The Central Highlands GeoRegion of Central Qld contains all the key components including geotrails in which a future mining park or UNESCO Global Geopark can be developed.

1. “Delivering a National Geotourism Strategy
for Australia”
Tourism & Events Forum, 3 December 2020
Angus M Robinson, Coordinator
National Geotourism Strategy, Australian Geoscience Council
and Managing Director, Leisure Solutions®

2. Today’s
Agenda
 Ecotourism and Geotourism
 National Geotourism Strategy
 Establishing a ‘branding’ framework for
creating high quality, sustainable
geotrails
 Developing and enhancing geoscience
interpretation and communication skills
for geoscientists and other natural
heritage professionals engaged in
geotourism
 An Emerging Chinese Market
Opportunity
 Take-Aways

3. Ecotourism
&
Geotourism
Concepts
 Ecotourism is practised
predominantly in protected
areas such as national
parks whereas geotourism
is undertaken also in all
areas where primary
industry activities are
being carried out.
 Geotourism is increasingly
seen globally as an
instrument of regional
economic development.

4. Geotourism:
holistic and
place based
 comprises the following features of both
natural and cultural heritage:
 Abiotic – non-living aspects such as the sky,
climate & geology, landscape and
landforms: celebrating GEODIVERSITY.
 Biotic – the living parts eg. fauna (animals)
and flora (plants): celebrating
BIODIVERSITY.
 Cultural – past & present, indigenous and
post European settlement, non-living and
built: celebrating HUMAN DIVERSITY.
 Holistic in scope, geotourism is booming
globally and a key driver for tourism,
particularly in Europe and Asia.

5. AGC National Geotourism Strategy Principles
 United national voice for geotourism development.
 Working with a large specialist reference group.
 Working closely with government agencies at all
levels to gain their support and endorsement.
 Reaching out to other natural and cultural heritage
specialists.
 Engaging with local communities.

6. National
Geotourism
Strategic
Goals
1. Consideration of new digital technologies e.g. 3D
visualisation, AR & VR etc.
2. To define an approval pathway for major
geotourism projects.
3. To establish a framework for creating high
quality, sustainable geotrails.
4. To establish a national listing for geoheritage
sites suitable for geotourism.
5. To develop geotourism as a key driver for
celebrating mining heritage and sustaining mining
communities.
6. To strengthen Australia's international geoscience
standing through geotourism excellence.
7. To develop and enhance geoscience
interpretation and communication skills for natural
and cultural heritage professionals engaged in
geotourism.

7. National
Geotourism
Strategic
Goal #3
To establish a framework for
creating high quality sustainable
geotrails
 Individual geological surveys from
the States and Territories be invited
to engage, on an ‘as needs’ basis,
and in collaboration with
natural/cultural interest groups as
well as with state/territory divisions
and branches of the interested
professional societies.
 And to review the suitability of
existing roads, bushwalks, biking and
rail trails as potential geotrails.

8. Best
Practice
Geotrails
 Should be constructed around routes
currently used by tourists; geotrails
should form logical journeys linking
accommodation destinations.
 Should meld the geological heritage
features of a region with a cohesive
STORY.
 Should incorporate and package in the
biodiversity and cultural components
(including mining heritage) of the region
through which the geotrail traverses.
 Supported by ‘cutting edge’
interpretation aids.

9. Current & Potential Regional Geotrail Projects in Australia
 Tasmania - West Coast Geotrail.
 Victoria - Kanawinka, Great Ocean Road.
 South Australia - Great Central Geotrail.
 Western Australia - Murchison GeoTrail.
 New South Wales - Warrumbungles Geotrail, Central West
Gondwana project.
 Northern Territory – Various proposals (e.g. Red Centre
Way).
 Queensland - Savannah Way, Boulder Opal and ‘Dig the
Tropic’ Geotrail.

10. ‘Dig the Tropic’ Geotrail
‘Linking the Outback to the Reef’
 Dig The Tropic is a themed ‘geotourism’ geotrail linking
the wonders of the Southern Great Barrier Reef with the
mysteries of Queensland’s Outback.
 Following the Tropic of Capricorn, the traveller will
experience a living museum created by ‘ancient events’.
 Visit sites such as the Stone House Museum, Age of
Dinosaurs Museum, Lark Quarry, the Sapphire
Gemfields, Capricorn Caves and the Great Barrier Reef.

11. Age of
the
Dinosaurs
Winton
Qld

12. Media Release - What's the Central Highlands' Story?
17 September 2020
 Work is underway to create greater awareness of the Central
Highlands as a tourism destination.
 "We need to create a clear, consistent and unique identity that firmly
puts us in the minds of people when they're planning a holiday."
 The brand story initiative is a priority project of the Central
Highlands Visitor Economy Strategy 2020-22, which sets out how the
region can collaborate to attract more overnight visitors, increase
income across the year and enhance the Central Highlands'
desirability for work and play.
 "The Central Highlands has so much to offer - national parks, gem
fossicking, a laidback lifestyle, thriving agriculture and resources
sectors - and we now have the opportunity to draw that into a single
message," Paul Thompson says.

13. Australia’s 16 National Landscapes
Iconic Branding!

14. Australia’s National Landscapes Programme
Partnership between tourism and conservation that aims to:
 Promote world class, high quality visitor experiences
 Increase the value of tourism to regional economies
 Enhance the role of protected areas in those economies
 Build support for protecting our natural and cultural assets
 Engage local communities
A long term strategic approach
‘To differentiate Australia’s
iconic natural and cultural
destinations from anything else
available in the world’

15. Alice Springs
Uluru
Red Centre
National Landscape
(GeoRegion)
‘features an ancient landscape with erosional
remnants (geosites) linked to a common geological heritage’

17. Iconic Geotourism Themes of Australia’s
Red Centre National Landscape (GeoRegion)
 A: Landforms and common geological
heritage
 B: Red Kangaroo species, and other type
flora/fauna
 C: Indigenous (and European) culture

18. Iconic Geotourism Themes of
Central Highlands GeoRegion
 A: Landforms and geological heritage
 B: Flora and Fauna
 C: Indigenous (and European) culture including agricultural and
mining heritage
The Central Highlands is rich in minerals and covers a large portion of the Bowen
Basin, which is the largest coal reserve in Australia. Over 100 million tonnes of coal
are extracted annually, making it Queensland's most important export commodity.
The region also boasts the largest sapphire-producing fields in the Southern
Hemisphere.
https://www.carnarvongorge.info/natural-history-of-carnarvon-gorge

19. Melding
Geotourism,
Mineral &
Mining
Heritage
Central
Highlands
GeoRegion
 Continuing need to link through geotrails,
mining heritage into established tourism
infrastructure and product offerings e.g.
‘Central Highlands Mining Trail’ and the
‘Sapphire Gemfields Wetland Reserve’.
 Opportunity to link through geotrails, and
cross promote mineral and fossil
museums (with their outstanding
collections) to existing popular museums
such as the Age of Dinosaurs. e.g.
Sapphire Gemfields Interpretive Trail.
 Opportunity to develop a major national
mining park or alternatively a ‘defacto’
UNESCO Global Geopark.

20. Exemplar: Port Macquarie Coastal Geotrail, NSW
"The collaborative geotrail project has been led by the University of
Newcastle (A) & supported by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, the
Geological Survey of NSW (A), NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
(B) & Birpai Local Aboriginal Land Council (C). Supported by a
brochure, website & smartphone app, the Port Macquarie Coastal
Geotrail is a four kilometre walk from Shelly Beach to Rocky Beach
that tells the story of plate tectonics & how the Earth’s crust was
formed along the stretch of coastline over the past 460 million years".

22. “A Vision Beyond Mine Site Rehabilitation -
the largest national mining park in the world to
be established to celebrate the significant role
that mining has played for Australia’s
development.”
http://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/abstract_robinson-et-al_rev.docx
• Native flora and fauna habitat conservation – all connected through corridors;
• ‘Soft adventure’ recreation.
• Coal mining heritage sites, geosites and geotrails.
• Areas set aside for renewable energy generation (solar arrays, wind farms,
biomass production) embracing light industrial sites and ‘value adding’
manufacturing.
• Engagement with the six strategic hubs of the Strategic Aboriginal Culture and
Enterprise Scheme of the Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation.

23. Employment
Benefits of
Geotourism
Central
Highlands
GeoRegion
Through geotourism, can significantly
improve indigenous employment, and more
broadly, regional employment.
 New domestic employment and
consulting opportunities for
natural/cultural heritage professionals –
design of interpretation signage/boards,
design of geotrails etc.
 Management roles in potential mining
parks and geoparks, regional
development and LGAs.
 Flow-on employment in tour operations
and townships resulting from increased
tourism visitation.
 Opportunities for pastoralists to develop
‘farm stay’ and ‘station stay’ tourism
operations.

24. Societal
Benefits of
Geotourism
Central
Highlands
GeoRegion
 A mechanism for celebrating and raising
awareness of mining heritage, past and
present.
 An opportunity to enhance community
engagement and build value into ‘Social
Licence’ considerations.
 By celebrating geological heritage, and in
connection with all other aspects of the
area’s natural and cultural heritage (and
most significantly, indigenous heritage),
geotourism enhances awareness and
understanding of key issues facing society,
such as using our earth’s resources
sustainably.
 By raising awareness of the importance of
the area’s geological heritage in society
today, geotourism gives local people a
sense of pride in their region and
strengthens their identification with the
area.

25. Over-riding
Socio-
economic
Benefits of
Geotourism
Central
Highlands
GeoRegion
 Measurable economic benefits
through enhancement of traditional
nature-based tourism - additional
visitors, direct and regional
economic output, household income
and wages, and local (including
Indigenous) employment.
 Through establishment of a higher
level of centralised coordination in
areas of product development,
travel and hospitality services,
tourism promotion/branding.
 Through its defined mission,
community engagement is
maximised and measured.

26. Etheridge ‘Scenic GeoRegion’, Queensland
Comprising the entire Shire of
Etheridge, and including areas
of outstanding volcanic and
mining heritage - some 40,000
sq km in area.
Embracing 1.7 billion years of
geological history.
Only 950 people, mainly cattle
farmers.

27. .

28. Etheridge ‘Scenic GeoRegion’
 Geosites – In abundance, with Undara as a global icon.
 Geo villages – Four small townships, all with community
engaged geosites (including agate, sapphire and gold fields);
key established ecotourism resorts of Undara & Cobbold
Gorge; and the indigenous Talaroo Hot Springs development.
 Geotrails – The Savannah Way (Lava tubes, Gems and Gorges
Trail) with connections to nearby mining heritage locations.
 National Parks – Undara Volcanic Park & six other park areas.
 TerrEstrial Mineral/Fossil Museum– Most significant mineral
museum in Qld.
 Many heritage mining sites & small gold mining operations
underscores Etheridge’s status of one Australia’s most
diversified mineralised areas.

29. Public Mining & Mineral/Fossil Collections
and Tourist Mine Sites - Queensland
Queensland
Museum
Brisbane
Various research-
only state
collections
Brisbane
School of Earth &
Environmental
Sciences, University
of Queensland
Ted Elliott
Collection
TerrEstrial
Georgetown
Herberton Mining
Museum
Herberton
Crystal Caves
Atherton
Opal
Museum
Brisbane
Mount Morgan
Historical Museum
Mount Morgan
Australian Age of
Dinosaurs
Winton
Central Highlands
Sapphires
Museum??
Selected town

31. Repositioning our ‘Nature Based’ Tourism
Marketing to China
 The Chinese market is not attuned to marketing
which promotes ecotourism, geotourism, nature-
based tourism, and even terms such as national
landscapes.
 Chinese tourists just want to visit iconic ‘Scenic
Areas’ and take photos.
 Geotourism is simply a process that drives visitation
to iconic ‘Scenic Areas’.

32. Characteristics of a Likely Second Wave of
Chinese Tourists to Australia
 18-25 in age, higher income, soft adventure/nature focused
seeking.
 Seeking out geotourism experiences.
 Self-drive preference in packaged products (flexible with
accommodation options).
 Totally online focused, seeking all travel information from
smartphones.
 English generally as a second language.
 Enjoy their food - three substantive meals per day.
 Also applies to other similar Asian tourist segments.

33. UNESCO Global Geoparks
Map - Distribution of Chinese
geoparks with global status
39 of the 163
global
geoparks
located in
China

34. Australia-China Memorandum of Cooperation
The GSA and the Geological Society of China
Executed June 2016
 The Australia-China relationship could become
more important once we resolve the current
deadlock.
 The Memorandum of Cooperation is focused on
growing and enhancing best practice nature-based
tourism (i.e. geotourism) in both countries.
 Tourism park managers could play a significant
role in establishing ‘sister’ relationships between
parks, as a key driver of future geotourism.

35. Take-Aways Relating to a Potential China Market
for the ‘Central Highlands Scenic Area’
 Chinese people are looking to establish warm business and
cultural relationships with people with whom they trade.
 Any bilateral relationships that are established must be built
on 'win-win' and 'value adding' benefits for both sides.
 These relationships need to be long-term in nature and
adequately resourced to underpin regular visits between
communities.
 Regions need to consider what are the most effective
vehicles for managing & underpinning bi-lateral
relationships.
 Identifying and appointing appropriate champions to direct
these relationships is a key factor for success.

36. Take-Aways
 Geotourism is holistic and ‘place based’ with geology and
landscapes at its core.
 Measurable economic benefits through enhancement of
traditional nature-based tourism - additional visitors,
direct and regional economic output, household income
and wages, & local (including indigenous) employment.
 The National Geotourism Strategy is providing a framework
in which geotourism opportunities can be maximised.
 The Central Highlands GeoRegion contains all the key
components including geotrails in which a future mining
park or UNESCO Global Geopark can be developed.
 The application of new digital technologies can add
considerable value to the geotourism experience.

37. Contact Details
Angus M Robinson FAusIMM (CP)
angus@leisuresolutions.com.au
Tel: 0418 488 340
https://www.slideshare.net/leisuresolutions
http://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/index.php/geotourism-industry-groups/
Information about Australian Geotourism Activities
http://www.agc.org.au/geoscience-in-australia/geotourism/
Australian Geoscience Council