Western Australia self drive tour
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Pemberton is surrounded by karri forests and has a Tourist Centre and Karri Forest Discovery Centre where maps and guides are available to ensure visitors enjoy and protect the beautiful karri forests. There is even a booklet on “Reporting Litterers” asking visitors to report any litter being disposed of inappropriately. Beedelup and Warren National Parks protect 4,000 hectares of magnificent virgin karri forest. Visitor fees apply and provide revenue to continue the conservation work, encouraging visitors to be aware of the outstanding natural resources and the importance of its continued protection for future generations.
Albany is the location for the Western Power Wind Farm, the largest and newest in Australia. Its 12 turbines, driven by strong southerly winds, can generate up to 75% of the city's electricity usage.
The Tree Top Walk near Walpole gives awesome views over a grove of 400 year old red tingle trees known as the Valley of the Giants. This unique tourism attraction has been internationally recognised, winning the Environmental Experience category in the prestigious British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. It was the only Australian attraction to win an award and was chosen from more than 75 entries from 38 countries. Judged by a panel of environmental experts chaired by Professor David Bellamy, the Tree Top Walk was seen as a world role model for responsible tourism - built to allow visitors to experience the forest without damaging the delicate root system of the trees; informing visitors about the local ecosystem and the forest's ancient beginnings; providing interpretive signage for self guided walks; and offering school holiday activities with a range of interpretive tours including an Aboriginal cultural experience.
We are proud to hold the AITO 3-star Responsible Travel accreditation recognising our commitment to sustainable tourism. We support a number of extremely worthwhile organisations and causes, including the Born Free Foundation and Friends of Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) at the University of Cambridge. Their pioneering research investigates social and environmental issues in the Arctic and Antarctic, such as global warming.
Back home we have an active environmental policy in our office including recycling bins throughout; printing our brochures on FSC accredited paper from sustainable forests; systems to encourage a paperless office; and movement sensor lights which use the latest energy-saving long-life elements.
Community
We are dedicated to ensuring that local communities and the environment are treated with the utmost care and respect by visitors. All the places visited on this tour benefit from the positive effects of tourism; economic benefits for local businesses and enterprises and employment for residents, thus contributing to the overall economic growth of each region. We support local communities by using locally owned and run hotels, activity operators and guides, and encouraging guests to visit local attractions, eat in local restaurants and buy local produce and crafts.
During this trip there are some opportunities to visit local museums – not only does this give visitors an educational experience, it supports local communities and preserves local heritage. In Pemberton there is a Pioneer Museum with a full scale settlers hut, artefacts and tools from a bygone era and a collection of photos and memorabilia. In Albany, the Whaling Station, which closed operations in 1978, has now been converted to a museum of whaling, and features one of the 'Cheynes' whale chasers that were used for whaling in Albany in the past.
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