Queensland activity vacation, Australia
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travelers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are traveling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travelers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.
How this vacation makes a difference
Environment
In all of our operations we aim to have as little impact as possible. We do not produce multi-page paper brochures and the majority of correspondence is done through email to reduce the need for paper. In our office we use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs, biodegradable and non-toxic cleaning products, and recycled paper. We also compost food scraps and lawn waste to limit our contribution to landfills.
On our trips, we abide by Leave No Trace™ environmental principles, use locally owned eco-friendly lodging, and provide high-quality interpretation of Cairns’ flora and fauna. We also feel it is more responsible to offer itineraries in a relatively small but diverse area, thus reducing our need for petrol and providing our guests with a more intimate and deeper travel experience.
Every guest is given their own reusable water bottle, cloth shopping bag, and thanks to our partner the Australian Rainforest Foundation (ARF), a native tree is planted in each guest’s name. Guests receive a certificate detailing where their tree has been planted and why this is such a special gift of life to the rainforest and to the health of our planet.
We are proud of our commitment of offsetting the carbon emissions that result from all of our office operations, trips, and staff air travel through Sustainable Travel International’s ClimateCare™ portfolio, thereby making us a carbon-neutral company. We also give our guests the option of purchasing offsets for their air travel through our carbon calculator on our website.
Community
By using locally-owned accommodation, restaurants, and outfitters on our small group trips, we ensure the community receives a direct economic benefit. All of our guides are local people. Our guests are encouraged to buy locally produced products available from locally-owned shops, markets and artists, and we give guests a list of where they can find these places in Cairns. We provide our guides with appropriate training to ensure they understand and comply with our Responsible Tourism Policy and every guest receives a copy of this policy along with a Responsible Traveler’s Code of Conduct.
By booking this trip you will also be supporting the culture and traditions of the indigenous Kuku Yalanji, one of whom will join the group for an interpretive rainforest walk and a recounting of Dreamtime stories. A traditional didgeridoo performance will also be shared. To lighten our socio-cultural and environmental impact, we keep our small groups to a maximum of 10 guests. We also educate our guests about cultural etiquette and appropriate behaviour through extensive pre-trip materials and education during our trips.
Additionally, we actively support cultural and environmental initiatives such as Treeforce and The Aboriginal Children’s Advancement Society, through financial contributions and direct participatory involvement. We are active members of the International Ecotourism Society (TIES), Sustainable Travel International (STI), Ecotourism Australia, and the Cairns & Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC).
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