About Us - Trips & Tramps
Sustainability at Trips & Tramps
Trips & Tramps is committed to a sustainable future and to improving the social, economic, and environmental well-being of the local Fiordland community in which we call home.
We are dedicated to environmental improvements that foster a sustainable business, with a range of waste reduction and environmental initiatives embedded in our business.
Sustainability and protecting the environment have long been at the core of Trips & Tramps' operations. Owners Kate and Steve strongly believe in protecting the natural landscape and working hard to leave Fiordland better than they found it.
This ethos has been woven into every tour, every business decision and every guest’s commitment since 2003. This has been a long-standing mission with all our activities and align with Southland Regional Tourism’s sustainable southland initiative.
Conservation
Trips & Tramps has a long history of conservation, proudly among the first businesses to establish a predator control programme back in 1990. In those early days, our team regularly checked traps on the foreshore delta in the heart of Milford Sound. While that area is now monitored by contractors, we’re thrilled to hear the resurgence of native birdsong - a sign that the efforts over the years are truly making a difference.
Today, we continue this legacy with renewed focus. We’ve recently taken on the regular checking and management of stoat traps along the Kepler Track, supporting the long-term work of the Kepler Challenge Mountain Run Trust, which has removed over 3,000 rats and 900 stoats from the area since 2010. These efforts are vital for protecting the native birdlife and biodiversity of Fiordland.
As concessionaires operating within Fiordland National Park, we do what we can to support conservation on the ground, recognising that the future of this special place depends on more than just paperwork, it takes hands-on involvement. Steve continues to play a key role as a trustee for both the Kepler Challenge Mountain Run Trust and the Coal Island Trust. The latter aims to create a predator-free sanctuary for endangered native species, including rare birds like the kiwi.
At Trips & Tramps, conservation isn’t just part of the job, it’s part of who we are!
Community Support
Te Anau is a unique and tight-knit community, and at Trips & Tramps we’re proud to regularly support local initiatives and organisations that help the township and its people thrive. Over the years, we’ve made numerous financial and resource donations to local events and community groups.
Our past support has extended to a wide range of local causes, including the Kepler Challenge Mountain Run, Fiordland College, the Fiordland Community Event Centre, Fiordland Squash Club, Te Anau School, and the Fiordland Trails Trust—to name just a few. Whether it’s through sponsorships, hands-on support, or simply showing up, we believe in backing the people and projects that keep our community strong.
In 2025, we were proud to put our Make a Difference Fund into action alongside Ride Holidays—a like-minded tourism operator doing great things through their charity initiative, which delivers bikes to schools across New Zealand. This collaboration brought a brand-new fleet of bikes to Te Anau School, giving local tamariki the chance to experience the joy of riding, while encouraging confidence, independence, and active lifestyles.
To ensure the bikes are well cared for and accessible for future students, we also invested an additional $6,000 to build a purpose-built storage shed on the school grounds. It’s a small gesture with a lasting legacy, one we hope brings smiles and adventure to many more kids in the years ahead.
At Trips & Tramps, we’re all about enriching lives through connection, whether it’s with nature, our visitors, or our own community. Supporting the people and places that make Fiordland so special is a responsibility we’re honoured to carry
Sustainability Business Practises
At Trips & Tramps, we’re committed to reducing our environmental impact and working towards carbon neutrality. Operating in Fiordland National Park comes with responsibility, and we take that seriously, tracking emissions, reducing waste, and running an energy-efficient business.
We choose quality gear and suppliers to minimise waste, maintain a modern, efficient vehicle fleet, and report on our emissions annually. Our 2024 audit highlighted both the challenges and opportunities for small tourism businesses like ours, and we’re using those insights to guide real progress.
Conservation and community support remain at the heart of what we do, because that’s where we believe we can make the biggest difference.
The Trips & Tramps “Make a Difference” Fund
At Trips & Tramps, we believe in doing our part to protect and preserve the incredible environment we work in every day. Our Make a Difference Fund supports the sustainability and conservation projects we’re actively involved in across Fiordland.
Every visitor helps make a difference, just by booking directly with us. We donate 50% of the credit card fee from all direct bookings to the Make 
a Difference Fund, supporting local conservation and community initiatives right here in Fiordland.
In summer 2023/24, we were proud to donate $10,000 from the fund to the Fiordland Trails Trust, who develop and maintain the region’s walking and cycling trails. Their work also includes native tree planting and predator control to restore and protect the natural environment surrounding the trails.In 2024/25, the fund helped bring bikes to Te Anau School through a partnership with Ride Holidays, supporting tamariki with access to active transport and outdoor fun. We also contributed an extra $6,000 to build a secure shed so the bikes can be well maintained and used for years to come.
When you travel with us, you're not just exploring Fiordland, you’re helping protect it for future generations.
Contact us to book a tour and learn more about the difference you can help make.
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