Nature / Sustainable Tourism

Spring in New Zealand is a season of colour, new life, new harvests of food and wine and exciting arts and cultural events.

New Zealand’s reputation for sustainable practice and environmental awareness has prompted growth in eco-tourism as more travellers seek eco-friendly accommodation.

Taiaroa Head at the tip of the Otago Peninsula - on New Zealand's South Island - is the only mainland breeding colony for any albatross species found in the southern hemisphere.

New Zealand’s Taranaki region – on the western edge of the central North Island – is a unique horticultural area that is world renowned for its gardens.

When the 3000-kilometre Te Araroa – The Long Pathway was completed in New Zealand in December 2011, it became one of the world's longest walking trails.

Farmers markets are now firmly established in the Kiwi foodie culture with 40 markets operating - and new markets adding to the list each year - in towns and cities throughout New Zealand.

Visitors can now experience a livestock sale at New Zealand’s largest livestock saleyards in the Manawatu region.

New Zealand has always offered environmentally-aware tourists a golden opportunity but now the experience can be rated officially thanks to a growing group of tourism operators who are walking the talk.

Most people choose to visit Fiordland, New Zealand’s southern paradise in summer, but as Joe Russell discovers, spring and autumn is really the time to go.

The tuatara is a lizard-like reptile that is only found on certain small islands around New Zealand and in a number of mainland sanctuaries.