Australian’s love their holidays and why shouldn’t they; Australia is full of so many beautiful place to see, visit and experience. But have you ever wondered what impact people visiting these places are having on our environment?

What is ecotourism?

Ecotourism attempts to reduce the destruction of our environment cause by tourism. It ensures that waterways stay pristine and protects fragile flora and fauna. Ecotourism helps to provide people with a greater understanding of the impact that humans have on the environment as well as giving a greater appreciation and gratitude of our natural habitats.

All these measures help to sustain a beautiful environment for the here and now as well as persevering it for future generations to enjoy.

What can I do to reduce my environmental impact?

When booking a holiday try and find accommodation and activities that are ecotourism certified. By simply being aware of your impact on our environment and making active choices to preserve it for generations to come you are help to do your bit to keep our country beautiful.

For further information see ask your local travel agent for a travel guide.

Birdwatching

Birdwatching is the activity of observing and studying birds, whether through binoculars or direct sight.  Although ‘birdwatching’ implies mainly watching birds, a significant component is actually listening for bird calls. This is because many bird species are more readily found and identified by ear rather than by sight. Birdwatching is a recreational past-time for many, however it is also undertaken for the purposes of scientific study by ornithologists.

Birdwatching usually involves taking trips to observe birds in their natural habitats. The most common periods for birdwatching in temperate zones are during the spring or autumn migrations, which is when a great variety of birds may be spotted. The best time of day is usually early in the morning when the birds are most active, therefore easier to spot.

Although birdwatching is mainly a hobby, there are also competitive events organised around the world. These competitions usually consist of individuals or teams trying to accumulate a list of bird species spotted within a specified time limit.

Common equipment for birdwatching may include binoculars, a spotting scope and tripod, a notepad and a field guide. For the auditory aspect of birdwatching, special recording devices have been developed that allow birdwatchers to record bird calls for later retrieval and comparison.

If you want to learn more about the wildlife that abounds in the Daintree Rainforest of Far North Queensland, birdwatching is an excellent activity.

Daintree Rainforest

There are both land based and water based tour operators that can take you to the best places to find amazing Australian birdlife in the Daintree Area. Some of the Australian birds you might be able to spot or hear include:

• the Sacred Kingfisher
• the Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher
• the Yellow Oriole
• the Great-billed Heron
• the Papuan Frogmouth
• the Royal Spoonbill
• the Wompoo Fruit-dove
• the Black Bittern
• the Brahminy Kite
• the Azure Kingfisher
• and the Cassowaries.

Snorkeling

The Daintree area offers so much to do, including many activities where you can learn about the surrounding environment and the life that inhabits it. Snorkeling is one way to explore the marine life in the Great Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Listed site and the world’s largest coral reef. It stretches along the Queensland coast for approximately 35 million hectares

Snorkeling is where one swims with a diving mask, a snorkel and flippers, and sometimes a wetsuit. The swimmer uses this equipment in order to observe life under water for extended periods of time without having to come up for air or expend a lot of effort. The benefit of snorkeling is that it allows swimmers to observe marine life without the training or equipment needed in scuba diving. Usually snorkelers will travel to a particular underwater attraction, such as a reef or a wreck, or to locations where different varieties of fish, plants and formations can be found. Generally locations that are between 1 – 5 meters below the surface are favoured by snorkelers.

Scuba Diving

Scuba diving is where a diver uses a scuba set to breathe under water, whether for leisure or for other reasons (commercial, search and rescue, etc). Rather than relying on air from the surface, scuba divers carry compressed air with them, giving them greater freedom of movement. Originally the term ’scuba’ was an acronym for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, first used during WWII. Scuba diving is a great activity for the Great Barrier Reef, whether trained or diving with a trained instructor.

Due to the risks of diving to deep depths, scuba divers must undergo training to dive by themselves. Changes in air pressure can cause painful injuries to the diver if he/she does not know how to equalise the pressure in their air spaces. Scuba diving equipment can include a wet suit to keep the diver warm, an open-circuit diving regulator coupled to a single pressurised gas cylinder, a face mask, flippers, and so on. The advantage of scuba diving is that the diver can dive much deeper without having to come up for air, compared to snorkeling. As a result, all sorts of different marine life can be observed.