Regenerative Travel Is Here — And We’re Honoured to Be Featured in Forbes
Mamakan Oustrup Laureijs, owner of Velskov Forest Farm near Auckland, New Zealand.
Christopher Elliott
“Forget sustainable tourism. In forward-looking destinations like New Zealand, it's all about regenerative tourism.”
— Forbes
At Velskov Forest Farm, we’re proud to be part of a growing movement that’s transforming the way we travel. It's not about doing less harm — it's about doing active good. That means planting native trees, restoring ecosystems, and cultivating meaningful connections between people and place.
Recently, Forbes spotlighted this shift across Auckland:
“New Zealand’s biggest city is shifting from sustainability to regeneration. Meet the guides, farmers, and hoteliers turning visitors into conservationists, one native tree (and kiwi bird) at a time.”
Nourish and Give Back
At the heart of our Nourishing Nature experience is a simple idea:
Let nature feed us, and let us feed it in return.
As I shared in the article:
“We will be nourished by what the forest farm has to offer,” says Mamakan Oustrup Laureijs. “But we will also give back.”
Guests are invited to forage edible plants, co-create meals, and plant native species like kauri and pōhutukawa, contributing to the forest that once blanketed these hills long before colonisation.
“She guides them as they plant native species such as the Kauri, a hardwood tree that can live up to 2,000 years, and the Pōhutukawa, known for its vibrant red flowers that bloom in early summer.”
A Circular Connection
Our produce — wild herbs, forest honey, edible flowers — doesn’t just stay here. Thanks to our partnership with The Hotel Britomart (https://www.thehotelbritomart.com/), New Zealand’s first 5 Green Star hotel, your efforts come full circle.
“People might eat some produce — honey, mushrooms, herbs, flowers — at Hotel Britomart from the trees that guests have planted at Velskov,” she says. “It’s a great example of a circular economy.”
Join Us in the Forest
There’s still much to do—forests to rewild, predators to control, endangered birds to protect. But together, we’re showing what’s possible when tourism becomes an act of restoration.
Want to be part of the change?
Join the Nourishing Nature experience. Bookings available on Wednesdays from August 2025.
Read the full Forbes article here.
