Organic Explorer 3rd Ed - OUT NOW

Become an Organic Explorer

Third edition of this tourism guidebook with a difference!

New Zealand's foremost eco-tourism book Organic Explorer (3rd edition) takes you behind the ‘clean-green-speak' to discover wilderness experiences that most New Zealanders and travellers to our shores only dream about.

Organic Explorer was launched in 2007 by husband and wife team - photographer Leonie Johnsen and architect Dr Tony Ward. The 3rd edition of their unique eco-tourism travel guide includes not only a wealth of tourist information but also inspirational articles on current New Zealand conservation issues and threats.

"The creative and forward-thinking business people, tourism operators and artisans who inspired us to create Organic Explorer, and who are now listed in its pages, are changing the face of the tourism industry of New Zealand," says Leonie Johnsen. "

Experience astronomy voyages though New Zealand's darkest night skies; fly fish South Island rivers with entertainer Lynda Topp; discover a high country retreat on Te Kooti's trail; experience luxury off-grid eco lodges and delicious regional gourmet food and wine. Encounter our unique and endangered birdlife, and enjoy cycling, trekking and health spa retreats.

Unlike other guidebooks this edition of Organic Explorer doesn't gloss over the increasingly sombre environmental realities of this beautiful country. It takes a critical look at the rivers and lakes, beaches, forests and wildlife that are so important to our $18.6 billion tourism industry. It asks how tourism is coping in the context of dirty farming practices, wilderness mining, logging and deep sea oil exploration and what needs to be done to preserve and sustain the uniqueness that visitors spend thousands of dollars to come and see.

It also situates the New Zealand tourism industry in its global market context, showing how our foreign and trade policies are opening up New Zealand "resources" to further exploitation by international capitalists who don't give a damn about our environment.

Organic Explorer immerses the reader in all of this and more - offering a guide to how to find the very best New Zealand has to offer - the extraordinary places that make this country so wonderful to live in, and that many tourism operators are willing to share and, best of all, protect.

Key points and background

• Organic Explorer is the must-have dedicated and comprehensive guide to eco-friendly travel in New Zealand

• The third edition contains details for almost 600 places to eat and shop, to stay and eco-friendly tourism activities throughout New Zealand

• Businesses included have a strong environmental ethic and a desire to share this with travellers

• Articles on a variety of subjects ranging from organic wine producers, regional food guide, ethical shopping guide, contemporary Maori culture, birding, cycling, trekking tourism conservation projects to a short history of environmental activism in New Zealand

• Critical analysis by experts of the damaging effects of government policy on our waterways; healing our waterways; protecting the night sky; keeping our food sources safe from genetic engineering

• Information on the non-profit organisation Leave No Trace that teaches an environmental care code for low impact adventures in our outdoors

• Organic Explorer is produced within New Zealand using sustainable forestry sourced paper and printed with vegetable inks adhering to EnviroMark codes of practice.

• The Organic Explorer guidebook is also supported by a website which includes interactive travel resources, news and up-to-date information www.organicexplorer.co.nz

Organic Explorer (3rd edition) is available from bookshops nationwide RRP: $34.95

or from the website www.organicexplorer.co.nz