The document discusses geotourism, geotrails, and geoparks as pathways for future development in Australia. It defines key terms like geotourism and geotrails. Geotrails are presented as a cost-effective way to enhance regional development and support for geotourism. Examples of existing and potential geotrails in Australia are provided. While geopark development has faced challenges in Australia, momentum is growing to develop the geotourism industry, especially through collaboration with China.

1. ““Geotourism, Geotrails & Geoparks –Geotourism, Geotrails & Geoparks –
Pathways for Future Development in AustraliaPathways for Future Development in Australia””
AESC 2016AESC 2016
2727thth
June 2016June 2016
Angus M RobinsonAngus M Robinson
Chair, Geotourism Standing CommitteeChair, Geotourism Standing Committee
Angus M RobinsonAngus M Robinson

2. Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda
 What do we mean by geotourism?What do we mean by geotourism?
 GeotrailsGeotrails
 Red Centre Way (Geotrail) and Other GeotrailsRed Centre Way (Geotrail) and Other Geotrails
 Current Status – Geopark Development inCurrent Status – Geopark Development in
AustraliaAustralia
 Take AwaysTake Aways
 Australia- China CollaborationAustralia- China Collaboration

3. Geotourism Definition adopted byGeotourism Definition adopted by
the Geological Society of Australiathe Geological Society of Australia
‘Geotourism is tourism which focuses on an area'sGeotourism is tourism which focuses on an area's
geology and landscapegeology and landscape as the basis for providing visitoras the basis for providing visitor
engagement, learning and enjoyment’.engagement, learning and enjoyment’.

4. Environment, Natural & Cultural HeritageEnvironment, Natural & Cultural Heritage
comprises the following:comprises the following:
1.1. AAbioticbiotic – non-living aspects such as the climate & geology– non-living aspects such as the climate & geology
e.g. landscape and landforms:e.g. landscape and landforms: GEODIVERSITYGEODIVERSITY
2.2. BBioticiotic – the living parts eg. fauna (animals) and flora– the living parts eg. fauna (animals) and flora
(plants):(plants): BIODIVERSITYBIODIVERSITY
3.3. CCulturalultural – past & present, non-living & built– past & present, non-living & built
PartsParts B+CB+C are well interpreted within tourism, especially throughare well interpreted within tourism, especially through
ecotourism and cultural tourism,ecotourism and cultural tourism, butbut AA has typically not been wellhas typically not been well
addressed in Australia.addressed in Australia.
Source: Dowling, 2013

5. Geotourism incorporatingGeotourism incorporating
all types of ‘nature-based’ and cultural tourismall types of ‘nature-based’ and cultural tourism
After Boley, B.B. after Thompson, S. 2009
Sightseeing
Cuisine
Agritourism
Indigenous
Tourism
Heritage
Tourism
Cultural
Tourism
ECOTOURISM
GeotourismGeotourism
i.e. ‘experientiali.e. ‘experiential
tourism’tourism’

6. Geotourism – Diversity of PlacesGeotourism – Diversity of Places
GeotourismGeotourism
IconsIcons
((Inc National Landscapes)Inc National Landscapes)
Mine Sites
National Parks/Reserves/National Parks/Reserves/
Urban ParksUrban Parks
GeotrailsGeotrails
Geo-sitesGeo-sites
Geoparks//
PaleoParksPaleoParks
Caves/Karst Areas
Landforms
WHAsWHAs

7. Alice Springs
Uluru
Red Centre
National Landscape
‘features an ancient landscape with erosional
remnants (geosites) linked to a common geological heritage’

8. Iconic Geotourism Themes of theIconic Geotourism Themes of the
Red Centre National LandscapeRed Centre National Landscape
 AA: Landforms and common geological heritage: Landforms and common geological heritage
 BB: Red Kangaroo species, and other type: Red Kangaroo species, and other type
flora/faunaflora/fauna
 CC: Indigenous (and European) culture: Indigenous (and European) culture

9. Geotrail Characteristics -Geotrail Characteristics -
A First DefinitionA First Definition
‘A Geotrail delivers geotourism experiencesA Geotrail delivers geotourism experiences
through a journey linked by an area'sthrough a journey linked by an area's geologygeology
and landscapeand landscape asas the basis for providing visitorthe basis for providing visitor
engagement, learning and enjoyment’.engagement, learning and enjoyment’.

10. Why Geotrails?Why Geotrails?
1. Relates directly to the tourism experience of a
journey linking destinationsjourney linking destinations.
2.2. In Australia, unlike geoparks,In Australia, unlike geoparks, geotrails havegeotrails have
widespread appealwidespread appeal, and do not compete with or, and do not compete with or
impact on land management/access issues.impact on land management/access issues.
3.3. Geotrails are relatively easy to establish andGeotrails are relatively easy to establish and
represent arepresent a very cost effective means of enhancingvery cost effective means of enhancing
regional developmentregional development..

11. Best Practice GeotrailsBest Practice Geotrails
1.1. Should be constructed aroundShould be constructed around routes currently usedroutes currently used
by touristsby tourists; geotrails should form logical journeys; geotrails should form logical journeys
linking accommodation destinations.linking accommodation destinations.
2.2. ShouldShould meld the geological heritage features of ameld the geological heritage features of a
region with a cohesive STORY.region with a cohesive STORY.
3.3. ShouldShould incorporate and package in the biodiversityincorporate and package in the biodiversity
and cultural components (including mining heritage)and cultural components (including mining heritage)
of the region through which the geotrail traverses.of the region through which the geotrail traverses.

12. Island of Tasmania
Australia’s Red Centre National Landscape

14. Island of Tasmania

15. Island of Tasmania

16. Island of Tasmania

17. Island of Tasmania

18. Island of Tasmania

24. ‘‘The Living Earth’ – Cradle Coast GeotrailThe Living Earth’ – Cradle Coast Geotrail
Island of Tasmania National LandscapeIsland of Tasmania National Landscape

25. Flinders RangesFlinders Ranges
National LandscapeNational Landscape
Brachina Gorge Geological Trail and Bunyeroo ValleyBrachina Gorge Geological Trail and Bunyeroo Valley

26. Australia’s Coastal Wilderness
National Landscape
Geo-heritage journey and geotrails

27. Great Ocean Road National Landscape
Great Ocean Road and Kanawinka Geotrail ?

30. Institutional Resistance to Geoparks - 2012Institutional Resistance to Geoparks - 2012
 StateState Geological Surveys are not supportive of the conceptGeological Surveys are not supportive of the concept ––
exasperates land alienation for exploration and mining.exasperates land alienation for exploration and mining.
 Staff in many national parks areStaff in many national parks are more interested and trained inmore interested and trained in
other areas of natural heritage; and limited geoscienceother areas of natural heritage; and limited geoscience
constituencyconstituency in government land management agencies.in government land management agencies.
 Geoparks would mean aGeoparks would mean a new and competing funding neednew and competing funding need ––
diverted from national parks.diverted from national parks.
 Designated geoparks adds to theDesignated geoparks adds to the complexity of governmentcomplexity of government
administration in a federated jurisdiction.administration in a federated jurisdiction.
 Viewpoint thatViewpoint that the Australian National Landscape Programthe Australian National Landscape Program
should be developed furthershould be developed further as a preferred strategy.as a preferred strategy.

31. Geopark Development In Australia - 2016Geopark Development In Australia - 2016
 Australian Government agencies stillAustralian Government agencies still have reservations ofreservations of
acting as an approving authorityacting as an approving authority in land management areas
where state/territory governments have jurisdiction.
 In the aftermath of the mining boom, regional development –regional development –
i.e. jobs and growth has become more of a State/Territoryi.e. jobs and growth has become more of a State/Territory
Government political imperative than ever before.Government political imperative than ever before.
 Australian Government Geologists are now supportive ofAustralian Government Geologists are now supportive of
geotourismgeotourism with a better understanding of geopark/geotrailwith a better understanding of geopark/geotrail
development, butdevelopment, but concerns still remain about unintendedconcerns still remain about unintended
consequencesconsequences arising from approvingarising from approving ‘geoPARKS’ over landsover lands
not already protected.not already protected.

32. Proposed Hunter Valley National Mining ParkProposed Hunter Valley National Mining Park
““A Vision Beyond Mine Site Rehabilitation -A Vision Beyond Mine Site Rehabilitation - the largest nationalthe largest national
mining park in the world to be established to celebrate themining park in the world to be established to celebrate the
significant role that mining has played for Australia’ssignificant role that mining has played for Australia’s
development.”development.”
• Native flora and fauna habitat conservation – all connected through corridors;Native flora and fauna habitat conservation – all connected through corridors;
• ‘‘Soft adventure’ recreation.Soft adventure’ recreation.
• Coal mining heritage sites, geosites and geotrails.Coal mining heritage sites, geosites and geotrails.
• Areas set aside for renewable energy generation (solar arrays, wind farms, biomassAreas set aside for renewable energy generation (solar arrays, wind farms, biomass
production) embracing light industrial sites and ‘value adding’ manufacturing.production) embracing light industrial sites and ‘value adding’ manufacturing.
• Engagement with the six strategic hubs of the Strategic Aboriginal Culture andEngagement with the six strategic hubs of the Strategic Aboriginal Culture and
Enterprise Scheme of the Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation.Enterprise Scheme of the Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation.

33. Geopark Development In Australia - 2016Geopark Development In Australia - 2016
 Australia’s National Landscapes and many other regional
areas of Australia are key ‘iconic’ places where geotourism,
rather than just ‘nature based’ tourism, is becoming seen as
synonymous.
 With 120 UNESCO Global Parks now approved worldwide,
Australia needs to join this global development, or risk
missing out on the economic and other benefits offered by
geopark development.
 Australia has a big future for geotourism particularly given
the emerging demand from overseas markets, particularly
China.

34. Take-AwaysTake-Aways
 Creating geotrailsCreating geotrails is arguably the easiest way ofis arguably the easiest way of
providing early pathways and support fromproviding early pathways and support from
governments for geotourism activities in Australia.governments for geotourism activities in Australia.
 New ICT technologiesNew ICT technologies offer cost effective solutionsoffer cost effective solutions
of providing travellers with interpretativeof providing travellers with interpretative
information.information.
 Successful roll-out ofSuccessful roll-out of geotrails will instill confidencegeotrails will instill confidence
in geotourism,in geotourism, providing aproviding a future pathway tofuture pathway to
geopark establishmentgeopark establishment and development inand development in
Australia.Australia.
 State Government inspired geopark/geotrailState Government inspired geopark/geotrail
initiativesinitiatives are emerging in Qld,Tasmania, SA andare emerging in Qld,Tasmania, SA and

35. Australia-China Memorandum of CooperationAustralia-China Memorandum of Cooperation
 The Australia-China relationship is becoming moreThe Australia-China relationship is becoming more
importantimportant with the increasing level of economic,with the increasing level of economic,
social and cultural activities in the coming decades.social and cultural activities in the coming decades.
 The Memorandum of Cooperation will be focusedThe Memorandum of Cooperation will be focused
onon growing and enhancing best practice nature-growing and enhancing best practice nature-
based tourism (i.e. geotourism)based tourism (i.e. geotourism) in both China andin both China and
Australia.Australia.
 Tourism park managers could play a significant roleTourism park managers could play a significant role
inin establishing ‘sister’ relationships between parks,establishing ‘sister’ relationships between parks,
as a key driver of future geotourism.as a key driver of future geotourism.

36. Contact DetailsContact Details
angus@leisuresolutions.com.auangus@leisuresolutions.com.au
0418 488 3400418 488 340
http://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/index.php/geotourism-industry-groupshttp://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/index.php/geotourism-industry-groups//
http://www.geoexpro.com/articles/2016/04/australia-s-big-red-centrehttp://www.geoexpro.com/articles/2016/04/australia-s-big-red-centre