Maybe we’re a little biased but we’d like to think that the new Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk is Australia’s new Milford or Routeburn Track. Sorry kiwis but you’ll have to come over and see for yourselves. Covering the northern flanks of the ancient Wollumbin caldera, this 54km walk can be done in 3-5 days, depending on how hard you want to push yourself. We’re offering monthly departures of a 5 day trip led by our local guides and staying in mountain lodges at O’Reillys, Binna Burra and Springbrook. After a day exploring the rainforest and waterfalls, come back to hot showers, soft beds and three course dinners – bliss! Your main luggage is transferred so you can walk with just a day pack. Look up our next departure

We arrived Kyoto today. It was 27C degrees and it was like summer weather.

Everyone enjoyed the view of Mt. Fuji on the way and we had a great time in Kiyomizu Temple and Pottery place.

I really think that it is going to be a great trip as I have prayed Buddha for safe trip at Kiyomizu Temple.

Cherry blossoms have almost gone, however weeping cherry are still blooming. Hopefully we will enjoy them at Heian Shrine tomorrow.

Cheers

Hiroko Kobayashi

interNATIONAL PARKtours is committed to the principles of responsible travel and, with your help, has demonstrated this commitment for over 30 years.

As times and attitudes change, we want to increase the importance of responsible tourism in IPT’s culture. Not only does it make us more accountable, it further supports you as travellers, the local communities you visit and the environment.

Here are some of our plans for improvement:

In the IPT office:

• Office ecosystem: We have reviewed all aspects of our office environment including waste (composting toilet & grey water tank), water  (2 large tanks supply all office water) and energy (Greenpower), plus office and tour equipment. Environmentally responsible choices in printing, communication & local transport are a priority.

• Accreditation: In late 2008, we achieved Advanced accreditation with Ecotourism Australia. It will help us lift the standards at home and on tour.

• Donations: Because travel is a privilege, we make regular donations to community, charity and environmental groups.

• Local community: All of IPT’s office staff are involved in local community groups including Landcare, Beechmont School P&C, Rural Fire Brigade and the Beechmont Business and Enterprise Network.

On tours:

• Supporting local communities: As much as possible, we use locally owned hotels, restaurants, transport and tour operators. We engage guides and interpreters who know their local area and connect with ordinary citizens, cultural and environmental groups.
• Tour design: We are gradually refining the style of our tours to a “slower” more sustainable pace. The transport we use, the hotels we stay at, the food we eat on a tour, all contribute to the impact of our tours.
• Encouraging local change: Working with business partners worldwide, including local guides and operators, we strive to source as much as possible from the local economy, maximising efficiency and minimising waste.

As a traveller:

• Research: We encourage you to research destinations and we aim to provide you with sufficient, accurate information to understand local communities and environment.

• Feedback: We appreciate your feedback and your ideas. We have set up this site where you can share tour experiences and discuss ideas for best practice in responsible and sustainable travel.

• Save trees: Make a small step by going online to request itineraries and e-news updates. Go to our web site at www.parktours.com.au, click ‘Join our mailing list’ and leave email distribution as the default.

“Follow the three Rs: Respect for self, Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions. Be gentle with the earth. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.” …from the Dalai Lama’s Instructions for Life.

UN Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

World weather is behaving unpredictably, and our Gibb River Gorges tour this year experienced some unseasonal rain. This closed some tracks to our group, but otherwise revealed the Kimberley at its majestic peak.

This part of Australia is isolated, wild and captivating, at any time. There really is no better to way to travel the Kimberley. Broome to Broome via Derby, the King Leopold Ranges, Purnululu and Geike Gorge.

Sit back, relax, let your dreams run wild …as you watch a few stunning images from our trip down the Pathways of Provence: More tours at www.parktours.com.au

Click on the screen below to see a short selection of photographs from our Japanese Journey in 2007.

Details of all our tours are regularly updated at interNATIONAL PARKtours tour site.

IPT Tour Coordinator Karin Galloway reports from Provence:

What a journey it has been! We had a nice group, wonderful walks, great food, too much wine and wonderful weather.

It truly is a stunning part of the world and I cannot wait to show you all the photos.

Here you see our group in Mercantour National Park, at about 2200m above sea level.

IPT Tour Coordinator Karin Galloway reports from Provence:

We have spent two lovely days in Avignon before heading south to Les Baux where we started our first walk. But before setting out we spent an enchanting hour in the Cathedral of Images, an unused bauxite quarry that has been converted to an audio-visual sensation…hard to describe, you have to see it, it is insanely beautiful and an experience fo all senses.

We were then heading off to cross the Alpilles (little Alps) to St. Remy de Provence, about a 12 km walk through beautiful forests and along a ridge with fantastic views. St. Remy is the place where Van Gogh painted some of his most famous paintings – he thought the light here is more beautiful than anywhere else – and also Nostradamus was born here.

Our accommodation for the night was the charming and quirky Hotel Gounod. The oldest house in St. Remy got its claim of fame from a very famous composer -Gounod- who composed his Opera Faust while living in the Hotel for a few months. Therefore the whole interior is decorated like a French Opera set, every room with a different theme and we all had great fun visiting each others rooms to take photos.

Yesterday we visited a winery in Menerbes, the town where Peter Mayle wrote “A year in Provence”, had a look at 1001 corkscrews in the local corkscrew museum, had lunch under a two thousand year old roman bridge and took an afternoon walk around the incredibly picturesque hilltop villages of the Petit Luberon.

In the evening we arrived in Apt, our hub for three nights. We are staying in the Auberge du Luberon, famous for its chef and we certainly enjoyed the wonderful provencal fare and wines at dinner.

Today we set out on a walk through the Colorado Provencal, an area full of ochre quarries.

Motto: You have to stop and smell the roses, walk the tracks, lie in the sun, wait for the lavender to bloom, look at the distance though the poppies….and stand in a poppy field!

IPT Tour Coordinator Karin Galloway reports from our Japanese Journey:

Takayama today, very interesting place. I stumbled upon one of the most beautiful coffeshops I have ever been to. Even the people drinking coffee were beautiful. Very distinguished salt and pepper haired men in fine suits reading the paper and sipping their espresso. Women with silk scarves and perfect make- up …Takayama is a very sophisticated place (souvenir shopping is out of my budget reach). Its famous for carpentry and handicraft and features of many of Kyotos temples have been made by Takayama artists.