Starting with one America's Cup yacht based in Auckland New Zealand in 2000, we've expanded to become a successful multi-region and multi-product operation, and we're still growing.
We are a New Zealand owned company and the products we offer range from sailing to diving to dining, with each product being thoughtfully designed to showcase the location it's in. Operating in Auckland, Bay of Islands in New Zealand, and Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach in Australia, we're really proud of our portfolio of experiences on offer.
We are a multi award-winning company recognised for our commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism, and our Auckland and Bay of Islands experiences have become a must-do for many people visiting New Zealand. Our staff are incredibly proud of the place they live and are ready to show why. Their passion and enthusiasm is what sets us apart and through their input and enthusiasm we continue to share surroundings in very special and unique ways.
Tiaki Promise
The Tiaki Promise is a commitment to care for New Zealand, for now and for future generations. New Zealand is precious, and everyone who lives and travels here has a responsibility to look after it.
By following the Tiaki Promise, you are making a commitment to New Zealand. To act as a guardian, protecting and preserving our home.
Explore is committed to the Tiaki promise and we endeavour to take care of our people and this amazing place while inspiring our guests to do the same.
Community & Partnerships
We give back to our community through a number of community partnerships.
This includes working with conservation groups across our island destinations including Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi, Rotoroa Island Trust and Project Island Song. We support their activity through a number of actions including contributing a percentage of our fare, free passage for volunteers and promotion of their guided walks and events.
For more information on the conservation work being done on these islands, visit:
Qualmark Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award
A Gold Award recognises the best sustainable tourism businesses in New Zealand. This award is something we work hard to achieve by delivering exceptional customer experiences and putting sustainability at the center of everything we do. A Gold Sustainable Tourism Award identifies tourism businesses that are leading the way in making the New Zealand tourism industry a world-class sustainable visitor destination, and that is something we are incredibly proud to be a part of.
Our Sustainability Efforts:
Explore Group is committed to caring for New Zealand, for the benefit of both present and future generations. As a company, we are socially, culturally, and environmentally responsible in how we engage with the world around us.
Sustainable Initiatives we are proud to support are:
Environment
- Commercial composting - we compost all eligible waste with We Compost
- Sustainable supplier model: We have moved away from using suppliers that don’t align with our values
- Re-usable drink bottles: We gifted these to all employees so they no longer use single-use water bottles
- Implementing digital rostering system to reduce paper use and eliminate hard copy timesheets
- We outsource our Auckland Dinner Cruise catering which eliminates transport emissions and uses reusable dinnerware
- Sea bin project: We have had New Zealand’s first Sea Bin located between our America’s Cup Yachts
- Low carbon footprint: We use wind power whenever possible
- Moving to a digitally lead strategy which encourages fewer print materials