New Zealand cultural vacation

Planet

New Zealand
Environment: Several of the properties and excursions mentioned in this itinerary are locally owned by New Zealand residents but also use sustainable practices in their accommodation to support sustainable travel and tourism for consumers.

In general, New Zealand is a very environmentally friendly country, but certain properties have excelled in their eco-friendly approach. The Purepod in Waipara is a one of a kind glass room that introduces you to the surrounding environment and uses solar electricity for the fridge and water system and bio-fuel capable heaters. Their attention to conservation attracts bird species to the surrounding property and allows you to switch off from the hustle and bustle of the everyday world.

Kapiti Island day tour from Wellington is wholly owned and operated by Maori families, and part of the revenue supports local conservation programmes. Dolphin swimming in 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. On-board naturalists offer a wealth of information about both the wildlife and the local Maori history and culture.

Community: The Maori heritage is an inherent part of New Zealand life, and there are countless opportunities to experience Maori traditions, crafts, food and dance. Waitangi Treaty Grounds is an excellent place to learn more about all facets of Maori life and history.

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, a wonderful contrast to the impersonal, international hotel chains.

People

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 Tauhara Sunrise B&B has been included within this trip because it offers eco-friendly activities such as walking trails. Our guests are therefore, enjoying nature and their surrounds without impacting the natural beauty of the region and knowing that they are traveling responsibly.

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 within this itinerary is Kapiti Island, a place known for its pristine, abundant bird population and plethora of fauna. It comes as no surprise that the island is listed as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) and is renowned for its high conversation and community values. We have carefully selected a visit to this spectacular destination in support of the active effort to protect the life and land.

We support a charity which encourages guests to take three items of litter from the beach when they visit, to help keep our oceans clean by reducing waste and pollution. We also encourage our guests to travel via low carbon transport to minimize their impact on the surroundings.