Our sustainability initiatives for the planet, people and the reef.

We are revved up about emissions and monitor our footprint.

Sustainability guides every part of our business, from our environmental management plan to our sourcing and daily practices. In conjunction with this we closely monitor emissions and continually look for ways to reduce our footprint. Our vessels are maintained to the highest standards to optimise fuel efficiency and are designed to maximise the use of natural sea breezes for cooling, minimising the excessive need for air conditioning and generators. Solar panels further reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, while LED lighting helps conserve energy. We serve locally sourced produce to minimise food miles and encourage both staff and guests to walk or cycle to the vessel and support local suppliers to cut transport emissions. We are currently in the process of setting up an emission offsetting plan by dedicating some of our revenues to tree planting projects. Every action, large and small, is part of our commitment to protecting the Reef.

We hate waste and repair, reuse and recycle wherever and whenever possible.

We take pride in reducing waste and reusing wherever possible. Equipment is repaired and maintained to extend its life, while office and onboard practices include double-sided printing on recycled paper and the exclusive use of biodegradable cleaning products. We have a strict ban on single-use plastics and avoid disposable items wherever we can, sourcing alternatives made from recycled or eco-friendly materials. Even our coffee cups reflect this commitment. They are made from coffee husk, a by-product of coffee milling, combined with organic resin. Using these cups helps recycle tonnes of waste each year, while their BPA-free non-toxic design ensures they’re safe for the environment. Most of our remaining waste is glass, tins and cardboard, which we recycle locally through Containers for Change. Every choice contributes to lowering our footprint and protecting the Reef.

ABC Reef Safaris respects the ocean and is a high standard operator.

• Small groups minimise our impact.
• Educating guests about protecting the oceans is central to our operations.
• Our interpretation is created by experienced Marine Biologists.
• We monitor reef health through the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and our own initiatives.
• As a High-Standard Operator we collaborate to ensure best practices.
• Simple rules: no reef or fish touching and no souvenirs from the ocean.
• Little Urchin reef safe sunscreen for our guests. Free from any dangerous chemicals.
• We use moorings instead of anchors. We do not use single plastics on our vessels.
• We collect the environmental reef charge (EMC) to assist GBRMPA with managing activities to protect the reef.

ABC Reef Safaris partner up for purpose with leading industry authorities.

We have proud affiliations with the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority and the Master Reef Guides program to ensure consistent best practices and highest quality reef insights on your ABC Reef Safaris tour. Master reef guides are world’s leading ambassadors of reef interpretation and conservation. We have earned recognition through Ecotourism Australia’s premier ecotourism certification program. By choosing to travel with us, you support a business committed to sustainable practices and exceptional nature-based tourism. Our Eco certification highlights our dedication to safeguarding the environment, providing education to guests, engaging the local community, reducing carbon impact, protecting wildlife, conservation efforts, preserving Indigenous cultures and ensuring a memorable guest experience. Ecotourism Australia’s certification programs are approved by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). We encourage you to learn more about sustainable tourism and certified businesses by visiting EcoTourism Australia.

We optimise our accessibility features as much as possible.

We warmly welcome every guest and endeavour to support guests with accessibility requirements. However, due to the nature of our vessels, there are some limitations which we would like to be transparent about. For instance:

• Our vessels don’t offer gradual steps to enter or exit the water. Ladders are used.
• Ramped access to the wharf but not to the vessels; however it’s more or less level entry through our back doors.
• The marine toilets are not wheelchair accessible.
• We offer floatation devices and have a guide swimming with you, however, non-swimmers should contact us before booking. Option to book a private guide.
• No aids to convey interpretation content to visual or auditory impaired guests.
• Assistance dogs? They’re our honored guests!

Australia’s ancient and living culture enriches visitor experience to our country.

Tourism in Australia is deeply intertwined with the country’s ancient and diverse landscape, unique flora and fauna and Indigenous peoples and cultures. Indigenous Australians have a deep spiritual connection to the land and sea, which is reflected in their stories, songs, art and traditional knowledge and practices. Here at ABC Reef Safaris, we are committed to respecting and supporting Indigenous culture and employment. We encourage you to learn about and experience Indigenous culture, to help ensure that Indigenous culture and heritage are preserved for future generations.

The distinction between ‘country’ and ‘Country’ is just the beginning.

In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, the meaning of ‘Country’ is more than just ownership or connection to land, as Professor Mick Dodson explains: “When we talk about traditional ‘Country’… we mean something beyond the dictionary definition of the word. …we might mean homeland, or tribal or clan area and we might mean more than just a place on the map. For us, Country is a word for all the values, places, resources, stories and cultural obligations associated with that area and its features. It describes the entirety of our ancestral domains. While they may all no longer necessarily be the title-holders to land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are still connected to the Country of their ancestors and most consider themselves the custodians or caretakers of their land.”

There are 70 Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef, this is their Sea Country.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a deep and enduring connection to the Great Barrier Reef. For over 60,000 years they have lived on, cared for and learned from this unique and precious ecosystem. Long before the reef formed, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples lived on what is now the seafloor. Their cultural knowledge of this time, including the practices and sites they used, is still passed down from generation to generation. After the reef formed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continued to care for their Sea Country through their culture and spirituality. They developed sustainable ways to use the reef’s resources, ensuring that it remained healthy and bountiful for future generations. Learn more about Music, Dance, Language, Food and Stories here.

The Kuku Yalanji are the Traditional Owners of the Port Douglas local area.

The Eastern Kuku Yalanji people have lived in the Daintree Rainforest and surrounding areas of Far North Queensland for more than 50,000 years. Their traditional lands extend from south of Mossman to Cooktown in the north and west to the Palmer River. They have a deep spiritual connection to their land (bubu) and sea (jalan), with culture rooted in Ngujakura (Dreaming) and an enduring commitment to caring for Country. The Kuku Yalanji are made up of different warra (clans), each with unique traditions, yet united in their respect for the environment. Skilled hunters and gatherers, their knowledge of rainforest and coastal plants and animals is profound. Despite displacement and cultural challenges, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people remain resilient, continuing to revitalise their traditions and share their heritage through dance, song, storytelling and cultural experiences.

You can support the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people during your visit.

By supporting the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people, you are helping them to preserve their culture and traditions for future generations.

• Visit the Kuku Yalanji Cultural Centre in Mossman Gorge. This picture is courtesy of them.
• Take an Aboriginal-led tour of the Daintree Rainforest with Walkabout Cultural Adventures.
• Read books and articles about the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people and culture.
• Talk to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people themselves.
• Learn about Kuku Yalanji-led organisations, such as the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation.
• Speak out against racism and discrimination.