Presentation to the Wahroonga Rotary Club about the potential for geotourism development in Australia

1. “Geotourism - a Tourism Growth
Opportunity for Australia”
Rotary Club of Wahroonga
11th December 2013
Angus M Robinson

2. GEOTOURISM - AUSTRALIA’S EARLIEST
FORM OF TOURISM – WHERE?

4. Scenery and Geology - a 1938 Musing
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Scenery depends on land
structure - in other words,
its geology.
Everyone interested in the
countryside, how it has
countryside
taken shape, why it
presents us with the varied
beauties of mountain and
woodland, river valleys and
fertile meadows, is, if often
unconsciously, appreciating
its geology.
A.E. Trueman
Professor of Geology, Glascow University

5. Understanding Natural Heritage
Natural heritage is the legacy of natural
objects and intangible attributes
encompassing the countryside and natural
environment, including flora and fauna,
environment
scientifically known as BIODIVERSITY, and
BIODIVERSITY
geology, landforms and soil landscapes, i.e.
GEODIVERSITY.

6. Key Concepts – Ecotourism
Ecotourism is ecologically sustainable
tourism with a primary focus on
experiencing natural areas that
fosters environmental and cultural
understanding, appreciation and
conservation, with a focus on
biodiversity.

7. Geotourism Characteristics
Geotourism is sustainable tourism which
focuses on an area's geology and landscape
i.e its geodiversity as the basis for
providing visitor engagement, learning and
enjoyment.

8. Geotourism - as one of the components of
the many types of ‘place-based’ tourism
Ecotourism
Sightseeing
Cultural
Tourism
Cuisine
HeritageGeotourism
Tourism
Agritourism
Indigenous
Tourism

9. Geotourism – Diversity of Sites
Geo-sites
Icons
National Landscapes
Geo-trails
Geotourism
Caves/Karst Areas
Landforms
National Parks/Reserves/
Urban Parks
Geoparks
WHAs
Mine Sites

11. ‘Gondwana Coast’ – Fossils Walks Geo-Site
Ulladulla, NSW

12. Galapagos, Ecuador – a Global Geo-site

13. The Opening of the Trail of Time
Thursday 13 October 2010
13

14. The ‘Trail of Time’ – Grand Canyon
The Trail of Time is the world’s largest geoscience
exhibition at the world’s grandest geologic
landscape
It is a 4.56 km long trail marked at every meter
with 1 m = 1 million years of earth’s 4.56 billion
year long geologic history

16. Branding ‘Iconic’ Geotourism –
Ensuring a Memorable Experience!

17. Tertiary basalt cap
Trias
sic
P er m
ian
10 m
illion
barre
n y ea
extin
rs
ction
event
Greater Blue Mountains
National Landscape
Thick beds of shale and
coal

20. Red Centre
Uluru
Alice Springs

21. Ningaloo – Shark Bay
Ningaloo
Shark Bay

22. The Kimberley

23. Great Southwest Edge

24. Australia’s Timeless North

25. The Wet Tropics

26. Flinders Ranges

27. Flinders
Ranges NP
Flinders Ranges National Park
Adelaide
Brachina Gorge – self-guided geological
trail - (The Ediacaran Fossils)
27

28. Kangaroo Island

29. Island of Tasmania

30. Great Ocean Road

31. Australian Alps

32. Australia’s Green
Cauldron
Plug
Caldera

33. Australia’s Coastal Wilderness

34. 2 1
43
657
8
9
11
10
1
13
12 14
16
15
50 km
17
18
19
2
4
8
12
6
5
9
13
17
10
3
7
11
14
18
15
19

35. Camel Rock Turbidite
-36.378131
150.076987
These are the strongly
folded beds of 470
million year old
turbidite.
Turbidites form in the
deep ocean when
unstable masses of
sediment avalanche
down continental slopes, gathering water as
they go .
From each dense sediment flow, sand
settles
out first followed by finer sediment,
preserved
in a single bed or layer. Undulations in the
fine
layers at the top of each bed record the
ripples as the flow comes to rest.
The mud settles and duly forms as layers
seen
in the turbidite rock.
Link
http://www.sapphirecoast.com.au/6_The_geological_floor_-_the_Ordovician.pdf

36. What is a Geopark?
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A Geopark is a unified area with geological heritage of
international significance and where that heritage is
being used to promote the sustainable development of
the local communities who live there.
The Geopark brand is a voluntary, quality label and
while it is not a legislative designation, the key
heritage sites within a geopark should be protected
under local, regional or national legislation as
appropriate.
These Earth heritage sites are part of an integrated
concept of protection, education, and sustainable
development.
development

37. Core Elements of a Geopark
A GEOPARK achieves its goals of fostering local development
through a three-pronged approach:
 GEOCONSERVATION: A GEOPARK seeks to conserve significant
GEOCONSERVATION
geological features, and explore and demonstrate methods for
excellence in conservation.
 EDUCATION: A GEOPARK organises activities and provides logistic
EDUCATION
support to communicate geoscientific knowledge and environmental
concepts to the public.
 GEOTOURISM: A GEOPARK stimulates economic activity and
GEOTOURISM
sustainable development through geotourism.

38. oparks
* Over 100 Global Geoparks
* 29 in China
* None in Australia
Kanawinka
Geopark

39. Some Geomorphic Highlights
Kanawinka Geopark – Victoria and New South Wales

40. Volcanic Landscapes, Kanawinka Geopark, Victoria

41. Chinese Global Geoparks
29 Global
Geoparks in
China (2013)

42. Kanawinka Geopark - Education

43. Tianzhushan Global Geopark
Anhui Province, PRC

44. Immersed in the landscape & geology – Tianzhushan Global Geopark

45. Immersed in the landscape & geology – Tianzhushan Global Geopark
The Coastal Waterways of the Hong Kong Global Geopark

46. Take-Aways
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The incorporation of the geotourism
experience (with traditional nature
tourism and elements of other ‘place
based’ tourism) creates a more holistic
‘hero’ experience.
In short, ‘experiential tourists seek
memorable experiences.
Geotourism delivers in geology for
everyone!

47. Geo = Earth = Our Home

48. Take Away - Preserving Planet Earth
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Urgent need for us all to start preserving our only
known liveable home in the universe
Preservation not just conservation is becoming an
imperative; our entire natural environment is now
under threat, driven by over population, over
threat
development and climate change.
Geotourism also communicates geoscientific
knowledge and environmental concepts to the
public.

49. Preserving Planet Earth Committee
D 3450, Hong Kong
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Their vision is through continuous sustainable
development programs and education, the value
education
and importance of our natural environment and
biodiversity will be understood and managed
sustainably.
This committee and two HK Rotary Clubs are
supporters of the Hong Kong Global Geopark.
Is there an opportunity for Wahroonga RC to
establish a similar interest in preserving Planet
Earth?

50. ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE?