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Kangaroo Island is to join the suite of natural and cultural landscapes that encourage Australia’s target travellers - the Experience Seeker - to get off the beaten track and immerse themselves in our world-class parks and their surrounding experiences, Tourism Australia Chair, Mr Rick Allert AO said today.

Speaking at the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) 2009 in Melbourne today, Mr Allert said Kangaroo Island will become the country’s ninth National Landscape in the program, which is a tourism and conservation partnership between Tourism Australia and Parks Australia.

“In becoming a National Landscape, Kangaroo Island has been recognised for its spectacular coastlines, unique geological formations, its history as well as its accessibility to viewing unique Australian wildlife in their natural setting.

“Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island and features one national park, twenty-one conservation parks, one conservation reserve, and five wilderness protection areas.

“What’s more the island is easily accessible from Adelaide in South Australia and has an abundance of native Australian animals that visitors can experience in a pristine natural setting.”

Mr Allert said Kangaroo Island would join eight other landscapes from around Australia already in the National Landscapes program, including: Australian Alps, Australia’s Green Cauldron, Kakadu, Australia’s Red Centre, Great Ocean Road, Australia’s Coastal Wilderness, Greater Blue Mountains, and Flinders Ranges.
 
Australia’s National Landscapes have also been brought to life in the digital environment this month, with a site dedicated to the program being launched off the award winning Australia.com website. For more information about these areas of natural and cultural significance visit www.australia.com/nl or for further information about the National Landscapes program visit www.tourism.australia.com/nl.

Each landscape is featured on the site with motivating content and imagery and includes some exciting new additional elements such as the interactive Google Maps and mini documentaries.

The Google Maps feature allows Tourism Australia’s target consumers to explore each landscape by zooming in on their area of interest. The mini documentaries can be played online or download for future viewing on MP3 players.