Sustainable tourism is on the rise in Australia. Tourism Australia’s 2020 report shows 74 per cent of travellers are looking for travel experiences that allow them to give back to a destination, and a plethora of paper-wasting similar documents paint a similar picture.
So we know we’re keen. But can we really holiday green?
One way to ensure you are travelling sustainably is to stay in accommodation that is eco-friendly and designed to consider the needs of the local people and protect our natural environment – and where needed, help it to regenerate. Eco-stays are often nestled in beautiful wildernesses, making them a destination within themselves.
The owner of Wild Luxury eco-retreats Kim Ellis said she had her eyes opened to the eco world about ten years ago.
“I was referred by a very good friend of mine who had stayed in the Hawkesbury River at a holiday rental, not far from where the Calabash Bay Lodge is today. I went up there during the wintertime and it was incredibly beautiful and healing, watching the mist roll over the river,” said Ms Ellis.
“It really felt incredible, anchoring myself in nature. That shift was quite profound and made me really feel like this is a place I wanted to spend more time in but also how I could facilitate that feeling and awareness for other people as well.”
She was inspired and the idea of Calabash Bay Lodge was born. The four-bedroom sanctuary at Berowra Waters is less than an hour from the centre of Sydney and accessible only by air or boat. Wild Luxury has since opened Crane Lodge at Palm Beach in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Ms Ellis said: “When people arrive they really feel enveloped by the beauty of the eucalypt forest, you can really expand and fill your lungs with clean air.
“The benefit starts with the stay but continues when you go home, you’ve literally plugged into something bigger than yourself.”
Australians are becoming more conscious about where their dollars go. They are “very motivated by the idea that they can spend their dollars well and make really conscious purchasing decisions.
“People are looking at the credentials of the place they stay, the car they drive… there’s a lot of decision-making involved.”
Many people are also combining eco-stays with remote working. Ms Ellis said: “People are staying longer. Pre-COVID, we probably had an average stay of around three nights. We’re increasingly seeing that extend to five nights as people do a combination of remote working and their holiday.
“It’s sort of a staycation, plus ‘I can get a bit of work done while in this beautiful area, having gone for a kayak in the morning.’ Luckily the move towards flexible working has allowed for this.”
And since COVID-19 hit, Ms Ellis has noticed more families booking stays.
“We’ve seen a big rise in multi-generational travel, groups of families coming together,”
said Ms Ellis. “That’s really beautiful because a lot of that time and opportunity for connection was obviously severed by what happened in 2020, so we’re seeing a lot more people wanting to come together and use a beautiful eco-retreat as the perfect opportunity to have that family reunion event.”
If you’re considering making your next getaway an eco-stay, then Ms Ellis has the perfect words of encouragement for you: “Australia has a lot more available beyond our cities. Being able to get out into a rural environment, whether it’s on the outskirts of the city or deeper into the bush, can give people a really deep sense of connection to their country.
“If you’re somebody who’s perhaps not sure whether it’s for them, just give it a go and see whether it’s for you. Maybe you don’t have the creature comforts of the city but in an eco-luxury stay you get the marriage of both.”
Seven top eco-stays in Australia
1. Crane Lodge, NSW
An escape without having to escape too far, Crane Lodge is completely secluded in the top reaches of Sydney’s Northern Beaches. An open fire pit, heated swimming pool and hot tub add to the luxurious experience. The property was meticulously designed to non-invasively blend in with the area’s biodiversity and protect the surrounding endangered bushland.
Where: An hour’s drive from Sydney CBD.
Book: wildluxury.co
2. Paperbark Camp, NSW
This eco-camp was built without removing any large trees and employing sustainable measures to keep Jervis Bay as beautifully unspoiled as it is right now. You’ll be staying in African-inspired safari tents that sit amongst proud-standing eucalyptus and paperbark trees. You’ll fill up on local produce at the resort’s restaurant, The Gunyah.
Where: A 2.5-hour drive from Sydney or Canberra.
Book: paperbarkcamp.com.au
3. Daintree Ecolodge, QLD
The gentle cries of the birds will be your alarm clock when you stay at this eco-lodge in the depths of the Daintree Rainforest. Switch up your morning routine with a shower under the resort’s private waterfall. Once you’re satisfied with the spa facilities, choose from a range of experiences to explore the surrounding tropics. The accommodation is sustainably crafted and the lodge partnered with environmental organisations to minimise its impact on the beautiful surroundings.
Where: A 90-minute drive from Cairns.
Book: daintree-ecolodge.com.au
4. Nightfall Wilderness Camp, QLD
Share your space with red-necked wallabies, koalas and long-nosed bandicoots as you relax at this glamping getaway deep into Lamington National Park. The owners will cook your meals and the camp aims to achieve a near zero-carbon footprint. Spend your days hiking summits and searching the crystal-clear creeks for platypus, or enjoying private massages and yoga classes within the comfort of the camp.
Where: A 90-minute trip from Brisbane or the Gold Coast.
Book: nightfall.com.au
5. Pink Lake Tiny House, SA
Australians love niche tourist attractions, so why not spend the night on the only property located adjacent to a pink lake in all of Australia. It is a tiny house on wheels, across from Lake Bumbunga, bordered by the food and wine region of the Clare Valley and the coastal views of Yorke Peninsula. The house is eco-friendly and sleeps four people within its unique and thoughtful design.
Where: A 90-minute drive from Adelaide.
Book: pinklaketinyhouse.com.au
6. Freycinet Lodge Coastal Pavilions, TAS
Freycinet National Park is 169 square kilometres of coastal beauty, with Wineglass Bay the stunning centrepiece. The Coastal Pavilions at Freycinet Lodge offer a spectacular and sustainable stay. The pavilions were built off site in a commitment to sustainable design and construction. The park has famously good bushwalking and adventure activities, but the outdoor bath, immersive design and romantic scenery will make it hard to leave your pavilion.
Where: A three-hour drive from Hobart or Launceston.
Book: freycinetlodge.com.au
7. Clifftop at Hepburn, VIC
Tucked into the Daylesford and Hepburn Springs region, this romantic getaway was voted Stayz’s No.1 holiday home in 2019. From a luxury cabin you can gaze out to rock pools and waterfalls as you soak in a rustic bath, and then sink into an infinity daybed. The cabins are sustainable eco-homes, peacefully co-existing with the surrounding greenery.
Where: A 90-minute drive from Melbourne.
Book: clifftopathepburn.com.au
