Australia & The Pacific's top sustainable travel destinations in 2024

Tropical North, Queensland

AUSTRALIA

2023 was a busy year for this region. In addition to the launch of several new events and tours led by Indigenous people, Tourism Tropical North Queensland partnered with Reforest on an initiative planting native tree species in the Mabi rainforest. This is certainly one of the best ways to ensure that carbon offsetting is effective and measurable: with projects that are close to home and, therefore, easy for locals to see, benefit from and verify.

Clear-cutting for farming and commercial forestry has left less than 4% of the original native habitat of the Mabi intact – a habitat that harbours exceptional biodiversity, with an estimated 70% of its plants and animals unique to the region. So far, more than 1,500 trees have been planted, and the programme is ongoing.

To find Indigenous experiences in the region, including tours, galleries and cultural events, visit Tropical North Queensland's website. For more inspiration on sustainable travel here, see here.

The Kimberley

AUSTRALIA

This immense wilderness spanning over 42 million hectares – not too far shy of Spain’s land area – is home to an incredible richness and diversity of native wildlife. In fact, much of the Kimberley is a stronghold for many endemic species and, particularly, mammals extirpated elseswhere since European colonisation. Efforts to preserve that record face major challenges, from increasing incidents of wildfires to invasive plants and animals. Now, as part of efforts to address these problems, successful collaborations have resulted in the return of significant land and wildlife management to Indigenous people.

One important recent development represents a profound systemic change in Australia: the transfer of 165,000 hectares of pastoral lease land on the El Questro property to its Traditional Owners, the Ngarinyin. Since finalising the transfer in mid-2023, that land has been managed by its Traditional Owners as a nature reserve, creating significant social and economic opportunities. Tourism will continue to thrive at the popular El Questro site, with more cultural experiences created to help visitors learn about Indigenous culture.

Sunshine Coast

AUSTRALIA

In June 2023, a trip CO2 calculator was added to the Visit Sunshine Coast website, enabling visitors to tally their emissions and contribute to local forest restoration projects in the region’s three UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.

Though trees are important for storing carbon, they require consistent land management and a stable climate to maintain that storage for more than 50 years – so we’ll be watching this programme to gauge its long-term effectiveness. So far, though, progress looks good: 741 trees were planted in the first eight months of the programme, and the initiative helps travellers understand their emissions while supporting positive local action.

You can track contributions made by both the Sunshine Coast tourism industry and visitors in real time here.

Te Urewera

AOTEAROA (NEW ZEALAND)

Encompassing the largest rainforest on the North Island of Aotearoa (the Māori-language name for New Zealand), Te Urewera is a sparsely populated area that has been home to the indigenous Tūhoe people for centuries. Having been managed as a national park for 60 years, in 2014 a new law – the first of its kind on the planet – changed the status of Te Urewera. From being government property, it became recognised as a legal entity in itself, with the Tūhoe people as its legal guardians. This groundbreaking law effectively granted the forest the same legal rights, powers and duties as a person. We think it’s worth celebrating 10 years of this exciting concept in conservation, demonstrating powerful, big-picture changes. In the decade since that move, the Whanganui River and Mount Taranaki have also been granted personhood status. Visitors can explore the rainforest through guided treks, experiences and bush-camp stays with Tūhoe-owned operator Te Urewera Treks.