Eco Wanaka and the Environment

Take nothing but photos, leaving nothing but footprints – plant a native tree – house a weka

Eco Wanaka is very conscious and proud of our unique and pristine environment
around Wanaka and Mt Aspiring National Park World Heritage area, with the
Golden Rule of “Taking nothing but Photos, leaving nothing but Footprints.”

The exception to this rule is our Lake Cruise and Island Nature Walk, where with agreement with the Department of Conservation allows our guests an exclusive and unique opportunity to plant a Native Tree as part of their eco-experience on Mou Waho Island, an introduced predator free, nature reserve island on each trip.

The Trees planted since the original eco-initiative’s inception in 2007 are already providing food to the varied species on the island, including the Buff Weka, a rare flightless bird, extinct on mainland New Zealand.

Our guests are happy to contribute in a “Hands on” way to NZ’s conservation,
creating a “win-win” situation for all concerned, and, by planting a Tree, we leave the island better than when we arrived with every trip.

This Project has been coordinated initially by Eco Wanaka, Department of
Conservation, Sustainable Wanaka, and initially funded by Edgewater Resort. Te
Kakano Charitable Trust manages this fund for donations toward the next tree.

We are honoured to win the Queenstown Lakes District Council’s “Heart of the
District” Award in 2007, and Finalist in the Department of Conservation Awards
for our conservation efforts in 2008.

We have also in conjunction with DOC and Mt Aspiring College, designed and
built 40 Weta Motels to house the rare cryogenic Mountain Stone Weta that also
lives on Mou Waho Island. These motels house both the Weta and also the
native Gecko and keep them safe from the Weka. Another 40 Motels are to be
put in place shortly.