Tourists cash in on low carbon travel

BY EMMA DANGERFIELD

Rachel had wanted to travel by bike anyway, so she signed up for the programme, bought a bike and started out.

Being a low carbon traveller is not only good for your conscience, it is now good for your pocket, as YHA guests have been finding out recently.

The organisation has rolled out a Low Carbon Traveller deal as part of its Retro Revival, designed to support the carbon-busting efforts of tourists travelling sustainably on self-supported hiking or cycling tours around the country.

Some may remember the days when arriving under your own steam used to be a pre-requisite for staying at a YHA hostel.

Now those days are back and many visitors to New Zealand are taking up the opportunity of cashing in.

It may be a little off the beaten track, but YHA Kaikoura is still attracting its fair share of low carbon travellers.

On Monday three guests arrived having cycled from Ward, an 80km journey taking about seven hours.

Nick Jolliffe and his wife, Margitta, who live in London, are on an extended holiday, hoping to spend at least three months cycling round New Zealand.

Although quick to point out they are not "green freaks", they are conscious of their carbon footprint and have enjoyed many cycling holidays in the past.

Having long been members of YHA, when they began planning their holiday from home they found the offer.

"We were looking on the internet, searching the YHA when we saw it [the scheme] was coming up soon," says Nick.

"You certainly respond when you see something like that."

And while New Zealand's terrain and long days in the saddle can sometimes be demoralising, the couple say biking around has its advantages.

"The water is unbelievable. Such wonderful colours," he says.

"And you get to stop off at places you wouldn't see if you were in a car."

Add to the water the chance to take in New Zealand's wildlife at a slower pace and they are loving their journey.

They have seen numerous seals but also manage to spot smaller animals such as birds on the beach and fantails in the bush.

For Rachel Langley, also from the UK, this is her first solo cycling trip and while she misses the company of a fellow biker, particularly on the longer journeys such as Monday's mammoth trip, she is pleased she took up the challenge.

Rachel spotted a poster for the YHA initiative on arrival in Auckland.

She had wanted to travel by bike anyway, so she signed up for the programme, bought a bike and started out.

In the country for just one month, she took two weeks to get to Kaikoura from Auckland, but says in that time she has still managed to take in some tourist ventures such as the Waitomo Caves on the way.

While the Jolliffes are fully self-sufficient, with a tent and cooking equipment on board, Rachel relies more heavily on planning her route around YHA hostels and just prepares herself mentally if she has a long journey coming up.

All three cyclists agree the people they have met are one of the highlights.

They have all been offered food and lodgings and have spent time with people they would not have met were it not for their slower pace.

Plus of course they get a 25 per cent discount every time they check in to a YHA.

The Low Carbon Traveller offer was inspired by YHA's recent Ride for Rakiura.

Fifteen YHA staff and board members cycled 550kms from Wellington to Rotorua to kick start the fundraising campaign for the YHA Stewart Island project that will see an eco hostel and learning centre built on the island.

YHA has several awards to show for its commitment to sustainability including The Sustainable Business Network awards, Qualmark enviro ratings and the Virgin Responsible Tourism.

Other initiatives implemented by YHA staff include feeding organic waste to local farmers' pigs, solar hot water systems and energy saving devices throughout the hostels.

- © Fairfax NZ News