Queensland

Lady Elliot Eco Resort is a family-run operation within a ‘green zone’ in the southern World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. A sanctuary for over 1,200 species of marine life, including manta rays and turtles this island resort is also home to thousands of nesting boobies and terns.

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is a world-leading and award-winning holiday spot, dedicated to protecting and enhancing Lady Elliot Island, the Great Barrier Reef, and the surrounding communities. Achieving 100% sustainability in 2020, as well as being certified by numerous eco-accreditation boards, Lady Elliot Island asks guests to commit to their sustainability pledge on arrival. Your pledge includes things like limiting waste and water usage, protecting wildlife, and following the marine park rules, but also includes contributing to on-island conservation, for example, the Revegetation programme which has already restored over 5 hectares, and planted 3,000 native coral cay trees.

Lady Elliot Island boasts an eco-resort perfect for an island getaway, marine encounters that’ll thrill you, and sunsets that are as good as it gets. Whether you’re staying in the safari tents, eco-cabins or family-friendly units, take the behind-the-scenes tour to see all the hard work that goes into the island’s low-impact operation. There’s the hybrid solar power station, water-desalination plant, waste management, single-use plastic-free ethos, carbon-neutral flights, as well as the revegetation project.

There are also day visits departing from Gladstone, Bundaberg, Hervey Baym Brisbane, and Gold Coast. You’ll find snorkelling and diving excursions, kids Reef Rangers activities, and more to entertain at this special spot.

Dreamtime Island is a new reef pontoon in the Cairns region that unites traditional Dreamtime lore with Western science. Nestled at Moore Reef, this two-story structure transcends its recreational function, featuring a floor-to-ceiling underwater observatory and laboratory. Here, marine scientists can stay the night while conducting overnight studies, including the observation of the annual coral spawning phenomenon.

This pontoon was delivered in partnership with the Traditional Owner group Gunggangji by Experience Co, who also runs the indigenous-led Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel excursions. Striving to balance the environmental impact, wind, solar, and where possible electricity generation powers the pontoon and smaller support vessels.

Teeming with biodiversity, the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, stretching from the tip of Cape York in Queensland’s north, all the way to Bundaberg, and home to some truly idyllic islands.

You can help to support the future of the Great Barrier Reef just by visiting it – but to contribute meaningfully while also collecting memories and learning to last a lifetime, join a citizen science programme. As part of the Eye on the Reef programme you can help researchers monitor reef health and marine life or you can take part in reef restoration with a coral nurturing programme.

Imagine if treating yourself to a relaxing soak in private hot springs pools could also instil in you a deeper spiritual connection to the land. It’s called cultural wellness and Talaroo Hot Springs may just be responsible for coining the phrase. The sprawling former cattle station on Ewamian Country has been managed for the past ten years as an Indigenous Protected Area and Nature Refuge. Now the doors have opened for conscious travellers who want to disconnect from their everyday lives and make the journey to camp here, wander the scenic boardwalks, and dip in and out of the 35°C pools. The pet-friendly campground has been designed as a meeting place for cultures, ancient and emerging, to learn stories of this Country – long known as a traditional healing place – from Ewamian Rangers. By night, the night sky becomes the headliner and the ‘Yarning Circle’ firepit its front-row seat. To reach Talaroo, take a 4.5-hour road trip from Cairns along the Savannah Way or take it slow aboard the Savannahlander train.

Want to generate zero-carbon points on your next holiday? Stay at this off-the-beaten-track luxury campsite in Lamington National Park, 90 minutes south-west of Brisbane. Less is more here: switch off your phone and let the babbling creek and native birds be your soundtrack. You’ll still have every comfort at your fingertips in these hand-built safari tents, so settle in for a bath or read a book by the fireplace.  Nightfall really is a back-to-nature experience; solar power, water-and-waste management, regeneration of the surrounding forest, organic locally sourced menus and minimising soil erosion have earned it Advanced Eco-Tourism Certification.

You’ve probably never heard of Wilson Island, a tiny coral cay off the coast of Gladstone in the Southern Great Barrier Reef – but this Queensland eco-resort lets nature do the talking. Whether you’re kicking back in the reef safari tent and making the most of the sea views, or diving right into all the action at your fingertips, from nature walks and snorkelling to SUP, you’ll be one of a maximum of 18 guests – not counting the turtles that call this home, too. But you’re truly a guest of nature here. As a Marine National Park, Wilson Island is a ‘no touch, no take’ area: fishing and collecting aren’t allowed without a permit, so marine life is abundant. Sustainable touches are everywhere you look: the island is 100% solar and battery-powered and uses eco and organic materials from the bed linen to the upcycled wine glasses, as well as biodegradable bathroom amenities. This is a low-impact stay that’ll have a lasting impact on your life.

In the picturesque Scenic Rim sits Spicers Hidden Vale on 120,000 acres. It’s not just the accommodation that will tempt you but eatery Homage, an award-winning enterprise which is famously one of Queensland’s best sustainable restaurants thanks to a unique paddock-to-plate concept. Picture a market garden overflowing with vegetables, fruit, herbs, and native ingredients sourced from local farmers.

In 2020, Townsville was named one of the year’s top 100 sustainable destinations in the world by global certification group Green Destinations and the region is currently on its way to eco-certification with Ecotourism Australia. If nature is your jam, book a site or glamping tent at the Advanced Eco-Certified Townsville Eco Resort for a peaceful stay set on 14 acres with its own wetland. Across the road, you’ll find Billabong Sanctuary where you can cuddle a koala – or even a baby croc – and feed the cassowaries. A trip to Townsville wouldn’t be complete without some time on Magnetic Island and there are a raft of eco-certified experiences on offer. Paddle into the sunset with Magnetic Island Sea Kayaks, head out for a sail with Big Mama Sailing, and explore some of Maggie’s secret beaches with Aquascene Charters. If you’re a diver, you can dive into the iconic Yongala shipwreck or experience the Museum of Underwater Art from Townsville with the eco-certified Adrenalin Snorkel and Dive.

Everyone has a dream, and José Paronella’s dream became a reality. On five hectares beside Mena Creek Falls on the Cassowary Coast, he built his castle, a picnic area by the falls, tennis courts, bridges, and a tunnel, and wrapped it up in an amazing range of 7,500 tropical plants and trees. He even harnessed the waterfall for his electricity! Paronella Park opened to the public in 1935 and today, visitors can marvel at the achievements of one man and explore the fairytale ruins at this eco-accredited masterpiece.

Immerse yourself in nature at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. The owner’s family pioneered ecotourism back in 1926, and it’s here you can nestle amongst the canopy on the famed Tree Top Walk. Or take a walk among the region’s many waterfalls; near O’Reilly’s sits the Morans Falls Waterfall Walk, which is an easy 4.6-kilometre return. Mirror Falls, Natural Bridge and Coomera Gorge are also worth a visit.