Great Ocean Road self drive holiday, Australia
How Great Ocean Road self drive holiday, Australia makes a difference
Environment
A visit to the highly reputable, ethical and professionally managed Granite Island Recreation and Nature Park, supports the work undertaken here which includes scientific research measuring the health of the penguin colony and environmental management strategies implemented to benefit the colony. Professionally trained guides take visitors to view the penguins in their natural habitat and interpret the biology, ecology, behaviour and adaptations of these charismatic creatures. Tour groups are small to ensure a high quality experience and to minimise impact on the penguins.
Little Dip Conservation Park and Mt Richmond National Park are protected wilderness areas. This status maintains biological diversity and habitats and assists the conservation of endangered species. It ensures that future generations have the opportunity to see and experience unspoilt landscape and helps to conserve areas which are culturally significant to Aboriginal people. There are principles for the management of visitors, scientific research and fire management, and it promotes a 'tread lightly' ethic to visitors.
The hotels we use practice green initiatives which focus not only on efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle, but include a focused effort to promote environmentally-friendly practices throughout the hotel systems.
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 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 opportunities to visit local museums – not only does this give visitors an educational experience, it supports local communities and preserves local heritage.
The Tourist Class Hotels used in this itinerary have a Corporate Social Responsibility commitment to improve the quality of life for their staff and families, as well as the surrounding community and society as a whole. This is reflected in many of the policies and is practiced through various initiatives and activities that are carried out.
Great Ocean Road self drive holiday, Australia
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