Environmental Care Code

• NZ Adventures are strictly non smoking each day from when the vehicles are moving until the end of the days drive.

• Take care to avoid sensitive areas. Stay on formed tracks and use designated river crossings. Alpine landscapes, swamps, sand dunes, river beds and beaches are easily damaged by vehicles. Be especially aware of historical or culturally sensitive or important places.

• Abide by the laws and regulations covering all vehicles  and driving.

• Keep the environment clean and take all rubbish with you. Bury any toilet waste well away from waterways or preferably use a toilet or take waste with you.

• Respect any wildlife and farmed livestock. Keep your distance and try and avoid disturbing animals. Don’t toot your horn or rush animals.

• Leave gates as you find them and pay particular attention to how a gate is fastened before opening it.

• Thoroughly clean your vehicle before and after an off road trip and especially before travelling between islands to minimise the spread of weeds and diseases.  Didymo is not currently present in the North Island.

We may ask that you disinfect your vehicle tires between river catchments on some tours so please co-operate with these requests.

• Respect the rights of others to quiet outdoor recreation. Avoid noisy driving, unnecessary dust nuisance. Give way to walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

• Please carry a fire extinguisher at all times and if requested fit a spark arrestor to your vehicles exhaust.   Avoid parking a vehicle where there is a chance of dry  grass or other potential combustibles are in contact with hot vehicle components. Light no fires at any time  anywhere.

• Enjoy our beautiful country and preserve it for others to enjoy. Will future visitors know you have been here   before them ?

PLEASE REMEMBER.....

Fire.

We are travelling across an often dry part of the country. Please exercise the utmost care with anything flammable.

Travelling in a Group.

We will be travelling in a convoy with an NZ Adventures vehicle in the lead position. The pace set will be moderate and in consideration of the abilities of the vehicles and drivers in the group.

Keep plenty of space between vehicles especially in dust but don’t lose contact with the vehicle in front or behind. Drive with your headlights on.

Especially check that others have recognised turnoffs. We will be making plenty of stops to take in the sights and take photos.

We are using the system we refer to as the “cornerman” described at each tour briefing. Ask questions if you don’t fully understand this system as it’s crucial to the tours progress.

If or more correctly when you are called upon to act as a corner person or gate person please acknowledge that request on the radio.

If you have to stop for any reason such as a particular photo spot or due to a breakdown please make this known over the radio also and ask for an acknowledgment especially from the designated tail end vehicle.

Safe Driving.

As with any motor vehicle driving whether on or off road, your safety and possibly that of others lies in your own hands. Please be patient, don’t rush and be aware of your own and the vehicles limitations and the comfort, safety and enjoyment of your customers. Be a steady driver using the most applicable gear ratio for the conditions and engage four wheel drive when requested. Know from your driving position where your vehicle and its wheels are in relation to the roadway and any obstacles.

Be very aware of rocks, dips, washouts or obstacles large and small on the roadway. Convey any concerns you might have by radio message. The lead driver may have missed something. Remember the “trailering” effect of the rear wheels taking a different and tighter line from the front on corners.

Be aware that long grass may hide potentially damaging rocks. When stopping the vehicles always engage your handbrake, turn the engine off and leave the vehicle in gear or automatic in park. On steeper slopes turn your wheels toward the uphill side or place rocks on the downhill side of your wheels and remember that you did that and remove the rocks before you move off. This can be especially necessary when changing a flat tyre.

Using Four Wheel Drive.

While some may well wish to try and see how far they can get in 2WD we would ask that you engage 4WD when requested. This avoids damage to tracks (and possibly other vehicles from rocks flying from spinning wheels). It is also safer and safety is our priority. Be aware of how your particular vehicles 4WD system works. If you have manual locking hubs remember to engage these before engaging the 4WD system.

Ascents and Descents.

In the course of our tours we will be climbing and descending very many hills. Some are very long and of considerable altitude change. Descents of hundreds of metres over several kilometres will tax your vehicles brakes to the point of compromising them. Engage a lower gear and try to let the engine braking hold your vehicle back reserving use of the brakes for when you really do need them. Understand and use descent control if your vehicle is fitted with this technology. Again try and avoid undue or prolonged braking.

Weather.

The weather in the South Island during our touring season is normally fine and dry but we can have snow at any time at altitude especially in the shoulders of the season. Ensure you have adequate cold weather clothing just in case.

On the other side of the possible conditions it can be very hot and sunny. Ensure you have sunscreen on you and in your vehicle and stay hydrated.

Alcohol.

In a move bought about by recent adventure activity  legislation and the associated safety plan auditing, NZ Adventures has adopted a very moderate alcohol consumption policy for our staff. This is all solely driven by our need and wish to keep everyone safe.

Our NZ Adventures team will be partaking of only moderate alcohol with our evening meals. Be assured that anything else we consume will be non alcoholic. This is not because we are new wave representatives of the temperance movement or anything like that. It is simply because we need to be seen to be doing the right thing by our valued customers.

Not a big deal but we would like customers to be aware of the policy and appreciative of that. We actually all like a drink as much as the next and as soon as the tour is over normal activities with be resumed enthusiastically.