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Welcome to New Zealand at its Best

Organic Explorer has carved out a name for itself as a comprehensive resource for travellers seeking eco-friendly experiences in New Zealand.

Through its website and travel guides, it has provided travellers with an abundance of information about everything from organic cafe's and eco-lodges to nature tourism and Maori cultural experiences.

But Organic Explorer’s efforts have gone further than just informing travellers about the variety of eco-friendly experiences available in New Zealand. It has also helped raise international awareness of New Zealand as a visitor destination.

Eco-tourism experiences feature on many international visitors’ holiday plans and that will only increase Organic Explorer’s relevance to visitors and local eco-tourism businesses.

Kevin Bowler
Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive

Become an Organic Explorer

Third edition of this tourism guidebook with a difference!

New Zealand’s foremost eco-tourism book Organic Explorer (3rd edition) takes you behind the ‘clean-green-speak’ to discover wilderness experiences that most New Zealanders and travellers to our shores only dream about.

Organic Explorer was launched in 2007 by husband and wife team - photographer Leonie Johnsen and architect Dr Tony Ward. The 3rd edition of their unique eco-tourism travel guide includes not only a wealth of tourist information but also inspirational articles on current New Zealand conservation issues and threats.

“The creative and forward-thinking business people, tourism operators and artisans who inspired us to create Organic Explorer, and who are now listed in its pages, are changing the face of the tourism industry of New Zealand,” says Leonie Johnsen. “

Experience astronomy voyages though New Zealand’s darkest night skies; fly fish South Island rivers with entertainer Lynda Topp; discover a high country retreat on Te Kooti’s trail; experience luxury off-grid eco lodges and delicious regional gourmet food and wine. Encounter our unique and endangered birdlife, and enjoy cycling, trekking and health spa retreats.

Unlike other guidebooks this edition of Organic Explorer doesn't gloss over the increasingly sombre environmental realities of this beautiful country. It takes a critical look at the rivers and lakes, beaches, forests and wildlife that are so important to our $18.6 billion tourism industry. It asks how tourism is coping in the context of dirty farming practices, wilderness mining, logging and deep sea oil exploration and what needs to be done to preserve and sustain the uniqueness that visitors spend thousands of dollars to come and see.

It also situates the New Zealand tourism industry in its global market context, showing how our foreign and trade policies are opening up New Zealand "resources" to further exploitation by international capitalists who don't give a damn about our environment.

Organic Explorer immerses the reader in all of this and more - offering a guide to how to find the very best New Zealand has to offer - the extraordinary places that make this country so wonderful to live in, and that many tourism operators are willing to share and, best of all, protect.

Key points and background

Organic Explorer is the must-have dedicated and comprehensive guide to eco-friendly travel in New Zealand
The third edition contains details for almost 600 places to eat and shop, to stay and eco-friendly tourism activities throughout New Zealand
Businesses included have a strong environmental ethic and a desire to share this with travellers
Articles on a variety of subjects ranging from organic wine producers, regional food guide, ethical shopping guide, contemporary Maori culture, birding, cycling, trekking tourism conservation projects to a short history of environmental activism in New Zealand
Critical analysis by experts of the damaging effects of government policy on our waterways; healing our waterways; protecting the night sky; keeping our food sources safe from genetic engineering
Information on the non-profit organisation Leave No Trace that teaches an environmental care code for low impact adventures in our outdoors
Organic Explorer is produced within New Zealand using sustainable forestry sourced paper and printed with vegetable inks adhering to EnviroMark codes of practice.
The Organic Explorer guidebook is also supported by a website which includes interactive travel resources, news and up-to-date information www.organicexplorer.co.nz

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

"A magnificent effort! You have set an important benchmark with all the right messages coming from so many angles and places.

Now the challenge is to get it in front of as many people as possible, and get them to take the time to properly consider, and use, its remarkable content. "
Bill from Tikapa Moana Eco Spa Resort

"It's brilliant! - I think it is inspiring - it encapsulates a vison for the kind of New Zealand I'd like to see more of!

In fact, it makes me want to get away and start exploring now."
David Killick, Journalist

"Just got the copies of the new edition and I wanted to congratulate you both and thank you for your contribution to the green movement in NZ."
Gavin Healy from www.peopleplanetprofit.co.nz

BUY NZ MADE

The book is wholly produced within New Zealand, (it would be much cheaper for us to go offshore) using sustainable forestry sourced paper and printed with vegetable inks adhering to EnviroMark codes of practice.