| The Ngatokimatawhaorua is the largest war waka | | | | fly down to North Island in a helicopter, whale watch in |
| (canoe) in the world. It is named after the great canoe | | | | Kaikoura, take a Heli-hike on the Franz Josef Glacier, |
| of Kupe, the traditional Polynesian ancestor of the | | | | walk, fly, and jet-boat on the "Siberia Experience." For |
| Maori people. It was one of the great ocean-going | | | | your volunteer project you'll become immersed in the |
| voyaging canoes used in the migrations that settled | | | | intriguing Maori culture; your hosts will regale you |
| New Zealand. Volunteer vacationers traveling to New | | | | fascinating stores as you help them preserve their |
| Zealand will work alongside the Maori to restore these | | | | culture by restoring a 'waka,' a traditional Maori war |
| incredible vessels. | | | | canoe. |
| Volunteer vacations are becoming more and more | | | | Ngatokimatawhaorua, like many Polynesian names are |
| popular with boomers and couples with discretionary | | | | impossible to pronounce, and Hawkes Bay, New |
| income, because they want more than the same ole, | | | | Zealand is believed to have the world's longest place |
| same ole cruise or tour. Those type of vacations | | | | name (your challenge - try and pronounce it... I certainly |
| were usually satisfying at the time, probably cost a | | | | can't): |
| bundle, and unless a diary was kept, memories of | | | | maungahoronukupokaiwhenuaakitanarahu. |
| those vacations usually fade away. Volunteer | | | | A 7-Day volunteer vacation in Mexico could cost as |
| vacations are inspiring, exciting, and create memories | | | | little as $1,500. You'll go catamaran sailing and |
| that last forever. | | | | snorkeling, choose to zip-line and rappel, or visit the |
| In our fast-paced world, vacations also need to fill the | | | | UNESCO World Heritage Mayan ruins of Chitzen Itza |
| need for greater satisfaction and accomplishment, | | | | or nearby to the Sian Kaan biosphere reserve, or |
| even when vacationing people still have a concern for | | | | swim in the unique cenotes that dot the peninsula. |
| the environment, for abused and abandoned children, | | | | Choose from a variety of volunteer projects: |
| and for communities devastated by natural disasters, | | | | volunteering in a medical clinic, computer training or |
| resulting in a greater desire to 'give back.' Additionally, | | | | web design, photography, or plumbing and electrical |
| studies have shown that volunteering leads to healthier | | | | assistance. |
| and longer lives, and a wonderful feeling of | | | | "VOLUNTOURISM" is spending your entire holiday in a |
| self-assurance and independence. | | | | volunteer project, affordable volunteer vacations can |
| This desire to 'give back' is matched by an increasing | | | | cost as little as $160 for a one-week program |
| number of volunteer travel opportunities. The trend | | | | volunteering in an orphanage in Nepal, to about $1000 |
| toward 'volunteer vacations' has become more | | | | for a one-week volunteer program in South Africa. In |
| popular within the travel industry, with more companies | | | | order for touring companies to offer low-cost |
| providing meaningful travel of all types. There's been a | | | | volunteer vacations, the accommodations and |
| lot of discussion about what a volunteer vacation | | | | transportation to and from the volunteer site can be at |
| actually is. What it comes down to is what someone | | | | the volunteer's expense, additional costs may also |
| wants from their holiday. We're all different, with a | | | | include application fees and other in-country expenses. |
| huge variable of likes and dislikes, wants and needs. To | | | | Expect accommodations to be tent camping, or a stay |
| say one type of volunteer vacation is better than the | | | | at a youth hostel, or a homestay. Of course, if roughing |
| other, is a lesson in futility. | | | | it doesn't fit your lifestyle, most companies offer |
| Following is a description of two types of volunteer | | | | upgrades to resorts, hotels, and bed and breakfasts |
| holidays: "A Taste of Volunteering" and "Voluntourism." | | | | Almost all volunteer programs include a cultural |
| "A TASTE OF VOLUNTEERING" is two-thirds | | | | exchange within the community, establishing bonds |
| traditional sightseeing holidays: hiking, snorkeling, | | | | between volunteers and the local people in the |
| kayaking or just relaxing, with accommodations ranging | | | | community, often creating forever friends. Whether its |
| from 5 star resorts to comfortable homestays. The | | | | building houses, teaching English to local children, |
| other one-third of the holiday is helping with community | | | | campaigning to save an endangered species, such as |
| development projects. Projects range from building a | | | | turtles or elephants, or improving sanitation and living |
| house for homeless children in Argentina, farm | | | | conditions in slums. The volunteer holiday is a shared |
| development program in Fiji, working with deaf, blind | | | | experience by the whole family; young children and |
| and AIDS orphans in Cambodia, working in Children's | | | | teenagers will develop a lifelong desire to "do |
| Village in China, or helping in a new orphanage in | | | | something good," while experiencing new places, |
| Mexico. | | | | meeting new people, and learning how some of the |
| Prices can range from a high of $29,900 for a glorious | | | | rest of the world lives; you can't bring greater meaning |
| 18-day holiday in New Zealand, where you'll sail on the | | | | to one's life than this experience. |
| stunning Bay of Islands and take a Maori cultural tour, | | | | |