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Welcome to Explore – the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) new tourism & partnerships bi-monthly newsletter.
Explore showcases NPWS’s sustainable tourism activities, profiles successful tourism products and partnerships, communicates happenings and events, tourism and visitor trends and general visitor news.
As one of the initial recipients of Explore you join one of our many partners and stakeholders in the NSW tourism, visitation and recreation industry, the NSW Government as well as staff of the Department of Environment and Climate Change - as NPWS is part of the larger Department.
In time, a consumer version of this e-newsletter will be developed and distributed to visitors and tourists.
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| in this issue |
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In this first issue, we get a sneak peek at NPWS’s new tourism and partnerships branch, salute a range of award-winning NPWS’s tourism offerings, graciously accept praise from a major event organiser for our staff in the mighty ‘Snowys’, take a look inside one of our many holiday accommodation products in our just renovated and very cute Partridge Cottage in Byron Bay, give the ‘heads up’ on our new and improved website coming soon, launch our new tourism and partnerships staff awards and conference and tell you how you can win a trip for two to Paris by voting for our much-loved Montague Island Tours.
Keep an eye out for the next edition of Explore in late June. |
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NPWS’s new tourism focus
Through a strong history in conservation and the foresight of many community groups to protect special places in their local areas, NSW has an enviable reserve system of national parks, nature reserves, marine parks, caves, wilderness areas and regional parks.
As well as protecting important natural and cultural heritage, these areas provide a myriad of opportunities for people to relax, holiday, spend time with friends and family and get away from it all - from cottages at restored lighthouses at Smoky Cape and Byron Bay, to cottages on Sydney Harbour and camping areas in spectacular settings close to Sydney such as Pittwater, Killcare and Port Hacking.
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With careful planning and management I have no doubt we can enjoy a situation where conservation, tourism and visitation effectively co-exist.
Under the leadership of Lisa Corbyn, Director-General, DECC and Sally Barnes, the new Head of Parks and in line with the NSW State Plan, in March 2008, DECC elevated its role in NSW tourism by establishing a new Tourism and Partnerships Branch.
The Branch will be heavily involved in ensuring DECC continues to contribute to State Plan priorities including:
> E8: more people using parks, sporting and recreational facilities and participating in the arts and cultural activities; and
> R4: volunteering - DECC is committed to expanding its volunteering programs recognising the important contribution volunteering makes to building support for conservation and community well being.
The new Tourism and Partnerships Branch has a clear mandate to work with our field staff to achieve success in sustainable tourism via:
> developing more products (services and experiences);
> developing more (and effective) partnerships with business, government and community; and
> improving our promotional activities.
I am confident we will see even greater efforts to deliver sustainable tourism in the coming months and years.
Verity Firth
Minister for Climate Change and the Environment
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| NPWS’s montague island=winning combo of conservation and tourism |
NPWS’s Montague Island Tours took out the major award in ecotourism at the prestigious Australian Tourism Awards
presented by Tourism NSW and the NSW Tourism Industry Council in February.
Just nine kilometres from the NSW South Coast town of Narooma, Montague Island has abundant wildlife including little penguins and nesting seasonal sea-birds, plus colonies of Australian and New Zealand Fur Seals.
Tours run by NPWS, Conservation Volunteers Australia and Charles Sturt University have been taking visitors over to the island for overnight stays in the historic refurbished lighthouse keeper’s quarters for four years.
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The stay gives visitors the chance to roll their sleeves up and participate in conservation and survey activities to keep the rocky granite island in great shape for all of its inhabitants. People come from across the world to participate in this unique conservation activity.
The NPWS Regional Manager for the Far South Coast Tim Shepherd said he was thrilled the island, which lies within the Bateman’s Marine Park had been recognised at the awards.
"We were up against some stiff competition including the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in South Australia and the Daintree Discovery Centre in Queensland. The award is testimony to the continuing high standard of the tours and the service provided by the NPWS guides and staff.
"It’s also indicative that ecotourism is a growing industry. We know on a personal level just how many visitors feel enriched after helping with the conservation of the Little Penguin colony on the island.
"Visiting Montague Island is a rewarding and memorable experience."
Mr Shepherd said the award was also testimony to the successful partnership between the NPWS, Charles Sturt University and Conservation Volunteers Australia.
He also thanked Eurobodalla Tourism for the organisation’s unwavering support over many years.
"Eurobodalla Tourism has always seen Montague Island as a jewel in the crown and we’re delighted with this result not only for us but for the Eurobodalla and South Coast tourism industry as a whole."
For more info + to book a tour, go to www.montagueisland.com.au
And we must make mention of our Lane Cove River Tourist Park in Sydney (www.lcrtp.com.au) and the Tumut Region Visitor Centre (which is jointly operated by the Tumut Shire Council and NPWS) (www.tumut.nsw.gov.au) - as they were both national finalists.
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NPWS scoops the 2008 National Trust Heritage Awards
Awards NPWS scooped the pool at the 2008 annual Energy Australia National Trust Heritage Awards, presented earlier this month at a ceremony in Sydney attended by 500 people.
Against tough competition, NPWS won three prestigious heritage awards:
1. Conservation Built Heritage for Project over $1 million Award to the 2.5km National Pass walking track at Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains.
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This conservation project respects the natural setting, enhances access and addresses safety issues without compromising the historic and natural values of the site.
After celebrating its 100th birthday this year, the spectacular National Pass walking track received a fitting ‘birthday present’ in the form of adding another jewel to its crown with this Heritage Award win.
2. Conservation Landscape Heritage Award to the Lake Wollumboola Little Tern Conservation Program on the NSW South Coast.
This Conservation program is an example of how a state-wide program is successfully conserving an endangered species at a local level.
The fate of the tern and the landscape it inhabits are intrinsically linked. The judges were very particularly impressed by the extent of volunteer support.
3. Education Award for the program ‘Trap That Toad’.
The judges were highly entertained and impressed by both the presentation and the audio material which both educates and entertains audiences.
The pack includes a stuffed cane toad and an MP3 "bum-bag" with comparative toad and frog recordings. It is a clever campaign to capture interest and address a very important environmental problem.
Funding for the initial production of ‘Trap That Toad’ came from the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority and the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife.
The response to ‘Trap That Toad’ has been overwhelming with interest from all over Australia, including the purchase of 500 books for delivery in SE Queensland.
A third production run is currently underway. To order a copy, contact Susan Crocetti
on tel: 02 66 507 148 or go to www.environment.nsw.gov.au
NPWS’s Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse in the Great Lakes area of NSW also won a highly commended award for in the adaptive reuse category.
This project builds on the good work that has been done to other redundant light stations in spectacular settings along the NSW coast. It responsibly conserves and adapts the lighthouse and light station for new uses.
Watch this space on the opening of Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse.
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what a cutie! NPWS’s partridge cottage in byron bay gets a makeover
Located in Byron Bay’s world-famous national park, with direct access to one of the world’s top 10 beaches, NPWS’s cute Partridge Cottage has been recently renovated in keeping with its link to the 1950s Australian way of life.
As one of the last true north coast absolute beach front "shacks”, Partridge Cottage and the adjoining studio called "Geoff’s Shed”, have both been tastefully renovated to reflect their 1950s heritage beach-life but with some modern comforts!
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Partridge Cottage and Geoff’s Shed, which together sleep seven people, are available for holiday accommodation bookings from May 2008. They overlook the Cape Byron Marine Park where more than 1 million people from around the world make their way each year to surf, swim, snorkel, scuba dive, sea kayak or just relax on the beach.
Both cottages are nestled in a sheltering forest and have direct access to Byron Bay’s famous main beach.
From the veranda or main bedroom, guests can relax while watching the surfers at The Pass, one of Australia’s best surfing locations, or just enjoy watching dolphins.
A highlight for visitors to Byron Bay is catching sight of whales as they shelter in the balmy waters off the Cape while migrating along the east coast between May and September.
For more info + to book Partridge Cottage and Geoff’s Shed, contact The Professionals Real Estate, Byron Bay PH: 02 66 856 552 or email holidays@byronbaypro.com.au
For more info see the Cape Byron Conservation Area webpage.
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| inaugural annual NPWS tourism & partnerships staff conference |
The Tourism & Partnerships Branch is organising the inaugural, annual NPWS Tourism & Partnerships Staff Conference, to be held on 24 – 25 July 2008 at the former Quarantine Station in Sydney Harbour National Park at Manly, Sydney.
Through a competitive tender process, Q Station was leased by DECC to the hotel school and special interest tourism operator The Mawland Group.
This conference will be a great opportunity for parks staff to see first hand the adaptive conservation activities undertaken by Mawland at this iconic site.
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Q Station, due to open in late April, will offer ground-breaking interpretive experiences, conference and accommodation facilities, restaurants and a destination spa. http://www.q-station.com.au
The Tourism and Partnerships annual conference aims to:
> provide a forum for staff to learn and be inspired from a range of external speakers who are leaders in innovative, nature-based product development, promotion and partnership;
> showcase ‘heroes’ in NPWS - be they people, products, partnerships or revenue activities or future opportunities;
> build staff capacity in tourism/partnerships and visitation management; and
> share knowledge/practices across teams in PWG.
The conference organising team is currently talking with various field staff to develop conference themes and speakers around topics of most use to staff. The speaker program will be finalised in early May and then calls for papers will be made to various staff.
For more information, contact Carolyn Littlefair on Carolyn.littlefair@environment.nsw.gov.au or Claire Francis on Claire.francis@environment.nsw.gov.au or tel: (02) 9585 6878.
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| snowy huts re-open and connect mountain families |
Like many historians Graham Scully was devastated by the 2003 fires. A Canberra resident and member of the Kosciuszko Huts Association since the 1980s, Graham had lived through a number of battles to preserve the huts, but the actual destruction of 19 of the high country huts in the massive fire presented another new challenge.
"Our members were devastated and very depressed, however it increased our determination to have a huts rebuilding program included in the Kosciuszko National Park Plan of Management review that was due." |
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"Often out of a crisis comes a real change and the new Kosciuszko Plan of Management, plus changes in heritage conventions and the huts conservation strategy – when they were released - were welcomed as they set a blueprint for the future conservation of the huts."
Graham says his first encounter with the huts was in the late 1980s when ski-touring up in the mountains during a blizzard.
"The blizzard was so strong it was impossible to pitch tents so we packed up and sheltered in Seamans Hut. In the huts there were some leaflets about the huts and the Kosciuszko Huts Association (KHA) and I thought I had to help this organisation.
"In the hut’s logbook the tragedy associated with the building of the hut was mentioned. I’d heard the story of Laurie Seaman and Evan Hayes before but being in the hut the story of the two men who’d lost their lives in 1929 descending the summit really resonated.
"Laurie Seaman was found huddled behind a large rock 19 paces behind the hut which was built in his memory. He’d died of hypothermia while waiting for his mate to descend, but of course Evan Hayes never made it either.
"I did history at university and became interested in who built the huts and who used them. I then joined KHA and became a committee member in 1988. I found it an organisation of fantastic people".
Graham said he then began his own research into the history of the high country and the huts, inspired by KHA members such as Klaus Hueneke who in 1995 placed four volumes of Kosciuszko Oral History in the National Library.
"I started in the Snowy Plains area and have never left. The area is so rich with stories and history."
He said some of the highlights of his research had been marking the graves of a number of children.
"In 1988 an old fellow Harold Hedger wanted to mark the grave of a little girl who had died in the 1880s of appendicitis, the child’s father had been a shepherd. It was one of Harold’s last acts before he too died and we got approval to mark the grave.
"Since then there have been four other graves, two children and two gold miners and it’s been only through the knowledge of stockmen in the area that this has been able to happen.
"I find the people who have worked in the mountains really genuine people - they are not overloaded with information like I am - at night they sit around and they talk about their families and mates and tell stories about dogs and different characters.
"Their memories of those early times are incredible.”
Graham said through the huts rebuilding program the National Parks and Wildlife Service is welcoming families back to the region.
"The connection has been restored. People feel so positive now with the new plan of management and the huts conservation strategy.”
Graham with Jim Hart heads up the KHA’s history sub-group which is working away collecting history not only on huts but on the community attached to hut sites. This also includes identifying trails used by Indigenous and early pioneers though Kosciuszko and Namadgi National Parks.
The new Delanys Hut and Patons Hut both opened in April with more than 180 people in attendance at each event.
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new guide to map your trip to southern highlands
As the top tourism destination in the Southern Highlands, Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre in Morton National Park was recently chosen as the location to launch the Tourism Southern Highlands 2008 Holiday Planner and Map.
This inspiring brochure is the Southern Highlands Tourism industry’s major marketing tool. It not only features tourism products of the Southern Highlands, but also national parks and places to visit such as Fitzroy Falls.
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As a Gold Card Partner of Tourism Southern Highlands, the South Coast Region of NPWS benefits from the partnership promotion of our Region.
The partnership has given NPWS opportunities to broaden its message to include most of our tourist areas such as Fitzroy Falls and Bundanoon in Morton National Park, Wombeyan and Bungonia Caves, Minnamurra Rainforest and Carrington Falls in Budderoo National Park.
NPWS also benefits from visiting journalists, exhibition at local trade shows and fixed displays in the Tourism Southern Highlands Visitor Centre. All of NPWS’s destinations, along with walks, camping, bird watching, picnic area and more, are listed on the Tourism Southern Highlands website www.southern-highlands.com.au
In a joint effort to enhance NPWS’s partnerships with local tourist associations, NPWS has established a tourism counter at the Visitor Centre at Fitzroy Falls for Tourism Southern Highlands, Tourism Kiama and Shoalhaven Tourism.
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new tourism & partnerships staff awards
DECC has initiated a new awards program to motivate staff, acknowledge and reward achievement and ‘bright ideas’ in tourism, visitation and partnerships.
The Tourism and Partnership Awards aim to recognise ecologically sustainable tourism and visitation with a primary focus on providing an experience in a natural and/or cultural area.
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As the T & P Awards’ criteria are structured around state tourism award categories, applicants ought to be in a better position to nominate their projects for state and national tourism awards - an important further step in raising the profile and status of tourism and recreation in parks.
The Tourism & Partnerships Awards will be judged in five categories:
1. Outstanding accommodation including camping
2. Outstanding natural heritage or cultural heritage experience
3. Outstanding event, in which NPWS played a key role
4. Outstanding partnership/s in tourism (with either government, private sector or community); and
5. Outstanding tourism/recreation strategic initiative/“bright idea".
All category winners will be in the running for the overall winner/major award – attendance at the 4th IUCN World Conservation Congress in Spain (Barcelona), 5-14 October 2008.
http://cms.iucn.org/news_events/events/congress/index.cfm
There will also be up to three winners selected from the Outstanding Tourism/Recreation Strategic Initiative/“bright idea" category.
The winning three ‘bright ideas’ will be from those who best identify and outline their clever concept which delivers on at least one of the following:
> Increase in visitation
> Increase in Aboriginal employment
> Increase in revenue; and
> Effective Public Private Partnerships (PPP).
Those bright ideas that could be rolled out state-wide will get extra points!
Each of the three ‘bright idea’ winners will have access to a development fund to scope and where possible, implement, their clever concept.
The T & P Awards are open to all Parks and Wildlife Group (NPWS) staff. Entry is by self nomination or nomination by others. All nominations are to be signed-off by Regional Managers or Section Heads.
The award ceremony will held at a special dinner at the inaugural Tourism and Partnerships Conference, on Thurs 24 July 2008 at Q Station in Manly, Sydney.
Entry forms and information kits will be available from May 1 from Claire Francis on Claire.francis@environment.nsw.gov.au or tel: (02) 9585 6878. Entries will close on 30 June 2008, so be quick off the mark, and get your skates on! |
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| about national parks & wildlife service |
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about national parks & wildlife service |
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National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) sits within Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW (DECC).
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With some 1,500 staff across NSW, NPWS’s core business is to conserve, protect and manage more than 788 parks and reserves, including four World Heritage Areas, nine sites on the National Heritage List and several marine parks including Lord Howe Island.
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NPWS’s "patch" ranges from Eden in the south, to Tweed Heads/Byron Bay in the north and from Lord Howe Island in the east, to Tibooburra in the far west.
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NPWS protects 6.6 million hectares or 8.3 per cent of the state’s land mass.
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NSW Parks currently attract more than 22 million visits per annum.
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NPWS also administers more than 2,000 leases, licences, easements and contracts with the private sector and local government bodies. |
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Under the NSW Government’s State Plan, launched by NSW Premier Iemma in November 2006, NPWS has a mandate to increase visitation to NSW national parks, reserves and marine parks by 20% by 2016. |
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For further information please contact Claire Francis on
T | 02 9585 6878 or E | npwstourism.newsletter@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Disclaimer | The information contained in this publication is of a general nature only and is, as far as the Department of Environment and Climate Change is aware, correct at the time of publishing. The Department accepts no
responsibility for any loss or damage incurred as a result of reliance on any information contained in this publication.
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