Current Projects

The Society has been working on the development of Ecotourism and Nature-based tourism in the New England and Coffs Coast regions for the past five years. Initially the project looked at the development of a long distance walking track which was massaged during the Feasibility study to be the Waterfall Track Network (More>>) . As an extension of the ideas developed in the Feasibility study undertaken in 2003, the Society applied for and was successful in securing AusIndustry Funding under the Australian Tourism Development program. This project is called the New England to the Coffs Coast: Cross Regional Sustainable Tourism Strategy (More>>). Details of these projects are below. Or go to Visit Waterfall Way

Other Projects that are linked in with our overall aim are:

• New England Classic Walking Tracks
• Armidale Bushwalking Club

New England to the Coffs Coast : Cross Regional Sustainable Tourism

Project Overview

This document provides an overview of the contracted project being undertaken by NEES for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources. This project is backed by four years of further work with communities and stakeholders across the region. The feasibility study completed through a collaborative discussion with stakeholders provided the outcomes which are being developed in this project.

This study is available online at: http://www.une.edu.au/cwpr/track/

This project aims to promote a differentiated nature-based and ecotourism destination, in the region encompassing the New England, Dorrigo Escarpment, through Bellingen to the Coffs Coast . It will consist of two distinct elements:

•  the development of a Business Facilitation Resource to be used by tourism development agencies, stakeholders and industry developers and

•  the implementation of a two-tiered Marketing Campaign consisting of:

•  the development of a Regional Brand which promotes the broader region as a whole and identifies the region's ecotourism and nature-based activities; and

•  a marketing campaign targeting the region's identified Niche Markets

The first component of the project, The Business Facilitation Resource (BFR), will be an important business tool available for use by the regional stakeholders and tourism operators. The project team will audit existing nature based and ecotourism products in the region in order to identify gaps and opportunities and highlight the possible links between them that could lead to an emergent regional nature based / ecotourism business network. The BFR will also include principles and protocols that will guide the development of regional tourism businesses.

The information generated for The Business Facilitation Resource will be combined with a range of local business support information, in order to generate a Business Support Tool-Kit that will be freely distributed to stakeholders and tourism operators within the area.

The second component of this project, is the implementation of a two-tiered Marketing Campaign, which encompasses the development of a Regional Brand and Niche Marketing Strategy Plan. During this process, the team will also undertake: (a) marketing research to establish niche sectors and identify marketing distribution channels and (b) the development of marketing collaterals (such as billboards, brochures etc) for the overall Regional Brand and the Niche Marketing Campaigns. During the project period, the Regional Brand Campaign will be implemented and promotional material will be developed and distributed. Promotional material for the Niche Marketing Campaigns will be developed only as templates to be customised and published as appropriate by the interested ecotourism / nature-based related businesses in the region.

At the end of the Marketing Strategy Development, the team will compile a Marketing Tool-Kit (a distinct product from the Business Support Tool-Kit) containing all the collected information, promotional material and guidelines for use and application by existing and emergent businesses within the region.

The development of the Business Support & Marketing Tool-Kits will aid the growth of regional nature based / ecotourism businesses, through increasing tourism visitation and fostering the sustainable management of the region's human, cultural and financial resources.

Waterfall Track Network

The idea behind the Waterfall walking track started when a couple of people sat down over coffee. They had been walking a variety of tracks around Australia and the world and could not work out why there was not a track in the New England along the escarpment.

After a feasibility study was completed in 2003, community consultation highlight a range of issues with a single walking track, and the project evolved into the development of a series of walking and nature based experiences. These would be along a corridor starting on the tablelands near Walcha and go all the way to the coast to Coffs Harbour.

These experiences build on a range of existing tracks, farm stays, bed and breakfasts and other fantastic features of the New England. It also allowed for the development of cultural tour experiences along the corridor which are currently being investigated.

For more information on the track concept the Feasibility study and Concept plan are available online at the Centre for Ecological Economics and Water Policy, University of New England.

NEES has just be successful in securing $490,000 to under take the next stage of this development from the Australian Federal Government's - Australian Tourism Development program. This funding will be used to establish the governance structure to ensure the sustainable development of the regions industry, setup a sustainable business model that will allow businesses and service providers across the region to cooperatively market products and packages. Along side this there is work being done to develop a regional identity for the project and a brand that will be used to market and promote to Australia and overseas.

If you are interested in being involved with the next stage of this project please contact us.

New England Classic Walking Tracks

The Society is working on the publishing of a series of "classic" walking guides. These will cover a range of walks across the New England and Coffs Coast regions. There will be single day to multi day walks and various grades. These walks have been chosen a some of the best in the area that are available for free walkers to under take.

Look out for these in your local tourist centre or camping store.

Armidale Bushwalking Club

New England Ecotourism Society sponsored the establishment of a bushwalking club for the New England. Over the period of the development of the walking track there has been many people that have show interest in the track, walking and the development of ecotourism. NEES while busy undertaking the project work around the development of the track, has been unable to provide activities for these members.

The bushwalking club has been established so that members can enjoy the great natural assets of the New England. If you are interested in becoming a member of the bushwalking club please visit their website.