Eco-friendly tours, sustainable accommodation, and volunteering to help make our planet a better place to live: there are countless ways to go green whilst travelling.
Words by: Jeremy Rochow
Rewarding and Relaxing Oz
Combining a relaxing getaway with giving back is easier than you think. Volunteer with Tasmanian devils or trek through the Red Centre to learn about nature and culture. It’s not all work though. Learn about the eco-system on the UNESCO World Heritage listed K’gari (Fraser Island) and relax on a tropical getaway.
Get up close to wildlife
Tasmania
We have some unique wildlife in Australia, and there are dozens of volunteer options for travellers looking to get up-close and personal with these animals.
Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is known for its photogenic scenery, hiking trails and wildlife.
There’s plenty to do and see at Cradle Mountain, but you might also want to give back. Spend a few days volunteering at Devils @ Cradle wildlife park, shadowing keepers as they care for Tasmanian devils and other orphaned animals.
Once you’ve finished spending time with the Tassie Devils, explore the Apple Isle on a Tasmanian Vacations’ Eastern Tassie Detour or Western Tassie Detour self-drive tour.
Want to go green?
Upgrade your car to an electric vehicle.
South Australia
If you’re keen for an African safari, you can hear lions roaring, see giraffes loping along grassy pastures and zebras grazing – just one hour from Adelaide.
Home to more than 500 animals, South Australia’s Monarto Safari Park is the largest safari experience outside of Africa.
Buses take people through the park, but for a more sustainable way of getting around, why not consider cycling? It’s good for you and the environment, so jump on an e-bike with Bike About Cycling and enjoy a leisurely sunrise ride around Monarto. See animals like rhinos, hyenas and chimpanzees before settling in at the waterhole platform to watch the giraffes congregating in the field.
Fleurieu Peninsula
South Australia is also home to an array of sea life.
A SeaLink ferry trip to Kangaroo Island off the Fleurieu Peninsula,
could become an impromptu wildlife tour as a pod of dolphins sidle up to the boat.
Want to increase your chances of seeing local sea life? Take a tour.
You can sometimes see these marine animals from the shore; however, the best vantage point is from a boat. Hit the high seas with Big Duck Boat Tours and cruise around the Fleurieu in search of wildlife. Circumnavigate Granite Island and take in Seal Island, before heading out to The Bluff.
If you’re lucky, you could meet long-nosed fur seals, Australian seals and bottlenose dolphins.
In winter, you might encounter a whale or two as they migrate from Antarctica. While on a Big Duck Boat Tour, you’ll also learn about the Encounter Bay Sanctuary Zone and Encounter Marine Park, and why the animals who call it home are so important.
If you’re concerned about the impact Big Duck Tours might be having on the environment, think again. The tour company has a variety of initiatives to improve conservation in the area.
They assist with the Citizen Science Program by surveying the area for Kangaroo Island and Victor Harbor Dolphin Watch, received ecotourism accreditation through Ecotourism Australia, and follow responsible recycling practices.
Not a fan of the high seas? Take a gentle journey down the Coorong, where the Murray River meets the sea, with Canoe the Coorong. Learn about the Murray Mouth, journey alongside the birdlife and enjoy the beautifully wild scenery.
Fraser Island
Learn about an incredible island
Stretching 123km along the southern coast of Queensland, K’gari (Fraser Island) has some of the most pristine beaches, freshwater lakes and rainforests in Australia. Travel via SeaLink ferry to the island and join a K’gari Getaway with K’gari Explorer Tours, which has received Advanced Eco Tourism Accreditation. Explore the world’s largest sand island, which is home to incredible flora and fauna. Travel from coast-to-coast, see the towering rainforest of Pile Valley and visit the Maheno shipwreck.
Northern Territory
If you’re after an eco-friendly getaway a little closer to home, the Northern Territory has some of the best sustainable, eco-certified and Aboriginal-owned travel experiences in Australia.
One of these memorable eco experiences is a walk along the Red Centre’s epic 223km Larapinta Trail, which stretches from Alice Springs to Mt Sonder. Eco-tourism company World Expeditions will teach trekkers about the landscape, nature, cultural heritage and wildlife.
Tired after a long day of treading red dirt? Get some shut-eye in architect-designed eco camps.
Eco Friendly Overseas
Reducing your carbon footprint when travelling overseas can be challenging when you must fly to most international destinations from Australia. You can still make small changes to go green when you arrive at your destination to help the environment.
The grand electric road trip
You might be trying to reduce the fuel you’re burning, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get behind the wheel and weave your way through the picturesque Swiss Alps. In 2018, Switzerland launched a 1600km route for electric vehicles, with more than 300 EV chargers dotted along the journey.
The Swiss E-Grand Tour begins in Geneva and traverses this landlocked mountainous nation, passing through well-known Swiss towns like Bern, Lucerne and Zurich.
You won’t get sick of the stunning views as you travel over five alpine passes, drive past countless lakes and along vineyard-lined roads in the Montreux Riviera region. There are 46 top sights to see along the way, including the famous Hotel Belvedere at an altitude of more than 2400m. Look out for the oversized red frames along the Grand Tour Route, as they indicate the best locations for a photo.
Feeling a bit peckish? If you want to try the local treats, purchase a Grand Tour Snack Box. For a small fee, this nifty little red lunchbox can be repeatedly refilled with regional specialties at 52 official sites along the way. From Swiss chocolates and cheese to cured meat and cookies, you’ll never go hungry.
Green with envy
New Zealand makes it easy for tourists to go green. Not only is Air New Zealand trialling sustainable aviation fuel, but you can also rest your head at secluded ecolodges and elegant ecofriendly hotels.
You’ve probably heard of silo art, but what about sleeping in one? SiloStay is a unique accommodation option in Christchurch giving guests the opportunity to sleep in their very own silo.
Equipped with a kitchenette, balcony and a comfy bed, you’ll hardly realise you’re sleeping somewhere that usually holds grain. For those looking for a more luxurious eco-friendly hotel, the Matakauri Lodge in Queenstown might be for you. Located on the banks of Lake Wakatipu, the hotel provides picture-perfect postcard views of the surrounding mountains. The lodge also has a spacious lounge overlooking the lake and mountains and12 luxurious suites and rooms.
