We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Wangerriburra people, and the wider Yugambeh language region of South-East Queensland. We honour their Elders—past, present, and emerging—and recognise the families who belong to this Country, including those who identify as Wangerriburra, Mununjali, Kombumerri, and others.
We’re excited to share that, as of July 2024, we have officially received Nature Tourism Certification from EcoTourism Australia. Alongside this achievement, we are now recognised as a Quality Tourism Accredited Business. EcoTourism Australia is an internationally respected, not-for-profit organisation backed by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Their certification process is thorough, ensuring high standards are met and eliminating the risk of greenwashing in nature-based tourism. This recognition highlights our dedication to sustainability and responsible environmental practices.
While this is a significant milestone for our team, it marks just the beginning of our commitment to sustainability. We are dedicated to ongoing improvement and learning, working towards operating in the most ethical and environmentally responsible way—helping to protect and preserve our natural surroundings for the generations to come.
Over the past year, we’ve introduced and refined a comprehensive emissions monitoring system. This initiative helps us track our carbon footprint, ensuring the strategies we put in place are achieving the positive environmental outcomes we are committed to.
We have put several systems in place across the park to significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
The most effective way to cut down on landfill waste is by maintaining an efficient and well-organised waste separation system. This allows us to recycle as much as possible and dispose of waste responsibly. Our designated waste streams include:
Each day, all appropriate fruit and vegetable scraps from our restaurant kitchen, along with used coffee grounds, are collected and added to our large three-bay composting system.
Through our partnership with Containers for Change, we’ve installed collection bins across the entire park. Visitors can recycle eligible drink containers and contribute to environmental initiatives.
We gather, bundle and compact all paper and cardboard waste, which is then processed through specialised recycling facilities designed specifically for these materials.
As technology continues to advance, so does the volume of electronic waste (E-Waste). To manage this responsibly, we’ve partnered with Substation 33, ensuring that any E-Waste is refurbished, reused or recycled appropriately.
Our offices follow the same waste separation practices and go one step further:
Used printer cartridges are collected and recycled through the Fujifilm OfficeCare Cartridge Collection Program.
Batteries, pens, and other writing instruments are recycled via Officeworks’ “Bring it Back” program.
All offices have separate bins for paper/cardboard recycling and general waste.
There’s also a designated tray for reusing single-sided paper, reducing unnecessary waste.
Any remaining waste that can’t be recycled or composted is sent to general waste disposal as a last resort.
We believe that reducing environmental impact starts with the supply chain. That’s why we prioritise sourcing products and services from local and ethical suppliers. Our Green Supplier Policy sets clear expectations and encourages open discussions about sustainable practices.
Australians dispose of an estimated 1.84 billion takeaway coffee cups each year (Clean Up Australia). To help address this, we’ve joined the Responsible Cafes network, encouraging the use of reusable coffee cups. We offer a $0.50 discount on coffee purchases to guests who bring their own clean, reusable cups.
Over the past year, we’ve revitalised our organic edible garden, conveniently located near the main building. This seasonal garden provides fresh herbs and produce for our Rainforest Restaurant and garnishes for the creative cocktails served in the lounge bar. We’re excited to announce an expansion of the garden, launching in Spring 2024!
For small-scale weed issues, we use manual removal methods. In larger areas of infestation, we apply recommended herbicides in line with best practices for bush regeneration.
We’re working closely with Tamborine Mountain Landcare and have recently established a Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Garden. While the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Vines are still growing, we hope they will soon offer vital habitat to this threatened species for years to come.
From individual actions to major infrastructure improvements, we are committed to reducing our energy consumption:
Solar Power: Although the location makes solar energy challenging, we’ve installed solar panels on several suitable buildings and have plans to expand solar capacity with future projects.
Energy-Efficient Appliances: We ensure all our electrical appliances meet high energy-efficiency standards, helping to reduce unnecessary electricity usage across our operations.
Fresh water is a precious and limited resource. We have implemented water-efficient technologies and practices throughout our operations to minimise water usage while maintaining our high standards of service.
We are committed to respecting and preserving cultural heritage. As such, we do not sell merchandise derived from heritage artefacts or items of significant cultural value. We also encourage our guests to avoid purchasing such items from other sources, in support of ethical and culturally respectful practices.
Wildcare is a not-for-profit organisation based in South-East Queensland that focuses on the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of native wildlife. All funds raised from our Containers for Change collection bins are donated directly to Wildcare. Between April 2023 and May 2024, we raised $4,733.40. Every recycled container makes a difference in supporting local wildlife.
Tamborine Mountain Landcare works to restore and conserve the natural bushland in our region. We are proud to support their efforts by offering guests the option to contribute an additional 1% on purchases park-wide. This small donation goes a long way in helping to protect our environment.
The SES plays a crucial role in responding to natural disasters such as bushfires and floods. Donation boxes are available throughout the park for guests wishing to support this invaluable volunteer service.
Make-A-Wish Australia grants life-changing wishes to critically ill children. During school holidays, we host activities such as guided bushwalks and nature crafts. Participation is by gold coin donation, with 100% of proceeds going to Make-A-Wish.
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We acknowledge and pay respect to the land and the traditional families of the Yugambeh region of South East Queensland and their Elders past present and emerging. The Yugambeh region includes families that identify as Kombumerri, Mununjali, Wangerriburra and others.
