Go Green in New Zealand
With its clean air, open spaces and abundant natural resources, New Zealand is already one of the greenest places on the planet. But an increasing number of dedicated environmentally-friendly boutique lodges and hotels are springing up. And it won’t cost you the earth to find out just how good they are…
Hapuku Lodge "plants a tree for every guest"
Kaikoura was the first township in the world to achieve the international Green Globe Certification for environmental management. Hapuku Lodge is a proud part of this initiative, and has recently introduced it’s own leading green initiative by planting one New Zealand native tree for every guest night spent at the Lodge. Through tree planting, Hapuku Lodge aims to offset carbon emissions produced by every guest travelling to experience Kaikoura’s spectacular natural scenery and marine wildlife.
In an effort to contribute to making New Zealand tourism sustainable, Hapuku Lodge’s goal is to reduce carbon emissions and to help regenerate depleted local forests, encouraging an increase in the native bird population, which includes rare and endangered species. Their efforts also include: solar heating of the Lodge's water, recycling or composting the majority of the Lodge's waste, high-spec insulation, efficient light bulbs, and the use of sustainable natural building materials wherever possible. The Lodge has already planted in excess of 10,000 native trees during their ongoing landscaping work.
The Lodge sits tight between the mountains and the ocean, on a deer stud and olive farm, just ten minutes north of Kaikoura. A stay at Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses allows you to enjoy world renowned eco-tourism experiences. From New Zealand’s only tree house accommodation, guests have spectacular views of the nearby mountains and coast. From the Lodge there are numerous ways to experience Kaikoura’s many marine species from whales and dolphins to fur seals and sea birds with sustainable activity operators.
Organic Awaroa Lodge
At the quiet northern end of Abel Tasman National Park, Awaroa Lodge is the perfect vantage point to explore the famous Abel Tasman Coastal Track - the most beautiful of all New Zealand's 'Great Walks'. Careful attention is made to preserving this pristine unique natural environment of white beaches, seal colonies, wetlands, native forests and birdlife through a comprehensive Eco strategy which has won Awaroa Lodge many awards. This includes achieving the prestigious Green Globe Benchmarked Certificate, recognising their commitment to operating at the world’s highest environmental standard.
Today after three years of strong organic garden management, Awaroa Lodge is proud to have been awarded BioGro Certification. In the beginning, isolation provided the inspiration to 'turn the earth' not far from the Lodge kitchen. Now, for everything from fragrant holy basil to the vine ripened tomatoes, the garden is the base from which the Lodge begins. You can catch the chef picking seasonal salad greens, fresh herbs and summer vegetables daily. The abundant organic garden is truly an inspiration for the taste-infused cuisine of Awaroa Lodge. BioGro is one of just 30 international organic certification agencies accredited by International Federation of Organics Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).
