Five of our six newly certified operators this month are undertaking their sustainability journey alongside two of Ecotourism Australia’s certified ECO Destinations; Augusta Margaret River and the Coffs Coast.
The Coffs Coast was one of the hosts of Ecotourism Australia’s inaugural ECO Think Destination Forum and is the first ECO Destination in New South Wales, achieving certification in 2021. Augusta Margaret River Shire became an Ecotourism certified ECO Destination in 2022, and the first in Western Australia, leading up to World Environment Day.
Here are the tourism operators who completed their criteria and achieved certification in May 2022!
Margaret River Discovery Co – Nature Tourism certified
Wadandi Pibelmen Country/Margaret River, Western Australia
Four-wheel drive car seen in the distance on a grassy cliffside on the Western Australian coast.
Ever wanted to explore Australia’s southwest off the beaten track? The team at Margaret River Discovery Co are the experts every traveller needs to turn a holiday to the Margaret River into an immersive adventure you won’t forget. Personally guided by local expert Sean Blocksidge, your luxury 4WD tour will take you away from the crowds to places you never knew were tucked away in this beautiful part of Australia.
Every aspect of this tour is a celebration of the local community, right down to the produce on their tours that directly supports local farmers. From using biodegradable cleaning agents to removing invasive plant species wherever they go, Margaret River Discovery Co go the extra mile to keep the Margaret River’s natural assets pristine for generations to come.
Mix a love of wine and the natural environment and you have a Margaret River Discovery Co adventure. Check out their Facebook and Instagram!
Tanah Marah – Nature Tourism certified
Wadandi Pibelmen Country/Margaret River, Western Australia
Right in the heart of the Margaret River’s wine region, Tanah Marah offers a cozy nature escape for travellers seeking a quiet accommodation to come back to after a day of discovery. Guests can choose from six two-bedroom self-contained chalets with access to all you need to make the most of the property. A lake to kayak and swim in, tennis courts, a nine-hole golf course and a gym are all at your disposal while on the property, as well as the wealth of knowledge from your hosts, the Curtin family, who want to show you the full scope of the property’s biodiversity.
The Curtin family’s long farming background saw a respect for the environment engrained in them from the beginning which they carry with them to their eco-stay. Check out their Facebook and Instagram to start planning your stay with them!
Blackwood River Houseboats – Nature Tourism certified
Wadandi Pibelmen Country/Augusta, Western Australia
Meet ALLIRA, STORM and RIVER – your key to a relaxing eco-stay in Augusta and the three trusty houseboats available to book with Blackwood River Houseboats. Perfect for families or a couple’s romantic getaway, each houseboat holiday is prepared for guests with a personal touch, complete with a kitchen, flushing toilet, hot water showers, cabin heating, and even kayaks and standup paddleboards for the adventurous among us.
This biodiversity hotspot is excellent to view from a houseboat with a company that understands the importance of maintaining a sustainable business for the longevity of the environment’s unique ecosystems. Blackwood River Houseboats ensured its operations had a minimal impact on the environment from the start, which is recognised through achieving ECO Certification. Check out their Facebook and Instagram to see the incredible environment they are working with!
Fair Harvest – Nature Tourism certified
Wadandi Pibelmen Country/Augusta, Western Australia
Fair Harvest is a 160 hectare permaculture farm offering guests a variety of ways to get back into nature and learn about where your food comes from. With three generations of the family looking after this property full of trees, cows, sheep, olive groves and plenty of fruit and veg, visiting Fair Harvest emulates the feeling of sitting around a table with a fresh, homegrown feast and catching up with those we love at the end of the day.
Fair Harvest offers everything from a café where their fruits, veg, honey, herbs and eggs are produced on-site, to glamping and camping experiences, and even sustainability and permaculture workshops.
This operator champions the permaculture ethics of Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share. Learn about, explore, and enjoy the Fair Harvest property! Visit their Facebook and Instagram to see what a stay with our new ECO certified operator is like.
C-Change Adventures – Ecotourism certified
Gumbaynggirr Country/Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
Make the most of your time in Coffs Harbour with our new operator C-Change Adventures! No experience needed for this kayak and stand-up paddleboard operator – just an adventurous streak and a love for the Coffs Coast’s extraordinary natural environment.
Travellers can hire canoes and kayaks by the hour, day or week with C-Change Adventures, enjoy a guided eco-tour to explore the region’s winding and biodiverse rivers and creeks, or even take a tour out on the ocean where you might catch turtles, dolphins, or whales! For the thrill-seekers, why not try a white water tour on the Orara and Bellingen Rivers? C-Change lets travellers experience the Coffs Coast at the speed that suits them.
The owners’ love for the water, plants and animals shines through C-Change Adventures’ immersive tours, motivated by sharing their appreciation for the natural environment. Check out their Facebook and Instagram!
Boutique Ocean Tours – Ecotourism certified
Butchulla Country/Hervey Bay, Queensland
Boutique Ocean Tours is a new venture hailing from Hervey Bay in the Fraser Coast. Experts in navigating the Great Sandy Strait, your hosts at Boutique Ocean Tours would be delighted to show you around the Great Sandy Marine Park where calm and glassy-flat water makes for the perfect conditions to explore.
Boutique Ocean Tours hold whale watching tours during the season, even giving the brave among us the chance to swim with whales! For a more laid-back venture, take a sightseeing tour around K’gari/Fraser Island and the Great Sandy Straits.
Start planning your Fraser Coast holiday now!
Cover image: Margaret River Discovery Co