New Zealand conservation volunteering
A minimum two week volunteering project, working out of Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch. Take your pick and then head out to help in wildlife sanctuaries, on habitat conservation projects, marine environments or in post natural disaster areas. Accommodation and food included.
Pick a volunteering project out of Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch Habitat conservation National Parks Wildlife sanctuaries Coastal erosion projects Natural disaster or drought hit areas Wildlife surveys Walking trail construction Leisure time to go bungee jumping or skiing and many more outdoor activities Food and accommodation included on projects
Price
£699 excluding flights
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More info
1 week costs £699.
2 weeks costs £1049; each additional week is £350 excluding flights.
Available from 1-12 weeks.
Includes transport from office to the project, food and accommodation, orientation, 24hr support in-country and project training.
2 weeks costs £1049; each additional week is £350 excluding flights.
Available from 1-12 weeks.
Includes transport from office to the project, food and accommodation, orientation, 24hr support in-country and project training.
Last minute
Make sure this summer includes a holiday with a difference. This project has last minute spaces available so book now to reserve your place.
Description of New Zealand conservation volunteering
This project is for volunteers who are passionate about protecting the planet, driven to travel, but also wanting to get off the beaten track in New Zealand. Meet inspiring locals, other enthusiastic volunteers from around the world and make a genuine contribution to environmental conservation.
New Zealand is one of world’s most unique set of islands for biodiversity and a range of stunning landscapes. By taking part in this valuable conservation project, you can help to combat issues such as coastal erosion, the introduction of foreign flora and fauna and the detrimental effects of drought and pollution.
When volunteering you have the chance to work in urban, regional and very remote locations taking part in tasks such as wildlife surveys, walking trail construction, weed control, seed collection and habitat and heritage restoration. This is a great way to meet people, gain work experience and help preserve this pristine land.
Participants have the choice of one of three gateway cities and from here you travel to project locations. These destinations are exciting Auckland or Wellington on the North Island, or beautiful Christchurch on the South Island.
Volunteers work in a group of up to 10, supervised and safety briefed under the guidance of a knowledgeable conservation leader. Taking part from Monday to Friday leaves the weekends to explore whichever exciting location that you are based in.
We recommend that you take part for 4 weeks if you can in order to benefit from experiencing multiple projects. Accommodation and food is included throughout your volunteering time. Communal cooking and cleaning is expected, so is enjoying time with your new eco-family!
New Zealand is home to glorious beaches, awesome mountainscapes, breath-taking Fiordland, and of course rich Maori culture and history. Famous for bungy jumping, skiing and other exhilarating extreme sports, wherever you go, won't be disappointed!
Price information
£699 excluding flights
Convert currency:
1 week costs £699.
2 weeks costs £1049; each additional week is £350 excluding flights.
Available from 1-12 weeks.
Includes transport from office to the project, food and accommodation, orientation, 24hr support in-country and project training.
2 weeks costs £1049; each additional week is £350 excluding flights.
Available from 1-12 weeks.
Includes transport from office to the project, food and accommodation, orientation, 24hr support in-country and project training.
Departure information
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel guides
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Holiday information
US pricing:
The currency converter above works on todays exchange rate. We do take bookings in USD but the price is set at a rate confirmed months in advance and is typically above the current exchange rate. Please enquire for details.
SINGLE USE PLASTIC-FREE:
We are committed to taking care of the environment, both in our office in the UK and on our projects around the world. We are proud to say that we are working hard to eliminate the use of single use plastics on our conservation project in New Zealand.
BAGS & SHOPPING:
All shopping is done in reusable bags.
PRESERVING FOOD:
Volunteers are required to bring lunch box during the program for lunch carrying – for maintaining freshness and also shape for lunches. We also recommend volunteers to reuse concealed food wraps as they are meant to be useable.
IN THE ROOMS:
No single use items are provided to volunteers (eg shampoo, soap, water bottles). Volunteers are made aware that we encourage as little single use plastic as possible on our projects, and we are currently writing a guide for how to travel with as little single use plastic as possible. This will be made available to all travellers.
WATER BOTTLES:
We ask all volunteers to bring their own water bottles from home (500ml plus recommended), to discourage the buying of bottled water on a daily basis. We request that volunteers do not buy single plastic water bottles. This is communicated pre-departure and once in-country. Clean drinking water is available throughout the trip - carried in water coolers and jerry cans whilst on the move and from taps in the accommodation. Volunteers are asked to top up their bottles from the tap before leaving the project site.
EDUCATION:
The whole purpose of the project is to conserve the environment- this involves litter picks and education about the negative impacts of single use plastics.
CHANGE MAKING:
We have stopped sending our volunteer t-shirts in plastic wrapping and have instead switched to paper envelopes for safe transportation.
LGBTQIA+
Our partners behind this holiday promote inclusivity on all their trips and across their business and we are all committed to ensuring travellers face no discrimination on any part of the trip they control.
Accessibility
Accessible overview:
There are challenges associated with volunteer travel, and these can make accessible travel difficult. However, we are very keen to chat with travellers with specific needs to see if we can make a trip possible.
Reviews
2 Reviews of New Zealand conservation volunteering
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 05 Jan 2018 by Amy Memin
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The best part of the trip was meeting lots on new people from different countries and backgrounds. It was amazing to have an opportunity to visit and stay in more remote/ less popular (with tourists) parts of New Zealand. It added a real unique aspect to visiting New Zealand.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared to work hard and for the work to be tiring at times.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I feel the work I helped carry out whilst in New Zealand really helped to support conservation efforts in their regional and national parks. It also made me more aware of the choices I make in everyday life such as buying plastic products and the amount of general household waste we generate.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Overall, this was an amazing and very educational trip! I learnt a lot but also made many friends that I'll stay in contact with away from the project.
Reviewed on 12 Dec 2017 by Helen Frazer
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing places that tourists don't normally see or experience through lack of information or inability to access such as nurseries.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Spend more time in Wellington - it is very compact and easy to navigate. Also the people there were very friendly and helpful. I had a very different experience in Auckland.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes definitely. We removed large portions of non native plants, planted lots of Manuka trees and laid some bait to remove predators on Waiheke Island.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was very interesting and I am so glad that I did it. I wanted to challenge myself and sharing houses with lots of young Germans was a challenge at times!
Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) holiday so that you can travel knowing it will help support the places and people that you visit, and the planet. Read how below.
Planet
This project is designed to give participants a chance to get involved in living and working abroad but at the same time the aim of the work is to benefit the local community and wildlife by protecting the environment.Wildlife: New Zealand is unique for its flora and fauna but sadly has one of the highest rates of species loss in the world. Due to the introduction of foreign species such as rats, possums, cats and stoats, many animals that previously were free from predators are now threatened with extinction. Our volunteers help support sanctuaries that create pest-free environments and reintroduce species into protected spaces. Volunteers take wildlife surveys, collect seed samples and destroy weeds and foreign plant pests aiding in the promotion of sustainable futures for native plant and animal species.
The land: Our volunteers help with preserving and maintaining community owned land. There are land management programmes which endeavour to restore biodiversity, develop education and promote ‘new heritage’ for future generations.
Parks and reserves are very important places that need maintaining through walking track construction, fencing, weed and pest control and revegetation activities. Volunteers help with disaster recovery following fire, earthquakes, droughts and floods. The effects of bushfire destruction, cyclone damage, oil spills and whale-strandings are reduced thanks to the efforts of individuals who support inspiring locals.
Protecting Waterways: Environmental problems impacting New Zealand’s coastline and river systems include erosion, salinity, drought and pollution. Volunteers help with clearing introduced pest plants, pollution and litter. Marine debris can be detrimental to wildlife due to ingestion and entanglement and volunteers are working to reduce this impact.
People
Projects are run and managed by inspirational locals who are committed to protecting and preserving their part of the country for future generations to enjoy. The aim of this project is to create ‘new heritage’ and bring New Zealand’s wildlife and plant life back to safe numbers.You will be volunteering in areas that are less commercial and touristy and therefore will be experiencing what it is like to live and work alongside local Kiwis. Volunteers will help to support the community in their efforts to protect their native lands.
This project contributes directly to the area’s economy as you are provided with locally-sourced food. Volunteers are encouraged to make use of shops and leisure facilities in the areas they are helping in. As a volunteer you will not be taking jobs away from local people but supporting their efforts by strengthening numbers of those choosing to aid in conservation efforts.
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