Many of us make intentional changes to live more sustainably at home, choosing products made from recycled plastic, reducing packaging waste, or cutting down on single-use items. But what about when we’re on holiday? Can we carry those green habits with us and still have a great time?
The good news is yes, absolutely. And it’s easier than you might think.
Here are ten eco-friendly holiday tips to help you reduce your environmental footprint this summer, without sacrificing any of the fun.
1. Collect Rubbish
You may have heard the saying “take only photographs and leave only footprints.” But what if every family who visited the beach removed a bag of rubbish while they were there? Get everyone involved in picking up any plastic or other rubbish they find during the day. Make a game of it: the person who collects the most gets out of dishes duty that night. Small actions, multiplied across thousands of visitors, make a real difference.
2. Use a Marine-Safe Sunscreen
Some chemicals commonly used in sunscreens are toxic to marine life. Oxybenzone and octinoxate are two of the most harmful, and places like Hawaii have already moved to ban them in an effort to protect coral reefs and ocean ecosystems. When shopping for sunscreen, look for reef-safe or marine-safe formulas that avoid these ingredients. Our favourite is Goodbye Ouch Sun Balm, made in New Zealand and ultra-concentrated, antioxidant-rich, and completely water-free, so a little goes a long, long way.
3. Limit Your Carbon Emissions
Simple habits add up over time. Switch off lights, underfloor heating, and heated towel rails when you’re not using them. Whenever you can, dry laundry and beach towels naturally outside rather than using power-hungry clothes dryers. And if the beach is a short walk away, leave the car at home. You might enjoy the stroll more than you expect.
4. Offset Your Carbon Emissions
Even if you can’t eliminate your carbon footprint entirely, you can take steps to balance it out. Carbon offsetting (purchasing credits that fund environmental projects like native forest restoration) is a simple and affordable option.
Private transport is one of the world’s biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. In countries like the UK and the US, the transport sector now emits more greenhouse gases than any other, including electricity and agriculture. Globally, transport accounts for around a quarter of all CO2 emissions, with road vehicles alone making up nearly three-quarters of that.
Offsetting the carbon from your road trip is easier, and cheaper, than you might think. An online calculator like EKOS can estimate your footprint and offset it for as little as $3 for a medium petrol car driving from Auckland to Waihi Beach.
If you stay with us at One Fyfe Beach Bach, we offset your accommodation emissions for you. We believe we’re the first certified carbon-negative holiday house in New Zealand, offsetting 120% of the emissions from your stay.
5. Keep Off the Sand Dunes
Sand dunes are a vital part of our coastal landscape. They act as natural barriers against erosion, protect beachfront properties, and provide essential habitat for birds, insects, and native plants. Walking or playing on sand dunes damages the beach grass and other vegetation that holds the dune together, and once that’s gone, recovery takes years. Stay on the paths, and encourage kids to do the same.
6. Be Zero Waste at the Beach
Think before you pack. Avoid individually wrapped snacks or single-use plastic bottles, and bring sturdy fabric bags that won’t blow away in the sea breeze. Take anything recyclable home with you rather than placing it in general waste bins at the beach, which often end up in landfill. A little planning the night before can make a big difference.
7. Choose an Eco-Friendly Water Sport
Bodyboarding, surfing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and kite surfing are all fantastic ways to enjoy the water without the environmental cost. Motorised water activities generate noise pollution, carbon emissions, and can disturb marine wildlife, from seabirds nesting on shore to dolphins resting in the bay. The human-powered alternatives are just as exhilarating, and often more rewarding.
8. Recycle, Even When It Is Harder
Not all coastal communities offer kerbside recycling, and beach-town bins can often be general waste only. Rather than putting everything in a landfill bag, keep your recyclables separate and drop them at a local recycling centre on your way home. It takes only a few extra minutes and keeps valuable materials out of the waste stream.
9. Shop Local
One of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to make your holiday more sustainable is to buy local. Seek out independent, locally owned businesses: local butchers, farmers’ markets, craft shops, and bakeries. When you spend money locally, it stays in the community you’re visiting rather than being siphoned off by large corporations. You’ll also often get fresher food, more interesting finds, and a better feel for the place itself.
10. Buy Experiences, Not Things
Being away on holiday is the ideal time to choose memories over merchandise. Instead of browsing souvenir shops for things you don’t need, support local businesses with experiences you’ll actually remember: guided walks, kayak tours, cooking classes, or simply being a tourist in your own country for a weekend. The kids will thank you for it later.
Making your holiday more sustainable doesn’t require sacrifice. In many cases, it actually makes the experience richer. A cleaner beach, a quieter cove, a better connection to the place you’re visiting: these are things worth protecting.
What’s your favourite eco-friendly holiday habit? Share it in the comments below.