Davidson’s Arnhemland Safaris in the Northern Territory, and Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge, Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge and Mitchell Falls Wilderness Lodge in the Kimberley have joined Eco Lodges of Australia.

(TRAVPR.COM) AUSTRALIA - May 10th, 2011 - Davidson’s Arnhemland Safaris in the Northern Territory, and Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge, Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge and Mitchell Falls Wilderness Lodge in the Kimberley have joined Eco Lodges of Australia.

Davidson’s Arnhemland Safaris are the first Northern Territory member of Eco Lodges of Australia, while Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge, Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge and Mitchell Falls Wilderness Lodge join Karijini Eco Retreat and Yelverton Brook Eco Spa Retreat and Conservation Sanctuary take Western Australian to home of 5 Eco Lodges of Australia members.

Launched in October 2010, Eco Lodges of Australia is a marketing consortium of Advanced Ecotourism certified accommodation providers in Australia, managed by Ecotourism Australia.

“We are thrilled that Davidson’s Arnhemland Safaris, Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge, Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge and Mitchell Falls Wilderness Lodge have joined our existing 16 members of ECO lodges of Australia” said Kym Cheatham, CEO, Ecotourism Australia.

Recent research from Tourism Australia has identified that Nature Experiences have the highest impact on motivation to travel in Australia across 11 international markets and the Australia domestic market.

“More and more travellers are looking to make responsible choices in the places they choose to stay and we have a responsibility to help them identify the most environmentally friendly accommodation options.” Ms Cheatham said.

For more information visit: www.ecolodgesaustralia.com.au
Members of ECO lodges of Australia are:

1. Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge Kimberley, North West Australia
2. Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge Kimberley, North West Australia
3. Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris Top End, Northern Territory
4. Corinna Wilderness Experience North West, Tasmania
5. Freycinet Eco Retreat East Coast, Tasmania
6. Great Ocean Ecolodge Great Ocean Road, Victoria
7. Jabiru Safari Lodge, Mareeba, Tropical North Queensland
8. Karijini Eco Retreat Pilbara, Western Australia
9. Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
10. Lane Cove Tourist Park, Sydney, New South Wales
11. Mitchell Falls Wilderness Lodge Kimberley, North West Australia
12. O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat Gold Coast Hinterland, Queensland
13. Paperbark Camp, Jervis Bay, South Coast, New South Wales
14. Rawnsley Park Eco-Villas, Flinders Ranges, South Australia
15. Roar & Snore Taronga Zoo, Sydney, New South Wales
16. Silky Oaks Lodge Daintree, Tropical North Queensland
17. Thala Beach Lodge Port Douglas, Tropical North Queensland
18. Venus Bay Eco Retreat South Gippsland, Victoria
19. Yelverton Brook Eco-Spa Retreat and Conservation Sanctuary, Margaret River, Western Australia
20. Zoofari Lodge Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, New South Wales

About Eco Lodges of Australia:
Australia’s leading independent ECO tourism accommodation have joined a new marketing initiative Eco Lodges of Australia launched at the Global ECO Asia Pacific Conference 2010.

Eco Lodges of Australia offers the ECO conscious traveller responsible, ethical and sustainable ECO experiences in Australia’s most amazing natural locations.

Members of Eco Lodges of Australia have all achieved Advanced Ecotourism certification through Ecotourism Australia's world recognised ECO Certification scheme

For more information contact:
Kym Cheatham, Chief Executive Officer, Ecotourism Australia E: ceo@ecotourism.org.au, M: 0427 279 414 www.ecotourism.org.au
ABN 92 909 103 274

About Ecotourism Australia:

The Ecotourism Australia vision: "To be leaders in assisting ecotourism and other committed tourism operations to become environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially and culturally responsible".

Ecotourism Australia’s ECO certification program was a world first. The certification provides independent monitoring and auditing of organisations’ ecotourism claims and provides an assurance of best practice ecological sustainability, natural area management and quality ecotourism experiences.

More than 1000 tourism experiences across Australia are certified through at least one of Ecotourism Australia’s programs.

In 2011, Ecotourism Australia is celebrating its 20th birthday.

For more information about:
Eco Lodges of Australia please visit: www.ecolodgesaustralia.com.au
Ecotourism Australia, please visit www.ecotourism.org.au

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