About Us

 

Planet Ecotours practices sustainable tourism by:

  • regularly maintaining its vehicles to ensure maximm efficiency;
  • planting native trees to help offset the carbon footprint; and
  • constantly striving to reduce its environmental impact

    Your Hosts

    • Colin Binsted is an Aucklander who lives beside the coast at Matakana.
    • Colin has a BA in geography specialising in New Zealand.
    • In the late 1970’s in Europe, Colin worked as a tour director for a leading camping tour operator. He led groups of over 40 passengers throughout Europe, Scandinavia and the Soviet Union.
    • He helped fully restore his family’s original kauri villa built in the early 1900’s and located on a small farm at Tomarata, Northland.
    • In the 1980’s and 1990’s Colin practiced law with Roger Ashford in North Auckland
    • Colin is a member of environmental groups at Matakana, Tawharanui and Hauraki Gulf.

     

    • Roger Ashford is a fourth generation Kiwi, with his Coates ancestors having lived in the Kaipara, Rodney and Auckland districts since 1859.
    • He was in partnership with Colin Binsted in a law practice during the 1980’s and 1990’s continuing with other partners until 2007 when he retired for a less stressful lifestyle.
    • Roger is involved in a number of Charitable Trusts focusing on the preservation and awareness of New Zealand’s natural environs and cultural heritage.
    • Roger resides with his wife at the beautiful seaside town of Mangawhai and enjoys fishing and golf.