At Back to Nature, we are too aware that the beautiful ecosystem that inspires and sustains businesses like ours is a fragile one. We are an environmentally friendly tour operator and committed to providing a high quality, sustainable wildlife tour that educates and inspires our customers about conservation.

We endeavour to ensure our activities have the least negative impact on the environment and the community possible. Integral to our work is partnering with other Dunedin ecotourism operators and government agencies to help build on conservation efforts that preserve the Dunedin area’s diverse environment and wildlife. Part of our business plan is donating at least 100 hours a year to support local conservation efforts.

We are committed to regularly assessing our effect on the environment, and to maintain and update an environmental plan ensuring we have as small a negative effect on the environment, and as large a positive effect as we can achieve. As part of our planning, we hold and update all necessary licences, permits and consents, to practice ecotourism and follow all laws and processes to help preserve and celebrate our history and culture. This also means consulting with local authorities before undertaking any new building or earthmoving work, and we consult with local iwi on Maori history and how to respectfully and unobtrusively enjoy places of historical and cultural significance.

Part of our mission is to provide a memorable experience, and also keep wildlife disturbances to a minimum by educating clients on the needs of local wildlife, viewing from our purpose built hide at Sandfly Bay, or visiting the Penguin Reserve – where a system of hides and trenches allows viewing of endangered Yellow eyed penguins with minimal disturbance. We provide binoculars on corresponding tours and make sure we view from appropriate distances in all other situations.

In the interests in lowering our carbon emissions, we use only diesel vans, and try to fill a van rather than use more than one. We will park and turn off when waiting for passengers rather than idling. We regularly tune our vehicles to make sure they are using fuel efficiently. We endeavour to limit our use of paper, plastic, and electronic equipment and ensure that anything we can’t reuse, and can be recycled, is recycled. We use only non-toxic cleaning products in our vans, and clean on grass to prevent polluting drains.

We proudly promote Dunedin culture and business, and we encourage our clients to shop at local stores, and enjoy locally made food, beer and wine at establishments in Dunedin, and on the Otago Peninsula. Above all, we show respect for our community – human, animal, land.  If you have any feedback we’d love to hear it.