New Zealand self drive budget holiday
This trip can be tailor made to create a unique holiday for your individual requirements by travel experts with intimate knowledge of the destination. Sites and accommodations can be arranged to suit you and your budget. This is a comfortable trip that will suit those who enjoy immersing themselves in new cultures and environments before relaxing in comfort in characterful local accommodation!
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
When it comes to environmental policy there are few countries more pro-active than New Zealand, which leads the way (with Iceland and Costa Rica) to become one of the world’s first carbon neutral country. There are a rapidly growing number of tourism businesses in New Zealand taking steps to minimise their environmental impact and many organisations have achieved Green Globe accreditation including hotels, regional tourist boards, activities and visitor centres, each demonstrating a commitment to sustainable environmental practices.
During this journey through New Zealand, you will come across numerous initiatives protecting and conserving the natural wonders and wildlife of New Zealand. In particular, visit the Royal Albatross Colony at Taiaroa Head, on the tip of the Otago Peninsula, which is the only mainland breeding colony for any albatross species found in the southern hemisphere. Taiaroa Head, is unique in the world for the variety and richness of the bird and marine life found here. Blue Penguins, Fur Seals, Sea Lions, and the rare Stewart Island Shag are amongst the amazing array of other birdlife found here.
We are proud to hold the AITO 3-star Responsible Travel accreditation recognising our commitment to sustainable tourism. We support a number of extremely worthwhile organisations and causes, including Friends of Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) at the University of Cambridge. Their pioneering research investigates social and environmental issues in the Arctic and Antarctic, such as global warming.
Back home we have an active environmental policy in our office including recycling bins throughout; printing our brochures on FSC accredited paper from sustainable forests; systems to encourage a paperless office; and movement sensor lights which use the latest energy-saving long-life elements.
Community
We are dedicated to ensuring that local communities and the environment are treated with the utmost care and respect by visitors. All the places visited on this tour benefit from the positive effects of tourism; economic benefits for local businesses and enterprises and employment for residents, thus contributing to the overall economic growth of each region. We support local communities by using locally owned and run hotels, activity operators and guides, and encouraging guests to visit local attractions, eat in local restaurants and buy local produce and crafts.
We have a close working relationship with our suppliers to encourage them to share our concerns about minimising impact on the environment whilst maximising the benefit to the local communities. Our guests are encouraged to respect the native Maori people, their culture, traditions and customs and to experience and support this fascinating heritage first hand. At the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua, set up to foster the art and craft skills of Maori culture, local guides offer an insight into the lives of the Maori people, recounting stories handed down from their ancestors and describing the many uses they find for the natural resources around them.
On this trip you will visit Kaikoura, a small seaside town that has transformed a community with the help of ecotourism. Thousands visit this stunning area locally to take part in whale and dolphin watching, providing hundreds of local people with jobs, a strong sense of community and sustainable development.
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