Cruises

One of my favorite parts of our New Zealand Trip was visiting Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park in Rotorua, New Zealand.

Kiwi Bird Sanctuary

Rainbow Springs houses a Kiwi Sanctuary where they hatch North Island Kiwi bird eggs as part of an effort to save the species. Land mammals aren’t native to New Zealand and when Europeans first arrived they brought with them mammals like ferrets, dogs, cats and weasels. These land mammals eat the flightless Kiwi birds and their eggs. Now, only 5% of kiwi birds hatched in the wild survive to be adults. So, in 1995 Rainbow Springs started hatching Kiwi bird eggs in a protected environment. When the eggs have hatched and the chicks are mature enough to survive on their own they are released back into the wild.

The Kiwi Bird Encounter allows visitors to watch the egg hatching process. A fascinating fact about the Kiwi bird is that it has the largest egg-to-body ratio of any animal in the world. (Go November to March to see the little chicks being born.) But, even if you go during none peak months you can see three Kiwi Birds that are permanently part of the Rainbow Springs family. (These three birds that can’t survive on their own in the wild.) Since Kiwis are nocturnal, the park set up a special artificial “moonlight” to allow visitors to see the birds during our day but at “night” when the birds are the most active.

We weren’t allowed to take pictures of the real Kiwi birds (to avoid disturbing them), but here are some pictures from the exhibit:

Rainbow Springs Birds and Animals

Besides the Kiwi Bird Sanctuary, Rainbow Springs also houses many other New Zealand birds and animals. Here are a few we saw:

Kea Bird

Wallaby

New Zealand Pigeon

If you are ever in Rotorua, New Zealand I would definitely recommend a trip to Rainbow Springs. The animals are amazing and the tour was informative.

Disclaimer: Our airfare to New Zealand was paid for by Air New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand gave us media passes. Rainbow Springs and the Kiwi Encounter gave us free entry to the park in conjunction with our media passes.

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

Rainbow Springs and the Kiwi Bird in New Zealand

Where were you on April 20, 2010?

Don’t remember? Me either. But perhaps we should have remembered where we were on April 20 when the BP oil rig exploded. The spill will impact our lives in the way many other infamous events have.

It would be easy to ignore the spill – treat it as something that doesn’t affect you or me. But, I believe that as travelers we have a greater awareness of the interconnectedness of our world.

Instead of being paralyzed by an inability to make a big impact, think about the smaller ways you can make a difference. This post has a great list of things you can do to help with the Gulf Oil Spill (from volunteering, to donating, to buying fewer products made with petroleum.)  You can stay updated with these NY Times interactive maps and media.

But, if you do nothing else, watch this video by the Environmental Defense Fund:

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

The Gulf Oil Spill (Video)

As an avid sneaker wearer for well over 10 years, I’ve experimented with a multitude of shoes. The ones that look good inevitably have no arch support. Sneakers that are comfortable tend to be so unattractive I couldn’t realistically see myself wearing them.

That’s why Kuru’s Women’s Halcyon shoes are so great. Not only are they cute, but they’re comfortable and excellent for travel. The folks at Kuru Footwear were kind enough to send me a pair of Halcyons to try out.

Shoes for the City or the Trail

Halcyons are great for trekking a city or hiking a trail. Designed with outdoors-y types in mind, these shoes are great for travelers, especially those who enjoy spending time outside.

Whether you’re looking for durable trail shoes or cute sneakers for the city, these could be the shoes for you. And if you’re not planning on doing hardcore hiking, I would even recommend Halcyons as your primary travel shoe.

The Halycon, and Kuru shoes in general, are very practical. They’re comfortable, have decent arch support, and great grip on the soles. I especially appreciate the padding around the achilles tendon.

In terms of price, they’re very reasonable — .97 on Kuru’s website — if you expect to wear them frequently.

A note on choosing a size: I read reviews that said they run 1/2 size small, but I think they fit true to size. 

Kuru as the Perfect Travel Shoe

They’re lightweight, comfortable, durable, and compact. If you’re looking for an excellent travel shoe, check out Kuru. The upper of the Halcyon shoe is even collapsible so you can stuff the shoes in your bag without worrying about misshaping them.

My only complaint about my Kuru shoes is that compared to other sneakers they look a little chunky. They look great with pants, but with a skirt or shorts they look more like tennis shoes and less like compact sneakers.

Kuru and Sustainability

Another benefit to buying Kuru shoes is that Kuru donates a portion of its profits to nonprofits through a concept called Consumer Empowered Sustainability. Although the shoes themselves aren’t necessarily as eco-friendly as some other brands, this concept is worth reading about.

I like this idea from Kuru’s website: "Sustainability is a lifestyle, a change of attitude, it’s about improving the World around us, it’s about creating opportunities, it’s about leaving a legacy of a significantly improved World." You can’t argue with that.

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

Kuru Shoes: Women’s Halcyon Travel Shoe Review

If you’ve ever slept on an eggcrate foam mattress or a polyurethane-based foam pillow, you know that squishy, polyurethane memory foam can be hot and is not breathable. Plus, polyurethane foams are not good for the environment and older ones may contain PBDEs, which can be toxic to your health.

Fortunately, there are more eco-friendly alternatives to traditional memory foam.

Relax the Back EcoMemoryFoam Pillow

EcoMemoryFoam is made of plant-based materials and produces zero emissions. I was sent a PureMemDown Dual Pillow by Relax the Back to try out. It’s comfortable and high-quality, and I imagine it would be great for people with chronic back pain.

I like that this pillow is made in the USA, which means it didn’t have to travel thousands of miles and waste fuel to get to me. Plus, it comes with a removable bamboo cover.

Magniflex GeoEthic Pillow

Like the Relax the Back pillow, the Magniflex GeoEthic pillow is comfortable and made to last.

The Magniflex pillow contains no materials that are toxic or non-biodegradable, but it’s made in Italy so there is an environmental impact from that aspect. According to Magniflex’s website, the company “strongly believe[s] that environmental safety, both for our employees and customers, and safeguarding the earth’s natural resources must play an integral part in our manufacturing process.”

If you love traditional memory foam but don’t like the negative impact it has on the environment, I would highly recommend checking out these two pillows. As with all pillows, I think perfection lies in the preference of the sleeper. I think these pillows are both great and I would recommend testing them out before choosing the one that’s best for you.

One word of caution: Do your homework and beware of greenwashing. Some memory foam brands claim to be eco-friendly, when in reality their products are made with 10% eco-friendly materials and 90% polyurethane.

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

Eco-Friendly Memory Foam Pillow Review

Check out this photo we captured of the hot pools in Hells Gate on our recent trip to New Zealand:

(Don’t worry, we’ll tell you more about Hells Gate in an upcoming post.)

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

Hot Springs Photo at Hells Gate, Rotorua, New Zealand

If you write or publish photos anywhere online, I highly recommend you read this short post.

While doing a bit of Googling this evening I came across several sets of Go Green Travel Green photos attributed to both my name (1 set) and Kimberly’s name (2 sets) on a TripAdvisor site called TripWow.

It’s a bit odd because the page seems to say that I created this slideshow. But I didn’t. Nor did anyone that I can think of.

It’s troubling because 1) these are copyrighted photos that are published on another site without our permission and 2) are not linked to Go Green Travel Green in any way.

(And frankly, this 4 min + long show isn’t all that good. They aren’t necessarily photos that I would choose to release elsewhere.)

It seems to me that there are two possible explanations for this:

1) Someone else fraudulently created an account in my name and submitted these photos. Or

2) TripAdvisor is taking these photos from Go Green Travel Green automatically without our permission.

Without accusing TripAdvisor of stealing our content, it does seem that there is some automated system going on here that I’m not completely comfortable with.

I Googled “TripWow” with several other travel bloggers names and found their photos posted as well. Though I’m not positive, I’m guessing they didn’t give TripAdvisor permission to post their photos without a link or any form of compensation. (I’m emailing them about it directly to let them know.)

I also emailed TripAdvisor’s PR department to find out what is going on. (I will update this post when I hear back.)

However, if you write or post photos online I would highly recommend you Google your name with tripwow to see if you have any of these slideshows. If you do, you may also want to contact TripAdvisor if you’re concerned about the prospect that they might be using your content without better attribution/compensation.

(Note that I’ve always been a big fan of TripAdvisor. But, it’s disconcerting to know that a big company might be using travel bloggers photos like this. Sort of like when Virgin Mobile was using people’s flickr photos without consent.)

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

Blogger Warning: Are Your Photos Being Stolen?

Thanks to everyone who participated in our contest week by commenting on our posts about Stainless Steel Cookware, Green Luggage, and Shades of Green at Home.  We used a random number generator to pick the winners. Here they are:

Amazon.com Gift Card: Suzanne

Good Life Water Bottle: Brooke

Eco Vessel Water Bottle: Jessiev

Lexus Dark Ride Cards:

Elizabeth

Jane

Dory

Manu

Shizuka

Nguyen

Angela

Melissa

Courtney

Jay

Congratulations to all the winners! We will be emailing you this weekend to get your address. (Or if you see your name on the list shoot us an email with your address and we’ll get your prize in the mail.)

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

And the Winners Are…

Let’s face it, the GreenDexes in many Lonely Planet guides don’t contain everything you want to know about traveling green in a country. Luckily, Dorian Yates is to the rescue with her Green Earth Guide Series.  These are the first destination specific, green focused, travel guides ever to be in print. We were sent free copies to review.

Here’s how Dorian Yates sums up traveling naturally:

1. Be Where You Are: Stay connected to the local environment by taking the time to see, feel, and appreciate where you are.

2. Tread Lightly: Ecofriendly, low-impact choices are good for nature, good for you, good for the environment, and good for the world.

The original, Green Earth Guide: France, offers a plethora of information about how to travel naturally in France. And Green Earth Guide: Spain, includes all the great information the France Guide does (tailored to Spain) plus a longer chapter of city and regional highlights.

Both books cover a range of topics. In the accommodation section there’s information about hostels, camping, guesthouses and bed and breakfasts, home exchanges, and eco-accommodations. 

As a foodie, I love the extra focus on food and dining in the Green Earth Guides. Green Earth Guides even provide information about farm stands, markets, and local products. The recreation section includes yoga and meditation spots. Plus there’s an entire section devoted to health, including specifics about acupuncture, homeopathy, and herbs and remedies. The shopping section lets you know what to buy organic and fair trade. And, it seems every guidebook should take from Ms. Yate’s chapter on thrift stores.  (I have a favorite sweater from a thrift store in Ireland. Ever since that find I’ve enjoyed browsing other countries’ secondhand shops). A final great section includes a wide range of information about ecocompanies – from organic wineries, to breweries, to wind energy.

These guidebooks also provide basic resources about language, transportation and communication. However, if you’re looking for great maps you’ll want to stop by a tourist bureau as that’s one area the Green Earth Guides don’t focus on.

One of the most refreshing aspects of the Green Earth Guides is Ms. Yates’ style. Unlike many mass-produced guidebooks, you can read a chapter and hear her voice coming through the pages. Sentences aren’t choppy and fragmented. Instead, it’s more like reading a novel – just the way travel guides used to be. Even if you’re just contemplating a trip to France or Spain, pick up a Green Earth Guide. For under on Amazon  you’ll have a great read.

Note: We were provided free copies of both guides for review. Also, this post may contain affiliate links.

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

Green Earth Guide: Traveling Naturally in France and Spain

Want to win a Amazon.com gift certificate, a stainless steel water bottle, or a Lexus discount card?

Two weeks ago we hosted Contest Week. We have 13 prizes to give away. And so far we only have 13 entries. You don’t have to be a math major to realize that your chances of winning are pretty good.

Deadline is this Wednesday at Midnight CST. Winners will be posted on Thursday.

All you have to do is comment on one if the following posts to be entered to win one of our prizes.  Comment on all 3 posts to have 3x the chance of winning!

Shades of Green: At Home – In which areas of your home life can you be a little bit greener?

Stainless Steel Cookware: Set Showdown ( gift certificate from this post only) – Fumes from nonstick pans can kill birds. Doesn’t that make you wonder how they affect your health?

Green Luggage – 6 Easy Steps to Buying Green Luggage

Winners will be randomly selected using the random number generator. US only please (as we’re footing the shipping bill).

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

Last Chance to Win – 100% odds, so far…

We had a wonderful New Zealand trip. Seven nights in a decked-out KEA campervan and one night in incredible eco bed and breakfast, the Great Ponsonby, (full reviews of both later) resulted in a very memorable vacation. 

The sights were fantastic, but because of what friends and readers had told me, I went into the trip knowing the scenery would be beautiful. So some of the best parts of our New Zealand trip were the small surprises. Here are a few of them.

Free Coffee and Tea at the Airport

We arrived at the Auckland Airport at 6 a.m. local time, tired and dazed from a 16 hour journey. A friendly hospitality booth near the baggage claim provided us and our fellow passengers with free coffee and tea. The caffeine and smiling faces were a great way to start our trip.

New Zealand Friendliness

Minnesota, where we currently live, is well known for “Minnesota nice.” People are generally friendly. New Zealand Friendliness topped Minnesota Nice by a long shot. Everywhere we went people took time to engage us in conversation. Even while checking out at the Pak-N-Save supermarket, the cashier went beyond mundane small talk and instead asked us questions about where we were from and where we were going in New Zealand. New Zealanders were always happy to provide advice and suggestions.

Public Restrooms

Unlike most other places in the world, where a public restroom is hard to come by (especially a free one), New Zealand had free public restrooms almost every few blocks.

Pavlova

My friend Alison, who currently lives in New Zealand, told me that New Zealanders love their Pavlova. So of course I immediately found some to try. Pavlova is a type of meringue – but unlike many US meringues it’s not crunchy all the way through. Pavlova has a light crispy crust and a soft, melt-in-your mouth middle. It reminded me of a cross between meringue and angel food cake. Now I just need to find a good pavlova recipe to make at home.

Gold Kiwi

All the kiwis I remember having in my life have a green middle. But in New Zealand we consumed at least 5 kilograms of gold kiwi. Gold kiwi are a little sweeter than green kiwi and they are delicious.

Kea Birds

Alison (the friend who lives in New Zealand) also told us stories about how Kea birds are known for stealing items (like shoes) from campsites. Then we visited Rainbow Springs where we met Jenny, a Kea bird that loves people and cries when you leave her.

Qualmark Rankings

Qualmark is the country’s national ranking agency. It’s similar to AAA rankings, except it’s an official partnership between the New Zealand Automobile Association and Tourism New Zealand. Their ratings were reliable and they even have a comprehensive environmental rating system. Honestly it’s the best and most universal environmental rating system I’ve seen.

These were some of the most surprising and best parts of our New Zealand trip. We’ll post more details, reviews, and photos in upcoming weeks.

Full disclosure: Our trip to New Zealand was sponsored in part by Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand.

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

New Zealand Trip: Best Of