Travel Responsibly, Impact Positively
At Cooee Tours, we believe that exploring Australia's breathtaking landscapes comes with a responsibility to protect them. Sustainability isn't a marketing slogan for us — it's woven into every tour we plan, every supplier we choose, and every experience we create. From carbon offset travel to zero single-use plastics, we're working to ensure that the places we visit today are preserved for future generations of travellers to enjoy.
Environmental Protection & Carbon Offset Travel
Every Cooee Tours tour is fully carbon offset through certified Australian reforestation and renewable energy projects. We calculate the emissions from each tour — including coach fuel, accommodation energy, and activity footprints — and invest in verified offset programs that plant native trees and restore degraded land.
We're also transitioning our fleet to hybrid and electric vehicles, targeting 50% low-emission coaches by 2027. Our modern Euro 6 coaches already produce significantly lower emissions than industry standard.
Indigenous Cultural Respect & Partnership
We acknowledge that the lands we tour are the traditional territories of Australia's First Nations peoples. We partner with Indigenous tour operators, cultural custodians, and community elders to deliver authentic, respectful cultural experiences that go beyond surface-level tourism.
A portion of tour revenue from culturally significant destinations is directed to Indigenous-led conservation and cultural preservation programs. Our guides receive cultural awareness training to ensure every interaction is conducted with respect and understanding.
Wildlife Conservation & Responsible Viewing
Australia is home to some of the world's most unique and vulnerable wildlife. Our tours follow strict ethical guidelines for wildlife encounters:
- Safe viewing distances maintained at all times — no touching, feeding, or disturbing animals
- We avoid sensitive habitats during breeding and nesting seasons
- We support wildlife sanctuaries and rehabilitation centres through tour partnerships
- Guides educate guests on conservation challenges facing native species
We only partner with wildlife experiences that meet ethical accreditation standards.
Our Six Sustainability Pillars
Carbon Offset Travel
All tours are 100% carbon offset through verified Australian reforestation projects. We track and transparently report our emissions footprint annually.
Community Partnership
Over 85% of our suppliers are locally owned businesses and Indigenous operators, keeping tourism revenue in the communities we visit.
Wildlife Conservation
Ethical wildlife viewing, habitat protection, and active support for Australian wildlife sanctuaries and rehabilitation programmes.
Zero Waste Operations
We've eliminated all single-use plastics from our tours. Guests receive reusable bottles, and we partner with zero-waste accommodation providers.
Education & Awareness
Every tour is an opportunity to inspire environmental stewardship, teaching travellers about ecosystems, conservation challenges, and how they can help.
Continuous Improvement
We audit our environmental impact annually, invest in cleaner technology, seek guest feedback, and publicly report our sustainability progress.
Sustainability in Detail
How does Cooee Tours offset carbon emissions?
We calculate the total carbon footprint of each tour — including coach fuel consumption, accommodation energy use, and activity-related emissions. These emissions are then offset through partnerships with certified Australian carbon offset providers who invest in native tree planting, land restoration, and renewable energy projects.
We're transparent about our process and publish an annual sustainability summary detailing our total emissions and offset investments.
How do you partner with Indigenous communities?
We work directly with Indigenous tour operators, Traditional Owners, and cultural custodians across the regions we visit. This includes employing Indigenous guides, purchasing from Indigenous-owned businesses, and directing a portion of revenue from culturally significant tours to community-led programmes.
All guides complete cultural awareness training, and we follow protocols established by local Indigenous communities for visiting sacred or significant sites.
What does "zero single-use plastics" mean in practice?
We've removed all disposable plastic items from our tours. In practice, this means:
- Every guest receives a complimentary reusable water bottle on their first tour
- Coaches are equipped with water refill stations
- All snacks and provisions use compostable or recyclable packaging
- We partner with accommodation providers that share our zero-waste commitment
- Proper recycling and composting facilities are provided at all stops
How do you support local communities economically?
Over 85% of our suppliers — including accommodation, restaurants, activity providers, and souvenir shops — are locally owned and operated. We prioritise small and family-run businesses in regional areas where tourism dollars have the greatest positive impact.
By keeping spending local, we help sustain jobs, support regional economies, and ensure that the communities who host our tours benefit directly from them.
What wildlife protection measures do you follow?
We adhere to strict ethical guidelines for all wildlife encounters. Our standards include maintaining safe distances, never feeding or touching wild animals, avoiding sensitive habitats during breeding seasons, and only partnering with ethically accredited wildlife experiences.
We also contribute to wildlife conservation research and rehabilitation through direct partnerships with sanctuaries and conservation organisations across Australia.
What are your fleet emission reduction plans?
Our current fleet already meets Euro 6 emission standards — the strictest in Australia. We're progressively transitioning to hybrid and electric vehicles as they become available for touring applications, with a target of 50% low-emission vehicles by 2027.
In the meantime, all remaining fuel emissions are fully offset through our carbon offset programme. We also optimise tour routes to minimise unnecessary driving and reduce overall fuel consumption.
The Cooee Tours Sustainability Pledge
When you travel with us, you're actively supporting responsible tourism. Here's what we commit to on every single tour:
- Offset 100% of carbon emissions from your tour
- Use zero single-use plastics on coaches and at stops
- Prioritise local and Indigenous-owned suppliers
- Follow ethical wildlife viewing guidelines at all times
- Educate and inspire environmental awareness
- Reinvest in conservation and community programmes
- Publicly report our sustainability progress annually
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Join Us in Protecting Australia
When you travel with Cooee Tours, you're not just seeing Australia — you're helping preserve it for future generations.
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