Gay Owned and Operated Eco -Tourism Village Huon Bush Retreats was highly commended for excellence in sustainable tourism at the 2008 Tasmanian Tourism Awards on Friday November 29.

Located in an extensive private habitat reserve near Huonville, Huon Bush Retreats features Cabins, tipees, campsites and bushwalks. Uniquely, the business is run with conservation a priority. The tourism income designed to support the conservation.

While the Tasmanian Government’s Overland Track won the Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism, Huon Bush retreats was such a close second, they received a Highly Commended award.

“To be recognised as a close second to a national icon such as the Overland Track is an exciting honour”, co-owner Paul Dimmick told GayTAS. “The success of our business model and this high commendation award demonstrate that it is possible to place natural values first and sustainably share these values with Tasmanian, Mainland Australian and International visitors.”

“We initially purchased the property in order to protect the magnificent forest and find a way to share it with others,” Dimmick said. “Conservation covenants have been applied to the land titles to protect the natural values forever. Human impacts are limited to just 20% of the land, with 80% protected just for nature.”

The resort also houses an enormous tree plantation. Even after including half of guests’ flights and land transport, Dimmick estimated the site-wide carbon balance is well into the positive at about 1400 tonnes absorbed per year.

“Here, you can holiday guilt free, knowing that you are helping to protect the natural values that you are enjoying,” he said.