The Savannah Way Green Trail
Australia’s tropical savannahs are a rich series of ecosystems comprising 19 bioregions and a diverse heritage of human interaction. This has included traditional Aboriginal land management, Macassan sea slug harvesting, pioneer water buffalo hunting, defence operations and today’s mining operations and environmental initiatives. To learn more about the values of this complex environment download The Nature of Northern Australia (PDF 15Mb) here.
The Savannah Way Green Trail showcases Responsible Tourism across northern Australia.
Responsible tourism is a sustainable approach to the management of tourism, providing more enjoyable experiences for tourists through connecting with local people and communities. The attractions listed below have committed to using sustainable principles to minimise their environmental impact, and support positive community initiatives.
Travellers can discover significant conservation activity, sustainable land uses, local history, cultural values, native flora and fauna along the Savannah Way from Cairns to Broome.
Visit these Responsible Tourism sites on the Savannah Way:
Ash’s Holiday Units and Cafe
BIG 4 Atherton Woodlands Tourist Park
Billy Tea Safaris
Carpentaria Barra
Cobbold Gorge
Cooinda Lodge, Kakadu
Croc and Crab Tours
End of the Road Motel
Ferryman River Cruises
Gilberton Outback Retreat
Golden Drop Winery
Jabiru Safari Lodge
Midnight Emporium
Mt Quincan Crater Retreat
Nitmiluk Tours
Normanton Solar Farm
Scouller Energy
Sunset Tavern
Thala Beach Nature Reserve
The Crystal Caves
Top Didj Cultural Experience and Art Gallery
Albion Hotel Normanton
On The Wallaby
Kurunda Koala & Birdworld
Mulga Bicycle tours
Hartleys Croc Adventures
Longreach Solar Farm
Oakey Solar Farm
Northern Australia is also building its sustainable power generation.
The Normanton Solar Farm partners commenced planning and development stage in 2014, to build and operate a 5MW Solar Photovoltaic power station at Normanton. The Normanton Solar Farm, with support from its principal partners Scouller Energy (SE), and Canadian Solar Inc, will utilise proven solar technology and efficient construction practices, while also delivering seamless integration into Ergon Energy’s Electricity grid.
Positioning generation at the far end of the sub transmission (66kV) network has the potential to catalyse a new wave of renewable energy investment in other fringe-of-grid locations, and will also provide valuable learnings for solar applications in remote, tropical locations.
Barron Gorge Hydro-Power Station was Australia’s first underground power station, built in 1935 to harness the immense power of water flowing over Barron Falls near Cairns.