5 Top Tips to Be an Eco-Traveler in New Zealand

The more I travel, the more I’m learning to become a mindful eco-friendly traveler with a pocketful of tips… particularly in New Zealand where sustainability and conservation are systemic priorities.

Nature conservation is a large part of New Zealand culture and I’ve learned “heaps” from living here and observing what care for the environment looks like on an individual and systemic level. Here are my top tips for being an eco-friendly mindful traveler, and I hope you take these with you to New Zealand and beyond.

When I left the USA, I was a consumer-addicted worker bee who ate processed foods every day and worried about climate change never.

Today I’m a plant-based environmentalist who talks about sustainability on the internet.

People change.

During my painful metamorphosis, I fell in love with slow travel and conscious living. It was the only path toward refuge from the plague of anxiety in my body.

And as an endless wanderer, I learned to change how I travel to start living to my new values. 

There’s joy in treating the planet gently. In taking micro-actions toward environmental responsibility.

Travel tends not to be very carbon-friendly. Particularly in New Zealand, many regions are learning the consequences of over-tourism. So if you find yourself in New Zealand, use these tips for being a mindful eco-friendly traveler and leave every place better than when you found it.

5 Top Tips to be a Mindful Eco-Friendly Traveler in New Zealand

1. Travel slowly

My top tip always: travel slowly.

It’s unrealistic to avoid planes, cars, and trains when traveling. But we can reduce our carbon footprint by making small eco decisions daily, and it’s pretty simple.

New Zealand cities aren’t often large. Choosing to walk is a great eco choice. You get a better taste of the place and it’s good exercise! Walking around provides more detail and you notice small businesses you otherwise wouldn’t have (more on supporting small businesses in #4 below).

Cycling is another great form of transportation across New Zealand, and most of these trails come with views and nature galore. If you’re looking for cycle routes across New Zealand, New Zealand Cycle Trails is a good place to start.

Another slow-travel option not often talked about is sailing. If you’re keen to dip your toes into the sailing lifestyle, check out Mel’s sailboat travel blog, full of tips, information and beautiful sailing destinations around the world.

You pay more attention to the environment when you’re connected to it. Slow travel enriches your experience, gives you a deeper cultural immersion, and is good for your heart.

Related: A Guide to Freedom Camping in New Zealand

2. Learn about culture and history

On the same note, slow travel yields better understanding of the region you’re in, culturally and historically.

New Zealand is a small country but quite diverse in culture and vibes. It’s great to spend your money on luxuries (one of the best parts of travel) but add some education to your itinerary. Visit the local museum. Talk to the locals.

Understanding a region’s struggles will also inform where you put your money (vote with your dollar, as they say).

3. Learn about conservation projects and follow the law

New Zealand is often admired for its conservation efforts. From replanting programmes to animal recovery projects, there are nationwide examples of environmental responsibility. And the more you learn, the more motivated you are to protect this beautiful whenua (te reo for “earth”).

This is key for understanding New Zealand’s history and Māori people’s status as tangata whenua (people of the land). 

The Māori (New Zealand’s indigenous) have a lot to teach us. We stand upon sacred land and it should be respected as such.

Learning about conservation efforts also makes us more self-aware. 

On my travels, I’m extra conscious about being wasteful, littering, or harming flora or fauna. We take particular care to camp only where we’re meant to, adhere to conservation laws (there are signs everywhere), and tread gently on the land.

Browse New Zealand conservation projects at Forest and Bird, and if you’d like to volunteer, Conservation Volunteers is a great place to start.

4. Support small sustainable businesses

One of the best things you can do when you travel (and generally) is to support small businesses. And that’s not hard to do in New Zealand. We are not a country of corporations. You’ll be hard-pressed to find sprawling resorts or beach clubs.

New Zealand is built on sustainable, family-operated businesses. It’s great to stimulate local economies, especially within tourism and hospitality. The New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitment is great if you’re searching for such businesses.

Being entirely made of nature, New Zealand also has some amazing eco-accommodation and nature retreats. EcoFind is quite handy in locating these, along with other sustainable businesses, such as food and drink.

Speaking of food… the way you eat can also be done sustainably. 

New Zealand streets tend to be lined with food trucks and produce stalls. And farmer’s markets are common on the weekends, the perfect place to meet locals and invest in their wares. You can locate them by region at Farmers Markets or through this piece by Pure New Zealand.

Supporting small businesses ensures your money is going in the right places and connects you to the people on the ground who make a place authentic.

5. Avoid tourist hotspots

I know this is a hard one. Everyone who travels to New Zealand wants to see the iconic spots: Wellington, Rotorua, Queenstown, Wanaka, etc.

And you should! But also try something different. As the campaign goes, “Do Something New, New Zealand!” This campaign started as a way to stimulate the tourism economy for struggling operators after COVID-19. But it also aligns with sustainability themes.

Over-tourism can lead to nature degradation and damage the authenticity of a place. We’ve seen this happen all over the world.

And just because you’re skipping hotspots doesn’t mean you’re missing out! New Zealand is breathtaking. Take a wrong turn and you’ll find yourself somewhere jaw-dropping. And chances are you’ll have it all to yourself!

A prime example of this is when I wrote this piece on getting naked on a private beach in Northland.

And how about this empty field we found off the main road in Southland for a potty break:

The further you go from the main attraction, the more you’ll experience authentic New Zealand vibes, from rural farm towns to tucked-away villages of nature-lovers.

Concluding Tips: Being a Mindful Eco-Friendly Traveler in New Zealand is fun!

I find traveling ethically and mindfully rather rewarding. And heaps of fun! 

There’s a misconception that sustainable travel has no room for luxury but I reject that. Have you seen some eco-lodges? They’re luxury to the max!

And isn’t it better to support a local boutique that sells decadent jumpers made from pure New Zealand wool than contributing to fast fashion at a cheap retail chain?

There are so many opportunities to contribute to the sustainable movement in New Zealand and I truly believe it enhances wellbeing. I hope you found these New Zealand tips on being an eco-friendly and mindful traveler useful. And I hope you put them to use!

Today’s Tunes: Aquarius by Lor