10 Eco-Friendly Christmas Activities & Giveaway!

Giving someone a goat or a water pump for Christmas?! If reducing your carbon footprint and cutting back on the Christmas wrap are what matters to you at this time of year (and probably the rest of the year as well) we’re guessing you’ll appreciate this list of ideas that will not only help save the planet, but let you have lots of fun with your friends and family at the same time.

We’ve talked to businesses all over Canterbury to find out more about what they have to offer and how they operate in a sustainable way – so you could have all the inside information in one place.

The Canterbury region is an awesome “backyard” full of spectacular scenery and once in a lifetime experiences. We think our list includes some of the best eco-friendly ways to fill your summer.

Make sure you read right down to the end of this post to enter our prize draw for two adult passes to the new Discover Christchurch tour, operated by Hassle-free Tours.

Enjoy!

1) Start Growing Your own Forest Now with Trees for Travellers

Trees for Travellers operate in Kaikoura, just a two and a half hour drive north of Christchurch. This unique experience (and awesome gift idea) gives you the opportunity to choose a native New Zealand tree to plant on a specially set-aside reserve land within the Kaikoura region.

All trees are historically indigenous to Kaikoura and Trees for Travellers will plant it for you. Now is the time to participate as a recent study reported that for Kaikoura to become a carbon neutral community, two million trees would need to be planted!

Find out how to buy a tree here.

2) Join Adventure South for their Molesworth Cycle Tour Special

This Enviro-Gold awarded company tour starts out from Christchurch, with five days of cycling in the North Canterbury & Marlborough. Visit the emerging wine growing district of Waipara Valley and do a little sampling, then travel through Hanmer Springs onto the isolated road through stunning Molesworth Station, New Zealand’s largest farm.

After a night in the shearer’s quarters of a back country Merino sheep ranch, the group follows the river down the beautiful Awatere valley to emerge among vineyards alongside the Pacific Ocean. Spend your second night in Kaikoura and take the chance to view whales, dolphins and albatross before returning to Christchurch surrounded by snow topped peaks on the spectacular Inland Kaikoura road.

Even better, if you book the Molesworth tour before 2009 runs out, you’ll get a free bike rental valued at $130 NZD. This tour departs on 1 February 2010.

More info and bookings here.

3) Hit the Tekapo Trek with Alpine Recreation Canterbury

The Tekapo Trek is in the newly created Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Park, which includes the spectacular landscapes of ice-steepened mountains and broad glaciated valleys of the Two Thumb Range.

Hike high above worry level in the foothills of the Southern Alps. Be inspired by the magic light of the Mackenzie High Country across golden tussock, snow-capped peaks and the turquoise of Lake Tekapo.

Climb a 2070m peak and return to a cosy mountain hut to savour the sun setting behind mountain silhouettes and a star-studded sky – one of the clearest and darkest skies in the southern hemisphere. Alpine Recreation Canterbury has an Enviro-Gold award so you know this trip is as environmentally friendly as it can be.

Enquire about bookings here.

4) Discover Canterbury with Orlova South

Discover Canterbury’s breathtaking scenery with Orlova South, highlighting famous attractions and hidden gems. Orlova offers top-of-the-line total luxury travel, tours and vacations, designed to cater for mature tastes at a relaxing pace and integrating sustainable practices into its business and service.

Orlova South hosts Richard and Raewyn will pamper you as you experience all the fun things Canterbury has to offer, including landmarks like Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park and secret spots only known to your local guides.

Their efforts towards sustainable tourism that promotes wellbeing and reduces the impact on the environment are impressive.  Richard and Raewyn actively reduce any adverse effects through buying wisely, disposing of waste responsibly, and providing an environmentally and socially responsible experience to their passengers.

Enquire for availabilities here.

5) Hike in Arthur’s Pass National Park with Unlimited NZ

Unlimited NZ offers a guided one-day tour departing and returning to Christchurch. Your guide will drive you to the station for your TranzAlpine journey.  He will meet you in Arthur’s Pass again to lead you on your 3-4 hour hike up the amazing Bealey Valley in Arthur’s Pass National Park. After the walk and seeing some of the local sights, travel back to Christchurch by road through the Canterbury high country and plains.

Unlimited NZ have been working on ways to reduce the environmental impact of their tours. As a result of this they have come up with 3 new initiatives that will become an integral part of their operations: Save the Arthur’s Pass Kiwi, Offsetting Carbon Emissions and Rubbish Recycling. They also travel to Arthur’s Pass every day in a diesel van, reducing waste and using less energy.

Enquire about bookings here.

6) Christchurch City Bike Tours

A cycle ride around Christchurch is the best way to capture the lovely gardens, parks and historical buildings without leaving a footprint!  The city is flat and has many purpose built cycle-ways, so it’s perfect for biking.

Christchurch City Bike Tours take guided trips around the city daily throughout the summer months, including the Original Christchurch Bike Tour where you explore the best of central Christchurch, the Farmers’ Market Bike Tour, a pleasant guided cycle out to the Riccarton House Farmers’ Market or the Gourmet Food Bike Tour to sample some of Canterbury’s culinary delights.

Find out how to book a bike here.

7) Caterpillar Garden Tour in Christchurch Botanical Gardens

Caterpillar Garden Tours offers informative and fully guided electric shuttle tours through Christchurch’s spectacular city centre Botanic Gardens.

These professionally-guided tours have been designed to allow visitors the flexibility of staying on the shuttles for the full circuit to enjoy the flora and fauna of the gardens at their leisure. A single ticket is valid for two continuous days so you can make sure you see all there is to see. The modern shuttle fleet of four vehicles are electric & solar-powered and environmentally and wheelchair friendly.

For a limited time, you can buy one $15 adult ticket on this hop on-hop off Christchurch Botanical Gardens tour and receive another adult ticket free! Offer only available if you book through christchurchnz.com

8) Walk the Banks Peninsula Track in Akaroa

The Banks Peninsula Track has enchanted and delighted visitors for nearly twenty years. Its unique blend of whimsical and historical accommodation and a stunningly diverse track route is combined with plenty of other opportunities, like penguin watching and kayaking, to make it one of the most enjoyable walking holidays in New Zealand.

The self-guided walks of the Banks Peninsula Track allow you to combine the comforts of most guided walks with the independence of the freedom walker. Whether you are a first time walker, or an experienced hiker or tramper, the two walking options are designed to let you choose the way you like to walk! The outstanding Banks Peninsula Track is a unique eco-friendly activity.

More info and bookings here.

9) Discover Christchurch with Hassle-free Tours

Hassle-free Tours operates its entire fleet on Biodiesel to minimize its carbon emissions. The company operates Discover Christchurch, the Lord of the Rings tour, 4WD Jetboat Adventure and Alpine Safari tour.

Their latest tour, Discover Christchurch, gives you the opportunity to see first hand why Christchurch is known as the ‘Garden City’ and considered one of the most English style cities outside of England.

You’ll discover Christchurch’s inner city, visit two historic homesteads, travel to the picturesque seaside village of Sumner and enjoy the breathtaking views from the Port Hills overlooking Lyttelton, Christchurch and the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps. Learn about Christchurch’s fascinating history from the pioneering days through to modern day time.

Enquire about availabilities here.

10)Escape to the Kaikoura Wilderness Walk

Kaikoura Wilderness Walks is known for its dramatic diversity. The walk takes you through stands of manuka and kanuka, untouched beech forests and pristine, ancient totara forest.

There is a huge array of plant life and a variety of wildlife on show, from the birds – rifleman, warbler, tomtit, falcon, pipit, NZ robin, white-eye, fantail, kereru, kingfisher and more – to larger animals such as chamois, Arapawa sheep and red deer.  The area is well known as a habitat of the black-eyed gecko and Kaikoura scree weta, and contains one of only two nesting colonies in the world of the endangered seabird, the Hutton’s Shearwater.

Over the Christmas period, Kaikoura Wilderness Walks have a special Christmas walk starting on the morning of 24 December, returning on the afternoon of 27 December 2009. Take advantage of this offer at the special price of $1295 per person. Price includes transport from Kaikoura and return, walking, guiding, accommodation and meals.

Enquire about bookings here.

Giveaway: Win 2 adult tickets for the new Discover Christchurch tour operated by Hassle-free Tours.

Thanks to the wonderful people at Hassle-free Tours we have two adult tickets for the New Discover Christchurch tour to our blog readers. Entering is very easy, all you need to do is:

• Follow us on Twitter and retweet this post by clicking on the Twitter icon below, OR
• Subscribe to this blog via RSS or enter your email address into the box near the top of the page, OR
• Share the link on Facebook by clicking on the Facebook icon below, THEN
• Comment below and let us know what you’ve done (make sure you add your email address so we can contact you if you are the lucky winner)

The winner will be drawn 7 days from the date of this post, so don’t miss out!