4 Ways to Explore and still be a Conscious Traveller
Having embraced a low-footprint lifestyle, there are a lot of things I have given up. To name a few: yoghurt, frozen berries, chewing gum, Christmas tree tinsel, driving short distances, and shopping mall visits. But there’s one thing I simply refuse to give up: Travel.
In my opinion, travel is essential. It’s what lights up humanity, pulls us together, unites nations, and inspires ideas that solve the biggest global issues. I personally caught the ‘travel bug’ at 9 years old when I lived in Mongolia with my family for two years. Perhaps I’m biased and my opinion is tainted with selfishness, but I think travel cannot be something we right-off in the name of saving the planet.
Travel may be what saves our planet.
Pointless and mindless travel should take a hike (pun totally intended).
There is no doubt fossil fuelled modes of transport are harming our environment. But, instead of battling against our human nature of exploring, adventuring, and connecting, let’s learn how to do it RIGHT.
I recently ventured to Waitomo Caves with my husband, Tim, for an overnight trip of a life time. Discover Waitomo are super passionate about encouraging this idea of conscious travelling, so they invited me to experience what a conscious holiday looks like. I was blown away.
For those unfamiliar, Discover Waitomo is the organisation behind the tours of New Zealand's infamous glowworm caves & black water rafting experiences. The first tours started in 1889 and continue to be one of New Zealand’s main attractions for tourists and NZ locals.
With this trip in mind, I present to you:
4 ways to explore and still be a conscious traveller.
1.Choose tours and activities who give a crap about the environment
Every time you pay for a tour or activity abroad, you’re saying to the company: “I think what you’re doing is great, keep doing it!” You’re technically investing in them and helping them continue. So, what if we all paid for tours and activities run by organisations that cared for the planet, considered their business footprint, and aligned with our values as conscious travellers?
Discover Waitomo were just that for me. A conscious company who answered all of my questions transparently, and impressed me around every corner (literally).
A note on conversation from Discover Waitomo:
The organisation was founded to share the unique underground environment with visitors from around the world. But as time went on, we realised increased visitation would have an adverse effect on the caves without proper management and monitoring. A significant chunk of our revenue is put into monitoring/research/protection/consultation/education, as well as funding 2 roles – an Environmental Manager and Environmental Technician.
Their list of regular tasks and achievements are partly covered here: re-planting riparian zones with the catchment area (negotiating and coordinating several landowners in order to fence off 138km of tributaries which feed in to the Waitomo and Ruakuri streams), climate monitoring (inside and outside caves) for temp, CO2, humidity, air flow, weather, glowworm photo monitoring, pest control and monitoring …………………………………. Then there’s the solar powered cave!
We have so many environmental initiatives at Waitomo Caves! But to name just one more, we are fully committed to the Tiaki promise.
“While travelling in New Zealand, I will care for land, sea and nature, treading lighting and leaving no trace.”
Incorporating this promise into our way of business has been easy, as we already base our organisations and business decisions on our own principles from Te Ao Māori: Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga and Kaitiakitanga. Our goal is to encourage all New Zealander’s to join in, and welcome the visitors with these kaupapa.
I was personally relieved to hear about Discover Waitomo’s conservation efforts. The caves were so freaking beautiful, I kept on internally questioning if it was okay for me to be in such an untouched and exquisite environment. I did a little happy dance when I also heard the glow worm population has never been higher than today! I thought with so many visitors, the glow worms may be uncomfortable and dwindle. But Discover Waitomo must be doing something right.
Waste Management
When it comes to their onsite waste, Discover Waitomo focus on reducing it altogether, to save time and resources sorting it. Food waste goes to local pigs, unrepairable wetsuits from their Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. experience get shredded and put into boxing bags for community groups. Their recycling goes through Envirowaste. Discover Waitomo recently when single use plastic free! Though I hope they remove the vending machines one day too… baby steps.
Legendary Black Water Rafting Co.
As well as visiting the caves, Tim and I plucked up the courage to hop into wetsuits and go Black Water Rafting! If you’re like me and initially had no clue what that meant, here’s what it looks like (a picture says a thousand words).
This isn’t us: but images are pretty hard to take down there!
Me being me, I immediately thought about the logistics of worn wetsuits and tubes, and how they could run the Black Water Rafting with less waste. I’ve mentioned already how they turn unrepairable wetsuits into boxing bag stuffing, but what about the rest?
A note on Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. from Discover Waitomo:
Caves are tough on all gear, so the stuff we purchase is proven for its durability, but there is a trade-off with comfort and usability. Minor repairs are done on site, major repairs go back to the manufacturer who can often salvage suits from the brink. Nothing gets thrown away – a lot of material gets repurposed. E.g. you can find an older light unit on a brand new helmet, as they have different life expectancies. Light units (assembled on site) are often bastardised from the earlier generations.
2.Be careful where you stay
Where you choose to lay your precious wee head while travelling, can either make or break your enjoyment but also alter your level of ‘travellers-impact’. It’s simple really: stay in places without the terrible little plastic bottles of shampoo and one bin for everything. Opt for independently owned accommodation providers who compost and have their noggins screwed on when it comes to planet- friendly living.
Discover Waitomo introduced me to Rock Retreat: An eco-friendly, self-sufficient, escape. Aside from looking like my dream home, it also ticked these boxes for me:
Solar and wind powered
Compost & recycling
Eco friendly products (mainly)
Fire place
Up-cycled and second hand decor
Small and innovative space
Kiwi owned
Surrounded by bush and birds
Our lovely hosts, Biddy and Rich, took us on a walk around their property. Such a treat!
3.Offset your travel
I don’t believe offsetting your travel should ever be an excuse for unnecessary trips, but you have to do what you have to do. The concept of offsetting involves investing in schemes designed to counter balance the amount of carbon emissions you produce when you travel.
Whenever I travel, I always try my best to budget in carbon offsetting. Most often, it’s insanely affordable and doable. Tim and I travelled approximately 550kms from Auckland to Waitomo. Unfortunately, we don’t have an electric vehicle (yet).
I bought 1 carbon credit from Ekos which covers 1000kms. This cost me $6.39NZ.
P.S. I offset through Ekos when I fly, and Cool Effect too.
4.Buy well, or don’t at all
Shopping while travelling has always baffled me. I get the concept of bringing something home to your family to say you were thinking of them, but what about a simple picture or a huge big hug when you get home? My advice here would be to avoid purchasing, or buy useful and well-made products that will bring sustained happiness.
Discover Waitomo’s gift shop is a BRILLIANT example of a conscious gift shop. They really won my heart when I walked in and saw they stocked Ethique (the beauty bar brand that I’ve been obsessed with for years) and so many more reusable products. Not only are these great ideas to take home to family (if you really feel like they need them), but they encourage travellers to invest in reusables too!
We had lunch at the Waitomo Homestead on our last day, and I admired the sign pictured below: 1 free coffee with every travel mug purchase.
So you see, exploring is still 100% possible while being a conscious traveller. On our Waitomo Glow Worm adventure, there wasn’t once when I felt like the eco-friendly option we had chosen compromised our happiness. In fact, it made the entire trip so much more enjoyable to know we were treading as lightly as possible on mother earth.
I’m so grateful to have had this experience thanks to Discover Waitomo. Tim and I will definitely be back in the future!
Early morning cuppa in my dream BnB: Rock Retreat.