Our Luxe Tours Conservation Efforts in 2026

One of Luxe Tours key values that we developed as a team with our guides and staff is "We care about Nature".

Fiordland is where we’ve chosen to build our business and raise our family, and we feel incredibly lucky to call this place home.

As Luxe Tours has grown, so has our commitment to looking after the environment around us.

We’re not out to save the planet, but we simply want to look after our own backyard. So here is a look at the steps we take to reduce our footprint and support the environment that supports us.

Key Takeaways

• $3 from every Luxe Tours ticket supports the Kea Conservation Trust, with our funds going directly to education programmes in Fiordland primary schools.
  

• We partner with Trees for Survival, donating one tree per van group each day, with approximately 120 trees donated per month during peak season.
  

• Plant-based drink bottles, compostable cups and spoons, and compostable lolly wrappers help reduce waste on tours.
  

• Our guides share their passion for native wildlife and ecosystems with guests, fostering understanding and respect for Fiordland's environment.
  

Why Doing Out Bit For Nature Matters to Us

Fiordland National Park is one of New Zealand’s few remaining protected areas, and looking after it and the places connected to it is important not just for native wildlife, but also for our children and the generations who will grow up here after them.

Healthy native ecosystems protect native animals and plants, and they keep our waterways so clean and clear, you can see right to the bottom and watch the fish swimming.

When you drive around Fiordland, those crystal-clear rivers aren’t a coincidence. The forests filter water naturally through the land, creating the pristine conditions that let us drink straight from the source, like the glacial stream at Monkey Creek.

We want Fiordland to stay this way for our kids, their kids, and everyone who comes after us.

Supporting the Kea Conservation Trust

Every Luxe Tours ticket contributes $3 to the Kea Conservation Trust.

Kea are very special to us, and they’re a huge part of the experience for both our guests and guides.

When we chose to support the Trust, our guides were genuinely excited. We all just adore these birds,  but as locals, we’ve also watched kea numbers decline over the years,  so supporting their conservation felt like a very natural decision for us.

What Makes Kea Special

Kea are the world’s only alpine parrot, found nowhere else but in and around New Zealand’s Southern Alps. They’re endangered due to introduced predators that raid their nests, and their curious personalities can put them at risk.

That same curiosity is also what helps them survive in harsh alpine environments. They’re intelligent problem-solvers and among the smartest birds in the world.

They’re also much larger than most visitors expect, with males reaching up to a kilogram and wingspans over a metre. They are also beautiful in flight, with their feathers showing blues, greens, and the oranges and reds beneath the wings.

And, of course, they’re very cheeky. Kea will explore anything just for fun, like pulling rubber from car windows, unzipping backpacks, and even locking hikers in bathrooms.

That mischief is part of what makes encounters with them so memorable.

Kea Through Our Guides’ Eyes

Our guides spend more time with kea than most people, and they’ve formed a deep connection with the birds.

Our lead guide Murray describes it beautifully:“For me, the Kea is a marker for the health of the ecosystem that we are travelling through. To be able to still see Kea on our journeys into Milford Sound is a measure of the resilience of the birds themselves.”

“Then you see them playing in the snow in the middle of winter and you realise they are genuinely having fun… I am genuinely disappointed if we have a 'no Kea day.' They are a little ray of sunshine in what can sometimes be a very wet and damp environment to travel through.

Long may the Kea Reign over their mountains”

Te Anau based guide Nicky also has a special connection with kea, and she talks about how much joy they bring to both guides and guests:“I love the unpredictability of the Kea. Just today I said to a guest, 'sometimes we see Kea here.' Right on cue, one flew down from the waterfalls behind her and landed at her feet. It then followed us to the coach, hopped up on the step and proceeded to pose."

“They have the ability to make people smile. If it's not from their cheeky inquisitiveness, guests are guaranteed to laugh at the little happy hop-skip-walk that they do. They make everyone's day just that little bit more magical."

A Guest's Experience

The impact kea have on our guests is just as meaningful. Frances and Russell Watson shared this memory from their tour:

“One highlight was meeting a kea parrot, another dream of Russell’s, who loves to take photos of birds. You could see Toby constantly scanning the road and skies ahead to find one, and finally we had our chance at the last photo stop of the day.” 

“We were then able to spend almost 15 minutes just watching and engaging with this beautiful large bird and its cheeky behaviour. Every guest appreciated this moment.”

It's always an exciting day when we get to see kea on tour, and seeing people connect with them reminds us why we care so deeply about the wildlife here.

The Kea Conservation Trust’s Work

The Kea Conservation Trust was established in 2006 to support kea in the wild, in rehabilitation, and in captive-breeding projects.

Their work spans research, education, predator control, and community outreach. They monitor kea populations in areas like the Murchison Mountains and Mount Aspiring National Park, manage threat mitigation programmes, and create educational resources to help communities understand and protect them.

Our Contribution

We’re particularly proud that our funding goes directly towards a new education programme in Fiordland primary schools. Kea Conservation Trust educators will visit classrooms in the region to teach local kids about the birds.

From an early age, children here get to learn why kea matter and how to protect them. They become the next generation of kea guardians, which is something that feels very meaningful to us as a local, family-run business.

Supporting Trees for Survival

We also partner with Trees for Survival, a nationwide organisation that plants native trees and also provides them to schools for children to plant.

For every van group we take out each day, we donate one tree, which reaches around 120 trees donated a month during peak season. It’s a small way we can help restore native habitats while also offsetting our carbon emissions.

Why We Chose Trees for Survival

Three years ago, when our son Luka was at kindy here in Te Anau, the kindy received a donation of native trees to plant.

Luka, the other kids, and a group of us parents headed down to the local park to get them in the ground. Planting with a bunch of small children was chaotic and hilarious, but also very special.

Now, when we walk past that spot, we can see the trees growing, and it’s a reminder of that day spent out connecting with nature and each other. 

That experience is a big part of why we chose to support Trees for Survival. By donating trees to schools, they help local kids get involved in caring for their own backyard from a young age.

It also creates those special moments that become part of the landscape as the trees grow, something that we will remember with our own son for time to come.

Other Ways We Reduce Our Impact

We also try to make small day-to-day choices that reduce waste on our tours.

We provide plant-based drink bottles for guests and have compostable lolly bags. On our Te Anau tours, we also use compostable cups and spoons.

Another big part is education. As we travel, our guides share why Fiordland’s environment is so special, and the ecosystems, the native species, and the stories that bring the landscape to life.

Helping our guests understand the place they’re exploring is a meaningful part of what we do. 

We’re not trying to fix every environmental challenge, but we believe we can make a difference in our own little corner of the world. We want to operate our business while mitigating negative impacts on the environment, because it's important to us that Fiordland will be here as it is or better for future generations.

Supporting kea conservation, planting native trees, reducing waste, and educating our guests are practical actions we can take right now, in our own community, for the place we love.

When our children grow up in this area, we'll know we've done our part in preserving it for them, and that's what drives us.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I help kea conservation during my visit?

The best way to help is by not feeding them. Feeding them human food can make them sick and encourage behaviour patterns that can put them in danger.If you'd like to contribute financially, the Kea Conservation Trust accepts donations directly through their website. Simply enjoying them responsibly and spreading awareness about their endangered status also helps.

Can I take photos of kea up close?

Yes, as long as you give them space and avoid using food to attract them. Kea often approach people on their own, so keeping a respectful distance still allows you to get great photos.

Are Kea Dangerous?

Kea are safe to be around. They are curious and confident birds, which can make them seem bold, but they’re not aggressive. They may peck at bags or shoes out of interest, so it’s best to keep your belongings close and just keep fingers out of reach of curious beaks.