Bundaberg Region ECO Destination Certification

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The Bundaberg region is now certified through Ecotourism Australia’s world leading ecotourism certification program.

This means that when family, friends and travellers visit our region they know they are supporting a destination that is backed by a strong, well-managed commitment to sustainable practices and provides high-quality nature-based tourism experiences.

Our certification demonstrates our commitment to:

  • Looking after our natural environment
  • Offering quality interpretation and educating guests
  • Supporting and engaging our local community
  • Reducing our carbon footprint
  • Protecting our unique wildlife and endangered species
  • Making real contributions to conservation
  • Helping to preserve Australian Indigenous cultures
  • Providing an unforgettable, high-quality visitor experience

The Ecotourism Australia Certification programs are recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

Banksia Track Trail Head. Image: Nathan White & Bundaberg Tourism.

How can you contribute?

You can get involved by:

Embark on your pathway to sustainability and evaluate your business practices with the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard. The scorecard will support you to:

  • Learn how your business can positively impact people, the planet and culture.
  • Evaluate your current sustainability performance (in less than a day).
  • Receive personalised and practical insights for continuous improvement.
  • Clarify and simplify sustainability practices through a snapshot evaluation.
  • Showcase your commitment to visitors.

Visit Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard | Ecotourism Australia for more information.

  • Getting a Nature Tourism, Ecotourism or Advanced Ecotourism certification for your business. Visit https://www.ecotourism.org.au/our-certification-programs/ for more information.
  • Getting Climate Action Business, Climate Action Innovator or Climate Action Leader certification for your business. Visit https://www.ecotourism.org.au/our-certification-programs/eco-certification-2 for more information.
  • Swapping your plastic straws with Biopak Art Straws, free of charge, funded by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, here.
  • Developing your own sustainability plan
  • Choosing locally produced consumables
  • Saying no to plastic bags
  • Knowing your carbon emissions and work to reduce them
  • Sharing your sustainability measures with your customers
  • Reduce, reuse, recycle!

Dragonfruit Bowl, Windmill Cafe Bargara. Image: Bundaberg Tourism & Paul Beutel.

What do we hope to achieve?

  • To see our tourism industry, environment, culture and community flourish
  • To lead the way in adopting innovative practices to improve our environmental performance
  • To nurture and promote adopting sustainable practices into the home, at work and during leisure time
  • To inspire destinations in Australia and internationally to implement sustainable tourism practices

Lady Elliot Island. Image: Jeremy Somerville & Bundaberg Tourism.

How you can become ECO Certified

Bundaberg Regional Council is offering local tourism operators the opportunity to strengthen their appeal to high yielding, environmentally conscious visitor markets, by becoming ECO Certified through Ecotourism Australia by way of a cash subsidy to offset the first annual certification fee.

For more information please contact Kate Giles, Tourism Sustainability Officer or complete the ECO Certification – Expression of Interest form here.

How you can become Climate Action Certified

Bundaberg Regional Council is offering all sectors of the tourism industry the opportunity to become Climate Action Certified through Ecotourism Australia by way of a cash subsidy to offset the first annual certification fee. The Climate Action Certification program is dedicated to reducing carbon emissions and assuring travellers that certified products are backed by a commitment to sustainable practices related to addressing climate change.

For more information please contact Kate Giles, Tourism Sustainability Officer or complete the ECO Certification – Expression of Interest form here.

How you can become Sustainable Tourism Certified

Bundaberg Regional Council is offering all sectors of the tourism industry and supply chain the opportunity to become Sustainable Tourism Certified through Ecotourism Australia by way of a cash subsidy to offset the first annual certification fee. The Sustainable Tourism Certification program certifies businesses that are minimising negative impacts and maximising benefits for the environment, communities and culture and is a comprehensive business development tool for all businesses to become sustainability leaders by following global best practice standards.

For more information please contact Kate Giles, Tourism Sustainability Officer or complete the ECO Certification – Expression of Interest form here.

Be part of the Turtle Awareness Campaign

Bundaberg Regional Council encourages everyone, including our visitors, to understand the significance of the Bundaberg Region’s shoreline as a nesting location for threatened turtle species.

Council has developed an easy to use video and turtle awareness materials that local businesses, tour operators and venues are encouraged to display in their businesses to urge residents and visitors to implement the small changes that can have a real impact on turtle hatchling survival rates. These include:

After 7:30pm between October and April help reduce the glow affecting our beaches by:

  • Switching off unnecessary lights
  • Closing curtains or blinds
  • When driving, avoiding using high beam near beaches where possible
  • Only using a small torch on the beach at night.

If you would like to learn more regarding Council’s Reducing Urban Glow Campaign please click this link.

If you are keen to display the turtle awareness campaign video or provide visitors with turtle awareness campaign materials please complete the expression of interest form to register your interest here.


If you have any queries regarding any of these campaigns, please contact Kate Giles, Tourism Sustainability Officer, Bundaberg Regional Council on 1300 883 699 or email kate.giles@bundaberg.qld.gov,au.


Banner photo: Location: Burrum Coast National Park, Bundaberg; Credit: Matt Williams and Bundaberg Tourism

The Bundaberg region is now certified through Ecotourism Australia’s world leading ecotourism certification program.

This means that when family, friends and travellers visit our region they know they are supporting a destination that is backed by a strong, well-managed commitment to sustainable practices and provides high-quality nature-based tourism experiences.

Our certification demonstrates our commitment to:

  • Looking after our natural environment
  • Offering quality interpretation and educating guests
  • Supporting and engaging our local community
  • Reducing our carbon footprint
  • Protecting our unique wildlife and endangered species
  • Making real contributions to conservation
  • Helping to preserve Australian Indigenous cultures
  • Providing an unforgettable, high-quality visitor experience

The Ecotourism Australia Certification programs are recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

Banksia Track Trail Head. Image: Nathan White & Bundaberg Tourism.

How can you contribute?

You can get involved by:

Embark on your pathway to sustainability and evaluate your business practices with the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard. The scorecard will support you to:

  • Learn how your business can positively impact people, the planet and culture.
  • Evaluate your current sustainability performance (in less than a day).
  • Receive personalised and practical insights for continuous improvement.
  • Clarify and simplify sustainability practices through a snapshot evaluation.
  • Showcase your commitment to visitors.

Visit Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard | Ecotourism Australia for more information.

  • Getting a Nature Tourism, Ecotourism or Advanced Ecotourism certification for your business. Visit https://www.ecotourism.org.au/our-certification-programs/ for more information.
  • Getting Climate Action Business, Climate Action Innovator or Climate Action Leader certification for your business. Visit https://www.ecotourism.org.au/our-certification-programs/eco-certification-2 for more information.
  • Swapping your plastic straws with Biopak Art Straws, free of charge, funded by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, here.
  • Developing your own sustainability plan
  • Choosing locally produced consumables
  • Saying no to plastic bags
  • Knowing your carbon emissions and work to reduce them
  • Sharing your sustainability measures with your customers
  • Reduce, reuse, recycle!

Dragonfruit Bowl, Windmill Cafe Bargara. Image: Bundaberg Tourism & Paul Beutel.

What do we hope to achieve?

  • To see our tourism industry, environment, culture and community flourish
  • To lead the way in adopting innovative practices to improve our environmental performance
  • To nurture and promote adopting sustainable practices into the home, at work and during leisure time
  • To inspire destinations in Australia and internationally to implement sustainable tourism practices

Lady Elliot Island. Image: Jeremy Somerville & Bundaberg Tourism.

How you can become ECO Certified

Bundaberg Regional Council is offering local tourism operators the opportunity to strengthen their appeal to high yielding, environmentally conscious visitor markets, by becoming ECO Certified through Ecotourism Australia by way of a cash subsidy to offset the first annual certification fee.

For more information please contact Kate Giles, Tourism Sustainability Officer or complete the ECO Certification – Expression of Interest form here.

How you can become Climate Action Certified

Bundaberg Regional Council is offering all sectors of the tourism industry the opportunity to become Climate Action Certified through Ecotourism Australia by way of a cash subsidy to offset the first annual certification fee. The Climate Action Certification program is dedicated to reducing carbon emissions and assuring travellers that certified products are backed by a commitment to sustainable practices related to addressing climate change.

For more information please contact Kate Giles, Tourism Sustainability Officer or complete the ECO Certification – Expression of Interest form here.

How you can become Sustainable Tourism Certified

Bundaberg Regional Council is offering all sectors of the tourism industry and supply chain the opportunity to become Sustainable Tourism Certified through Ecotourism Australia by way of a cash subsidy to offset the first annual certification fee. The Sustainable Tourism Certification program certifies businesses that are minimising negative impacts and maximising benefits for the environment, communities and culture and is a comprehensive business development tool for all businesses to become sustainability leaders by following global best practice standards.

For more information please contact Kate Giles, Tourism Sustainability Officer or complete the ECO Certification – Expression of Interest form here.

Be part of the Turtle Awareness Campaign

Bundaberg Regional Council encourages everyone, including our visitors, to understand the significance of the Bundaberg Region’s shoreline as a nesting location for threatened turtle species.

Council has developed an easy to use video and turtle awareness materials that local businesses, tour operators and venues are encouraged to display in their businesses to urge residents and visitors to implement the small changes that can have a real impact on turtle hatchling survival rates. These include:

After 7:30pm between October and April help reduce the glow affecting our beaches by:

  • Switching off unnecessary lights
  • Closing curtains or blinds
  • When driving, avoiding using high beam near beaches where possible
  • Only using a small torch on the beach at night.

If you would like to learn more regarding Council’s Reducing Urban Glow Campaign please click this link.

If you are keen to display the turtle awareness campaign video or provide visitors with turtle awareness campaign materials please complete the expression of interest form to register your interest here.


If you have any queries regarding any of these campaigns, please contact Kate Giles, Tourism Sustainability Officer, Bundaberg Regional Council on 1300 883 699 or email kate.giles@bundaberg.qld.gov,au.


Banner photo: Location: Burrum Coast National Park, Bundaberg; Credit: Matt Williams and Bundaberg Tourism

  • Expression of Interest - ECO Certification and Climate Action Certified

    How you can become ECO Certified and Climate Action Certified

    Bundaberg Regional Council is offering local operators the opportunity to strengthen their appeal to high yielding, environmentally conscious visitor markets, by becoming ECO Certified and/or Climate Action Certified through Ecotourism Australia by way of a cash subsidy to offset the first annual certification fee.  

    Please submit your Expression of Interest by completing this online form.  We will contact you within seven (7) business days from receipt of your Expression of Interest to advise the result.

    Following receipt of your Expression of Interest you will be invited to register to begin your ECO Certification and/or Climate Action Certification with Ecotourism Australia. Ecotourism Australia will issue you with a tax invoice for the first annual certification fee.  Once this is paid please submit your tax invoice and receipt to Bundaberg Regional Council for reimbursement of 50% of your first annual certification fees.

    Local operators who withdraw from the certification process with Ecotourism Australia must return the incentive scheme reimbursement amount to Bundaberg Regional Council.

    If you have any queries please contact Kate Giles, Eco Tourism Officer, Bundaberg Regional Council on 1300 883 699 to learn more about the benefits of Certification. 

    Council is collecting your personal information (e.g. names, address, phone number and email address) for the purposes outlined on this form.  This information will only be accessed by authorised Council officers and handled in accordance with Council’s Privacy Statement governed by the Information Privacy Act 2009. Visit Bundaberg.qld.gov.au/privacy for further information.

    Complete Form
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

  • Expression of Interest - ECO Certification

    How you can become ECO Certified

    Bundaberg Regional Council is offering local tourism operators the opportunity to strengthen their appeal to high yielding, environmentally conscious visitor markets, by becoming ECO Certified through Ecotourism Australia by way of a cash subsidy to offset the first annual certification fee.  

    Please submit your Expression of Interest by completing this online form.  We will contact you within seven (7) business days from receipt of your Expression of Interest to advise the result

    Following approval confirmation of your Expression of Interest you will be invited to register to begin your ECO Certification with Ecotourism Australia. Ecotourism Australia will issue you with a tax invoice for the first annual certification fee.  Once this is paid please submit your tax invoice and receipt to Bundaberg Regional Council for reimbursement of 50% of your first annual certification fee.

    Local tourism operators who withdraw from the certification process with Ecotourism Australia must return the incentive scheme reimbursement amount to Bundaberg Regional Council.

    If you have any queries please contact Kate Giles, Eco Tourism Officer, Bundaberg Regional Council on 1300 883 699 to learn more about the benefits of ECO Certification and what benefits this certification can offer your business.

    Council is collecting your personal information (e.g. names, address, phone number and email address) for the purposes outlined on this form.  This information will only be accessed by authorised Council officers and handled in accordance with Council’s Privacy Statement governed by the Information Privacy Act 2009. Visit Bundaberg.qld.gov.au/privacy for further information.

    Complete Form
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

  • Expression of Interest - Sustainable Tourism Certification

    How you can become Sustainable Tourism Certified

    Bundaberg Regional Council is offering local operators the opportunity to strengthen their appeal to high yielding, environmentally conscious visitor markets, by becoming Sustainable Tourism Certified through Ecotourism Australia by way of a cash subsidy to offset the first annual certification fee.  

    Please submit your Expression of Interest by completing this online form.  We will contact you within seven (7) business days from receipt of your Expression of Interest to advise the result

    Following approval confirmation of your Expression of Interest you will be invited to register to begin your Sustainable Tourism Certification with Ecotourism Australia. Ecotourism Australia will issue you with a tax invoice for the first annual certification fee. Once this is paid please submit your tax invoice and receipt to Bundaberg Regional Council for reimbursement of 50% of your first annual certification fee.

    Local operators who withdraw from the certification process with Ecotourism Australia must return the incentive scheme reimbursement amount to Bundaberg Regional Council.

    If you have any queries please contact Kate Giles, Tourism Sustainability Officer, Bundaberg Regional Council on 1300 883 699 to learn more about the benefits of Sustainable Tourism Certification and what benefits this certification can offer your business.

    Council is collecting your personal information (e.g. names, address, phone number and email address) for the purposes outlined on this form.  This information will only be accessed by authorised Council officers and handled in accordance with Council’s Privacy Statement governed by the Information Privacy Act 2009. Visit Bundaberg.qld.gov.au/privacy for further information. Any questions regarding this survey can be directed to Council's Community Engagement team at engagement@bundaberg.qld.gov.au

    Take Survey
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  • Register for turtle awareness materials

    Bundaberg Regional Council encourages everyone, including our visitors, to understand the significance of the Bundaberg Region’s shoreline as a nesting location for threatened turtle species.

    Council has developed an easy to use video and turtle awareness materials that local businesses, tour operators and venues are encouraged to display in their businesses to urge residents and visitors to implement the small changes that can have a real impact on turtle hatchling survival rates.  

    If you are keen to display the turtle awareness campaign video or provide visitors with turtle awareness campaign materials please complete the expression of interest form to register your interest.

    Complete Form
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Online workshop booking form

    If you’re a tourism operator in the Bundaberg Region this is an opportunity to find out how to make your business more sustainable and develop experiences that attract the high-yielding visitor markets through Eco Certification.

    The free interactive session runs for one hour, including Q & A. You’ll learn the steps to becoming Eco Certified, learn how sustainable your business already is, how this program will benefit your business, hear from other local certified tourism operators and be able to ask questions of the presenters.

    Please submit your details below to register your interest and we will send a link by email to access the online presentation scheduled for Tuesday 1st March 2022 at 11am. If you have any queries regarding this session please contact Kate Giles, Ecotourism Officer on 1300 883 699.

    Council is collecting your personal information (e.g. name, address, phone number etc.) which will be used for the purposes of confirming your booking for the Online Presentation. This information will only be accessed by authorised Council officers and handled in accordance with Council's Privacy Statement governed by the Information Privacy Act 2009.  Visit bundaberg.qld.gov.au/privacy for more information. Any questions regarding this survey can be directed to Council's Community Engagement team at engagement@bundaberg.qld.gov.au.

    Complete Form
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Page last updated: 20 Feb 2024, 12:52 PM