The morning matinee has begun. Shafts of sun spotlight the wallabies nibbling at the lawn that shelves away from our stone cottage. Scarlet honeyeaters play a dizzying game of tag through the wattles. I sip coffee on the verandah and enjoy the show, which starts at first light and screens all day every day at Yeranda.
I’m staying at one of an award-winning trio of holiday cottages in the southern foothills of the Barrington Tops, a 20-minute drive north of Dungog and a world away from the city.
Yeranda is an ecotourism-accredited property in a 140-acre wildlife refuge that encompasses rainforest gullies, rolling sclerophyll forest and walking trails. A mesmerising array of wildlife has made a home here, including koalas, bandicoots, native mice, goannas, lyrebirds, black cockatoos, cuckoos, crayfish and 20 varieties of frog.
What exactly is ‘ecotourism’? The Ecotourism Association of Australia defines it as “ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding as well as appreciation and conservation”. In layman’s terms, that means an opportunity to enjoy nature without wrecking it.
To gain ecotourism accreditation, an operator has to satisfy several criteria that demonstrate its commitment to ecological sustainability, natural area management and quality ecotourism experiences.
The cottages at Yeranda, for example, are largely built from recycled timber and local rock. The CD player, exhaust fan and lights run off solar power, the stove and fridge use gas, and rainwater courses through the waterpipes. The property has been accorded official ‘wildlife refuge’ status and has Advanced Ecotourism Accreditation.
Yeranda is one of the best-equipped self-catering properties that this writer has visited. The attention to detail is terrific, from the torch for spotlighting animals at night to the binoculars for birdwatching, whistle for wayward bushwalkers, maps, umbrella, candles, fly swat, magazines and fresh biscuits that greet you on arrival. TV addicts have to do without, but for many of us, the majestic spangled night skies are ample compensation.
New South Wales has dozens of ecotourism operators, from mountain hide-aways to 4WD tours, dolphin cruises, whale-watching expeditions, kayak and dive tours, guided walks and camping adventures. However, not all are fully accredited ecotourism operators. The advantage of using an accredited operator is that you can be sure that they meet the Ecotourism Association of Australia’s stringent standards. These standards include evidence that the operator’s product is environmentally sustainable and has a high standard of customer satisfaction.
A good source of information about accredited operators is the Ecotourism Association of Australia.
— by Steve Fraser
For accommodation ideas: get the NRMA Accommodation Guide
(Members $9.95, non-members $17.95), available from NRMA offices or online.
Some accredited ecotourism holiday destinations in NSW:
Barrington Tops
Yeranda at Barrington Tops
117 Skimmings Gap Rd, Main Creek, near Dungog.
Tel: 4992 1208.
Carawirry Cabins
Cabbage Tree Rd, Main Creek, near Dungog.
Tel: 4992 1859.
Blue Mountains
Jemby-Rinjah Lodge
336 Evans Lookout Rd, Blackheath.
Tel: 4787 7622.
Kanimbla View Environmental Retreat
113 Shipley Rd, Blackheath.
Tel: 4787 8985.
Northern NSW
ecOasis
55 Tatyewan Ave, Smiths Creek, near Uki.
Tel: 6679 5959.
Angourie Rainforest Resort
166 Angourie Rd, Yamba.
Tel: 6646 8600.
4WD
