Question 1

What is WhereNext’s Responsible Travel initiative?

Accepted Answer

Our Responsible Travel initiative is about exploring amazing places while caring for the people, wildlife and environments that make them special.
Through more thoughtful travel choices, conservation support and opportunities to give back, we want to help our travellers make a positive contribution to the places they visit.

Question 2

What are your three pillars of responsible travel?

Accepted Answer

Our approach is built around three pillars:
Respect every placeTravel with care for nature, wildlife and local cultures. Listen, learn, follow local guidance and leave places as you found them.
Support local communitiesChoose local businesses, guides and experiences that help tourism spending benefit the people who call these destinations home.
Reduce our footprintMake more environmentally conscious choices, from reducing single-use plastic and sharing transport to supporting tree planting and habitat restoration.Together, these pillars guide how we plan adventures and encourage our travellers to explore.

Question 3

What initiatives do you support?

Accepted Answer

Our initiatives include supporting tree planting to offset our carbon emissions, donating to conservation causes such as the National Kiwi Hatchery in New Zealand and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation in Australia, and encouraging environmentally and socially conscious travel decisions.
These causes reflect our connection to Australia and New Zealand and our desire to help protect the landscapes, wildlife and communities that make travelling here so memorable.

Question 4

How does tree planting help address carbon emissions?

Accepted Answer

Trees absorb carbon dioxide as they grow. Well-managed planting projects can also help restore habitats and support biodiversity.Supporting tree planting is one way to contribute to longer-term climate action, alongside reducing emissions wherever possible. It does not immediately erase the emissions from a flight or holiday.The amount of carbon a project removes depends on factors such as tree survival, location, growth and long-term protection.

Question 5

Does this mean my trip is carbon neutral?

Accepted Answer

No. Supporting tree planting does not automatically make your trip carbon neutral or fully offset its emissions.We encourage reducing avoidable emissions first—for example, by choosing shared transport, taking fewer internal flights where practical and spending longer in each destination. Tree planting and conservation support are additional ways to contribute.

Question 6

What is the National Kiwi Hatchery?

Accepted Answer

Kiwi are an extraordinary part of New Zealand’s natural heritage. The National Kiwi Hatchery helps support their future through specialist egg incubation, hatching and chick-rearing work.Donations help support its work to hatch and raise kiwi for release into their native habitat. It is a way to give back to the wildlife that makes Aotearoa New Zealand so special.Learn more here: https://www.nationalkiwihatchery.org.nz/about-us

Question 7

What is the Great Barrier Reef Foundation?

Accepted Answer

The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia’s most remarkable natural environments, and it faces serious pressures.
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation supports work including reef restoration, research and efforts to help reefs respond to climate change. Supporting this work is one way to contribute to the future of a place that inspires so many travellers.Learn more here: https://www.barrierreef.org/what-we-do/about-us

Question 8

What does making environmentally conscious decisions mean?

Accepted Answer

It means thinking about the impact of everyday travel choices and taking practical steps where you can.
Bring a refillable water bottle, avoid unnecessary single-use items, use shared transport where practical, stay on marked paths and dispose of rubbish properly. When visiting the reef, follow your guide’s instructions and avoid touching or standing on coral.
You do not have to do everything perfectly. Start with choices you can maintain throughout your trip.

Question 9

What does making socially conscious decisions mean?

Accepted Answer

It means considering how your visit affects the people who live in a destination.Support locally owned businesses, respect local customs, ask before photographing people and choose experiences that treat workers and communities fairly.When learning about Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or Māori cultures, look for experiences led by the people whose culture is being shared, and follow their guidance.

Question 10

How can I support local communities while travelling?

Accepted Answer

Eat at independent cafés and restaurants, buy from local makers, choose local guides and look for locally owned accommodation.Take time to learn about the destination and respect that it is someone’s home. Meaningful conversations, considerate behaviour and thoughtful spending can all make your visit more positive.

Question 11

How can I travel responsibly around wildlife?

Accepted Answer

Give animals space and observe them without feeding, chasing or touching them. Follow local rules and your guide’s instructions.Choose experiences that prioritise animal welfare and avoid activities that use wildlife as props for entertainment or photographs.The best wildlife encounters allow animals to behave naturally.

Question 12

Does every booking include a donation?

Accepted Answer

You can choose to add on a donation to one of our responsible travel initiatives at checkout.

Question 13

How can I get involved?

Accepted Answer

Start with our responsible travel checklist and bring those habits into your trip. Such as using a reusable water bottle, avoiding single use plastics, choosing greener modes of transport and supporting local businesses.You can also support the conservation causes featured on this page directly.If you are interested in a local cleanup, tree-planting activity or community project, ask us about opportunities relevant to your destination and dates. Availability will depend on the project and the community’s needs.

Question 14

Can I recommend a project or organisation for Where Next to support?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We welcome ideas from travellers, local organisations and community groups.If you know a project that cares for local places, supports communities or protects wildlife, get in touch and tell us what it does, who leads it and how travellers could help.

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL

OUR PRINCIPLES

SMALL ACTIONS. LASTING IMPACT.

OUR INITIATIVES

PLEDGE 1%

TREE PLANTING

GREAT BARRIER REEF FOUNDATION

DONATE NOW

NATIONAL KIWI HATCHERY