Australia's best green getaways

WHO says going green has to be boring. Experience our natural beauty at its spectacular best at these top eco hotspots.

Green scene ... Cradle Mountain Lodge is located near the entrance of World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park.

WHO says going green has to be boring. Experience our natural beauty at its spectacular best at these top eco hotspots.

VICTORIA

Phillip Island

Guests staying at All Seasons Phillip Island Eco Resort in Cowes won't find themselves short of nature-based attractions. The resort is located near the Phillip Island Nature Park where each night at sunset, the world's smallest penguins, the Little Penguins, emerge from the sea and waddle ashore to their sand dune burrows. The resort was built using environmentally sustainable design principles such as using renewable or recyclable materials and passive energy efficiency design.

QUEENSLAND

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, Lady Elliot Island

Snorkel, swim or dive at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. Lady Elliot Island has some of the state's most amazing marine life.

Guests are encouraged to take a behind-the-scenes tour of the island's waste management systems, water desalination plant and energy production. The resort's new solar hybrid power station has reduced its diesel consumption by 70%. And the aim is to operate completely on solar power by October.

Voyages Wilson Island, Wilson Island

This tiny remote coral cay accommodates a maximum of 12 guests in six island safari-style tents.

Wilson Island is home to the endangered roseate tern, endangered loggerhead and green turtles. The majority of electricity is generated through roof-mounted solar panels which feed into a battery bank. Energy for refrigeration and cooking is supplied by LPG through refillable gas bottles.

NEW SOUTH WALES

The Byron at Byron Resort, Byron Bay

Unwind with spa treatments and yoga in a serene rainforest setting.

"We made the commitment to be sustainable right from the start by and bringing on board people that have the passion and knowledge in these areas," says sales and marketing manager Holly Galbraith.

The Byron at Byron Resort has teamed up with Rainforest Rescue, a local not-for-profit organisation, to offer a carbon neutral conference package where carbon dioxide generated by each conference is calculated and offset by planting rainforest trees.

Blue Mountains Private Safaris, Blue Mountains

It's the ultimate in glamour swagging with minimal impact at Blue Mountains Private Safaris.

Guests sleep in deluxe 'swags' which are luxury mattresses with organic cotton sheets, set in raised, demountable platforms. Chemical toilets are removed from the site after each safari. There is no power other than hurricane lamps, so the carbon footprint of the camp is virtually zero. Water is carried in and no plastic bottles are used, and all waste is carried out. Safari Guide and camp manager, Mark Tickner, is an environmental scientist who was born and raised in the area. A portion of each booking is donated to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island

Surrounded by nature, the Southern Ocean Lodge offers spectacular views, top notch service, sophisticated cuisine and a personalised experiential itinerary.

Only 1 per cent of 102 hectares was cleared to build the lodge while the rest is under a heritage agreement to protect against future development.

Sustainable initiatives include the latest heat pump technology for energy efficient hot water and eco-smart fires fuelled by green fuel ethanol. Naturalist guides provide expert interpretive experiences for guests.

TASMANIA

Cradle Mountain Lodge, Cradle Mountain

They say that the face of creation can be seen in the mirror lakes and rugged mountain peaks of Cradle Mountain.

Cradle Mountain Lodge is a wilderness experience located near the entrance of World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park. More than 20 walking trails around the lodge offer the chance to discover animal and plant varieties found nowhere else on earth.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Ningaloo Reef Dreaming, Ningaloo Reef

Get up close and personal with the world's largest fish, the whale shark, as well as the other amazing marine creatures at Ningaloo Reef on the mid north coast. Ningaloo Reef Dreaming's whale shark eco tours are fun, safe, easy and done in a way that respects and protects the natural environment and indigenous heritage. The company uses its own spotter plane and is the only marine tour company in Exmouth with Advanced Eco Certification.

Karijini Eco Retreat, Karijini National Park

A leader in high-end ecotourism and a finalist in the 2008 Australian Tourism Award for Ecotourism, Karijini Eco Retreat offers an authentic outback experience. The retreat is owned by the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation which represents the Niapiali, Bunjima and Innawonga people of the Pilbara region. And is a perfect base from which to experience the wonders of Karijini National Park. Guests stay in luxury eco tents with private bathrooms or campsites with shared facilities.

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