Page 338 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

314 Oceania

the east coast and in the south-east of Australia it protected sites along the east coast and down
soon becomes apparent that there has been south in the border region of South Australia and
considerable volcanic activity in some areas in the Victoria openly promote their volcanic landforms
not so distant past. Australian geosites and geotopes as as tourist attractions. To present an overview of
they are increasingly called, are natural areas of ‘what’s on offer’ some of the Australian volcanic
geological significance and in some cases are of landscapes are discussed here to illustrate the
world heritage status, which represents an additional dimensions of this type of nature-based tourism.
drawcard for visitors. Although in many protected The prerequisites for volcano tourism are features
areas volcanic landforms are not the main attraction such as volcanic landforms, rock formations and
or obvious to everybody, this chapter highlights the other phenomena, preferably in an area with easy
fact, that many national parks and other protected road access and other necessary service
regions are based in part on its volcanic heritage. infrastructure. The following list presents a number
National parks and geoparks are areas which have of volcanic features as examples of dormant or
been set aside and designated for preservation and extinct volcanic environments in Australia that are
are made available for purposes of recreation and actively promoted for tourism:
culture for the public. These areas of countryside
are usually protected for their scenic value, • crater lakes, maars and diatremes (Tower Hill
geological heritage, their biodiversity and overall National Park, south-west Victoria; Lake Eacham,
environmental significance and are kept in their Lake Barrine, Hypipamee Crater, Crater Lakes
natural state by special national park legislations National Park, Qld);
and national park acts. In Australia national parks • columnar jointing, tessellated pavements or
are administered by their respective state basalt columns (e.g. Organ Pipes NP, Melbourne;
governments under the control of: Sawn Rock, Mt Kaputar NP, Central NSW; Mt
Canabolas Volcanic Complex, NSW);
• Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services • entablatures (Rosette Rock, Organ Pipes NP, Vic;
(QPWS) and the Environmental Protection Monaro Volcanic Province, NSW);
Agency (EPA); • pillow basalt (Monaro Volcanic Province);
• New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife; • lava flows, channels, shields, ridges, domes
• Parks Victoria; and (Qld, Vic, NSW);
• South Australian National Parks and Wildlife. • lava tubes, tunnels, caves (Undara, Qld, Byaduk,
Vic);
The Queensland government has published a • tumuli, pressure ridges (Newer Volcanic Provinces,
guide to Queensland’s parks and forests to Vic);
commemorate a century of national parks and • volcanic bombs (Monaro Volcanic Province, NSW);
protected areas from 1908 to 2008. Currently over • scoria cones, spatter cones (Mt Scoria, Qld; Red
eight million hectares of important natural regions Rock, Vic);
are protected in over 900 national parks and other • stony rises (Western Plains, Vic);
protected areas (Queensland Government, 2008) • volcanic provinces (Vic, Qld, NSW);
including five magnificent world heritage areas. • central volcanoes (Nandewar, Warrumbungle,
When looking at the number of Australian Peak Range, Springsure, Main Range and Tweed).
national parks that include volcanic features, it
becomes clear that volcanism, whether active or The list of activities and attractions related to such
dormant, has a special attraction for many people, volcanic landforms is quite extensive. Depending
although the actual volcanic past may not be on their location and nature, any of the following
immediately obvious to everybody. attractions, activities and information centres may
Volcanic landforms in Australia be offered to the tourist:

Volcanic landforms are not always recognized as • hiking and trekking;
such in Australian national parks, although many • biodiversity;

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