved and therefore deemed to operate in an ethical, professional and environmentally sustainable way.

We pay an annual licence and have official accreditation to operate on Department of Conservation land which demonstrates our commitment to the environment and sustainability. Payment of the license fee funds the protection of New Zealand’s national parks.

Office: We work from several home offices saving on travel time and fossil fuel consumption. All printer cartridges and paper is recycled. Both home offices water supply is supplied by rain water.

People

On this tour we support the local historic sheep stations, farms and gardeners. Some farms we visit have stayed in the same family with buildings and gardens dating back to the pioneers. At Erewhon Erin and Colin are passionate about horses and their magnificent Clydesdales plough the fields at the foot of the Southern Alps.

We also support a multitude of private gardens and the gardeners who have lovingly sowed and grown them for a magnificent result. There are 52 private gardens in New Zealand and a plethora of spectacular little private gardens to admire and explore with our small group fully guided garden tours throughout New Zealand. These gardens have been assessed by experts assuring the highest standards of design, planting, and maintenance at every property and with our support local gardeners can continue to maintain and share these gardens with their local community.

We also where possible visit local craftsmen, markets and restaurants further helping to support the local community. On this tour we meet the hard working heritage volunteers in Lawrence working together to restore their pretty, historic town which was the gateway to the goldfields.