Guided Wallaby Tours Now Free for Locals
Mackay Tourism is pleased to announce changes to the Cape Hillsborough Sunrise with the Wallabies Tour that will now make the guided tours free for locals.
Mackay Tourism has today issued a public notice to make amendments to its commercial activity agreement with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS).
The proposal is good news for locals with the popular guided tours of the wallabies at Cape Hillsborough now free for people living within a 100-kilometre radius and half price for guests living within a 400-kilometre radius.
The proposal has been put forward to protect the well being of the kangaroos and wallabies and safeguard the long-term sustainability of the experience. The Sunrise Wallaby Tours have grown to become synonymous with the Mackay Region, featuring prominently in national and international marketing campaigns. The experience has attracted more than 23,000 visitors this financial year and generated significant investment for the region.
Under the terms of the proposal, the southern end of the Cape Hillsborough Beach will be become an exclusive use area for 90 minutes a day, to manage the interaction between the wildlife and guests.
The proposal does not restrict public access to the remainder of the Cape Hillsborough Beach, nor does it restrict public access to the boat ramp, or popular walking tracks around Cape Hillsborough and Wedge Island.
General Manager of Mackay Tourism Tas Webber, is confident locals would welcome the proposal.
“Sunrise with the wallabies at Cape Hillsborough is Mackay’s most iconic and treasured experience, and as locals we all want to see it be sustainable,” he said.
“An experience like this that is unique to Mackay and generates so much community pride, deserves to be free for our locals. Locals can join Mackay Tourism in helping to sustain this experience for future generations to enjoy,” said Mr Webber.
Mr Webber continued, “free tours for locals will also encourage them to share this experience with our significant visiting friends and relatives market.”
“The enormous growth of the sunrise wallaby experience, with imagery marketed all over the world, has necessitated more thorough management. The guided tours of wild dolphin feeding at Tangalooma Island Resort, provides precedent in the importance of managed tours for the sustainability of wildlife experiences,” he said.
“We believe this proposal strikes the right balance between accessibility for locals, and care for the well being of our treasured native wildlife,” explained Mr Webber.
The Cape Hillsborough Sunrise with the Wallaby Tours run daily, commencing 30 minutes before sunrise. Further details on the proposal and how to provide a submission, are available from the Mackay Region website.
Contact:
Daniel Brown - Communications Officer
0448 994 180
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Published: 29 March 2019