Eco-responsibility

Pyndan Camel Tracks is family run camel farm offering memorable, relaxing and informative camel riding experiences in Australia’s Red Centre. We are locally owned and operated with a range of camel tours on the privately owned White Gums Cattle Station, up close to the Western MacDonnell Ranges. We recommend that passengers make their booking at least 72 hours in advance. Check our availability calendar and book online here.

Since 2010 Ecotourism Australia has recognised our efforts in ecotourism and our personal approach to sustainability, with annual reviews required to maintain responsible tourism certification. Ecotourism Australia awarded Pyndan Camel Tracks with Ecotourism certification in 2023: Tourism in a natural area that focuses on optimal resource use, leaves minimal impact on the environment and offers interesting ways to learn about the environment with operators that use resources wisely, contribute to conserving the environment and help local communities.

This level of ecotourism is an advancement on our Nature Tourism Certification awarded in 2010. Nature tourism supports tourism in a natural area that leaves minimal impact on the environment.

In 2020 Ecotourism Australia further acknowledged us as a Green Travel Leader due to our demonstrating commitment to quality and environmental responsibility. The Green Travel Leader logo celebrates 10 years of ECO Certification and represents a long-standing commitment to sustainability. It is awarded to businesses which have consistently proven their commitment to sustainable tourism management over 10 years. This logo provides visitors with the knowledge that an operator has consistently held ECO Certification for a decade or more and showcases the operator’s commitment to sustainability.

We recognise the realities of climate change, particularly climbing temperatures in Central Australia and what effect this will have on our ability to live comfortably in our environment and attract visitors to our region. We make every effort to assess our business vulnerabilities and to prepare for potential impacts of climate change.

We strive to manage energy and water consumption and production in an environmentally responsible manner. Alice Springs town water supply is drawn from Roe Creek bore field, 15km south of Alice Springs, part of the enormous aquifer called the Amadeus Basin. This section of the aquifer is relatively narrow and deep, so bores have to be deep and water levels drop relatively fast.

Pyndan Camel Track’s fresh water supply comes from our onsite 27.5 metre (90-feet) deep underground bore that accesses the aquifer (we don’t use town water). Drawing water from below the ground is energy intensive; natural replenishment of bore water occurs slowly due to low rainfall in the desert environment.

Our camel lounge’s roof holds a photo-voltaic solar unit generating electricity at the maximum generation rate of 38kWh/day (Inverter SMA W6000, Q-cell, panel rated output Wp 255, 23 PV panels, Total PV rating 5865). In addition we heat water through a 30 evacuated solar tube system for our residential hot water requirements.

For conservation we manage our two front paddocks that make up 35% of our property and contain remnant vegetation under ‘Land for Wildlife’ (registered 18/1/2006). We have three composting toilets, rainwater tank, hens and worms for organic waste recycling, solar lighting on high-use paths and recycle through many different options in the outback. Low water arid species are used for planting in addition to food producing species; direct watering dripper systems are installed in addition to use of mulch as a water retention measure. Camel manure and spent animal hay is used as mulch.

Pyndan Camel Tracks are committed to:
-Managing all aspects of our operations in an environmentally responsible manner
-Proactively and positively influencing, supporting and working with our local community all times
Continuous improvement in our business.
-Maintaining a positive work life balance, which in turn influences our continued passion and our goals to deliver high standards in all aspectis of our business operations

We are involved in climate change adaption strategies and emissions reduction actions for the major areas of our business and personal lifestyle through:

Product/service consumption;
Purchasing and suppliers;
Buildings and infrastructure;
Machinery and vehicles;
Travel and transport;
Marketing and promotions

To ensure environmentally and socially responsible behaviour remains an integral part of our operations, we undertake to:

Aim for environmental best practice in our operations and communicate our efforts and achievements to our clients, business partners and stakeholders
Maintain the health and well being of our camels
Conserve and maintain biological diversity on our property through weed management, fire management, the use of only native, endemic plants, minimising areas of disturbance and minimising the use of fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides on our property.
Reduce contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and improve resilience and adaptation to climate change.
Maximise energy efficiency
Minimise our use of freshwater resources
Minimise waste production through choosing to purchase produces with minimal packaging and by reusing and recycling materials whenever possible
Using only biodegradable, low nutrient and chlorine free detergents and cleaning products
Use only existing paths/trails on our property and on White Gums Station to avoid damage to wildlife habitat (e.g. trampling of nests or changing animal habitats in dead fallen down trees).
Advocate and influence the development of effective and humane feral camel management strategies for Central Australia
Give preference to local producers and local products and when purchasing supplies for business, take into consideration the waste reduction , energy efficiency and resource conservation practices of our suppliers
Educate our guests and help them to understand and appreciate the natural environment, history and topical issues which relate to our business
Support and foster local environmental groups and initiatives
Meet the certification requirements of Ecotourism Australia
Maintain our compliance with all relevant environmental legislation

Marcus Williams
Proprietor

Contact Marcus Williams for further information.

Eco-encouragement for our visitors!
We encourage our visitors to be aware that the desert environment is fragile and human interaction within it can cause disturbance to wildlife. We encourage you to have a relaxing experience during your camel ride where you have the opportunity to be immersed in and appreciate the sights and sounds of the bush. As such, limited tour commentary is provided during the tour, which reduces noise pollution and enhances the experience.

Please remember to reuse and recycle during your visit. Look out for our recycling bins for your drink containers or better still, fill up your personal water bottle from our free water fountain in the Camel Lounge. Please don’t throw out our brochures: pass them on to another visitor who you think would enjoy a relaxing camel ride. And give back to our planet by purchasing carbon credits to offset your travels. We suggest through your airline carrier or through Carbon Neutral’s Tree Campaign at http://www.carbonneutral.com.au/mv.html

We encourage our customers to not purchase items from rare and threatened species. Our animal world is too precious and ultimately our animals are dependent on how we humans treat their environment! Please investigate the following initiatives:
– the WWF Surrender your shell initiative open to people living in Australia that uses cutting edge technology to extract DNA from surrendered tortoiseshell items and improve turtle protection;
– the Wildlife Witness app that allows tourists and locals to easily report wildlife trade by taking a photo, pinning the exact location of an incident and sending these important details to TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network.

Other Eco Tourism accredited operators we recommend in our region

A camel footprint in the soft desert sand near Alice Springs.

Passing a Solar Torch.