Easy being green- eco-resorts

Back in 2012 Holidays with Kids took a look at the latest trend of eco-resorts.

Australian Eco-resorts who are doing their bit to help save the planet.

What is Eco-tourism?

According to Ecotourism Australia – the peak national body for the ecotourism industry – ecotourism should have “a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation”.

Properties and tours that comply with this core criteria are awarded accreditation, allowing potential guests to identify which operators are making genuine efforts to be ecologically sustainable.

This program is now so widely regarded that it is being transported to the rest of the world as the international ecotourism standard.

A true eco-lodge is one that takes deliberate steps to reduce and recycle waste, uses alternative energy and has a minimal impact on the environment.

It should also have a commitment to sustainability – in other words, supporting local communities by hiring local staff and artisans, and sourcing local organic food.

Green travel should also offer fantastic opportunities to get up close and personal to wildlife in its natural habitat – but not at the expense of the animals and the environment.

So enjoy nature’s bounty – and check out these inspirational Australian Eco-resorts and what they have to offer.

Lane Cove River Tourist Park, NSW

Just 15 minutes from the CBD is Sydney’s best kept secret – the Lane Cove River Tourist Park. Located in the Lane Cove National Park, this tourist park and camping ground is operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service under strict environmental guidelines.

The Park’s green initiatives are as numerous as they are inspirational. The Park leads the way in waste management, water conservation and habitat projects, but it has also embarked on an ambitious worm-farming project to compost food scraps.

In acknowledgment of its sustainable tourism practices, Lane Cove River Tourist Park was the first accommodation provider in Australia to be certified by Green Globe, an international organisation that assesses sustainable tourism operations.

For further information visit www.lcrtp.com.au

Rawnsley Park Station, Flinders Ranges

With uninterrupted views of Wilpena Pound and the surrounding Flinders Ranges, Rawnsley Park is a working station with a range of accommodation options including holiday units, a caravan park and some new luxury eco-villas. Wildlife abounds at the station, and there is a range of eco-friendly activities available including four-wheel drive tours, horseriding and cycling.

The new luxury eco-villas incorporate the latest in environmentally-friendly design, with straw bale walls, polished recycled timber floors over suspended concrete slabs and overhanging eaves to provide shade. There is natural airflow through the buildings, while a retractable ceiling offers divine night-sky viewing from the comfort of your bed!

Rawnsley Park was the first South Australian property to receive accreditation through Advanced Ecotourism Australia, and the owners are now working on developing other ecotourism products at the station.

For further information, visit www.rawnsleypark.com.au

Footnotes: For a full list of accredited accommodations and tours across Australia, visit www.ecotourism.org.au