Explore New Zealand’s South Island

New Zealand, Aotearoa in the native Maori language, is known for its stunning natural landscapes, mountain ranges, and diverse ecosystems. This trip begins in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. While in Abel Tasman National Park, travelers can enjoy beaches, take in views of granite cliffs, go kayaking, or go sailing. Travelers will then visit the town of Westport. From here, the group will drive down to Punakaiki for the Pancake Rocks trek, learning how these fascinating geological features were formed. Next, travelers will be taken to Franz Josef, a famous glacier that is approximately seven thousand years old. At Franz Josef, travelers can take a helicopter flight to see the glacier from above, hike, or kayak. Queenstown, the next stop on this trip, is a well-known adventure destination where travelers can go horseback riding, bungee jumping, jet boating, or enjoy a vineyard tour. From Queenstown, travelers will take a day trip to Milford Sound, one of the wettest places on Earth, with gorgeous mountains and an average of 182 millimeters of rain annually. Travelers will then return to Queenstown before departing to Tekapo, home to gorgeous blue water surrounded by mountains. After hiking and visiting Tekapo’s hot springs, travelers will then visit Christchurch. This is one of the largest cities in the country and is known as the Garden City. This trip’s last stop is Kaikoura, a destination for all things marine life. Here, travelers can go whale watching, kayaking, or hiking. 

This is a 16-day trip that costs $2,249. It is an 18-Thirtysomethings trip catering to travelers ages 18-39. The trip is led by G Adventures, a sustainable, small group tour company that has been leading travelers for 35+ years. They have been pioneers in community tourism and their trips directly benefit the local communities they visit. They have a responsible travel effort called G For Good and partner with the nonprofit Planeterra, dedicated to ensuring communities touched by tourism benefit from it. They were rated one of CATALYST PLANET’s  8 Best Sustainable Travel Companies.

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Volunteer With Marine Conservation in the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef, located just off the coast of Queensland, Australia, is considered to be one of the most diverse and spectacular marine features in the world. However, it is also under immense threat. Climate change is threatening the future of the reef and the species that call it home. On this trip, volunteers will work on a marine conservation project in collaboration with oceanographic organizations to collect data and support reef protection. Staying in Cairns in northern Queensland, volunteers will monitor the reef by snorkeling and collecting species data, as well as analyzing marine debris data for conservationists. This trip is ideal for travelers seeking an immersive experience in marine conservation and oceanographic science. On weekends, volunteers will have time to explore the region's landscapes and coastline, including visiting beaches, snorkeling, diving, and surfing, as well as adventure activities such as whitewater rafting, gorge swimming, and bungee jumping. 

This is a minimum 2-week and maximum 3-week trip that costs $1,037 per week, led by IVHQ, a volunteer travel company with 338 projects in 50 countries, rated #1 Volunteer Travel Company by Go Overseas 7 years in a row. It is a cost-effective option with some programs as low as $20 per day with accommodation and meals included. They are a Certified B Corporation, 100% carbon neutral and every project aligns with a UN Sustainable Development Goal.

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