With its population of around 3900 residents, the seaside town of Kaikoura has the fine distinction of attaining Green Globe Benchmark certification in 2004. This certification is a world standard for sustainable tourism and meeting environmental goals. Kaikoura is used as a community success story on the Green Globe website. For any community, overcoming the environmental challenges necessary to be certified can be extremely overwhelming.

There are endless activities for visitors to participate in and around Kaikoura with several eco-tours available. Operating out of Kaikoura, Albatross Encounter and Dolphin Encounters are two such Tours. Encounter Kaikoura owns both tours.

Offering year round boat cruises, Albatross Encounter tours will take you to see a wide variety of seabirds including thirteen different types of albatrosses. The waters off Kaikoura are renowned for the great numbers of seabirds that occupy a small area. One of the reasons for the seabirds congregating here is the deepwater trench that is close to shore and allows nutrient rich cold water to upwell over the warmer coastal water sustaining a wide variety of marine life. These tours are roughly two hours in duration and costs $110NZD per adult. Children are $55NZD for this tour.

Dolphin Encounters has been in the dolphin watching and swimming with dolphins business for around 20 years. Whether you want to swim with the dolphins or simply watch them frolic, the tour will bring you up close to the dusky dolphin. If any of your party wants to swim with the wild dolphins, it is important that you book well in advance so that they will not miss the opportunity. Unfortunately children under 5 are not allowed to go on the boats unless you have made arrangements in advance. The tour is about three hours and is reasonably priced at $80NZD for adults to dolphin watch and $150NZD per adult for the unique experience of a lifetime of swimming with wild dolphins. The cost for children is $40NZD and $140NZD respectively.

Join Kaikoura Wilderness Walks for two or three days of guided walks in the Seaward Kaikoura Mountain Range. Each day there are 5-7 hours of walks through this remarkable area with the guides giving you the information that will make this walk an experience to remember. Nights are spent at an eco-friendly lodge nestled in an alpine valley with a private balcony and incredible views from every room. The prices for this vary but they are all inclusive and children participate at a reduce cost.

Seal kayaking is a great way to spend an afternoon. Kaikoura Kayaks gives you the option of having a guided kayaking experience or, for experienced sea kayakers, a self-guided tour through the playground of NZ fur seals. These options make for an enjoyable opportunity for the novice and advanced kayaker alike. Seals, being a curious creature, will get up close and personal while they play around your kayak. Guided tours are for three hours while the self-hires are for a half or whole day. Kaikoura Kayaks also offers a unique kayak fishing experience with a fully equipped fishing kayak. Prices vary depending on the option you choose.

Kaikoura Marine Tours assists in the collection of research data to assist in the long term marine management of the area. Their eco-tours include data collection and focus on the educational aspect of the marine life around Kaikoura. Each tour is very personal as there is a maximum of 8 people per tour and lasts for three hours. Given the small groups, the cost of $120NZD per adult and $80NZD per child is money well spent.

Come and visit Kaikoura where you can embrace the great outdoors and all that it brings with it!

The details of the wedding ceremony are coming together, the reception is organized, the honeymoon destination…well, that has you in a quandary. There are just so many incredibly beautiful places around the world to choose from. It’s enough to make your head spin.

Among the destinations that are intriguing and appealing is South Island, New Zealand. This small island has so many things to do and see that it could take several weeks to satisfy your curiosity. From the Southern Alps to the fjords along the coastline, the woodland meadows to the vineyards, and everything in between will fill you with awe. The main population is located on North Island making the South Island perfect for those wanting to explore the countryside.

Nestled on the seashore, Kaikoura offers a wide range of activities including spectacular whale watching opportunities. The small resort town of Lake Tekapo, South Island’s highest town, offers some breathtaking scenery in Mackenzie Country. Known as the “Garden City”, the coastal city of Christchurch has beautiful public gardens and parks to enjoy. Established in 1856, Christchurch also has the distinction of being the New Zealand’s oldest city.

Whether you are seeking the thrill of heli-skiing or whitewater rafting, the incredible beauty of hikes through stunning countryside, tranquil walks through gorgeous gardens or woodlands, exhilarating deep sea fishing expeditions, or high alpine skiing; South Island has it all. If your taste runs toward spending a lazy day on the beach or wine tasting, you will be able to indulge in that as well. Few other areas have the vastly diverse geographic area that South Island offers and, with it, all the activities and scenery that is encompassed.

There is little more romantic than exploring the jewels of the South Island with the one you love. After an invigorating day out, you can retreat to your cozy bed & breakfast, boutique accommodations, quaint cottage, or luxury suite for a quiet, intimate evening. South Island offers a full range of accommodations so there is something for every budget and taste.

Several companies specialize in honeymoons to South Island so you do not have to flounder through bookings and decisions about where to stay and what to do. Simply tell them what you envision experiencing and leave the planning to them. Once that is done, you can cross the honeymoon planning off your To-Do list. It may be a bit more expensive to hire a company to put your honeymoon package together for you but it is worth it. You not only have that stress removed and more time to spend planning your wedding day but you also are not left wondering about the quality of your accommodations or what to do once you get there.

Nestled along the eastern coastline of New Zealand’s South Island, Christchurch is a fascinating and diverse city of some 348,000 people. First settled by the Maori around 1250, Christchurch was granted a Royal Charter in 1856 and became an established city.

Home to a number of incredibly beautiful gardens and 800 parks; Christchurch has rightfully earned the nickname of The Garden City. Forward-looking politicians planned for permanent green spaces long before other cities realized the need with the establishment of Hagley Park in 1855 and the Christchurch Botanic Gardens in 1863.

Located in heart of the city, the 165-hectare Hagley Park is bordered by the magnificent 21-hectare Christchurch Botanic Gardens. This significant public park allows visitors to participate in many different activities such as walks through mature woodlands, a running circuit around the perimeter, netball courts, and cycling tracks. If you are looking for a quite area to retreat to read or meditate, you should have no difficulty finding just the right spot in this vast green oasis. Traditionally Hagley Park has been the venue of choice for large gatherings like Great Industrial Exposition of 1882 and is still the choice for major sporting and cultural events.

Established to commemorate the 1863 marriage of Prince Albert to Princess Alexandra of Denmark, Christchurch Botanic Gardens is mostly enclosed by a loop of the Avon River. Several plant collections have been established within the Gardens including rare and endangered plant species that are being conserved. Various garden attractions draw you to them by their staggering beauty. The Rock Garden and the Heather Garden have some plants in flower year round while the formal Central Rose Garden and the Heritage Rose Garden contain more than 1250 bush roses and about 30 standard roses. For those with impaired vision, the layout of the Fragrant Garden is designed to accommodate their needs with wider pathways, raised planters, and an abundance of aromatic plants that truly make the garden’s name appropriate.

With just 2% of the Christchurch area’s original wetlands surviving, the 116-hectare Travis Wetland Nature Heritage Park is a relatively recent and very welcome addition to the city’s green spaces. This wetland is the last surviving freshwater wetland in Christchurch and is vital to the survival of some native flora and fauna. Home to the only stand of manuka, of any substantial size, this wetland provides a habitat to about 80% of pre-European indigenous wetland plant species. With so much destruction of other wetlands, the Travis Wetland is invaluable in the preservation of native plants and birds. Strictly a “No Dog” zone, this wetland is designed to allow the public access while preserving the treasures of the wetlands.

With these three parks being a tiny sampling of what awaits you as you explore the beauty and history of Christchurch, prepare to be awe struck by the parks and gardens of the city.