Travel Well. Tread Lightly.
Australia's landscapes are why we do what we do. We want them to last. So sustainable tourism is built into the way we run every tour.
For us, "sustainable" is not a slogan. It guides the suppliers we pick, the coaches we drive and the way we treat the land. We offset our carbon. We cut waste. We back First Nations communities. And we keep wildlife wild.
The result is simple: a great trip for you, and a fair deal for the places you visit. This page explains exactly how we do it.
Sustainability at a Glance
Why Sustainable Travel Matters
Tourism can protect a place or wear it out. Here is why we choose to protect.
Travel adds up
Coaches, hotels and flights all create emissions. Offsetting and smarter routes shrink that footprint.
Wildlife is fragile
Many native species are at risk. Careful, ethical viewing keeps them safe and stress-free.
Money should stay local
When you buy from local owners, the benefit stays in the community you came to see.
Culture deserves respect
First Nations stories shape this land. We share them with permission and pay people fairly.
Carbon-Offset Travel & a Cleaner Fleet
We offset the carbon from every tour. First we measure the footprint. Then we balance it through certified Australian programs.
What we measure
- Coach fuel use on the road
- Energy used by the places we stay
- Emissions from listed activities
Where the offsets go
- Native tree planting and land restoration
- Verified Australian renewable energy projects
Our coaches already meet Euro 6 standards. We are adding hybrid and electric vehicles too. Our goal is 50% low-emission coaches by 2027.
Indigenous Partnership & Cultural Respect
The lands we tour belong to Australia's First Nations peoples. We honour that on every trip.
We partner with Indigenous operators, Traditional Owners and community elders. Together we create real cultural experiences, not surface-level ones.
How this works in practice
- We employ Indigenous guides where we can
- We buy from Indigenous-owned businesses
- We share revenue from cultural tours with community-led programs
- Every guide completes cultural awareness training
- We follow local protocols at sacred and significant sites
Ethical Wildlife Viewing
Australia's wildlife is unique and easily disturbed. So we follow strict rules on every tour.
- We keep a safe distance at all times
- We never touch, feed or chase animals
- We avoid sensitive habitats in breeding and nesting seasons
- We support sanctuaries and rehabilitation centres
- Our guides explain the threats native species face
- We only partner with experiences that meet ethical standards
The aim is simple. You get a memorable sighting. The animal stays calm and safe.
Caring for Queensland's Wild Places
We are a Brisbane operator. Queensland is our home, so we take extra care here.
Reef-safe and rainforest-ready
- We choose reef-safe partners near the Great Barrier Reef
- We stick to marked tracks in rainforests and national parks
- We follow "leave no trace" rules on every stop
From the Glass House Mountains to the Tablelands, we travel gently. We want these places to thrill the next generation of visitors too.
Our Six Sustainability Pillars
Six clear promises shape how we plan and run tours.
Carbon-Offset Travel
Every tour is carbon offset through verified Australian projects. We track our emissions and report them each year.
Community Partnership
Most of our suppliers are local owners and Indigenous operators. Your spending stays in the regions you visit.
Wildlife Conservation
Ethical viewing, protected habitats and support for Australian sanctuaries and rehab programs.
Low-Waste Operations
We have removed single-use plastics from tours. Guests get reusable bottles, and coaches carry refill stations.
Education & Awareness
Every tour teaches a little. We share simple steps you can take to help the places you love.
Always Improving
We review our impact each year, adopt cleaner vehicles and publish our progress in plain English.
7 Simple Ways to Travel More Sustainably
Small choices on tour make a real difference. Here is where to start.
Bring a reusable bottleRefill it on the coach and skip plastic bottles for good.
Pack lightLess weight means less fuel. Bring only what you need.
Stay on the pathMarked tracks protect plants, soil and nesting wildlife.
Watch wildlife from afarUse your camera zoom. Never feed or touch native animals.
Buy localChoose local food, crafts and guides to support the community.
Take your rubbish with youLeave each stop cleaner than you found it.
Ask questionsOur guides love sharing how to travel kinder and smarter.
Sustainability FAQs
We measure the carbon footprint of each tour. This covers coach fuel, accommodation energy and activity emissions.
We then offset that footprint through certified Australian programs. These plant native trees, restore land and fund renewable energy. We publish a yearly sustainability summary and you can ask us for a copy.
No. Carbon offsets, reusable bottles and local suppliers are built into our standard prices.
You do not pay extra to travel responsibly with Cooee Tours. Doing the right thing is simply how we operate.
We work with Indigenous tour operators, Traditional Owners and cultural custodians in the regions we visit.
We employ Indigenous guides, buy from Indigenous-owned businesses, and direct a share of revenue from cultural tours to community-led programs. All guides complete cultural awareness training and follow local protocols for visiting significant sites.
We have removed disposable plastics from our tours. In practice, this means:
- Every guest gets a reusable water bottle on their first tour
- Our coaches carry water refill stations
- Snacks use compostable or recyclable packaging
- We work with accommodation that shares our low-waste approach
- Recycling is offered at coach stops
Most of our suppliers are locally owned. This includes accommodation, cafes, activity providers and shops.
We favour small and family-run businesses in regional areas. Keeping spending local helps protect jobs and supports regional economies.
We keep safe viewing distances, never feed or touch wild animals, and avoid sensitive habitats during breeding seasons.
We only partner with wildlife experiences that meet recognised ethical standards. We also support sanctuaries and rehabilitation centres across Queensland and New South Wales.
Our coaches meet Euro 6 emission standards. These are the strictest currently used for touring transport in Australia.
We are moving to hybrid and electric vehicles as they become suitable for touring. Our goal is 50% low-emission coaches by 2027. Remaining fuel emissions are offset, and we plan routes to cut unnecessary driving.
Bring a reusable bottle, pack light, and stick to marked paths. Follow your guide near wildlife and watch from a distance.
Choose local food and crafts, and take your rubbish with you. Small choices add up across a full tour.
🌿 The Cooee Tours Sustainability Pledge
When you travel with us, you support responsible tourism. Here is what we promise on every tour:
- Offset the carbon emissions from your tour through certified Australian programs
- Use no single-use plastics on coaches or at stops
- Choose local and Indigenous-owned suppliers first
- Follow ethical wildlife viewing rules at all times
- Share simple ways to protect the places we visit
- Reinvest in conservation and community programs
- Report our sustainability progress each year
Find Eco-Friendly Tours by Voice
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Join Us in Protecting Australia
Travel with Cooee Tours and you do more than see Australia. You help keep it beautiful for the travellers who come next.
Acknowledgement of Country. Cooee Tours is based in Brisbane (Meanjin), on the lands of the Turrbal and Jagera (Yuggera) peoples. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of all the lands and waterways on which we travel, and pay deep respect to their Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise the continuing cultural connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Country, and commit to ongoing respectful engagement with Indigenous communities across Australia.