See how we’re tackling our key environmental impacts today and the steps we’re taking to make tomorrow even better.
At Wilderness, our mission is simple: help our guests disconnect from the busyness of life and reconnect with themselves, their loved ones, and nature. The nature we cherish in New Zealand is the very reason we exist — and it’s our responsibility to protect it.
Our core value, Make the planet a better place, guides our decisions. New Zealand is our backyard, and it’s in our best interest to protect it and give back to Papatūānuku — the guardian of the land.
We operate in an industry where fuel consumption and combustion engines are a significant environmental challenge. We acknowledge this openly. While transitioning away from these technologies will take time, we are already working with our suppliers and the wider industry to accelerate this change.
In the meantime, we are taking every step we can to reduce our environmental footprint across all areas of our business.
We measure our environmental impact in key areas with the help of independent consultants, reviewing our performance annually and throughout the year. This helps us identify the main drivers of our impact and focus our efforts where they matter most.
Our reduction goals are aligned with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and aim for meaningful progress by 2030 and beyond.
We see ourselves as temporary guardians of the land. We have inherited it from those who came before us and have a duty to protect and improve it for those who will follow. Every action we take today is part of that responsibility.
Our shuttles and company cars contribute to our operational emissions. We are actively transitioning these to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Some EVs are already in use, and we are expanding our charging infrastructure to support a complete fleet transition.
We also plan to offer workplace charging and incentives to encourage our team members to switch to EVs for their personal transport.
The largest share of our fuel emissions comes from our rental motorhomes. While we rely on manufacturers to produce suitable low- or zero-emission models — a transition that is still some years away — we are taking steps to reduce the emissions from our current fleet:
Modern diesel technology – All motorhomes meet the latest emissions standards and use AdBlue to reduce harmful exhaust particles.
Rigorous maintenance – Every vehicle is maintained and inspected frequently, with a full checklist completed after each hire to ensure performance and emissions remain within standard.
Smart fleet planning – We minimise unnecessary vehicle transfers between locations, reducing relocation mileage and associated emissions.
Guest travel tools – We are developing smarter itinerary tools to help guests “travel less, experience more,” encouraging slower travel that reduces fuel use while improving the holiday experience.
LPG is used mainly when guests are freedom camping, providing power for cooking, refrigeration, and heating. To minimise LPG use:
All motorhomes are fitted with three-way fridges that run on the battery while driving and switch to electricity when plugged in at a campsite.
Heaters operate on LPG only when off-grid; at powered sites, they run on electricity.
With around 80% of New Zealand’s electricity coming from renewable sources, this switch significantly reduces environmental impact.
While we wait for more advanced low-emission motorhome technologies, we will continue to reduce our fuel impact through fleet upgrades, operational efficiencies, and guest education. Our goal is steady, measurable improvement in line with our broader environmental commitments.
We operate extensive recycling systems at our sites for office and operational waste. This includes dedicated streams for:
Food scraps
Soft plastics
Metals
Liquids and oils
Other specialist materials
We partner with providers such as TyreWise to give tyres a Second Life, and with Future Post and other specialist recycling schemes for items unique to motorhome operations. Year on year, the proportion of our waste sent to landfill is decreasing.
Wherever possible, we repair rather than replace. This includes:
Exterior parts such as bumpers and windows
Interior fittings and components
Plastics and other materials using innovative repair methods like plastic welding
This approach ensures high quality while reducing waste. Our motorhomes are maintained to a high standard throughout their rental life, which means fewer parts fail. At the end of their rental life, each vehicle is refurbished and sold to a private owner, extending its usable life for many more years.
We work with our guests to avoid waste before it’s created. Initiatives include:
Providing reusable cups for coffee
Refilling dishwashing liquid, soap, and cleaning chemicals rather than using single-use bottles
Creating a guest pantry where travellers can leave items for the next guests to use
We continue to trial and implement new ideas to cut down waste across all parts of our business.
Our approach to waste is practical and continuous — identifying new ways to recycle, repair, and reduce, while improving existing systems. We will keep working with partners, customers, and our team to lower our landfill contribution each year.
Freight plays a role in our environmental impact, particularly when parts or products must be moved within New Zealand or sourced from overseas. Our approach prioritises local sourcing first, then minimises the frequency, distance, and emissions of shipments when freight is unavoidable.
Whenever we cannot repair an item and a replacement is needed, we aim to source it locally. Around 80% of the parts we use in our rental operations are sourced within New Zealand, supporting local suppliers and avoiding the environmental impact of international shipping.
When we do need to source from overseas, we use a smart stock management system to:
Order well in advance
Consolidate shipments to reduce volume and frequency
Use sea freight as our preferred method over air freight wherever possible
This approach allows us to plan ahead and avoid urgent, high-impact shipping methods.
For freight within New Zealand, we:
Choose the slowest practical shipping method to avoid air transport
Use recyclable shipping materials wherever possible
By doing so, we reduce both the carbon footprint and the waste generated from our domestic logistics.
We will continue to strengthen local supplier relationships, further reduce the need for international freight, and optimise our ordering processes to minimise emissions and waste from shipping.
At Wilderness, our mission is simple: help our guests disconnect from the busyness of life and reconnect with themselves, their loved ones, and nature. The nature we cherish in New Zealand is the very reason we exist — and it’s our responsibility to protect it.
Our core value, Make the planet a better place, guides our decisions. New Zealand is our backyard, and it’s in our best interest to protect it and give back to Papatūānuku — the guardian of the land.
We operate in an industry where fuel consumption and combustion engines are a significant environmental challenge. We acknowledge this openly. While transitioning away from these technologies will take time, we are already working with our suppliers and the wider industry to accelerate this change.
In the meantime, we are taking every step we can to reduce our environmental footprint across all areas of our business.
We measure our environmental impact in key areas with the help of independent consultants, reviewing our performance annually and throughout the year. This helps us identify the main drivers of our impact and focus our efforts where they matter most.
Our reduction goals are aligned with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and aim for meaningful progress by 2030 and beyond.
We see ourselves as temporary guardians of the land. We have inherited it from those who came before us and have a duty to protect and improve it for those who will follow. Every action we take today is part of that responsibility.
Our shuttles and company cars contribute to our operational emissions. We are actively transitioning these to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Some EVs are already in use, and we are expanding our charging infrastructure to support a complete fleet transition.
We also plan to offer workplace charging and incentives to encourage our team members to switch to EVs for their personal transport.
The largest share of our fuel emissions comes from our rental motorhomes. While we rely on manufacturers to produce suitable low- or zero-emission models — a transition that is still some years away — we are taking steps to reduce the emissions from our current fleet:
Modern diesel technology – All motorhomes meet the latest emissions standards and use AdBlue to reduce harmful exhaust particles.
Rigorous maintenance – Every vehicle is maintained and inspected frequently, with a full checklist completed after each hire to ensure performance and emissions remain within standard.
Smart fleet planning – We minimise unnecessary vehicle transfers between locations, reducing relocation mileage and associated emissions.
Guest travel tools – We are developing smarter itinerary tools to help guests “travel less, experience more,” encouraging slower travel that reduces fuel use while improving the holiday experience.
LPG is used mainly when guests are freedom camping, providing power for cooking, refrigeration, and heating. To minimise LPG use:
All motorhomes are fitted with three-way fridges that run on the battery while driving and switch to electricity when plugged in at a campsite.
Heaters operate on LPG only when off-grid; at powered sites, they run on electricity.
With around 80% of New Zealand’s electricity coming from renewable sources, this switch significantly reduces environmental impact.
While we wait for more advanced low-emission motorhome technologies, we will continue to reduce our fuel impact through fleet upgrades, operational efficiencies, and guest education. Our goal is steady, measurable improvement in line with our broader environmental commitments.
We operate extensive recycling systems at our sites for office and operational waste. This includes dedicated streams for:
Food scraps
Soft plastics
Metals
Liquids and oils
Other specialist materials
We partner with providers such as TyreWise to give tyres a Second Life, and with Future Post and other specialist recycling schemes for items unique to motorhome operations. Year on year, the proportion of our waste sent to landfill is decreasing.
Wherever possible, we repair rather than replace. This includes:
Exterior parts such as bumpers and windows
Interior fittings and components
Plastics and other materials using innovative repair methods like plastic welding
This approach ensures high quality while reducing waste. Our motorhomes are maintained to a high standard throughout their rental life, which means fewer parts fail. At the end of their rental life, each vehicle is refurbished and sold to a private owner, extending its usable life for many more years.
We work with our guests to avoid waste before it’s created. Initiatives include:
Providing reusable cups for coffee
Refilling dishwashing liquid, soap, and cleaning chemicals rather than using single-use bottles
Creating a guest pantry where travellers can leave items for the next guests to use
We continue to trial and implement new ideas to cut down waste across all parts of our business.
Our approach to waste is practical and continuous — identifying new ways to recycle, repair, and reduce, while improving existing systems. We will keep working with partners, customers, and our team to lower our landfill contribution each year.
Freight plays a role in our environmental impact, particularly when parts or products must be moved within New Zealand or sourced from overseas. Our approach prioritises local sourcing first, then minimises the frequency, distance, and emissions of shipments when freight is unavoidable.
Whenever we cannot repair an item and a replacement is needed, we aim to source it locally. Around 80% of the parts we use in our rental operations are sourced within New Zealand, supporting local suppliers and avoiding the environmental impact of international shipping.
When we do need to source from overseas, we use a smart stock management system to:
Order well in advance
Consolidate shipments to reduce volume and frequency
Use sea freight as our preferred method over air freight wherever possible
This approach allows us to plan ahead and avoid urgent, high-impact shipping methods.
For freight within New Zealand, we:
Choose the slowest practical shipping method to avoid air transport
Use recyclable shipping materials wherever possible
By doing so, we reduce both the carbon footprint and the waste generated from our domestic logistics.
We will continue to strengthen local supplier relationships, further reduce the need for international freight, and optimise our ordering processes to minimise emissions and waste from shipping.