While jetting overseas may be back on the cards, the road trip renaissance is still in full swing with many people looking for more sustainable ways to travel. And with a bit of planning – plus some insider nous – there are plenty of ways to help reduce your carbon footprint on the scenic route.

Driving choices

First up, of course, is the car you choose to drive – and an electric vehicle is the benchmark for eco-conscious road-trippers. Liz Dobson, motoring writer and co-founder of New Zealand’s premier AutoMuse site, lives in Auckland, where there are plenty of free charging stations available.

“New Zealand is the miniature Norway when it comes to electric vehicles, with 80 per cent of energy renewable via hydroelectric power,” she says.

Test driving the all-electric EQC from Mercedes-EQ, Liz found that her average range for everyday use – taking factors such as air conditioning, stereo and comfort driving mode into account – is around 400 km, although it does offer a range of between 445 km and 471 km in ideal conditions.

“Using the steering wheel paddles, you can activate D- (semi-regenerative) or D-- (intensive) modes,” she says. “They work superbly. For instance, with 30 km of range left, a message came up saying I needed to charge the vehicle, but as I was 10 km away from home, I fought range anxiety by going into D- on the motorway. This negated the battery use; so for every kilometre I drove, the semi-regenerative mode added a kilometre [to the range]. Sweet as – as we say here!”

Eco-friendly driving tips

For drivers vehicles, Liz has some sound advice when planning a New Zealand ‘roadie’, though it’s just as pertinent for those hitting the road in Australia (despite its ‘tyranny of distance’):

• Don’t overpack your car. The more luggage, the more petrol you’re going to use.
• Consider the times you plan to leave or arrive in a city centre, especially Auckland. Like any big city, we have congestion. If you’re heading north, leaving in the morning; and if you’re going south, wait until after 10am.
• Once you’re on the road, use your vehicle’s advanced cruise control if possible. It will not only keep you at the right speed but will also run at the optimum for fuel efficiency.

Lightening the load

Australian travel writer Louise Southerden has made it her mission to find new ways to travel more sustainably and consciously. She even lives in a ‘tiny house’ she built from scratch in northern NSW, the build documented on her noimpactgirl website.

When it comes to planning a low-impact road trip, Louise tries to minimise her driving time by heading to her destination and staying in one place, then exploring by foot, or by hiring an e-bike, whether for a weekend or a week. “Slowing down and living local are at the core of sustainable travel,” she says. “Road trips don’t have to be about visiting as many places as possible en route.”

Louise also suggests venturing off the beaten track and choosing a destination where your tourist dollar can help regional communities that have been affected by bushfires, floods or drought. Why weigh down the car with food and drink supplies, when you can stock up as you go at local farmers’ markets, corner stores, seafood co-ops, bakeries and wineries? Better for the local economy; more fun for you.

Top tips to pack smarter

Packing is an art form, however you travel, but Louise knows how to make light work of it. Here are her top tips:

• Travel with your own reusable coffee cup for takeaways en route, and perhaps even a picnic basket with lightweight plates, cutlery, glassware and straws, to avoid using single-use plastics.
• Take a small bag without wheels – if you have to carry it, instead of wheeling it, you’ll be more likely to pack light!
• Rather than loading up with heavy equipment, such as golf clubs or scuba gear, hire what you need at your destination.

Choosing eco-friendly accommodation

A seasoned sustainable traveller, Louise has plenty of advice on how to find low-impact accommodation. “Look for a sustainability policy on websites, and for details rather than general mission statements,” she says.

“Not every property is going to tick every box, but if you pick a few issues that are important to you, your choice will be easier. For instance, does the property have a small footprint? Has it been designed to reduce energy use? Is it carbon-positive (offsetting more emissions than it produces) or 100 per cent powered by renewables? Is all the produce in its restaurant sustainably and locally sourced, or perhaps there’s an organic garden on site? Is there a zero-waste policy? Does the property give back to the community and regenerate the surrounding environment in some way? Are activities low impact and respectful of people, place and planet?”

She recommends Ecotourism Australia’s online Green Travel Guide as an excellent resource for eco-certified hotels, resorts, lodges and destinations around Australia. If you’re in New Zealand, the country’s official tourism quality assurance organisation, Qualmark is a good starting point, so look out for its logo on websites.

Look out for these low-impact lodgings:

By Sally Feldman