Great Divide Tours Pty Ltd ECOMAIL 1" 3 , 4  ECOMAIL

Head Honcho: Where: Contact: Vic Widman Great Divide Tours is licensed in several www.4wd.net.au & NSW national parks including Blue www.greatdividetours.com.au Position in company: Mountains, Kanangra Boyd, Gardens of T: 02 9913 1395 ecopass Stone, Abercrombie, Barrington Tops, E: [email protected] Managing Director Werrikimbe, Morton, Deua, Kosciuszko, What (the product): Willandra, Kinchega, Mungo and Sturt How long you’ve been Great Divide Tours offers 4WD tag- National Parks. And this is not an licensed with NPWS: along tours – which is a unique style of exhaustive list either – yes we go everywhere! At least 15 years. operation, catering for Australian andECOMAIL international clients. It is a very “hands- Nearest airport/ Who are you on” experience for our clients who drive their own or rented 4WD vehicle as we major town: accreditedECOMAIL with? lead them into the amazing and beautiful Ecotourism . ECOMAIL We are based in but we operate all ECOMAIL 1" 3 , 4  locations in NSW national parks. over NSW.

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ECOMAIL What’s the value in being we are able to share with our clients the right past our campsites. This style of park is beauty and history of the real Australia. ideally suited to the needs of a 4WD tag-along licensed by NPWS? tour operator. Our customers expect integrity from such What keeps your customers All of this adds up to make Deua National Park a long established and respected business coming back? one of our most popular destinations – not only as Great Divide Tours. Having been in operation for more than for our customers but also for our guides. Part of that integrity comes from running 15 years, Great Divide Tours has a strong our business in a professional manner. This customer base. Without doubt, the reason One piece of advice to a newly means our number one priority is ensuring they keep coming back is the fun and licensed operator? that we have all the appropriate licences enjoyment they experience, whilst being for the areas we access. Build a good relationship with your park able to access areas of such fantastic managers so you can learn from their The reality is without the NPWS natural beauty which they would not experience and in turn, pass on this knowledge commercial licence and meeting the high otherwise have the confidence to do so to your clients so their experience is a learning The younger sibling of this fellow standards set by the licensing system, on their own. as well as an enjoyable one. then said, “What about a dragon, we would not be able to operate in our will we see any dragons?” Obviously national parks. What’s your favourite Funniest story? the little fellow thought he had We have developed a good rapport NSW national park/why? On a recent trip into Deua National Park, one his guide stumped this time. But with the park managers who provide Given that Great Divide Tours visits of the young children on the trip asked me if sure enough, as I looked around advice and assistance to Great Divide so many of our great parks, from the we would see any kangaroos, at which point for a dragon I noticed a large lace Tours which ultimately means a better outback in to the I looked across the grassy flat and pointed out monitor sunning itself just up the experience for our clients and therefore a temperate rainforests found in a small mob. track and of course pointed and higher satisfaction rate with the services exclaimed “Look, up there, there’s Barrington Tops National Park, this is Suitably impressed with their guide’s ability we offer. truly a difficult question. a dragon!” Everyone thought it was to deliver, I was then asked, “Will we see any pretty good how I could deliver on What do you love about However, Deua National Park on the wombats?” As luck would have it, I looked time, every time! No wonder I like South Coast would be a stand out park for to my right and sure enough coming out of Deua National Park so much! NSW national parks? Great Divide Tours. It’s 4WD access only, the shadows of a small bush near the river Our parks have been developed to protect has a large network of 4WD tracks, has was a wombat. the best natural, cultural and historic fantastic bush camping in the Bendethera aspects of our state. Provided access is Valley, features a large wildlife population maintained to these protected areas, and has the pristine running ECOMAIL ECOMAIL

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ECOMAIL ECOMAIL ECOMAIL ECOMAIL ECOMAIL 1" 3 , 4  ECOMAIL ecopass Tri State Safaris Head Honcho: Michael McCulkin Position in company: Owner

ECOMAIL What (the product): ECOMAIL ECOMAIL 4WD tours ECOMAIL 1" 3 , 4  ECOMAIL Where: ECOMAIL Depart Broken Hill

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ECOMAIL Nearest airport/ Being licensed indicates to our What’s your favourite major town: customers that we provide a NSW national park/why? professional service and we place Broken Hill That’s very difficult to answer as all importance on compliance. Being the parks I know are fantastic, but licensed indicates that we care Contact: is a very about the protection of the areas www.tristate.com.au special place. T: 08 8088 2389 we visit. By working with NPWS E: [email protected] we demonstrate our commitment One piece of advice to a newly to the protection of the areas we licensed operator? How long you’ve been licensed visit so that we can continue to visit Talk to parks’ staff and establish with NPWS: unspoiled conditions. We also adopt minimal impact practices to ensure an open relationship, assist where Around 15 years. these areas remain pristine. possible and report damage. Who are you accredited with? What do you love about Funniest story? Ecotourism Australia and Australian NSW national parks? In outback NSW, we stopped to Tourism Accreditation Program. watch a pair of budgies that had The diversity of landscapes, places of What’s the value in being landed in a nearby tree. I proceeded cultural and historical value and the to tell our customers how fortunate licensed by NPWS? amount of wildlife. we were to see them in the wild and As a licensed operator we are aware What keeps your customers so close. A passenger commented of the regulations that cover park they looked really nice but that it was coming back? usage during our activities. sad for the person whose cage they The opportunity to experience nature. must have escaped from. ECOMAIL ECOMAIL

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Action Learning Initiatives (ALI)

Head Honcho: 1" 3 , 4  Sam Maddock ECOMAIL ECOMAIL ECOMAIL Position in company:ECOMAIL Program Director ECOMAIL ECOMAIL What (the product): Where: ecopass Action Learning Initiatives (or ALI as we All of ALI’s programs are run in are more commonly known) specialises in in the developing customised outdoor education beautiful Snowy Mountains. programs for our client schools. ALI runs both summer and winter outdoor education Nearest airport/ ECOMAIL programs which are safe, professional major town: and educational. Activities which can be incorporated into our programs include: /Cooma day/multi-day hikes, flat water canoeing, white water canoeing, rafting, archery, orienteering, Contact: rockclimbing, abseiling, mountain biking, www.action-learning.com.au 1" 3 , 4  downhill skiing, snow-boarding, cross country T: 02 6457 2788 skiing, snowshoeing and raft building. E: [email protected]

Postcards from the field eco/184£T$0..&3$*"-3&$3&"5*0/506301&3"503pass-*$&/4*/(4:45&. www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au How long you’ve been licensed What do you love about I also can’t go past Kosciuszko National Park – backcountry snowboarding on the with NPWS: NSW national parks? main range and the western faces – it is a 10 years. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife really wild and beautiful place. Service protects some of Australia’s most Who are you accredited with? unique and wild places for us to enjoy now One piece of advice to a newly Outdoor Recreation Industry and for future generations. licensed operator? Council, NSW Waterways and I also love the variety found within our National parks’ staff are the experts on Australian Canoeing. national parks: from snow to deserts, their park so make sure you liaise with mountains to oceans, there is just so What’s the value in being them regularly. Give yourself lots of time much variety. when notifying of your intention to run licensed by NPWS? What keeps your customers an activity in the national park. If you run The primary value is that you cannot activities in remote places, make sure you commercially operate in a NSW national coming back? have good staff and good emergency After hiking with it all day, he park without one. The Kosciuszko Our flexible, all inclusive programs procedures in place. found the fire extinguisher whilst National Park staff run commercial tour combined with the unique nature of And finally, remember that prior setting up his tent that evening. operator meetings allowing you to meet Kosciuszko National Park. The winter preparation prevents poor performance Needless to say he was not a other operators and national parks’ staff season is also a big drawcard for school (or in the outdoors, an accident!!!!) happy camper! and discuss relevant issues. In addition, groups. We also have very modern you can use it in marketing material – we facilities and equipment. Funniest story? regard the NPWS brand and lyrebird logo On one of our trips I put a full-size fire as highly recognised and credible, and we What’s your favourite extinguisher in one of my colleague’s back see benefit in being able to leverage our NSW national park/why? packs. I proceeded for the entire day to go licence this way. Being licensed also helps on about how hot it was and that I hoped I can’t nominate just one! I love keep your business accountable, especially our group was fire-ready. in relation to environmental issues and Blue Mountains National Park for its ensuring minimal impact. amazing canyons and the Kanangra Boyd Wilderness area – how can something so stunningly wild be so close to Sydney?! ECOMAIL ECOMAIL

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Hinterland Tours

Head Honcho: ECOMAILAnita Menhofer ECOMAIL ECOMAIL ECOMAIL Position in company: 1" 3 , 4  ECOMAIL ECOMAIL Founder/Owner Nearest airport/ What (the product): major town: Extended walking tours (five day tour Coffs Harbour/Bellingen with day walks and accommodation ecopass outside parks as well as a full-package Contact: three week trekking tour) in small www.hinterlandtour.com.au groups of two to 10 people with a ECOMAIL T: 02 6655 2957 focus on expert interpretation of E: [email protected] ecology, geology, flora and fauna. How long you’ve been Where: licensed with NPWS: National parks of the World Since 2000. Heritage Gondwana Rainforests 1" 3 , 4  of Northern NSW. Who are you accredited with? Ecotourism Australia.

Postcards from the field eco/184£T$0..&3$*"-3&$3&"5*0/506301&3"503pass-*$&/4*/(4:45&. www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au What’s the value in being What’s your favourite in the forest, I had checked it out licensed by NPWS? NSW national park/why? beforehand and tied a ribbon marker where I left the track. Recognition of good operator New England National Park: for practice (a bit like an accreditation). its vast wilderness area, its rugged On my return, I found a better route and left another marker where I hit I feel operators have an amazing terrain and spectacular landscape, the track. My partner suggested resource in our parks and it seems and its incredible diversity due to the I take the first marker down but I fair that NPWS receives some of the steep topography. decided to leave it, knowing that a commercial income made by using One piece of advice you’d, few hundred metres down the track this resource. give to a newly licensed would be the “real” marker. What do you love about operator? To cut a long story short, I forgot NSW national parks? Expert interpretation is important, as all about it and left the track at the Still, they loved the The amazing number and variety opposed to incessant talking by the first marker with my clients. We got “adventure” and probably of national parks in NSW. I love that guide – get your clients to experience into a very steep gully, and decided think to this day that walking most of them are unfilled and can be NSW national parks with all their to turn back when one client lost a off-track means negotiating enjoyed in solitude. senses and walk or sit in silence contact lens in the dense thicket. extreme terrain! at times. And, guess what, coming back What keeps your customers Establish a good relationship with the up I found the easy route and coming back? rangers of the parks you visit. hit the track exactly where the Our small groups (on average correct marker was. Much to four participants); our unique Funniest story? the astonishment of my clients, environment; that we visit many Once I took two clients on a special who thought “someone” put the parks which are “off the beaten day tour in New England National wrong marker and thus led their track” and our personalised service Park for a trackless walk. As experienced guide astray. and high standard of interpretation. orientation is always a challenge ECOMAIL ECOMAIL

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ECOMAIL Tread Lightly Eco Tours

1" 3 , 4  Head Honcho: ECOMAIL Tim Tranter Position in company: Owner, head guide, marketing ecopass expert, receptionist, accountant. Where: What (the product): World Heritage Blue An ecological bush guiding company, Mountains National Park providing Advanced Ecotourism Nearest airport/ Accredited bush walks and 4WD major town: eco tours. We offer minimal impact touring, operate from a carbon Katoomba in the Blue neutral office and use a carbon- Mountains/Medlow Bath reduced vehicle when taking ‘International’ (1km dirt strip!) 1" 3 , 4  visitors to the World Heritage Blue or Kingsford Smith Airport in Mountains National Park. Sydney for bigger planes.

Postcards from the field Postcards from the field eco/184£T$0..&3$*"-3&$3&"5*0/506301&3"503pass-*$&/4*/(4:45&. www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.auHinterland Tours Contact: What do you love about One piece of advice to a newly www.treadlightly.com.au NSW national parks? licensed operator? T: 02 4788 1229 Finding places that mass tourism To ensure high standards, make sure E: [email protected] operators don’t go to, and that still you get accredited. How long you’ve been licensed offer a special experience for small groups. Funniest story? with NPWS: The look on a couple’s face from 12 years. What keeps your customers Florida USA after we headed out on a coming back? bush walk at 8am and a temperature Who are you accredited with? The quality ecological experience of 20 degrees, and finished the walk Ecotourism Australia. and tailor-made tours off the typical in snow at 4pm. All I could say was ‘welcome to the Blue Mountains’! What’s the value in being tourist beaten track. It was priceless. licensed by NPWS? What’s your favourite It gives consumers a sense of NSW national park/why? confidence and reassurance. I can’t choose just one! It’s a toss up between the Blue Mountains and Kosciuszko National Parks. I enjoy the tranquillity and remote wild areas of both parks, they still have quiet places that suit the style of touring we do with niche clients, and they both provide easy access.