YHA supports sustainable NZ holidays
14 Apr 2010
Environmentally-conscious visitors are looking to New Zealand as eco-friendly accommodation, sustainable activities, and organic food and wine industries continue to develop.
The latest "green" trend is for low-carbon travellers - visitors who offset part of their long-haul trip to New Zealand by travelling sustainably around the country once they arrive.
Self-supported cycling or hiking tours are rising in favour, and popular budget hostel chain YHA is enthusiastically supporting the trend with a new Low Carbon Traveller deal.
YHA has a network of 50 hostels around New Zealand, and cyclists and trampers are snapping up the deal - part of the chain’s Retro Revival Package - with gusto.
Sustainable holidays
British cyclists and visitors Nick Jolliffe and wife Margitta are YHA members who took two weeks to cycle to Kaikoura (in the South Island) from Auckland (in the North Island), but say the experience was well worth it.
"You get to stop off at places that you wouldn’t see if you were in a car. The water is unbelievable, such wonderful colours," Nick Jolliffe said.
The Jolliffes travel with tents and cooking equipment and they get a discount of up to 25% every time they check into a YHA hostel. They use no support vehicles, buses or shuttle transfers in-between hostels - a strict requirement of the scheme.
Self-supported trampers must apply in writing for approval before their trip in order to receive the discount, including details of the route, kit list and planned overnight accommodation.
Green inspiration
The new YHA scheme was inspired by the Ride for Rakiura, a 556km sponsored bike ride through the North Island from Wellington to Rotorua.
Fifteen YHA staff and board members made the long ride to raise funds to build an eco hostel and learning centre on Stewart Island, off the southern coast of New Zealand’s South Island.
YHA New Zealand has won several awards in the past for its environmentally-friendly practices including Sustainable Business Networks awards, Qualmark enviro ratings and the Virgin Responsible Tourism award.
The organistion incorporates sustainability into all its hostels - including recycling, using carbon neutral suppliers, energy efficient light bulbs, solar hot water systems and supporting local communities through hosting green awards and initiatives.
New Zealand’s clean, green travel
Low-carbon travel is a great way to experience New Zealand’s many outdoor and natural attractions, as well as to offset the carbon footprint incurred by long-haul flight.
New Zealand has many cycling routes and work is underway on a national cycleway, which will see the creation of a series of "Great Rides" linking many major cities together.
Seven new projects - Hokianga to Russell, Hauraki Plains, Waikato River, Central North Island, Mt Ruapehu to Wanganui, the St James trail and Southland’s Around the Mountain trail - have received the green light to link with existing cycle trails.
Walkers and trampers are also spoilt for choice in Aotearoa New Zealand, with several world-renowned "Great Walks" that criss-cross some of the most scenic parts of the country. The most famous tracks are through conservation lands that have free access and public facilities.
Growth of organic
The organic food industry is an important part of New Zealand’s agricultural economy. New Zealand biological producers trade under the Bio-gro mark.
New Zealand’s clean ocean waters produce a variety of top-quality seafoods that are harvested sustainably, including crayfish (rock lobster), squid, salmon, orange roughy and hoki fish, Bluff oysters, green-shell mussels, paua (abalone), tuna, marlin, whitebait and scallops.
A flavourful mix of culinary innovation and cultural diversity make New Zealand an exciting gourmet destination for discerning foodies. Kiwi chefs use tasty ingredients including indigenous Māori food, fresh organic produce, wild plants and herbs, and grass-fed animals to create classy New Zealand cuisine.
More information
New Zealand’s culinary culture
Staying eco-style in New Zealand
Eco tourism in style
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