1.
‘Geoheritage and
Geotourism’
UTAS Webinar Workshop
27th April 2020
Angus M Robinson
Coordinator
National Geotourism
Strategy
Mount Sonder
Red Centre National Landscape

2.
Presenter:
Angus M Robinson
• Graduating in 1968, exploration
geologist by profession; since 2008,
engaged in ecotourism/geotourism
activities as an eco-certified tour
operator.
• Inaugural Chair, Geotourism
Standing Committee of the
Geological Society of Australia,
2011 - 2017.
• Prior to 2008, 25 years in senior
executive roles relating to
technology park development and
hi-tech, manufacturing industry
association activities.
• Earlier senior executive roles at
Taronga Zoo, NSW Geological &
Mining Museum, NSW Geological
Survey, Mt Hotham Alpine Resort
and various US based mining
companies.

3.
What is the Purpose of Geoscience?
 The purpose of geoscience is to explore, develop and
celebrate the links between geological heritage and all
other aspects of natural, cultural and intangible
heritages.
 By studying these issues, geoscientists, along with other
scientists and geographers, can anticipate earth's future
and examine any changes that may need to be made.
Angus M Robinson inspired by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Program & the Geological
Survey of Ireland

4.
Today’s
Agenda
 Natural Heritage, Geoconservation
and Geomorphology
 Ecotourism and Geotourism
 National Geotourism Strategy
 Geoheritage related geotourism
issues with examples
 Government approval pathway
 Geotrails
 Collaboration with Mining
Heritage
 Take Aways

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,
scientifically known as
BIODIVERSITY, and
geology, landforms and
soil landscapes, i.e.
GEODIVERSITY

6.
Understanding
Geoconservation
It is about conserving
GEOHERITAGE and
managing
GEODIVERSITY as an
important part of
natural heritage,
natural functions and
processes, as well as
natural beauty.

7.
Understanding
Geomorphology
(Physical Geography)
Within geoscience, it is
about the study of the
physical features of the
surface of the earth
(landscapes) and their
relation to its geological
structures.

8.
Ecotourism
&
Geotourism
Concepts
 Ecotourism is ecologically sustainable
tourism with a primary focus on
experiencing protected natural areas
that fosters environmental and
cultural understanding, appreciation
and conservation.
 But ecotourism per se is too narrowly
defined and is increasingly seen as a
niche market.
 However 'geotourism is holistic,
nature-based and cultural tourism
that focuses on an area's geology &
landscape as the platform for
providing visitor engagement,
learning and enjoyment'.

9.
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.
 Unlike ecotourism, geotourism is
increasingly seen globally as an
instrument of regional economic
development.

10.
Geotourism
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.

11.
‘Place Based’ Geotourism incorporating
all types of ‘nature-based’ tourism
Astrotourism
Cuisine
Agritourism
Indigenous
Tourism
Heritage
Tourism
Cultural
Tourism
ECOTOURISM
Geotourism
i.e. ‘experiential
tourism’

12.
Fundamentals
Geotourism is
not 'geological
tourism’
Geotourism is
rather ‘place
based’

13.
13

14.
Geotourism Delivery Mechanisms
1. Geosites & Mining Heritage Sites.
2. Geological Time Walks & Rock Gardens
3. Geotrails.
4. Geoparks - both national and UNESCO global.
5. Mining Parks e.g. as in China
Geological Time Walk
Geoscience Australia, Canberra

15.
Australian Geoscience Council
 The Australian Geoscience Council (AGC) is the
peak Council of geoscientists in Australia
representing nine major Australian geoscientific
societies with a total membership of over 8,000
individuals.
 Under the current 2015-2020 Strategic Plan of
the AGC, and as a Geoscience advocacy
opportunity, the AGC has decided to formulate
a draft National Geotourism Strategy to
accommodate the orderly development of
major geotourism projects and activities in line
with overseas trends and domestic regional
development imperatives.

16.
National
Geotourism
Strategy –
Discussion
Topics
1. Geotourism as a means of celebrating
geodiversity.
2. Enhanced coordination nationally of
geoheritage listings.
3. Establishment of a national set of
administrative procedures for
‘georegional’ assessment.
4. New geotrail development.
5. Geotourism to strengthen Australia’s
international geoscience standing.
6. Training of geologists to improve
communication skills for geosite interpretation.
7. Collaboration with providers of other
areas of natural (bioregion) and cultural
(particularly MINING) heritage content.

17.
National
Geotourism
Strategy –
Topic #1
Geotourism celebrating Geodiversity:
 By expansion of the Geotourism
map concept (as developed in
NSW) progressively across Australia
on a ‘state by state’ basis (both
hard copy and online)
supplemented by publications.
 By consideration of new ICTs (e.g.
smartphones, 3D visualisation, AR
& VR), GIS technologies as a cost-
effective means of accessing and
better communicating geological
content for travellers and residents
in regional Australia.

18.
National
Geotourism
Strategy –
Topic #2
Enhanced coordination nationally of
geoheritage listings with the objective
of highlighting areas of both geotourism
value and geosites that need to be
protected, given that
 the right balance needs to be
determined between the needs of
exposing geosites for public
visitation and geoconservation
needs, and
 there are no national standards or
guidelines with each state/territory
having different strategies and
systems for recording geoheritage.
•

19.
Geological
Heritage,
Geoconservation
and
Geotourism
 Geological heritage sites, the scale of
which will vary greatly e.g. a fossil
locality or road cutting, others may entail
a segment of coastline or a large
topographical feature. Some sites may
need to be surrounded by a buffer zone
of sufficient size to protect its integrity.
 Therefore Geoconservation must be a key
consideration when sites are considered
for geotourism.
 Geotours must consider what measures
are put in place or techniques used to
respect geoconservation considerations.

20.
Technology
Solutions for
Geoheritage
Protection
 Virtual Tours e.g. GSWA Virtual Tour of the
East Pilbara
http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/GSWA-virtual-
tours-22666.aspx
 Visitor Interpretation Centre supported
Augmented Reality and 3D Visualisation
 Smartphone Supported Tour Guide
Applications.
 and not forgetting the power of controlled
onsite tours with tour guides (similar to
Cave tours) and/or the construction of
interpretation centres built over the
exposed outcrops
.

21.
Source: CARTO GRAPHICS

22.
New National Park
at Nilpena
Flinders Ranges
South Australia
Iconic Ediacaran Fossil Site

23.
Iconic Fossil Geosites – Ediacaran & Keichousaurus
Nilpena, South Australia Zingyi, Guizhou Province, China

24.
Flinders Ranges National Landscape
Keichousaurus Conservation Museum, Xingyi National Geopark

25.
Age of
the
Dinosaurs
Winton
Qld

26.
Archaen Stromatolites and
Professor Martin Van Kranendock

27.
Iconic Geotourism Themes of
the Pilbara Georegion
 A: Landforms and geoheritage including
ancient fossils
 B: Endemic Flora and Fauna Highlights
 C: Indigenous (and European) culture, particularly
agriculture, mining and resource processing

28.
Gossan of the Broken Hill Orebody

29.
National
Geotourism
Strategy –
Topic #3
Establishment of a national set
of administrative procedures for
‘georegional’ assessment to
provide for potential geopark
nominations at state and
national levels and, as approved
by governments, at a UNESCO
Global Geopark level.

30.
Georegions,
Geotrails
and
Geoparks
 In large regional areas such as the
Murchison in Western Australia, the
Mid West Development Commission
and local councils are undertaking a
‘georegional’ assessment.
 Including the determination of the
most viable geotourism delivery
mechanism available.
 In the first instance this is focused
on geotrail development.
 This may lead to the identification
of an area suitable for geopark
development, subject to State
Government approval.

31.
National
Geotourism
Strategy –
Topic #4
New Geotrail Development:
Individual geological surveys from
the States and Territories be invited
to engage, on an ‘as needs’ basis,
and in collaboration with
university/museum interest groups
as well as with state/territory
divisions and branches of the
interested professional societies,
to review the suitability of existing
roads, bushwalks, biking and rail
trails as potential geotrails.

32.
Current & Potential Major Geotrail Projects in Australia
 Tasmania - West Coast Geotrail, Furneaux Geotrail.
 Queensland - Savannah Way, Dig the Tropics, Boulder Opal
(Western Queensland).
 Victoria/SA - Kanawinka, Great Ocean Road.
 South Australia - Brachina Gorge, Great Central Geotrail
 Western Australia - Murchison Proposal.
 New South Wales - Volcano geotrail, Central West Gondwana
 Northern Territory – Various proposals (e.g.Red Centre Way).
Plus a wide range of smaller, dedicated geotrails along
walking tracks, old rail easements etc. being developed in
NSW (e.g. various Riverina Rail Trail projects), Tasmania, Qld,
WA and SA; and river trails (e.g. Darling River Run).

33.
26
• Identify a geoscience theme
• Tell a simple story incorporating 'A' + 'B' +'C'
elements
• Use engaging stories, descriptions and graphics
• Deliver supporting information in a range of ways
• Collaborate
• Link to related features based on science and
culture
Desired outcomes
• increased visitor numbers and regional economic
growth
• a broader community understanding of science,
and in particular, geoscience.
Keys to success - Warrumbungles Geotrail

34.
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".

35.
21
Port Macquarie
Coastal Geotrail
•Opened 2 May 2018.
•Collaborative project with Uni of
Newcastle, Port Macquarie-
Hastings Council, OEH (Sea
Acres Rainforest Centre), Birpai
LALC.
•Geotrail with signs, brochure,
web content and app.
•Helped to train volunteers.

36.
Granite & Woodlands Self-Drive Discovery Trail, WA
"Take in the expansive views of sandy heathland & spring wildflowers
(B) as you pass along the Holland Track, which gives way to nickel &
gold mining land (C) around Forrestania Plots. Keep a look out for bush
turkeys, dingos or more elusive native animals such as honey and
pigmy possums (B),which are sometimes seen around Grevillea Hill.
From here the landscape changes (A) to mallee woodland & eucalypts.
Explore the rocky outcrops & cliffs of The Breakaways(A) before rolling
out your swag at for a night under an amazing star-filled sky (A)."

37.
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’

38.
Australia’s 16 National Landscapes

39.
Australia’s Big Outdoor Museum: The Magnificent Flinders Ranges
Source: Sir Douglas Mawson, Eminent Explorer and Geologist
Photo Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission/Adam Bruzzone

40.
Alice Springs
Uluru
Red Centre
National Landscape
‘features an ancient landscape with erosional
remnants (geosites) linked to a common geological heritage’

41.
Iconic Geotourism Themes of
Australia’s Red Centre National Landscape
 A: Landforms and common geological heritage
 B: Red Kangaroo species, and other type
flora/fauna
 C: Indigenous (and European) culture

42.
Island of Tasmania
Australia’s Red Centre National Landscape

43.
Island of Tasmania

44.
Island of Tasmania

45.
Island of Tasmania

46.
National
Geotourism
Strategy –
Topic #7
Mechanisms for collaboration
with providers of other areas of
natural (bioregion) and cultural
heritage content,
 inclusive of mining and
resource industry heritage
(e.g. mining companies,
geological and mining
museums, historical societies
e.g.the AMHA,
 as well as specialist groups
with interests in flora and
fauna etc.)

47.
Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park, Taiwan
Herberton Mining Centre and Walking Trails

48.
Herberton Mining Centre

49.
Value of Museum Mineral Collections
“National and local museums can be a valuable
source of information from an exploration
perspective. If there is a comprehensive collection
of minerals and ore suites from former and existing
mines, an exploration geologist can quickly view the
various styles of mineralisation and ore deposit
types”.
Douglas J Kirwin
President 2019
Society of Economic Geologists

50.
Public Mining & Mineral Collections
and Tourist Mine Sites – Tasmania
• West Coast
Heritage Centre,
Zeehan.
• Tasmanian
Museum and Art
Gallery, Hobart.
• GSTas, Hobart
• Queen Victoria
Museum & Art
Gallery (not
public),
Launceston.
• UTAS, Hobart.
Key: Gold font indicates mineral collections available for public viewing

51.
The

52.
Photo by Henry Gold

53.
Take Aways
 Geotourism is holistic and ‘place based’ with geology and
landscapes as its base.
 The right balance needs to be determined between exposing
geosites for public visitation & geoconservation needs.
 Geotourism must determine what measures are put in place or
techniques used to respect geoconservation considerations.
 Through the study of geomorphology, an understanding of
landscapes can enhance outstanding, interpretative
experiences for visitors.
 The application of new digital technologies can add
considerable value to the geotourism experience.
 Geoheritage needs to embrace both fossil & mineral treasures.

54.
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 and Geopark Development Activities
http://www.agc.org.au/geoscience-in-australia/geotourism/
Australian Geoscience Council

55.
Q & A
Convenor: Mark Williams
Geoscientist and Lecturer in Physical
Geography and Spatial Science
The University of Tasmania
.