Country Charm Discovery Tour

20/10/2024

'NEWCASTLE COASTAL GEOTRAIL' BEATS 'BATHERS WAY COASTAL WALK' HANDS DOWN'

For those discussion group members who happened to tune into SBS last week to watch the latest iteration of 'Great Australian Walks' (focusing on Newcastle's famed 'Bathers Way Coastal Walk) they would be surprised to learn that this walk follows in length just part of what has been recently created as the more extensive Newcastle Geotrail. Yes, the NSW Geological Survey has created a far more informative and interesting geotrail that can be studied at https://bit.ly/48iQXSv rather than what the viewers were served up by the presenter in this TV program.

Apart from the rambling discourse about coastal swimming pools and convicts, the lifestyle of First National people prior to European settlement, shipping disasters, the great Newcastle earthquake links to a dreamtime story, coal mining, Macedonian communities and the BHP steel works etc - all worthy cultural heritage elements, the SBS program was devoid of any substance about natural heritage features. The failure to even identify the coal seams outcropping in the cliff faces was woeful given the very reason why colonial settlers selected this place for early colonial development!

Having watched a number of episodes of this program, it is apparent that the producers have not thoroughly researched these places and to ensure that the presenters are able to interview a range of local specialists expert in the 'A', 'B', and 'C' domains. It is truly arguable whether or not the production of this series can live up to the standard which would be expected for a quality documentary. Surely, SBS can do better than this!

15/10/2024

GEOTRAIL DEVELOPMENT AND INTERPRETATION – WHAT NEXT?

Jessica Willemse, a geoheritage and geotourism undergraduate of the School of Geography, Planning & Spatial Science of Utas has shared a thoughtful presentation entitled ‘Improving the interpretability of Australia’s Geotrails,’ with reference to an assessment of one of Australia’s first purpose-built geotrails, the Port Macquarie Coastal Geotrail in NSW. https://lnkd.in/gQCC-eGW

Jessica argues that education goals about geodiversity and its linkage to human experience through biotic processes can be achieved through active engagement by people i.e. by experiential learning - the process of learning by ‘doing.’ By engaging visitors in hands-on experiences and reflection, Jessica believes that tourists are better able to connect knowledge gained by viewing interpretative signage to real-world situations.

In theory, this realisation is fine, but its practical application will present challenges to geotrail developers. In the case of the Port Macquarie Coastal Geotrail, this facility has at least provided the local schools with an outdoors education resource for their students, whereby teachers are able to discuss back in the classroom some of the ideas being expressed by Jessica. However, for the casual visitor or tourist, unless there is a co-located interpretation centre equipped with interactive, computer-generated modules, there is no similar process available.

Soon tourists will be able to access through their smartphones the Australian Geotourism Discovery Portal https://bit.ly/3SlYObr (currently under development by Geotourism Australia) to interrogate the presented knowledge. Perhaps with the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the functionality of the Portal could be enhanced in several ways, which might include the following.

* Through analysing user preferences and behaviour, AI could suggest tailored geotourism experiences, activities, or sites based on individual interests, previous visits, and demographic information.

* By implementing natural language processing, AI might be able to improve search capabilities, allowing users to ask questions in natural language and receive relevant information about geosites, itineraries, and local geology.

* By utilising image recognition technology, at some future time, users might be able to upload photos to identify geological features, this enhancing engagement.

* AI can enhance accessibility by providing real-time translations, audio descriptions, or tailored content for users with disabilities.

The National Geotourism Strategy aims to establish a framework for creating high quality, sustainable geotrails. Perhaps a measure of this sustainability will be the extent to which human engagement is maximised.

For information about the Utas geoheritage and geotourism programs, Dr Melinda McHenry, Head of School, can be contacted at E: [email protected]

02/10/2024

UNDERSTANDING WILDLIFE – A KEY ELEMENT OF GEOTOURISM
Wildlife Tourism Australia Conference, 5-7 November, North Coast NSW

Dr Ronda Green, President of Wildlife Tourism Australia (WTA) has pointed out that many people visit a natural destination, take a few photos, and leave without ever really finding out what is special about it or learning what creatures live there or some of the fascinating ways they interact with their ecosystem. WTA’s national conference, 5-7th November, online and in northern New South Wales, explores the many ways guides and composers of educational materials can provide enjoyable, memorable, safe, wildlife-friendly experiences for tourists and others, and some of the research behind what works and what does not.

The conference brings together specialists across the broad spectrum of sustainable nature tourism, noting the inclusion of one presentation which illustrates that geotourism initiatives highlight the ecological importance of geological features, promoting an understanding of the interconnectedness of geology and biology. With this in mind, this year WTA and Geotourism Australia have been represented at Ecotourism Australia’s Global Sustainable Tourism Summit, the GEOFEST 2024 Sydney Workshop, and now this WTA event that focuses on the value of story-telling and other quality interpretation in wildlife tourism.

Ronda reports that the conference is attracting delegates from Australia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Japan in person, with others from Africa, North and South America and Europe online.

The WTA conference includes talks, discussions, posters, workshop activities, a tour of a Marine Discovery Centre, an interpretive forest walk with an experienced First Nations Leader, and visits to a wildlife sanctuary with an associated wildlife hospital, a fruit bat colony, and the Arakwal National Park, one of Australia’s few sites included on the IUCN’s Green List https://bit.ly/4gOD8iz

The conference venue is North Star Resort, Hastings Point, across the road from a long sandy beach fringed with coastal woodland. Tour guides, ecolodge owners, zoo staff, researchers, students, NGOs, conservation managers and anyone with an interest in imparting quality information about wildlife are very welcome to attend.

For all conference details and registration see https://bit.ly/3SWZhRn

17/09/2024

DEMYSTIFYING THE GEOLOGY OF THE KATA TJUTA NATIONAL PARK

Viewers of the recent entertaining SBS television program, 'Great Australian Walks' at Uluru and Kata Tjuta (also known as the Olgas) would have been somewhat bemused to see the otherwise confident presenter, Julia Zemiro, having to rely on a tour guide to try and explain the fascinating geology of Kata Tjuta, and then to devote most of her ‘geotour’ to circumnavigate Uluru.

At the foundation of geotourism is the physical landscape, which shapes the geosystem services provided to the biota and human societies that live in the place. Geotourism is therefore integrated – it sees geology and landscape as the foundation bedrock around which society, culture, and ecosystems interact. Geotourism can be practised in protected places such as Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Uluru and Kata Tjuta, are the two major abiotic and cultural features of the National Park and are sacred to the Pitjantjatjara, the Aboriginal people of the area, known as the Aṉangu.

In understanding the formation of Uluru and Kata Tjutas' sedimentary origins, around 550 million years ago, the region where these formations now stand was covered by an inland sea into which sedimentary rocks were deposited.

Tectonic Pressure: Over time, these sedimentary layers were compressed under immense pressure, forming sandstone in the case of Uluru; and for Kata Tjuta, conglomerate, a sedimentary rock consisting of cobbles and boulders of varying rock types including granite and basalt, cemented by a matrix of coarse sandstone . Approximately 400 million years ago, the whole area was uplifted during a geological event known as the Alice Springs Orogeny. The tectonic pressure buckled and tilted both the sandstone formation of Uluru and the conglomerate formations of Kata Tjuta.

Further Sedimentary Processes: After this mountain building process, the sea encroached again, and the now buckled rocks of Uluru and Kata Tjuta were gradually buried by sediment.

Erosion: Over the past 300 million years, the softer rocks around Uluru and Kata Tjuta eroded away, leaving behind the harder rocks of the formations that we see today; at Uluru, now defined as a monolith or inselberg; whereas Kata Tjuta is now exposed in 36 domes, both features representing the above surface expression of formations that extend many kilometres below the present-day surface. The reddish hue of these formations comes from the iron oxide coating the rock surfaces – voila the Red Centre!

08/08/2024

Waitaki Whitestone UNESO Global Geopark, New Zealand featured at the recent GEOFEST 2024 SYDNEY WORKSHOP

Sasha Morriss, Geoeducator and Geoscientist of the Waitaki Whitestone UNESCO Global Geopark, discussed the evolution and rationale for New Zealand’s first geopark. Her most informative presentation can be viewed at https://bit.ly/4dxtBtV Young NG hashtag

12/06/2024

REGISTER NOW FOR GEOFEST 2024 EARLY BIRD DEALS

We are very pleased to be co-hosting the GEOFEST 2024 Sydney Workshop to be held at The University of Sydney next month. Will we see you there?

We’re looking forward to learning more about the developing field of geotourism and the progress being made in spreading knowledge in this area. This is key to increasing public awareness of the intrinsic role geology plays in our appreciation of our landscape and the environment, particularly relating to wildlife. Guidance will be obtained by learning from our Indonesian workshop participants, who are all more advanced in geopark development and in measuring the social (including cultural) and economic impacts of geotourism.

We’re also passionate about seeking opportunities for geoscientists, all of whom are intrigued by volcanoes, and others interested in developing closer tourism links with our nearest neighbors - Indonesia and New Zealand.

At the Workshop, in addition to our Indonesian, Australian and New Zealand specialist speakers, there will be two interactive panel discussions, one on sustainable development and the other on geotourism opportunities for geoscientists guided by the leaders driving Australia’s National Geotourism Strategy.

GEOFEST 2024 Sydney Workshop is being hosted by the Australian Geoscience Council (AGC), the Indonesian Geoparks Network, and The University of Sydney and co-hosted by generous sponsorship from various AGC societies (The AusIMM and its Sydney Branch, the AIG, and the GSA), and SMEDG. With ticket prices set at a highly affordable level to maximise participation, ‘EARLY BIRD’ REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE UNTIL 17th JUNE.

To learn more about the impressive main workshop (inclusive of a celebratory dinner, the field trip program, and the special wildlife workshop), refer to and please register at www.geofest.com.au

Dr Young Ng
Convenor, GEOFEST 2024 SYDNEY WORKSHOP

09/06/2024

Following the successful convening by Ecotourism Australia of the highly informative Global Sustainable Summit in Brisbane last week, it was timely to read the excellent feature article by Ute Junker in the Weekend AFR today. The feature was all about "sustainability tourism" and focused on a number of locations worldwide which included reference to Tropical North Queensland and a national park in Indonesia.

Both these regions are featured in the upcoming workshop in Sydney next month with the theme 'Volcano as a world class sustainable geotourism destination'. Volcanoes are prominent landforms of many of the ten UNESCO Global Geoparks discussed at the workshop, and which features specialist speakers from Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand, with an additional day devoted to wildlife tourism.

Holistically structured geotourism does of course embrace the flora and fauna attributes featured in the ecotourism experience. Led by Dr Ronda Green, President of Wildlife Tourism Australia, and with specialised knowledge of wildlife in the Asia Pacific region, Ronda is chair of Biodiversity Working Group within IUCN’s Tourism and Protected Areas Group. Indonesia and Australia are both amongst the world’s highest-ranking countries in terms of biodiversity and endemism. The two countries mostly harbour quite different fauna and flora, but also share quite a few taxonomic groups such as fruit bats, marsupials, monotremes, cassowaries, megapodes, bowerbirds, birds of paradise, cuckoos, crocodiles, and monitor lizards.

The Sydney event offers a unique opportunity to gain an informed understanding of the vast potential of and the various issues relating to sustainable geotourism in the Asia Pacific region into which Australian environmental specialists (including geoscientists) and ecotourists/geotourists) are now being attracted.

The GEOFEST 2024 Sydney Workshop is being hosted by the Australian Geoscience Council (AGC), the Indonesian Geoparks Network, and The University of Sydney and co-hosted by generous sponsorship from various AGC societies (The AusIMM, the AIG, and the GSA), and SMEDG. With ticket prices set an a highly affordable level to maximise participation, ‘EARLY BIRD’ REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE UNTIL 17th JUNE AT www.geofest.com.au

04/06/2024

VULCANISM AND GEOTOURISM IN TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

Russell Boswell is a regional tourism development expert. He has owned and operated tour companies, created numerous ecotourism experiences and mentored hundreds of tourism businesses across Australia. He has worked in tourism development projects in the Pacific, Indonesia, and China. Russell delivers programs in destination planning, storytelling, and business development. Russell is a graduate of The University of Sydney (USYD) and serves on two working groups of Australia’s National Geotourism Strategy.

Russell also manages Savannah Guides, a not-for-profit organisation delivering professional development for tour guides, including training, field schools and accreditation. Savannah Guides operates the EcoGuide program, benchmarking high standard tour guiding in Australia and internationally.

Based in Cairns, Tropical North Queensland, Russell is well familiar with the world famous geotourism attraction of the Undara Lava Tubes located west of the Atherton Tablelands. He is particularly interested in the underdeveloped and less well known Recent volcanic attractions on the Tablelands which has some of the youngest extinct volcanoes in Australia including Lake Eacham, Lake Barrine, the Seven Sisters Mountain range (The Pinnacles), the Mount Hypipamee Crater, and Mount Quincan.

Russell will be speaking at the GEOFEST 2024 Sydney Workshop which is being hosted by the Australian Geoscience Council, the Indonesian Geoparks Network, and USYD and co-hosted by generous sponsorship from various AGC societies (The AusIMM, the AIG, and the GSA), and SMEDG. With ticket prices set an a highly affordable level to maximise participation, ‘EARLY BIRD’ REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE UNTIL 17th JUNE AT WWW.GEOFEST.COM.AU

03/06/2024

29/05/2024

KEY ATTRACTIONS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS RE-EMERGE FROM HIBERNATION

Regular visitors to one of Australia's best known destinations will be pleased to learn that the Conservation Hut at Wentworth Falls has at last been reopened after several years of closure. This attraction now features excellent refreshments (inc excellent coffee and cakes) at a location with an outstanding view across Jamieson Valley and at the starting point of two short walks.

On this note it is also great to see the top section of the nearby Darwin's walk reopened :)

22/05/2024

Wildlife Tourism in Australia and Indonesia and its relationship to Geotourism:
forming part of the GEOFEST 2024 SYDNEY WORKSHOP, 18-20 JULY

GEOFEST is an international event open to geoscientists, environmental professionals, educators, students, and tourism operators. The focus of the workshop is on building a strategy framework for geotourism development. The GEOFEST 2024 Sydney Workshop is being held at The University of Sydney on Thursday 18 July and includes an optional wildlife tourism session on Saturday 20th.

Led by Dr Ronda Green, President of Wildlife Tourism Australia, with specialised knowledge of wildlife in the Asia Pacific region, Ronda is chair of Biodiversity Working Group within IUCN’s Tourism and Protected Areas Group. Indonesia and Australia are both amongst the world’s highest-ranking countries in terms of biodiversity and endemism. The two countries mostly harbour quite different fauna and flora, but also share quite a few taxonomic groups such as fruit bats, marsupials, monotremes, cassowaries, megapodes, bowerbirds, birds of paradise, cuckoos, crocodiles, and monitor lizards.

The session will discuss these shared groups and some of the endemic creatures of both countries. Some of the species will also be considered in relation to their dependence on kinds of soils or landscapes, and in some cases their own influence on soils. Finally, the session discusses some ideas on incorporating wildlife interpretation into geotourism displays and activities.
Other speakers include Professor Jatna Supriatna of the Academy of Science Wildlife, University of Indonesia, who will be discussing wilderness and potential for wildlife tourism in Indonesia.

Professor Julien Louys, Palaeontology, Griffith University will address Australasian Exchanges and Extinctions and explain why northern Australia and West Papua (Indonesia) are so alike and yet so different?

Dr Simin Maleknia of Tetratherix Medical will be discussing forensic investigations into illegal wildlife trafficking in Australia and Indonesia
Roundtable discussions will be addressing various other topics which include.

* Arousing tourist awareness of and interest in lesser-known creatures in volcanic landscapes’
* Diverse ways of presenting local wildlife to tourists: animals commonly seen; animals present but rare or cryptic; and animals of past eras.
* Ways of interpreting wildlife in geotourism: examples and ideas.
* The potential and techniques for including wildlife in geotourism.

The entire GEOFEST event is being hosted by the Australian Geoscience Council (AGC), the Indonesian Geoparks Network, and USYD and co-hosted by generous sponsorship from various AGC societies (The AusIMM, the AIG, and the GSA), and SMEDG. With ticket prices set an a highly affordable level to maximise participation, ‘EARLY BIRD’ REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE UNTIL 17th JUNE AT WWW.GEOFEST.COM.AU

17/05/2024

Representing the interests of geotourism practioners through the Geotourism Forum of Ecotourism Australia, Leisure Solutions® is proud to be sponsoring Ecotourism Australia’s Global Sustainable Tourism Summit! Will we see you there? 👀

We’re passionate about growing a more sustainable tourism industry and joining the discussion. At the Summit you will hear from over 50 speakers from Australia and beyond exploring the best practice case studies, latest innovations, inspiring stories and challenges for sustainable tourism across a diverse range of topics based on the four pillars of sustainability.

Learn more about the incredible program and register before 28 May to avoid disappointment: https://lnkd.in/gvE7rPgN

📅 Dates: 4 – 6 June 2024
🕒 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
📍Pullman Mercure Brisbane King George Square, Meeanjin/Brisbane

17/05/2024

GEOTOURISM –UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETING CULTURAL LANDSCAPES

An address to the Australian Institute of Tour Guides (IATG), 2024 Workshop, 16 May 2024 by the Coordinator of Geotourism Australia. The concept of cultural landscapes as it relates to the Aboriginal understanding of 'Connection to Country' was also explained by IATG commitee member, Bettina Grahame, in her opening remarks to the Workshop.

The geotourism presentation, which also explained the concept of mining cultural landscapes, arrived at the following conclusions, inter alia

* Geotourism is increasingly being recognised worldwide as a major deliverer of nature-based tourism.
* Experienced guides can also play a key role in the implementation of at least three key goals of the National Geotourism Strategy i.e digital transformation, sustainable geotrail development, and enhanced geocommunications.
* Collaboration with geologists, geographers and Aboriginal culture specialists will enable Australian tour guides to deliver world-class geotourism experiences which are holistic in scope and meet the aspirations of the Austrralian Government's THRIVE 2030 Visitor Economy Strategy.

The presentation can be downloaded at https://lnkd.in/g7fjcfKe

08/05/2024

Dr PATRICIA ERFURT

Volcanic Geotourism Specialist – GEOFEST 2024 SYDNEY WORKSHOP

‘Destinations and current development of volcanic geotourism in Australia’

Patricia Erfurt has published extensively on this topic, describing each of the volcanic provinces principally located along Eastern Australia extending from Far North Queensland, through the full extent of that state, through NSW to just south of Sydney, and then incorporating much of Western Victoria into South Australia, as well as into Tasmania, not forgetting the offshore provinces of Heard and Macquarie, Lord Howe, and Norfolk islands. Volcanic activity is also exposed in the West Kimberley and Bunbury provinces of Western Australia.

On the Australian mainland (and crustal plate), Patricia has pointed out that “the origins of Australian volcanoes has been debated with different theories seeking to explain Australia’s intraplate volcanism.” Patricia has suggested that “hot spot activity is widely accepted as the most plausible explanation, with hot spots are areas where thermal plumes, which remain connected to the lower mantle, rise up from beneath the crustal plates during continental drift”.

Unlike the volcanic provinces of Indonesia, the Australian provinces are essentially inactive, although active volcanism was reportedly witnessed by Aboriginal communities both in Western Victoria and Far North Queensland within the last 5-10,00 years.

Patricia Erfurt studied geology, geography, and soil science at the University of New England, New South Wales. She also received her PhD from James Cook University (JCU) in Queensland, for the subject of natural hot springs and their role in health, wellness, and recreation. Her research interests include exploring volcanic destinations and hot spring locations with an emphasis on sustainable management and conservation of endangered geosites.

Patricia actively promotes the concept of sustainable geotourism, assists with planning and establishing geotrails, and works as advisor for the conservation of natural and cultural resources and their geoheritage.

As a collaboration between Australia and Indonesia, the GEOFEST 2024 Sydney Workshop is being held on Thursday 18 July at USYD concluding with a formal dinner with field trips on the 19th (with one to the Kiama volcanics south of Sydney) and a wildlife tourism workshop on the 20th. GEOFEST is being hosted by the Australian Geoscience Council (AGC), the IGN, and USYD and co-hosted by generous sponsorship from various AGC societies (The AusIMM, the AIG, and the GSA), their Sydney based groups, and SMEDG. With ticket prices set an a highly affordable level to maximise participation, ‘EARLY BIRD’ REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE UNTIL 17th JUNE AT WWW.GEOFEST.COM.AU

Young NG Dr. Melinda McHenry Ian Neuss

08/05/2024

PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDES WORKSHOP FOCUSING ON HERITAGE AND CONNECTIONS,THURSDAY 16 MAY
NATIONAL TRUST CENTRE, OBSERVATORY HILL, SYDNEY

Australia has a rich natural and cultural heritage that underpins a sense of place and national identity. Our heritage includes stories, traditions, events and experiences inherited from the past and is comprised of natural, historic and Aboriginal places and people. As tour guides and tour leaders IATG's role is to showcase Australia's heritage. Through continually developing our knowledge of Australia's heritage means that tour guides not only describe, but provide meaning and understanding for their tour groups.

Geotourism will be featured at the workshop through a focus on 'Understanding and interpreting cultural landscapes'.

Bookings at this event can be accepted up to Sunday 12 May.
More Information: https://lnkd.in/gKiFr4xH

30/04/2024

REGISTER: GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM SUMMIT, BRISBANE, 4-6 JUNE

Ecotourism Australia’s inaugural Global Sustainable Tourism Summit will bring together industry leaders and sustainability experts in Meeanjin/Brisbane, on 4-6 June 2024 to discuss the current opportunities and challenges for the sustainable tourism industry.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Summit will explore the theme ‘People, Planet, Place, Purpose’, delving into how all sectors of the visitor economy can address the four pillars of sustainability: positive environmental, cultural, and socio-economic impact, and sustainable business management. The event will continue Ecotourism Australia's legacy of hosting one of the world's longest running ecotourism conferences (formerly Global Eco) and will include a main Summit Day and a deep dive ECO Think Forum on day two.

As the peak body for eco and sustainable tourism in Australia, this event will bring together expert international, Pacific region and Australian speakers representing sustainable tourism operators, industry sectors and destinations that are delivering on world's best practice in sustainability. The Summit is designed for all sectors of the visitor economy to hear from industry leaders and sustainability experts, exchange ideas about how to grow Australia’s sustainable and ecotourism sector and showcase the latest innovations and best practice examples.

The program includes targeted discussions for tourism operators with dedicated sessions for nature-based and urban experiences to learn more about sustainability with practical insights and genuine discussions to help you grow on your journey. Also included on Day Two is a panel session highlighting high-quality experiences around unique Australian locations and themes, which embrace geotourism concepts.

Discover the full program here: https://lnkd.in/gqgsyHfd

Registrations must close 28 May 2024 (less than 4 weeks away). Ecotourism Australia members and partner members receive exclusive discounts to the event. This event is strongly endorsed by the Geotourism Forum of Ecotourism Australia https://lnkd.in/dsMaQASG and by Geotourism Australia (in support of the National Geotourism Strategy).

Don’t miss out – register today! https://lnkd.in/gvE7rPgN