Green Holiday Options in the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory's natural environment is one of the most diverse on earth - from the marine spectacle of its coastal reefs, the prolific birdlife of the floodplains in the Top End, the extraordinary life in the deserts of the world’s driest continent, to the world’s oldest surviving indigenous culture.

If you’re keen to contribute to the lasting beauty of Australia’s Northern Territory, you can visit this eco sensitive landscape with guides, tours, car hire companies and accommodation properties who understand the importance of protecting and preserving. Sustain the enviroment and minimise your impact by choosing a green holiday!

Outback Offsets

Outback Offsets is a pilot program established by the Northern Territory Government’s tourism agency, Tourism NT, which enabled the operations of participating tour companies to be carbon neutral for the 2008/09 year.

Tourism NT utilised Territory Discoveries to administer the pilot program. When a customer purchased a tour with any of the three participating operators (Adventure Tours Australia, Connections Safaris & Wayoutback Desert Safaris) an amount of carbon credits equal to the emissions per passenger trip, were automatically included as part of the travel booking at no cost to the customer.

Travellers that purchased these products were able to feel at ease when travelling to the Territory knowing that they were helping to sustain the environment you enjoy today.

Green News

Climate change is a significant issue for the Northern Territory Government, particularly given our tourism industry’s reliance on nature based experiences. Tourism NT will formulate and progressively implement a sustainable tourism strategy that aims to deliver environmental, social and economic outcomes. More >

Adventure Tours Australia has conducted an assessment of negative impacts of operating tour and camping ventures in environmentally sensitive areas. They have developed strategies based on the eight principles of the Eco Certification Program.

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Connections Safaris’ commitment to environmental sustainability leverages off its parent company, the APT group. APT established the APT Charitable and Conservation Fund in 2003 to promote responsible tourism in Australia.

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Wayoutback Desert Safaris is an Eco Accredited tour operator with a continuing commitment to the environment. As part of the ever growing global concern for the environment, Wayoutback Desert Safaris is actively reviewing operational procedures.

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Other Green Operators

Overview

Environmental sustainability requires motivation, commitment and a strategic approach to finding the balance between the industry, community and environment. It is a long term goal requiring adaptation, continuous improvement, monitoring and evaluation. Many of our Northern Territory operators are proactively working to adapt their business processes and adopt new technologies in order to ensure environmental sustainability. Here are just a few:

Tours

Alice Springs Desert Park The development of the Park was based on a vision for a major tourism interpretive and conservation facility which would be environmentally sustainable. It includes plants and animals displayed in integrated habitats to present the environment as it really is in Central Australia. These created habitats have matured to a level that there has been a measurable increase in biodiversity levels on the site. Moreover it has reversed the damage caused to the site by years of use as town commonage. This desert conservation facility means that the Park is involved with collaborative research and captive breeding programs. This ranges from seed biology to research into the breeding of endangered mammals for National Recovery Programs. The Park has adopted environmental sustainability objectives that enable visitors to better understand, respect, enjoy and look after the desert environment including the natural and cultural features for future generations.
Alice Springs Helicopters Alice Springs Helicopters is committed to complying with relevant environmental legislation and regulations. They proactively work with other Alice Springs Airport stakeholders to improve the management of the environment, resources and communities within the region. They also promote the company's commitment to the environment, to employees, tenants, customers and neighbours. The owners of Alice Springs Helicopters own and maintain more than 300 hectares of native vegetation in south-eastern South Australia as their contribution to offsetting carbon emissions.

Accommodation

Darwin Central Hotel Darwin Central Hotel has been accredited under the AAA Tourism Green Stars as an ‘Environmentally Friendly Hotel’. By creating a more proactive, resourceful and vibrant facility, Darwin Central Hotel is taking positive steps towards a healthier future for all Territorians and its visitors.
Bamurru Plains Bamurru Plains Wilderness Lodge on the Mary River Flood Plains is a lodge set in the wetlands. With a mission to provoke, inspire and change people’s views about conservation issues, the 240 solar panel powered lodge was built and designed to blend in with and have a minimal impact on the environment. The business focuses on servicing small numbers of high yield visitors and a percentage of the guest fees is donated to the Australian Wildlife Conservation. Bamurru Plains uses eco-friendly detergents and cleaning products, recycles religiously, offers filtered water and composts its waste.

Car Hire

Europcar Europcar has committed to offset the carbon emissions of every vehicle in its 7000 strong fleet. Every time Europcar replaces one of its cars, the new car will have its carbon emissions offset by our partner Greenfleet, who will plant 17 trees per vehicle. These trees will help to create a forest, and as they grow will absorb the greenhouse gases that each car produces in one year. Customers can make a $2 donation to Greenfleet every time they rent with Europcar who will then match every client donation.
Hertz The Hertz Green Collection offers a range of environmentally friendly, fuel efficient cars. In Australia, our first green car is the feat of modern technology, Toyota Prius. As a Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD), the Prius is an innovative combination of petrol and electric power, delivering low emissions and and excellent fuel efficiency. In Australian Government Standard testing, the Prius achieved fuel consumption of 4.4 litres / 100 km under the combined cycle. That's up to 50% less fuel consumption than a comparably-sized family car.
Budget Budget introduced Hybrid vehicles into its fleet in 2007. In addition Budget uses recycled water in their automatic car washes and has a policy of soft issue marketing publications on our website and CD ROMs. In car GPS is replacing hard copy street directories and maps. The company has a senior management committee working on a carbon gas emissions strategy document. The resultant policy will become effective in 2008.