Coastal Journeys

  New Zealand

South Island

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: 2nd Mar - 16th Mar 2009

Description: Traditional Maori values and the modern world culture have met in Kaikoura, New Zealand and combined to create a town at the cutting edge of environmental awareness.

Combined with its enviable reputation as one of the worlds finest whale and sealife watching centres, Kaikoura is the obvious place for us to be running one our most popular conservation holidays - directly contributing to the things that help make Kaikoura the very special place it is today. A whale of a time is guaranteed!

Who we're working with

BTCV works in partnership with Innovative Waste Kaikoura and Kaikoura District Council. Kaikoura is NZ's smallest Territorial Local Authority covering 2,048 km2. Already recognised as a leading environmental council due to its eco-tourism operations, in 1998 to the radical step of adopting a Zero Waste policy and replaced kerbside rubbish with kerbside recyclables collection.

The result: Innovative Waste Kaikoura achieved 62.4% diversion from landfill. In 2004 Kaikoura was certified as a Green Globe 21 Community. The Kaikoura community is proud to be among the first in the world to achieve Green Globe 21 Certification in recognition of their commitment to protecting the environment and working towards sustainability for residents and visitors, and the generations to come.

Where we're working

Kaikoura on the east coast of South Island NZ. Population 3,400. The key industries are tourism, farming and fishing. Situated on the Kaikoura peninsula, a small rocky outcrop between the Seaward Kaikoura Ranges (2,600m) and the Pacific Ocean which 500m from shore drops to depth of 1,300m into the Kaikoura Canyon. This canyon attracts wide variety of marine life - plankton, fish, whales, dolphins, sharks, and seals. This abundant food supply has attracted Maori and Europeans settlers for thousands of years.

Today Kaikoura is more famous for watching its marine life than for catching it. An estimated 1.3 million tourists a year visit the town to watch whales, seals, dolphins, sharks and marine birds in their natural environment.

These projects will take place in at 'Tom's Track' - a nature reserve that forms part of the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway - a route designed to encourage visitors to walk between the town and South Bay. The work site is situated on the coast next to the Pacific Ocean from where we may spot dolphins and (occasionally) whales.

What we'll be doing

The work will consist of redevelopment to increase the standard of the track and repair areas that have in recent years collapsed. The project is part of the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway that enables visitors to walk from Kaikoura township around the peninsula to South Bay and back to the township once more. As a nationally recognised Department of Conservation walkway, all tracks must be of Department of Conservation approved standard requiring the construction or reconstruction of gravelled and edged footpaths through the reserve and developing appropriate drainage for the paths.

In addition this site is an area of planting for the Trees for Travellers programme. Trees are 'bought' by tourists and planted on Tom's Track, thereby contributing to the offsetting of carbon dioxide generated in their travels to New Zealand. During these projects work will take place preparing areas for planting and planting trees on the track as well as work in the Trees for Travellers nursery. It's good varied work with the opportunity to try your hand at a range of skills.

We'll be joined by volunteers organised by Innovative Waste Kaikoura, groups of employees and their youth team employed to help community rather then harm it. It is anticipated that other local community groups will be involved e.g. Kaikoura Coastal and Marine Protection Society and local Maori at Takahanga Marae.

Benefits of our work

Kaikoura is a community that is concerned with the sustainability of its district and ensuring that both the working environment and the home based environment can try and live up to the New Zealand's "100% Pure" brand. In the 1980's economic restructuring hit the community hard and people in Kaikouras traditional industries lost their jobs. Whale Watching and tourism changed that and the town is now a vibrant lively community proud of its future.

Tom's Track is part of the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway and aims to encourage residents to cycle into and around Kaikoura and also provide a link for tourists to enjoy the districts beauty without having to resort to vehicles moving around the district. This work is beneficial because it enables the beatification of a previously open and undeveloped area. It will contribute to linking Southbay with Kaikoura through the cycleway and walking track encouraging greater fitness and environmental sustainability.

Where we'll be staying

We'll be staying in the Dolphin Lodge - a small high-standard local backpacker's hostel, giving us the chance to mix further with tourists from other parts of New Zealand as well as from overseas.

The lodge has a great hot pool, bikes for use during the holiday as well as a laundry, full kitchen and if you can'tstay away from the football - a TV lounge.

Within walking distance there are various shops ranging from art galleries and souvenir shops to supermarkets, pharmacies and day-to-day necessity shops, pubs, cafes, wine bars, takeaways and restaurants and the Pacific Ocean for recreational fishing and in some places swimming. There's even a cinema and two small museums.

Highlights: The town is lively at these times, so there are lots of activities and people around to enjoy them with. We plan to have a go at waka paddling - traditional maori canoes, and courtesy of the coastguard service, take a tour of the coast in the lifeboat.

There's also the Kaikoura peninsula walk (of course!), we could take an overnight walk up Mt Fyffe, there's the Kowhai River track or mountain climbing up Mt Manakau, swimming and fishing in Pacific Ocean and museums when we're worn out from the rest. Nearby wildlife includes a small blue penguin colony in South Bay (best at dusk), seal colonies and a red billed seagull colony. Art galleries, souvenir shops, supermarkets, various pubs, cafes, wine bars takeaways, restaurants and a cinema.

For the October holiday we'll be there in time for 'Seafest'. The famous 'Seafest' festival is a taste, sight and sound extravaganza for those who enjoy good food, good company and a good time. An impressive variety of products are offered, presented in many weird and wonderfully creative ways - enjoyed with continuous live entertainment throughout the day. Whet your appetite at the seafest and don't worry - your tickets are already booked!

All the above are included in the holiday price. Beyond this, there are several other activities that can easily be arranged while we're there: Marine eco-tourism with whales, dolphins, seals, and bird watching. All professional operations NZ$70-NZ$150 for 2-5 hr trips, (NOT included in holiday price).

Kaikoura is two hours drive from Christchurch and Banks Peninsula, and two hours from Picton and Marlborough Sounds. It is an easy drive to Southern Alps and we'll have a minibus at our disposal during the holiday.

Qualifications: You must be over 18. No previous experience necessary

Cost in US$: Approx. $1370 (690 GBP)

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18-80

This Program is open to World Wide Participants.

Participants Travel to New Zealand Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Other

BTCV's Mission Statement: BTCV is the UK's largest practical conservation organization. It is a charity which involves over 130,000 people every year in projects to bring about positive environmental change. When BTCV was first established, over 40 years ago, most projects took place in the countryside and on nature reserves. The emphasis was on nature reserves. The emphasis was on improving rural landscapes and protecting habitats for wildlife. However it is not just; Countryside Landscape Wildlife But also Providing opportunities to volunteer Improving towns and cities Building communities Developing skills Helping people into work BTCV's remit has broadened considerably over the last four decades. We have evolved to meet the needs of an ever changing world. As far as conservation work is concerned, BTCV now offers volunteering opportunities in urban as well as rural locations, thus improving our towns and cities as well as the countryside. But beyond this, we also; give support to local groups train people in conservation and life skills run schemes - and take part in government initiatives - to help people secure employment.

Year Founded: 1959