With tourism as the largest sector of the economy and a ranking of 13th in the world on the 2005 Environmental Sustainability Index, eco resorts are not hard to come by in Australia. This beautiful country is megadiverse, as are the options for green accomodation. Whether it's a treetop cabin or simply a "beach shelter" you desire, you'll find it here. And, without further ado, here are the top five recommendations for eco lodges in Australia....

Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa

Live amongst the branches in private and unique tree house style resort accommodation. Immerse yourself in blissful pampering at the spa. Find the secluded, pristine waterfall. Dine on cuisine both contemporary and native on the balcony terrace overlooking the lilly pond at the Julaymba Restaurant & Gallery. Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa can be discovered in north Queensland's exquisite Daintree Rainforest, close to the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree River and Cape Tribulation. The world renowned Daintree Spa offers unique Aboriginal inspired massages and spa therapies to bring you in tune with the vibrations of the earth. Try the Indigenous Guided Rainforest Walk or the Aboriginal Art & Cultural Workshop. There are even authentic Aboriginal artifacts and original artworks on display and for purchase in the Julaymba Art Gallery. The list of awards goes on and on- most notable are National Geographic Adventure's Top 50 Ecolodges of the World for 2008, and World Travel Awards Winner of the 2007 Leading Eco-lodge of the World.
daintree-ecolodge.com.au


Kingfisher Bay Resort

World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, situated at the start of the Great Barrier Reef, is untamed wilderness, adventure, and total relaxation, all in one. Explore the world's largest sand island, delving into the ancient rainforests, the colored sand cliffs of Seventy-Five Mile Beach, and the mirrored, gold-rimmed lakes. Base yourself at Kingfisher Bay Resort, where native birds and other wildlife are observed from walkways, private verandas, and outdoor pools. Soak up the knowledge of the local interpretive Rangers on a guided tour, or sign up for more action-packed activities on the resort’s schedule. Discovery's Travel Channel deemed Kingfisher Bay Resort the Best Beach Resort in Australia and the resort has won nine Queensland Tourism and six Australian Tourism Awards. As the winner of the inaugural Steve Irwin award for ecotourism, the resort strives to minimize effects on the natural environment, to conserve energy and to minimize waste. The onsite worm farm composts waste to be used for the surrounding gardens.
kingfisherbay.com

Kooljaman

If it's a truly unique wilderness experience you seek, find this Aboriginal-owned eco-resort at the tip of the Dampier Peninsula, part of The Kimberley- one of the nine regions of Western Australia. Kooljaman ("Kooljaman" is the Bardi word for Cape Leveque) features 14 safari tents offering simplistic luxury in the company of the cape's lighthouse, as well as log cabins and bush cabins. For those of you that desire to be really close to nature, rest your pack right on the beach at one of the 11 "beach shelters", with a thatched roof, palm frond walls, a sand floor, a barbecue and an outdoor shower (bring your own bed). The resort offers activities such as Aboriginal cultural and mud-crabbing tours, reef-walking, snorkeling and swimming (no crocs or stingers to worry about here.) In operation for twenty years, Kooljaman at Cape Leveque has been awarded numerous state tourism awards and recently received four Australian Tourism Awards.
kooljaman.com.au

Friendly Beaches Lodge

Discover a region known for its heightened environmental awareness, where you'll find Freycinet, Tasmania’s oldest national park (established in 1916), and Coles Bay, Australia’s first plastic-bag-free town. You'll also delight in finding Friendly Beaches Lodge and it's award-winning environmentally friendly design, by the architect Ken Latonaon. The Freycinet Experience is a four-day guided walk along Tasmania's east coast. Head to a different part of the Freycinet Peninsula each morning to enjoy a day of coastal walking, with scenic destinations such as Schouten Island, Mt Graham, Bluestone Bay, and world-renowned Wineglass Bay. Evenings at the luxury lodge promise hot showers and catered meals. Friendly Beaches Lodge is dedicated to sustainability, making use of solar heat and recycling and composting practices. Several awards have been presented to the resort, most recently in 2008, when Australian Gourmet Traveller named The Freycinet Experience as Best Eco-tourism Experience.
freycinet.com.au

Rainbow Retreat

As a Private Nature Reserve- the highest conservation listing possible according to Tasmanian government- the grounds of Rainbow Retreat are home to the remarkable Blind Velvet Worm and other endangered native wildlife species, including the Tasmanian Devil, the white Goshawk and the Wedge Tail Eagle. Guests of the resort also have the opportunity to meet several hand-reared Wallabies, Possums, and "Walter the Wombat". Overlooking the north-east coast of Tasmania, Rainbow Retreat undoubtedly boasts the most spectacular ocean panorama in all of Tasmania, including views of the Strezlecki Ranges. The timber-lined cabins have everything you need- even a potbelly stove- but you may want to have the in-house chef deliver fresh meals to your door, particularly the great Woodfired Pizzas. The Bay Of Fires, voted the second best beach in the world, is only a forty-five minute drive away, and Wine Glass Bay, Freycinet National Park and the beautiful Douglas Apsley Park are also only forty-five minutes away. Other beautiful beaches are a ten minute drive down, and guided fishing or walking tours of local areas can be arranged. The list of green practices of this carbon neutral resort is exhaustive- 100% solar and wind power, energy efficient light bulbs, composting, and recycling- and much, much more.
rainbowretreat.com.au