There are so many reasons why staying in a holiday park is good for people and the planet. To feel even better about your break, read on.
Back in the days before penthouse suites, infinity pools, daily fresh towels and French champagne on arrival, a proper holiday was all about the simple life.
As holiday park people, we still think it’s hard to beat the laidback, easy ways of the good old Kiwi classic, even with a modern twist of Wifi. What’s more, at a time when holidays have become increasingly complicated, commercialised and costly for the planet, we can feel super-good about a choice that delivers so much fun with a light environmental footprint. Here are just some of the reasons why.
Your domestic holiday has a lower carbon footprint. For relativity, consider that a return economy flight to Bali has a carbon footprint per passenger of more than one tonne, while a return flight to London is a whopping 4.5 tonnes. Compare that to a car-load of whānau driving from Wellington to the Bay of Islands which has a carbon emission of less than 200kg.
You’re likely to use your car less on a nature-based holiday. When you’re staying in a beautiful place, there’s no need to go far, with many parks offering immediate access to bushwalks, beaches and boat ramps so you can do less driving and more thriving. Times have never been better for bikers, either, with miles of Great Rides and other top trails nearby.
Communal facilities are energy efficient. From the bathroom lights and kitchen freezers, to the TV room and hot tubs, a little goes a long way when you’re sharing power with a big bunch of people. Add to this the fact that many holiday parks run solar and energy efficiency systems and you can see why the average holiday park guest can use up to six times less energy than someone staying in a hotel.
Holiday parks are connected to the natural world. Having leafy, green grounds – often bordering beaches, rivers, lakes or reserves – holiday park staff are plugged into nature and know how to look after it. From protecting waterways to pest-trapping and revegetation projects, this accommodation sector is as homegrown and grassroots as it gets.
Holiday parks are always watching their waste lines. Measuring rubbish volumes has allowed holiday parks to get smarter about minimising waste to landfill. Re-examining supply chains, sharpening up recycling systems and starting worm farms are just some of the improvements being made to reduce not only their rubbish but the carbon footprint that goes with it. Mount Maunganui’s Cosy Corner is a great success story on that front.
Your holiday budget supports local business. Most New Zealand holiday parks are still locally owned and employ local people, which makes a particularly big difference in small towns and settlements. When you choose locally owned, more money stays in host communities rather than ‘leaking’ offshore to faceless international corporations.
Holiday parks have a strong connection to their place. Whether you’re interested in local history, the tide times, or want to book a bike shuttle or visitor attraction, you’ll find holiday park people are a helpful bunch keen to share top tips, local secrets and stories.
Holiday parks encourage healthy recreation for all. Dating back to the 1937 Physical Welfare and Recreation Act, holiday parks were created to provide New Zealanders with access to the great outdoors alongside sanitary, family-friendly facilities. Now offering a wider range of good-value accommodation – from tent sites to apartments – holiday parks remain a treasured holiday tradition and invaluable part of New Zealand’s tourism ecosystem.
Communal holidays promote social connection. Attracting people from all walks of life, holiday parks are a place where you can meet old friends and make new ones, leave the kids to roam free, and enjoy the life-affirming feeling of communal living.
By supporting holiday parks you’re helping make New Zealand tourism better. Around half of Aotearoa’s holiday parks have signed up to the Tourism Sustainability Commitment, a collective strategy created to ensure the industry makes a positive and enduring contribution to the country.
Why not make the Tiaki Promise? As more and more people look at ways to reduce the impact of their travel, the Tiaki Promise offers a very New Zealand approach to guide the way.
- Caring for the land, sea and nature; treading lightly and leaving no trace.
- Travelling safely, showing care and consideration for all.
- Respecting culture, travelling with an open heart and mind.
Feeling better already? The science is clear – a New Zealand holiday can cure stress and anxiety. Just check out the Coromandel Cure to see how!
Read here for some illuminating glowworms facts and some of the best places in New Zealand to see them shine!
Read here for more seasonal holiday inspiration from around Aotearoa New Zealand.
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