The three new experiences are made possible thanks to grants worth $ 1 million from the Nature-Based Tourism Co-Investment Fund of the Liberal government of Marshall.

Innovative new tourism initiatives include a new boat tour of a unique part of the Encounter Marine Park on the Fleurieu Peninsula, a new aerial adventure park to be built in the Kuitpo Forest in the Adelaide Hills, and two new nature-based commercial tour experiences, the Reevesby. present Iceland, at Sir Joseph Banks Group Conservation Park, and a Pelagic Birds Tour with Neptune Islands Conservation Park, where seabirds such as ospreys, giant petrels and albatrosses can be seen on the Eyre Peninsula.

These projects have all shown local conservation, community and economic benefits, and as part of their development, operators will contribute to conservation programs such as habitat restoration, greening and rewilding.

Environment and Water Secretary David Speirs said the nature-based tourism co-investment fund was an important part of the Liberal Marshall government’s Parks 2025 strategy and record-breaking funding for the environment.

“We are investing record amounts to revitalize our parks, improve conservation, promote nature-based tourism and create jobs across the state,” said Minister Speirs.

“I congratulate the three organizations we have invited to work with us to use our investments to advance the visitor economy further and faster. These companies will work with the state government to deliver sustainable, high quality tourism experiences across South Australia.

“I look forward to helping them build and maintain new experiences to ensure we continue to deliver new visitor experiences and opportunities so that everyone can enjoy and celebrate our wonderful parks, reservoirs and open spaces.

“All of these new nature-based tourism companies offer visitors special experiences in these natural places that promote and expand their understanding of the environment and culture and make an important contribution to nature conservation projects such as the restoration of habitats or greening.”

The three successful applicants who are offered funding are:

  • Calypso Star Charters ($ 181,442 grant for a total project cost of $ 362,884), a very successful tourism company operating shark cage diving tours from Port Lincoln. The grant allows them to set up two new tours to Reevesby Island and a pelagic bird tour further south of Neptune Island. Reevesby Island is only accessible by boat and is one of the largest islands in Sir Joseph Banks Group Conservation Park, with beautiful sandy beaches and spectacular coastal views, and home to a unique variety of wildlife including stick nest rats, plovers, bald geese and small penguins;
  • Big Duck boat tours ($ 332,500 grant for a total project cost of $ 700,000), a multigenerational tourism company on the Fleurieu Peninsula, the fund will ensure operators can buy a new boat and organize a new tour that takes in the beautiful scenery and the Marine life in shows the region between Wirrina Cove, Rapid Head, Cape Jervis and Victor Harbor in Encounter Marine Park, such as seals, sea lions, long-nosed fur seals, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, southern right whales, humpback whales and the occasional orcas; and
  • TreeClimb SA, Australia’s first urban aerial adventure park will set up a new location in the Kuitpo Forest with 12 tree climbing courses (US $ 600,000 grant for a total project cost of US $ 1.4 million). The new website will feature more challenging courses with longer ziplines and higher platforms, as well as new innovations that will be the first of its kind in Australia. This includes Australia’s first airline network course, which enables users with a disability to attend with families or caregivers. TreeClimb Managing Director Seb Packer founded the innovative company in 2018, which now more than 180,000 visitors see climbing and flying through the high ropes course in the Adelaide Parklands.

Mr Packer said the grant will mean the company can expand to build a second site next to the Chookarloo Campground in the Kuitpo Forest. This would allow him to double his business and staffing levels, with up to four new full-time positions and an additional 45 casual employees, many of whom will be local.

“That gives us the confidence to take the next step,” said Packer.

“There are many challenges in deciding to expand, so this funding has allowed us to take the plunge and will really ensure we have support in this next step.

“With regard to the new setup, we are very excited about the new location and what it will offer visitors and especially families in the region. The new TreeClimb in Kuitpo will be more challenging with longer zip lines and higher platforms along with some new innovations that will be the first of its kind in Australia. “

Calypso Star Charters executive director Andrew Wright said the grant would allow them to further diversify and strengthen their Port Lincoln business by adding two additional tours, which currently include shark cage diving and sea lion tours. They could also hire seven to eight additional employees.

Mr Wright said they plan to add a pelagic bird tour where ospreys, giant petrels and albatrosses can be spotted as part of the visits and Reevesby Island tours.

Andrew, the current title holder of Australia’s Top Tourist Attraction, along with his wife Nicol and business partner Janet Forster, said they currently have more than 8,000 visitors a year doing shark cage diving and sea lion tours.

“With COVID, we are finding that people are no longer staying in Port Lincoln for two to three nights, but now for seven to eight nights. So it’s important to our business to expand and strengthen what we are already doing, ”said Mr. Wright.

“In addition to the two new tours, we will also invest in a new gyro stabilization system for our second boat in order to offer our visitors a more comfortable and pleasant experience on the water.

“The two new tours will showcase the wonderful marine life and wildlife we ​​have here on the Eyre Peninsula to visitors from all over the world.”

Michael Veenstra, managing director of Big Duck Boat Tours, a third generation tourism company in the Fleurieu Peninsula, said a successful recipient of the fund would enable his company to offer new boat tours of the region’s most spectacular and “Instagram-worthy” coastline organize, from Wirrina Cove to Victor Harbor.

“It is very exciting and will allow us to invest in a new specially designed boat that will allow us to organize these new tours of the Encounter Marine Park,” said Mr Veenstra.

“Investing in a new boat involves very high capital and investment costs, which means that it also poses a great risk for my company. Therefore, being the successful recipient of a grant that can reduce these costs and risk is a great bonus.

“This way we can not only present our very special part of the world to visitors from all over the world. It will also enable us to expand our team of experienced skippers and guides of 15 permanent part-time, occasional and full-time employees by two additional full-time equivalents (FTE). “

Fund applicants can apply for grants ranging from $ 20,000 to $ 1 million and are expected to cover at least half of the total financial cost of their project.

The fund will remain open until June 2022 or until SA’s government investment of $ 5 million is depleted.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR