Following our story from Thursday (Oct 28) of last week, we are very grateful to Kym Cheatham CEO of the new marketing initiative called 'Eco Lodges of Australia' for sending us through the complete list of all fourteen of Australia’s leading independent ECO tourism properties who have joined the initiative, which was launched last week at the Global ECO Asia Pacific Conference in Noosa.

Amongst this elite of eco-tourism it is brilliant to see three establishments from the Port Douglas and surrounding region.  Jabiru Safari Lodge, Silky Oaks Lodge and Thala Beach Lodge are accredited founding members.  

'Eco Lodges of Australia' is a collection of independent ECO lodges and camps offering the eco-conscious traveller responsible, ethical and sustainable ECO experiences in Australia’s most inspiring and extraordinary natural locations.  

'Eco lodges of Australia' is made up of Advanced Ecotourism certified accommodation providers in Australia, managed by Ecotourism Australia (EA).

“This group of accommodation choices are meeting the growing need and desires of the eco conscious traveller”, said Kym Cheatham, CEO, Ecotourism Australia.  “These tourism operators are dedicating themselves to raising awareness of the environmentally responsible and properly credential accommodation operators around Australia.”

“We are thrilled at the calibre of tourism operators that have joined this new marketing consortium, ECO lodges of Australia. More and more travellers are looking to make responsible choices in where they choose to stay and we have a responsibility to help them identify the most environmentally friendly accommodation options,” said Kym Cheatham.

“By using the brand 'ECO lodges of Australia', we collectively will help educate the traveller so that they do not get confused by the various ‘green claims’ in the marketplace.’

ECO lodges of Australia is made up of various styles of accommodation throughout Australia who have achieved Advanced Ecotourism certification.

The 14 founding members of ECO lodges of Australia are:

Amarant Yarra Valley, Victoria
Corinna Wilderness Experience, Tasmania
Freycinet Eco Retreat, Tasmania
Great Ocean Ecolodge, Victoria
Jabiru Safari Lodge, Queensland
Karijini Eco Retreat, Western Australia
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, Queensland
Lane Cove River Tourist Park, New South Wales
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Queensland
Paperbark Camp, New South Wales
Rawnsley Park Eco-Villas, South Australia
Silky Oaks Lodge, Queensland
Thala Beach Lodge, Queensland
Venus Bay Eco Retreat, Victoria

For more information about the Ecotourism Australia, please visit www.ecotourism.org.au