Our stunning natural environment is what makes Punga Cove so special, and we are committed to looking after it for now and for the future.
At Punga Cove we are constantly striving to implement more and better sustainable practices to protect and enhance the forest, the sea and the wildlife that surrounds us.
We only use biodegradable and organic cleaning products and conserve water by reducing water volume without compromising on quality.
In our rooms, you will see we use low energy lighting and motion sensors to reduce our power use.
Punga Cove has also phased out single-use plastic toiletry bottles and replaced these with larger refillable containers. Our milk is delivered in larger containers to further reduce single use plastic.
Conservation
Much of Punga Cove is surrounded by lush native bush and sea. Visitors will almost certainly encounter a cheeky and bold flightless weka here at Punga Cove, or on the Queen Charlotte Track. The forest is also alive with kererū (wood pigeon), tūī, pīwakawaka (fantail), kōtare (kingfisher), while at sea, the large variety of sea birds includes the rare kawau pāteketeke (King shag).
With the exception of an area of rare virgin native forest, most of the bush around Endeavour Inlet is regenerating after it was cleared for farming and timber by European settlers. This regeneration, and that of the fauna that lives within it, is supported by a number of local conservation projects.
As part of our enviro work and caring about the beautiful environment that surrounds us, Marlborough Tour Company supports some of these local community initiatives that have a similar vision, to preserve and restore the environment we live and work in, including:
Punga Cove and Marlborough Tour Company support local community groups that share a similar vision - to preserve and restore the environment we live and work in. Find out more about these great projects:
Endeavour Inlet Conservation Trust
The Endeavour Inlet Conservation Trust does great work protecting and enhancing the incredible native ecosystems that make the Marlborough Sounds so special and unique.
Driven by the community, the trust supports conservation projects in the hills surrounding Endeavour Inlet, and broader Sounds environmental efforts.
After all, caring for the stunning natural beauty we enjoy every day is everyone’s responsibility.
Marlborough Sounds Restoration Trust
For many years, the trust has focused on conservation work, primarily the systematic control of wilding pines to encourage the regeneration of native bush and restore the iconic landscape of the Sounds.
If left unchecked, pine trees can overtake native plants as the dominant species. Pine tree by pine tree, this dedicated group of locals has made significant headway into restoring our Marlborough Sounds paradise.
This community project aims to restore the 40-hectare peninsula by supporting the regeneration of native bush and wildlife through extensive pest trapping, weed control, planting of native seedlings, the release of native bird species and other conservation work.
The sanctuary, protected by a predator proof fence, is not only a recovering haven for wildlife, but has an environmental education programme popular with school groups from Marlborough and further afield.
Marlborough Tour Company is proud to be a Rimu Sponsor for this fantastic community conservation achievement.
Picton Dawn Chorus
Picton Dawn Chorus is a hugely successful community-driven programme that aims to reduce the number of introduced predator species in and around the Picton township that threaten our native flora and fauna.
New Zealand’s wildlife is under significant threat from these predators that eat native birds, their eggs and chicks as well as lizards and weta. To reduce pest numbers, Picton Dawn Chorus uses humane and environmentally sensitive methods of predator control, and traps are checked regularly by volunteers.
Tiaki
Punga Cove’s values align with Tiaki and we wholeheartedly get behind the Tiaki Promise and encourage all visitors to Marlborough to act as guardians of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Tiaki - Care for New Zealand has been set up by a group of New Zealand tourism organisations to actively encourage local and international travellers to care for our country as much as we do.
Tiaki means to care for people and place.
The Tiaki Promise is a commitment to care for New Zealand, for now and for future generations.
