As visitors we have a responsibility to ensure that our time here does not negatively impact on the environments we came to enjoy. There are some simple guidelines to follow that ensure that your visit will be a positive one.

If you take it in, pack it out: Don’t leave litter of any sort, especially tissues. Better still lend a hand and collect some while you’re there! Spread a little good karma and make the next person’s visit a bit more enjoyable by removing litter if you see any. If everyone took out one piece of litter we’d all enjoy a much cleaner environment.

Don’t remove shells. Yes, they do look pretty but they also provide homes for sea critters after their original inhabitants have quit them.

Avoid polluting water courses. If you’re hiking and need to go to the toilet do so away from watercourses – the rivers that run through here are some of the most pristine in the state – let’s keep them that way.

Don’t hassle local residents. Keep a safe distance from wildlife to avoid distressing them – especially with their young in tow. Please don’t ever feed wild animals your human food. It’s not a good idea for many reasons, not least of which they’re not adapted to eat our diet.

Keep out of the sand dunes. Hooded Plovers are a critically endangered bird which nests in sand dunes on the Cape and lays their eggs there. The depredations of feral animals are enough for them to contend with – they don’t need us trampling their eggs!

Keep your speed down. It’s been said that the life span of a koala living deep in the forest is around 30 years, those that live near the road average 3 years. Black wallabies also have a habit of darting out in front of your car unexpectedly. Take care and keep your speed down particularly at night.

Scrub down! If you are hiking along the Great Ocean walk please ensure that you use the stations set up to scrub your boots at Parker River, Blanket Bay and between Castle Cove and Johanna Beach. This is intended to help prevent the spread of cinnamon fungus which attacks & rots the roots systems of native plants robbing the area of it’s rich bio-diversity.

Other impacts to consider before & after your visit 

• Educate yourself and others about the places you visit
• Purchase only the equipment and clothing you need
• Take care of the equipment and clothing you have
• Make conscientious food, equipment, and clothing consumption choices – buy local wherever possible
• Minimize waste production
• Reduce energy consumption

Get involved by conserving and helping restore the places you visit!