Useful Information About New Zealand
With the potential for some of the most iconic road trips, the darkest skies and some of the planet’s tallest trees, New Zealand is home to many perfect dreamy landscapes. In fact, land and place are central to the Māori people’s identity and as a consequence, nature and the environment has settled at the heart of Kiwi society. But with such natural beauty this is not altogether too surprising: soaring mountainscapes, mysterious lakes and rivers, dramatic volcanic plateaus, fjords, ancient forests, glaciers, miles of farmland and even more miles of glorious coastline with sandy beaches.
To read more about the climate, geography, culture, history and biodiversity of New Zealand, please click here.
Free Time
Auckland
Volunteer activities take place 8.30am – 4.00pm Monday to Friday. Weekends are a chance to explore the area. You can spend your free time connecting with nature and exploring this spectacular regional park, either on your own or with fellow volunteers. Hop on one of our bicycles and ride around the tracks, or head out for a walk out the many headlands and beaches. Parts of the Regional Park are still working farms so you’ll also get up close to some of the sheep, and farm animals grazing there. Read about the founder’s vision for the regional park, and download a park map here. You can also follow up your time volunteering with a day or overnight trip to Tiritiri Matangi Island where Tuatara, kōkako and kiwi live in the wild.
Wellington
Volunteer activities take place 8.30am – 4.00pm Monday to Friday. Weekends are a chance to explore the area. You can spend your free time exploring Wellington including its great cafes. Zealandia Ecosanctuary is a must to visit, as is Te Papa (the Museum of New Zealand) and its amazing new Te Taiao nature exhibition that gets you exploring the natural world of Aotearoa. A great day trip can be spent on the beautiful Matiu/Somes Island, which is in the centre of the harbour. Matiu/Somes Island is a predator-free scientific reserve, with heaps of native flora and fauna to explore.
Christchurch
Volunteer activities take place 8.30am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Weekends are a chance to explore the area. You can spend your free time exploring the Christchurch area. There are some great walks and mountain bike rides that start in Halswell Quarry Park. Or you can head into the city to the Riccarton Bush and the nearby Farmers Market held there each Saturday. Hagley Park and its Botanical Gardens and the Canterbury Museum in the city and Sumner Beach out on the coast are great places to explore. Also, check out this interactive map of other walking and hiking tracks in and around the city.
Punakaiki
Volunteer activities take place 9.15am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Weekends are a chance to explore the area. You can spend your free time exploring the Punakaiki area on your own or with fellow volunteers. There are some great walks all within easy walking distance of your accommodation including the short walks to Pancake Rocks and the Truman Track, and longer hikes into the Porarari Gorge. Find out more about the Paparoa National Park here, and download the Department of Conservation’s great map and booklet for the region. You can also follow up your time spent volunteering, by walking the newest addition to New Zealand’s Great Walks – the Paparoa Track and the Pike29 Memorial Track.
