Territory Discoveries is your outback holiday hub. With more than 30 destination experts available, we have reams of experience and first hand advice to offer you. We combine the Northern Territory’s largest product range and greatest number of skilled reservation agents with clever technology and a heavy dose of passion, to make your trip planning and booking effortless. Building on the core destination information provided by Tourism NT, Territory Discoveries connects consumers and travel agents with tourism products and service providers. Territory Discoveries is excited about being able to share the Northern Territory's ancient Aboriginal culture, mind blowing environment and unique outback with you, and we have absolutely no doubt you’ll treasure this wonderful place as much as we do.

Responsible Travel Policy

Policy Aims

Territory Discoveries is a Government Business Division and the commercial wholesaling arm of Tourism Northern Territory (Tourism NT). It was established in 1999 to increase the promotion of tourism product from small to medium sized Northern Territory operators not included in other domestic wholesale programs, and who had little or no access to traditional distribution channels.

Territory Discoveries’ role is to distribute natural and cultural tourism packages to visitors seeking authentic and responsible experiences that foster environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.

With a focus increasing distribution of special interest and niche products, Territory Discoveries is committed to packaging and selling the Northern Territory’s natural and cultural assets in the form of high quality touring experiences that differentiate the Northern Territory with other destinations. In doing so, we are committed to a triple bottom line approach which involves:

• not over promising and under delivering
• minimising our impact on the environment
• respecting cultural authenticity of local communities
• contributing to cultural understanding and tolerance
• providing employment opportunities
• generating income
• providing a return on investment

Aims

• Develop dedicated programs that support the sustainability of Northern Territory indigenous tourism products and other niche markets such as fishing, art trails and bird watching
• Foster and encourage regional dispersal
• Investigate avenues for non-traditional forms of special interest product and distribution
• Support the ongoing sustainability of Alice Springs through the management and operation of a professional and highly regarded reservation centre by building positive and rewarding local capacity

Economic Responsibility

Brendan Bainbridge, owner/operator of Venture North Australia, was born locally and is an individual who takes pride in everything visitors see and experience during their Territory Visit. A lifetime of visiting and living in places such as Kakadu and Arnhem Land has allowed Brendan to form and maintain close relationships with many of the areas locals and traditional owners.

The Kakadu Culture Camp is owned and operated by the Hunter family from Kakadu National Park. It was a dream of their late Grandfather Namandjalorrwokwok to establish a camp where Bininj (Aboriginal) people could live and work, and share their culture, traditional heritage and amazing wildlife with tourists from around the world. The Culture Camp is set up adjacent to the Muirella Park Campground at Djarradjin, in the heart of Kakadu National Park. The family also manages a public campground where tourists can pitch their own tent, a caravan or motor home. The Hunter family is Fred, Jenny, Dell and Douglas; all born and bred at Madjinbardi (Mudginberri Station) on the edge of the famous Magela wetlands in what was later to become Kakadu National Park. Their clan is Bolmo Dedjrungi; and they are traditional owners of country covering areas in the freshwater reaches of the nearby East Alligator River.

Batji Tours is an Aboriginal cultural walking tour of Darwin city, run by traditional owner, Larrakia man Robert Mills.

Environmental Responsibility

Outback Offsets

In July 2008, Territory Discoveries partnered with Tourism NT in an exciting pilot program “Outback Offsets” which aims for the operations of participating tour companies to be carbon neutral for the 2008/09 year.

5000 tonnes of carbon credits have been purchased from LMS Generation Pty Ltd (LMS), an Australian Government approved Greenhouse Friendly™ abatement provider. The LMS abatement project from which these carbon credits have been sourced, is the Shoal Bay Landfill Gas Generation project in Darwin, Northern Territory. This facility produces electricity from methane gas harvested from waste and is the first of its kind in the Northern Territory.

Internal Operational Procedures

• Recycle aluminium cans
• Computers, monitors and lights are switched off at night
• Installed a waste paper recycling bin - this paper is collected and shredded and used by local market gardeners to save water
• Transferred faxes to email so they only get printed as required
• Finance has changed End of Month procedures to upload files instead of printing them
• Emails encourage reader to consider the environment before they printing
• Operator contracts are filed electronically
• Stationery reused or recycled
• Staff car pool when attending meetings

Three companies (Connections, Adventure Tours & Wayoutback Desert Safari's) are part of the Outback Offsets Scheme. Wayoutback Desert Safaris are accredited with ecotourism Australia.

Connections Safaris is concerned about the issue of climate change and the negative impacts on our unique Central Australian environment. As a result, we have introduced climate friendly initiatives into our every day operations and future planning. In addition to this, we have been working with Tourism NT in a pilot project that is supported by the WWF, and an independent verifier to assist us on the road to a low carbon economy.

Connections Safaris has recently completed a life cycle assessment and is currently maintaining an emissions monitoring plan to ensure our Central Australian operations will be carbon neutral for the period 2008/09.

Discovery Ecotours Australia will continue the effort to support traditional culture - doing our bit for nature conservation and cultural integrity. These, of course, make our trips that much more special. The added bonus on all our journeys is that you will be travelling with guides who are committed to the conservation of the ecological and cultural world we live in !!

Darwin Central Hotel was designed to be energy efficient and to incorporate the use of local materials in the building concept to highlight our unique Territorian lifestyle. This endeavour won them the Tracey Memorial Award for Architecture and Design in 1997, demonstrating that Eco-engineering can still showcase a stylish and intimate hotel. In the same year the hotel also won the NT Civic Award for Design and was honoured with the ‘Building of the Year” title, given by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA). Darwin Central Hotel has various eco-friendly practices including recycling of batteries, paper, cardboard and printer toners. Even the building itself has been at the forefront of the green evolution. In 1997, the building was erected under the concept of creating an energy efficient design with local iconic materials. This endeavour won them the Tracy Memorial Award for Architecture and Design in 1998, demonstrating that Eco-engineering can still showcase a stylish and intimate hotel.

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. Customers can make a $2 donation to Greenfleet every time they rent with Europcar who will then match every client donation.

Social Responsibility

Wayoutback has recently been granted Respect of Culture Program (ROC) certification which indicates we are an endorsed Indigenous Tourism Business. This program recognizes our sustainable business and environmental practices as well as the observance of cultural protocols, particularly through acknowledgment of the diversity of Indigenous Australia and consultation with them. Our commitment to offering authentic Aboriginal Interaction. We believe that to get a thorough understanding of Central Australia then meeting and interacting with local Aboriginal people is paramount. They have been living in the area for in excess of 20,000 years and have a unique history and relationship with the land. To hear their stories first-hand will give you an insight you won’t forget in a hurry.

The Oak Valley Aboriginal Community south of Alice Springs is an inspirational Aboriginal owned and operated tour business and community which we visit on our 2 and 5 Day Safaris. It lies in beautiful desert country boasting its own fossil field, rock carvings and paintings as well as an olive and grape plantation. Here you can learn directly from local Aboriginal people about their way of life, art and hunting, etc.