Page 336 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

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Volcanic Landforms as Tourist

Attractions in Australian

National Parks and Other

Protected Areas

Patricia Erfurt-Cooper (c2500BC). Volcano parks in areas of extinct or
dormant volcanism are advertised as family friendly
Introduction environments, educational and cater for all age

The Australian east coast has a large diversity of groups. Activities range from trekking, hiking,
climbing, abseiling, skiing, bushwalking and
geological features including inactive remnants of camping on or around volcanoes to water sports
volcanoes, many of them located in national parks (canoeing, water skiing and fishing) on crater
or conservation areas. These areas of dormant or lakes. This chapter is a further example of the
extinct volcanism offer an abundance of tourist variety of volcanic landforms and features
destinations. In the north of Queensland large worldwide, and outlines the major volcanic
parts of the landscape are shaped by volcanic environments of Australia that are either part of
activity with over 60 remnant volcanoes in the the overall tourist attraction of individual regions
Atherton Tablelands alone. The ‘far north’ offers or are marketed as the main drawcard for visitors
various volcanic features including lava tubes, interested in geological heritage. The significance
columnar joints, cinder cones and maars. In south- of Australia’s geological heritage and the
east Queensland the Glasshouse Mountains are a dimensions of its potential for tourism are clearly
well known landmark surrounded by a national demonstrated through the diversity of tourist
park. On the New South Wales – Queensland attractions related directly to landscapes created by
border the Mt Warning caldera in the Tweed Valley volcanic activity in the past.
is an impressive reminder of a volcanic past and
further south the Warrumbungle National Park
offers old vents at Crater Bluff, nature trails, Tourism in Australia
lookouts and lava domes from Split Rock to the Australia has a long history of using its natural
Breadknife and Belougery Spire. environment as a tourist attraction, mainly due to
In the south of Australia Mt Gambier, a the fact that the country has variously promoted
volcanic complex of maar volcanoes including the the ‘Outback’, the ‘Wet Tropics’ and the ‘Great
Blue Lake and the Valley Lake is set in a unique Barrier Reef’ as major destinations for nature-
landscape formed by rather recent volcanism based tourism. These images have included

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