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| Cairns, Queensland |
Cairns is one of Queensland’s most famous getaways, a perfect tropical paradise where the ocean, the rainforest, and the city all blend together. Home to iconic attractions such as the famous Great Barrier Reef and the ancient Daintree Rainforest, there is truly not a dull moment when you are visiting this glorious region.
However, due to the wide range of natural attractions scattered about the region, Cairns is one of the top destinations in Australia that requires a sustainable approach to tourism. Deciding to adopt a sustainable tourism attitude doesn’t mean vowing to never visit a threatened landscape or take another flight. Simply changing your travel habits even a little bit can help! Here are just a few tips to follow during your Cairns tour which I found to be easy and effective!
Wear non-toxic sunscreen
There is truly nothing better than swimming above the incredible coral of the Great Barrier Reef. This is by far the most popular activity in Cairns, with boats going out every day, offering guests experiences among the colourful coral and unique marine creatures. But before heading off on a boat to the outer ocean of Queensland’s coast, take a look at the back of your sunscreen bottle. Australia is religious on their sunscreen use, as the Aussie sun is a lot stronger than almost anywhere else in the world. However, the sunscreen you smear on your skin may help your health, but it is slowly killing the reef. Sunscreen that uses certain chemicals such as oxybenzone, nanoparticles, camphor, or methylparaben, can all negatively affect the reef. Disrupting their reproduction, growth development, and even causing coral bleaching. Simply choosing a sustainable sunscreen that does not have any chemicals that will disturb the reef can help in limiting the Great Barrier Reef’s damage.
Choose sustainable food
Cairns, in particular, is a seafood city, being right along the Queensland coasts, it has plenty of ocean dishes on offer. However, many of the seafood available is contained in the disastrous overfishing issue that is affecting the ocean’s life cycle. Due to the demand on a particular fish, many species are being over-fished to the extent where the population can’t keep up. Simply choosing a sustainable option during your Cairns trip can help, such as picking local companies that are sustainable in their fishing.
Only Leave Footprints
When travelling through the incredible Daintree Rainforest, folk will be met with vivid greenery, ancient species, and a pure natural landscape untouched by urban development. The rainforest is one of the most important places in the country, as it is home to a massive percentage of Australia’s native animals. Many travellers trek through the thick trees of the landscape, hunting to find a unique animal or a picturesque waterfall. Keeping this rainforest free of trash and harm is vitally important, as any destruction to the land could leave to a widespread effect. To help even more, pick up the trash you see along the way can support the land!
Go on Sustainable Tours
Tourism is a booming business in Cairns, and due to the majority of the tourism destinations being natural landscapes, sustaining these destinations is a top priority. Many tours going to the Great Barrier Reef or the Daintree Rainforest don’t just offer tours for travellers, bu focus on the research and maintaining of these environments. Hiring scientists and marine biologist on board the tour to help mantain a eco-friendly trip. Make sure when you book a tour for these spots, to choose a completely sustainable company. I chose Cairns Tours Australia’s ‘Cairns Tours Package’ which offered me multiple sustainable and informational adventures!
Recommended Cairns Tours: Cairns Tours Package
Price: $250
Company: Sightseeing Tours Australia
Related article: Guide to Cairns
This post was originally posted on https://sightseeingtoursaustraliaonline.wordpress.com/2020/02/14/tips-on-sustainable-travel-during-your-cairns-travels/
