Women's Health Mag said so it must be true. But before you start feverishly trawling for flights for a romantic anniversary, birthday or valentine’s getaway to amp up your options, put your eco-tourist hat on before you get your gear off and find an experience that benefits both your relationship and the environment. Australia has so many glorious places and you might be surprised how many are in your own back yard. And you'll need less money, less time and less clothes to get there. So much to love. Here are 4 Eco Tourism certified ideas we found that cater to different interests. If these aren’t to your taste (they are to mine, darling) or in your area, just go to the Find an Eco Experience page on the Ecotourism Australia website and search for holiday experiences in your preferred location. Don’t buy more ‘stuff’ – Get away instead!
Located in the Gold Coast Hinterland’s Lamington National Park, Binna Burra Lodge holds one of the earliest ecotourism certifications in the country. Set in a unique and pristine wilderness environment, Binna Burra Lodge provides an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Binna Burra often do couple's deals and here's one example for a 2 Night Romantic Getaway:
Binna Burra Lodge is in the Gold Coast hinterland so there's always the chance to go to the beach and double the Queensland experience.
Don’t know when you and your Valentine can getaway for a weekend together just yet? Buy an eco-experience gift certificate! Let’s Go Surfing wants more people to enjoy the connection with the ocean that surfing offers, “changing lives one wave at a time.” Lets Go Surfing offer surfing workshops in Sydney at Bondi and Maroubra, and further north at Byron Bay.
Experience the beauty of one of the world’s greatest natural waterways with a private lover's cruise on Sydney Harbour with Sydney Harbour Boat Tours. Be picked-up from any public or private wharf around the Sydney city or suburbs throughout the day or evening and enjoy a leisurely 90 minute harbour cruise with your own private captain. Chill out on our private sun-lounge to romantic tunes with a bottle of French Champagne and chocolates.
Sal Salis is heaven on earth - glamping on the beach Cape Range National Park and on the shores of one of the world’s greatest fringing coral reefs. At Sal Salis you glamp on the beach and experience the pristine natural environment, the prolific marine life of Ningaloo Reef and the amazing diversity of fauna and flora. (If you are thinking of Valentine's day getaways, Sal Salis is closed from November to March so it's out of the Valentine's Day orbit, but worth gifting for later.)Eco tourism isn't just great for the planet. It pretty much caters to everyone's idea of a good time.Images: Main Image - Sal Salis Nigaloo Reef | Other images all trader's own images except LOVE which is from Unsplash | Nathan Nichols