sustainable travel around australia
From exclusive ecotours to sustainable luxury retreats, these are some of the best places in Australia to tour and stay, without costing the earth.
By: Sarah Hinder
Arkaba Walk, along the Heysen Trail, Flinders Ranges SA
arkaba walk, flinders ranges SA
The Arkaba Walk is an incredibly immersive way to see the Flinders Ranges. Over four days and three nights, the walk takes adventurers on a hiking safari led by passionate guides across Arkaba’s private wildlife conservancy. Covering between 13 and 15 kilometres a day, the expedition is one of the Great Walks of Australia. With the aim of educating guests about ecotourism, Arkaba is all about minimal impact, from its tours to its commitment to conservation. The epic walk includes two nights of swag glamping and one night in the 1850s Arkaba Homestead — a historic oasis of comfort for early explorers, including Burke and Wills’ search party and John McDouall Stuart.
Binna Burra Skylodge overlooking Lamington National Park Qld
binna burra lodge, lamington national park qld
The first Australian property to attain the internationally recognised Green Globe Certification for its best practice environmental performance, Binna Burra boasts a remarkable location above Lamington National Park. The eco-friendly Sky Lodges have sweeping views across the Coomera and Numinbah valleys. A visit to the massage studio should help you unwind, or you can hike around the park, which sits 800 metres above sea level. Soak up the mountain scenery, waterfalls and fern gullies, and get your thrills trying out the flying fox or going abseiling.
Bamurru Plains, Kakadu National Park NT
bamurru plains, kakadu national park nt
Shared with just 20 guests, Bamurru Plains is a luxury safari lodge surrounded by 300 square kilometres of floodplains and savanna woodland on the Mary River, at the edge of Kakadu National Park. Bamurru’s bungalows have been designed with minimal impact in mind, so they employ solar-generated power and hot-water systems. This remote yet beautiful part of Australia’s Top End is home to one of the largest crocodile populations in the world and an annual migration of more than 100,000 magpie geese. Take a guided bushwalk or head out in an open-topped 4WD to see water buffalo, birds, wallabies, wild boar and brumbies.
Daintree Ecolodge & Spa, Daintree Rainforest Qld
Daintree Ecolodge & Spa, Daintree Rainforest Qld
With the world’s oldest tropical rainforest at your feet, this sustainable resort doesn’t skip on luxury comforts. You’ll wake up to 180-million-year-old surrounds from the comfort of your eco-friendly banyon, entirely coated in green canopy. Committed to reducing its environmental footprint and positively contribute to the local community, the resort uses self-sufficient practices wherever possible and is in partnership with Rainforest Rescue to plant 2,500 trees across the Daintree.
Freycinet Retreat, Coles Bay Tas
Freycinet Retreat, Coles Bay TAS
Located in Freycinet National Park, this retreat has self-catering bush retreats and studios that enjoy unspoiled views of Coles Bay, and the surrounding bushland and forest is teeming with native wildlife. Dedicated to preserving its enviable surrounds, the retreat is committed to minimising waste and sustainable living. To best experience the stunning setting, join one of the retreat’s organised tours or take a short drive to the pristine waters of Wineglass Bay. If you arrive at the right time of year, you might even be lucky enough to witness the Aurora Australis.
Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Tallebudgera Valley Qld
Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Tallebudgera Valley QLD
Overlooking the beautiful Tallebudgera Valley, this retreat promotes “wellness, energy and calmness”. Gwinganna’s Wildlife Survival Program is a testament to the company's commitment to the environment, while its nature walks with resident botanist and social ecologist John Palmer is a highlight during a stay here. No ordinary retreat, winganna has been awarded Eco-Spa of the Year at the AsiaSpa Awards for three consecutive years.
Longitude 131°, Uluru-Kata Tjuta NT
Longitude 131°, Uluru-Kata Tjuta NT
Staying at Longitude 131° places you right in the spiritual heart of Australia, amid rugged outback beauty and rich Aboriginal culture. Atop uninterrupted red dunes, the resort’s 15 tented pavilions directly overlook the country’s most recognisable natural landmark: Uluru. The glamping experience of a lifetime, Longitude 131° has been sustainably designed to preserve the natural lay of the land. When you’re not dining under the stars, take a helicopter ride over Uluru and Kata Tjuta, or hike the Valley of the Winds and learn about the local Anangu people.
Karijini Eco Retreat, Karijini National Park WA
Karijini Eco Retreat, Karijini National Park WA
Set among one of Western Australia’s largest and most awe-inspiring national parks, these low-impact glamping lodges are designed to cause no harm to the surrounding natural environment. The spacious solar-powered eco tents feature a king-size bed, quality linen and their own ensuite bathroom. The region is home to gorges, rock formations and cascading waterfalls that have been virtually untouched for more than two billion years, providing plenty of opportunities for hiking, abseiling, rock climbing and swimming.
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