The document discusses developing geotourism on Tasmania's West Coast through a two-stage process. Stage 1 involves expanding an existing collection of 16 geosites into a complete geotrail journey, highlighting the region's geology, mining history, glaciation, biodiversity and more. Stage 2 proposes taking the geotrail and developing it into a geopark, managing the sites and landscapes holistically for protection, education and sustainable development. The potential geopark area is shaped like a Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle on the map, drawing on Aboriginal storytelling, and would be named the Nairana Geopark. It is hoped that a geopark would stimulate positive thinking, benefit local people, and

1. From GeoTrail to GeoPark
Future tourism development
West Coast Tasmania

2. Geotourism
Comprising Geodiversity, Biodiversity and Cultural Elements.
Incorporating all types of ‘nature-based’ tourism:
Cultural, Agri-, Eco-, Heritage, and Indigenous tourism.
Key driver for Geoparks and Geotrails.

3. 1. Geosite:
location with particular geological or geomorphological significance
and/or with cultural or heritage significance
2. Geotrail:
journey linked by an area's geology and landscape as the basis for
providing visitor engagement, learning and enjoyment
3. Geopark:
single, unified geographical area where sites and landscapes of
international geological significance are managed with a holistic
concept of protection, education and sustainable development
Geotourism delivery

4. • Current situation
– A collection of 16 geosites
– Showing how the earth is a dynamic ever-changing body
– Focusing on tourists that are increasingly interested in natural history, incl. geology
• The next step: further tourism development via a two-stage rocket
– Stage 1: From a collection of sites to a complete journey
The geotrail as a real journey of engagement, learning and enjoyment:
a journey along 16 geosites mixed with elements of biodiversity and cultural heritage
– Stage 2: From geotrail to geopark
The West Coast as an area where sites and landscapes are managed with a holistic concept
of protection and education and sustainable development is promoted by facilitating
geotourism in the most optimal way
West Coast GeoTrail

5. Stage 1:
From a collection of
sites to a complete
journey about:
1. Rocks
2. Minerals
3. Glaciation
4. Mining
5. Challenges
6. Wilderness
7. Togee
8. Marine Life
9. Changes

6. Theme : Formation of the West Coast
Subtrail 1: ‘Rocks’
Trial Harbour
Serpentine Hill Quarry
West Comet Mine
STAGE 1: DIVERSITY
1. Experience geological diversity at Trial Harbour by
checking rocks from the Precambrian, Cambrian,
Ordovician and Silurian
2. Make a stop near Mount Heemskirk and look for
the white and red granite rocks from the Devonian
3. Watch a movie about the geological history of Tasmania
in the West Coast Heritage Center
STAGE 2: PRECAMBRIAN
1. Continue at the Dundas and visit the West Comet
Mine to look for some of the oldest rocks of Tasmania
2. Learn more about the conditions in the Precambrium
and the uplift of rocks at the end of this period forming
land above the sea
3. See the results of mineralization and mine some
crystal gems yourself
STAGE 3: CAMBRIAN
1. Move on to Serpentine Hill for a look at
rocks from the Early Cambrian
2. Check the location of Tasmania on the globe
and its related climate and conditions during
the Cambrian
3. Try to understand the process of serpentinization
and see the resulting serpentinites

7. Theme : Treasures of the West Coast
Subtrail 2: ‘Minerals’
West Coast Heritage Center
Rosebery
Silver Spray Tunnel
STAGE 1: BRONZE
1. In the West Coast Heritage Center, learn about
the composition of bronze (tin, copper) and the
importance of this alloy in human history
2. See how the demand for tin is being driven
again, mainly by sustainability and renewable
energy trends (solar energy)
3. Be informed about the Heemskirk tin
project and the process of tin mining
STAGE 2: SILVER
1. Start searching for silver specimen in the outstanding
mineral collection of the heritage center
2. Enjoy the photograph collection to experience the
period Zeehan was known as 'Silver City'
3. Visit Silver Spray Tunnel and look for silver rich
deposits near the surface that were of most interest of
the miners
STAGE 3: GOLD
1. In the Rosebery Heritage Center, listen to the story about
how Rosebery was settled because of gold
2. Find out about the mining methods used to produce
rough gold
3. Observe the old aerial ore bucket ropeway and check
how gold was moved from mine to Rosebery and further

8. Theme : Shaping of the West Coast
Subtrail 3: ‘Glaciation’
Henty Glacial Erratics State Reserve
Tullah
Tyndall Creek
STAGE 1: GLACIERS
1. Board the Wee Georgie Wood Steam Railway in
Tullah for a trip along the former western borders of
Pleistocene glaciers
2. Learn how central and western Tasmania were
covered by glaciers during the Pleistocene and
Holocene
3. Move on to the Lake Selina Lookout and see how
this glacial lake represents a former glacier
STAGE 2: EROSION
1. Stop near Tyndall Creek and appreciate the dramatic
ice-shaped landscape of the Tyndall Range
2. Understand how high cliffs and slopes have been
scoured during glacial advance
3. Check the origin of a high dissected plateau with a
labyrinth of glacial tarns
STAGE 3: DEPOSITION
1. At the Henty Glacial Erratics State Reserve, find out
about the various types of glacial deposition
2. See how huge volumes of rocky detritus was
entrained in ice and deposited as glacial till
3. Take a short walk to look for grooved and balanced glacial
erratics that have been carried here by glacial ice

9. Theme : Pioneers of the West Coast
Subtrail 4: ‘Mining’
Queenstown
STAGE 1: WORKING LIFE
1. On the Iron Blow Lookout, watch the hole representing
the first major copper mine of Queenstown that attracted
many miners to this region
2. Board an authentic miner's transport vehicle for an
underground mine tour with stories from an
experienced miner
3. Hear about the mining tragedies of Queenstown
where so many miners lost their lives
STAGE 2: SOCIAL-CULTURAL LIFE
1. Walk along the pubs, hotels and post office and visit the
Paragon Theatre to get an impression of the town's social life
2. Enjoy the Eric Thomas Gallery and watch the extensive photo
collection and a film about Mount Lyell and the memories of
the towns people
3. In the Qbank Gallery, get an impression of how the
Queenstown region has inspired artists over the years
STAGE 3: FAMILY LIFE
1. Get an impression of family relations and see some
fascinating inscriptions on headstones at Pioneers Cemetry
3. Enter the Queenstown Oval to check how sports united
families and play some cricket yourself
2. Visit the Anglican Church and learn about the important
role of the church in the pioneers' family life

10. Theme : Revival of the West Coast
Subtrail 5: ‘Challenges’
John Butters Power Station
Queenstown
Mt Jukes Lookout
Newall Creek
STAGE 1: DEGRADATION
1. On the Spion Kop Lookout, see the deforestation
as a result of tree removal for use in the smelters
and the effect of smelter fumes
2. Try to understand how the combination of tree
removal, rainfall and wind has eroded the topsoil
3. Walk along Queen River and learn about the
process of acid mine drainage and the effects on
the nearby creeks, rivers and harbour
STAGE 2: REHABILITATION
1. At Mt Lyell mine, get familiar with modern waste
management and environmental remediation
techniques that are used
2. Visit John Butters Power Station and check how
the replacement of coal by hydro-electricty has
reduced the impact on the environment
3. Go to the King River bank and hear about
sustainable revegetation plans to reduce the
acidity and contaminants
STAGE 3: DEVELOPMENT
1. Walk from Mt Jukes Lookout to Newall Creek mines and
analyze the chances for sustainable mining
2. At the shores of Lake Burbury, learn about
sustainable fisheries management and fish some
trout yourself
3. End at Darwin Dam and find out what we can
learn from the nearby Darwin Crater and see
fragments of Darwin glass
Darwin Dam
Lake Burbury

11. Theme : Biodiversity of the West Coast
Subtrail 6: ‘Wilderness’
Queenstown
Hogarth Falls
STAGE 1: FOREST
1. Board the West Coast Wilderness Railway in
Queenstown for a journey deep into cool temperate
rainforest, part of the Australasia ecozone
2. Take a walk at Dubbil Barrel and get explained
why it represents the most complex and best
developed form of this forest type in Australia
3. See what's done for its conservation and taste
some wild Tasmanian leatherwood honey,
harvested from the forests at Lower Landing
STAGE 2: ENDEMICS
1. Leave the train in Strahan to walk into People's Park and get
informed about the background of Tasmania's exceptional
biodiversity
2. Learn about the native trees and plants with help from the
information boards created by local school children
3. Get familiar with native animals and try to spot a
platypus before enjoying the Hogarth Falls
STAGE 3: ENDANGERED
1. Canoe or kayak the Long Bay and get introduced to
the rare and threatened species of marine life
2. Learn how to recognize local bird species and try to detect
some yourself
3. Check the problems these birds are facing and focus on
the Tasmanian Wedge-Tailed Eagle, an icon of Tasmania, in
particular
Long Bay

12. Theme : Natives of the West Coast
Subtrail 7: ‘Togee’
Strahan
Sarah Island
STAGE 1: SOCIETY
1. Start on Sarah Island or Langerrareroune and realise
this once was the territory of the Togee tribe and
probably used by their women as a meeting place
2. Be informed about its role, besides being a penal
settlement, as a staging-post for the Toogee to be
detained, marking the end of Togee society
3. Learn how the lost Togee society was organised and how
tribes were united by language, customs and intermarriage
STAGE 2: FOOD
1. Get on the boat to hear why tribes moved seasonally
and how they crossed the mouth of the harbour on floats
of bark and tough grass
2. Find out about the major seafood resources of the
Togee like fish, seals, penguins and birds and occasionally
whales
3. Hear about the different hunting techniques and
weapons the Togee used for catching these animals
STAGE 3: HOUSEHOLD
1. On the coast, check the circular depressions over which
Aboriginal huts were built from branches and bark
2. Understand how fire was used to clear vegetation
and encourage grasslands, where wallabies, wombats
and other game could be more easily hunted
3. Get an impression of the toolkit used by the Togee and
look for original Aboriginal artifacts in the West Coast
Reflections Museum

13. Theme : Communities of the West Coast
Subtrail 8: ‘Marine life’
Strahan STAGE 1: ISOLATION
1. Visit an exhibition in Strahan about the
isolated community on Cape Sorell
2. Get an impression of the life of lighthouse
keepers, harbour masters and signalers in complete
isolation
3. Get on board to visit Cape Sorell and its
lighthouse and experience why the
community has disappeared
STAGE 2: HOTSPOT
1. Get explained why the ocean of the West Coast
support a huge diversity of whales and dolphins
2. Get familiar with the social life of whales and dolphins
and see how much they have in common with us
3. Be informed about the mass strandings of whales
and dolphins in this area and the potential causes
like gently sloping beaches
STAGE 3: ISLAND
1. Move on to Bonnet Island and visit the lighthouse as
another example of living in isolation
2. Get familiar with the life of the little penguin from its
birth till its final moments
3. Get a glimpse of the penguins waddling along the
rocky shore as they return to their nests for the night.
Bonnet Island
Cape Sorell

14. Theme : Conditions of the West Coast
Subtrail 9: ‘Changes’
Ocean Beach Regatta Point
STAGE 1: CLIMATE
1. At Regatta Point, see how the West Coast climate
has changed in the past, based on information from
fossil plant material and sediments
2. Find out that average temperature in Tasmania is
rising with an increasing occurrence of heat waves
3. Notice also that Tasmania is experiencing a
downward trend in rainfall with longer dry periods
but also higher rainfall intensity
STAGE 2: OCEAN
1. Walk the Esplanade to realize that average
world sea level is rising and check the projection
of Strahan sea level rise by 2100
2. Relax at Ocean Beach and analyze its shoreline
recession since the 80's because of more frequent
storm events and large active sand sink
3. Stop at Morse Bay to understand the impact of
increasing temperatures of surface waters on marine
habitats and commercial fisheries
STAGE 3: LAND
1. Move on to the Henty Dunes to realize their
importance for protecting the shoreline against
erosion and sea flooding
2. When crossing the Henty River, try to understand the
impact of more frequent river flooding on the regional
economy and environment
3. In Zeehan, realize the increased bushfire risks and end
your journey at the West Coast Heritage Center to grab a
souvenir in the gift shop
Henty Dunes
Zeehan

15. Stage 2:
From Geotrail
to Geopark

16. Geopark Design
• Design with the help from indigenous
Australians
• Aboriginal culture is one of the world's longest
surviving cultures
 One of its aspects:
all elements in the landscape were left by
the Creation Ancestors, its appearance has
a story to tell
• Look at the map of an area from the
perspective of an Aboriginal storyteller: does
the appearance on the map have a story to
tell?

17. From a West Coast GeoTrail…
The potential geopark
combines:
- all the 16 sites of the
West Coast GeoTrail
- the Mount Heemskirk
Regional Reserve
- the towns of:
• Strahan
• Queenstown
• Rosebery
• Tullah
• Zeehan
- Sarah Island
and is shaped like an eagle
Look at the map
from the
perspective of an
Aboriginal
storyteller

18. • Shaped in the form of an icon of Tasmania:
the Tasmanian Wedge-Tailed Eagle
• Its captive and distinctive design:
is useful for marketing activities
helps in becoming an individual famous brand
appeals to the imagination of the tourist and the local
resident
• Tasmanian Aborigines name for this eagle: Nairana
• Makes a clear appearance on the map of Tasmania:
to a West Coast Geopark…

19. …named Nairana Geopark

20. Benefits
A geopark
• will stimulate positive thinking to the West Coast
• will give local people the will and foresight to create something very special
and beneficial
• is the ultimate chance to create and to maintain a tight and durable network
of actors from the West Coast that will help:
 to use the (geotourism) potential that the West Coast really has; and
 to challenge the regional problems of our time (pollution) and of future generations
(climate change).