Our Conservation Commitment

At Real Journeys we believe conservation is the cornerstone of New Zealand’s tourism industry. We are keenly aware of the importance of protecting the natural environment and, to help achieve this, we work closely with both the Department of Conservation and the local community.

Real Journeys’ best environmental practice

• The company regularly undertakes internal environmental audits and benchmarking reviews to identify areas in which we can improve and to assess our progress.
   
• We have introduced a data-logging system to monitor our progress in reducing carbon emissions from our vessels, coaches and aeroplanes.
   
• Where possible, we minimise all forms of waste and recycle. For example, we use biodegradable plastic picnic boxes at Milford Sound; we use water-blasters rather than chemicals to clean our vessels; and we use recycled waste oil from Milford Sound to heat our Te Anau Workshop.
   
• The technical innovations on our purpose-designed vessels and coaches minimise emissions, wake and noise pollution, while boosting fuel efficiency and passenger satisfaction.

Individual projects

• Whio/blue duck
  $10 from the ticket price of every Milford Sound cruise booked through the Milford Track online booking system is donated to Operation Nest Egg (ONE) to assist survey work and fund a whio recovery programme.
   
• Pekapeka/native bat
  $10 from the ticket price of every Te Anau Glowworm Caves excursion booked through the Kepler Track online booking system is donated to the Department of Conservation’s pekapeka research programme.

Ongoing contribution – Leslie Hutchins Conservation Foundation

• Every year, passengers contribute more than $50,000 to conservation via a $1 passenger levy on our Doubtful Sound operations. 
   
• Projects include protection programmes for endangered birds, tracks and interpretation signage, outdoor education camps and wilding pine eradication.

Encourage passengers and staff to get involved

• By maintaining best practice and having highly qualified nature guides, we aim to provide an important educational role in increasing visitor awareness of environmental issues. 
   
• During winter we run 5-7 day Discovery Cruises.  During these cruises, we facilitate an on-board auction to raise money for a relevant conservation project. In July 2008, money from these auctions helped reintroduce Little Spotted Kiwi to a predator-free island home in Fiordland. It is the first time this species has been seen in Fiordland for 100 years.

Fiordland coastal clean-up

• When required, we provide the Milford Wanderer as a floating base for accommodation, meals and logistical support.

Other forms of contribution

• In Milford Sound, employees check and maintain lines of stoat and rat traps and monitor local bird populations. A similar trapping programme is being established on Stewart Island.
   
• We assist the Department of Conservation (DoC) with bird transfers (for example to Anchor Island and Ulva Island).
   
• Skippers monitor and report wildlife sightings to DoC. For example, sightings of marine mammals.
   
• We provide logistical support for environmental researchers (transport etc) and subsidised travel for children on education trips on all our excursions and to the school hostel at Deep Cove.
   
• We assist the Department of Conservation’s summer nature programmes and support New Zealand Conservation Week by providing cruises and guiding support.

Native Whio (Blue Duck) ducklings raised through Operation Nest Egg

The rare Fiordland Crested Penguin benefits from a Real Journeys stoat-trapping programme in Milford Sound