Issue No: 17

Friday, 28 February 2014

Hi <<First Name>> <<Last Name>>

Welcome to the first issue of Touring Western Australia for 2014, timed to coincide with Parks Week.

Parks Week is celebrated throughout Australia and New Zealand in recognition of the significance of parks. This year the theme for Parks Week is “connect with nature” and you will find ample opportunities in this edition of Touring Western Australia to do just that.

In this issue:

• Park and tourism information
• Stay in touch: information from Parks and Wildlife
• Publications
• How to be involved
• Industry news

Park and tourism information

Connect with nature in Parks Week

Celebrate Parks Week from Monday 3 March to Sunday 9 March, 2014 by connecting with nature.

Parks Week is an annual celebration of the importance of parks, not only to conservation, but to people and communities as well.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

If you’re heading to Yanchep National Park on 8 March for the Retro Rewind, or any other day during Parks Week, drop into the Yanchep National Park Visitor Centre, say “Parks Week” and you receive a free gift.

Win a 'glamping' holiday

Want to go camping but don’t have any camping gear? Go glamping. This is camping with a difference. Your campsite will be set up, ready to go, including cooking gear and bedding. Also included is a surprise hamper. Enter this competition and you will be in the running to win either a Couples ‘Glamping’ Package or a Family 'Glamping' Adventure, courtesy of WA Wilderness Glamping. This offer is exclusive to Touring WA readers during Parks Week. The prize includes not only a weekend holiday package but also a tour with Pemberton Discovery Tours, all valued at more than $800. See here for further details.

Enter the Red Dog Festival Relay

Register now for the Red Dog Festival Relay being held during the WA Day long weekend, 30 May to 1 June.

The Red Dog Festival Relay is a two-day team event in which teams of four to six people run, cycle, swim, walk, 4WD and paddle a picturesque course from Dampier to Karratha, including a ride through Millstream Chichester National Park and back.

Event director Peter Kay points out that the Red Dog Festival Relay is not only for elite sportspeople. “Team members share the load across manageable distances. The idea is that it’s a fun event with an element of challenge, and we encourage people with a moderate level of fitness to organise a team or talk their boss into sponsoring a company team.

“As much as anything it’s a great way to get out and enjoy the Pilbara, whether it’s jogging around the waterside streets of Dampier, swimming in Deep Reach Pool or mountain biking through Millstream Chichester National Park.”

For an Early Bird discount register before 17 March. To register go to www.reddogfestival.com.au.

Perth Caravan and Camping Show

The 2014 Perth Caravan & Camping Show returns to the Claremont Showground from Thursday 20 to Monday 24 March.
This is a once-a-year opportunity to check out all the latest:

• caravans, camper trailers, motor homes, roof-top campers, swags and tents
• 4WD equipment
• camping gear
• tourism information
• gadgets and accessories
• and much more

Parks and Wildlife will be in the Jim Webster Pavillion along with other tourism information exhibits. Come and say hello, enter our competition and be in line to win a pass to WA's fantastic parks or a fabulous Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk hamper. Beat the queues and get your tickets online.

The first six readers to register as members on Explore Parks WA and review this newsletter will receive a free ticket to the show.

Affordable eco-experiences near Margaret River

Wharncliffe Mill in Margaret River has undergone a rapid transformation and reopened as a budget nature-based bush retreat.

Set in Bramley National Park on the outskirts of Margaret River, the 10 acre bush camp was leased through the state government’s Naturebank initiative in January 2013. With help from Parks and Wildlife and Tourism WA, along with support funding from the Royalties for Regions program, lessees Claire and Adrian Prendergast have been able to significantly redevelop the site to offer an affordable nature-based experience to visitors wanting to enjoy the wonders of Margaret River on a budget. Visit Wharncliffe Mill to see what’s waiting at the end of the driveway.

In a special deal for our readers, Claire and Adrian are offering a 20 per cent discount on stays of two nights or more (excluding long weekends) from now until 24 December 2014, just use the promo code DPAW20 when booking online.

Ningaloo Marine Park moorings

Parks and Wildlife is making changes to improve the management of moorings in the Tantabiddi and Bundegi areas in Ningaloo Marine Park.
The aim is to improve public access to the marine park, address navigational safety issues and protect the environment.

If you own a mooring in the Tantabiddi and/or Bundegi mooring areas, please contact Parks and Wildlife’s Exmouth office to verify ownership by 30 June 2014. Once verified, mooring owners can apply for approval to retain their mooring.

After 30 June 2014, moorings that do not have an identified owner will be considered abandoned and may be removed.

For further information, please contact the Exmouth office on (08) 9947 8000 or at exmouth@dpaw.wa.gov.au.

Stay in touch: information from Parks and Wildlife

Park alerts apps

Receive park and fire alerts direct to your mobile device via Parks and Wildlife’s latest apps.

DPaW Alerts helps you keep up to date with alerts on bushfires, park and road closures as well as active prescribed burns. It also includes alerts from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the latest Parks and Wildlife news.

The alerts app is essential for anyone planning to visit national parks, particularly during the fire season. It can be downloaded by searching for DPaW Alerts in the iTunes app store or in Google’s Play Store.

For more news about parks and to provide feedback about the app, contact us.

Alerts are also available online on the Parks and Wildlife website.

New online shop

Visitors to Parks and Wildlife's newly upgraded online shop will find many improvements. With a cleaner look it is easier to use and offers streamlined purchasing and increased security. For added convenience, social media connectivity allows users to register using existing social media accounts such as Facebook and Google.

Plan your escape

All Parks and Wildife park information can now be easily accessed online with just two clicks.

Use Quicklinks to:

• get the latest park news, events and alerts
• plan your holidays
• share your experiences.

Go to parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/quicklinks/ or scan the QR code with a smartphone app and add it to your homescreen, bookmarks or favourites.

You'll have instant access to:

• Explore Parks WA website
• ParkstayWA campgrounds website
• Explore Parks WA Facebook
• @ExploreParksWA Twitter
• EveryTrail guides
• Trails WA’s website
• Park passes
• Park alerts
• Brochures and fact sheets
• WA Naturally publications

Publications

LANDSCOPE autumn issue 2014

Look out for the next issue of LANDSCOPE magazine – completely redesigned with a stunning new look and fantastic range of parks, wildlife and conservation stories inside:

• Read about the epic first end-to-end ride of Munda Biddi Trail.
• Learn about work at Perup sanctuary giving new hope against the decline of woylies.
• Celebrate WA’s new marine faunal emblem as the gentle giant of the sea officially becomes an icon.
• Take a drive with us on the wonderful Gibb River Road, Kimberley.
• Enjoy the thrill of canoeing in Kalbarri National Park.

Subscriptions to LANDSCOPE (four issues, plus free delivery) are available online at Parks and Wildlife’s newly upgraded online shop  or by contacting the department’s customer service staff on (08) 9219 9071 or at customer.service@dpaw.wa.gov.au. Single issues are available from newsagencies.

If you enjoy holidaying in our state’s world-class parks why not save with the great value Goldstar subscription that includes a one-year subscription to LANDSCOPE and an Annual All Parks pass. Check our subscriptions page for more details.

Park passes

If you are a frequent park visitor or your next holiday will take you to some of our fabulous parks, you might find that park passes offer both value-for-money and convenience. Choose from:

• Annual All Parks Pass for unlimited entry into all parks for a year – $88 (Concession pass – $55)
• Gold Star Pass combines an Annual All Parks Pass with a one-year subscription to LANDSCOPE magazine – $110
• Holiday Park Pass for unlimited entry into all parks for four weeks – $44
• Annual Local Park Pass for unlimited entry into a single park or group of parks for a year – $22

Passes are available at Parks and Wildlife offices, selected tourist and retail outlets, from the Parks and Wildlife online shop or over the phone on (08) 9219 9000.

How to be involved

Join the Great Cocky Count

Carnaby’s black cockatoos need your help! Join the annual survey of their numbers across the south-west from Geraldton to Esperance on Sunday 6 April at sunset. It’s simple, fun and every survey counts.

Register online at Great Cocky Count. For more information contact Hugh Finn on (08) 9287 2251 or 0400 177 615 or at greatcockycount@birdlife.org.au.

Industry news

Opportunities in Aboriginal tourism

Parks and Wildlife would like to hear from suitably qualified Traditional Custodians and Aboriginal organisations that want to get involved with Aboriginal tourism on land managed by the department, including national parks, marine parks, nature reserves and other conservation areas.

Quality Aboriginal tourism provides culturally rich Western Australian experiences for tourists, economic opportunities for Aboriginal communities, and increases the level of knowledge about, and respect for, Aboriginal culture.

To host a commercial event or develop a tourism business that showcases Aboriginal culture in an area managed by Parks and Wildlife, please submit a registration of interest.

For further information go to Aboriginal tourism development and for help with your application contact the Licensing Unit coordinator by email at licensing@dpaw.wa.gov.au or call (08) 9334 0119.

Customer service training

Tourism Council Western Australia is conducting customer service oriented training events throughout the state over the coming months. Programmed to precede peak visitor seasons in regional areas, the Customer Service WAy seeks to drive business and revenue through improved customer service and sales technique.

The Customer Service WAy will cover:

• Upselling product and sales technique
• Service excellence (body language, attitude, communication)
• Understanding customer needs
• Brand awareness and promoting local product
• Complaint handling and telephone techniques.

For more information about Customer Service WAy and to register for events in Karratha, Carnarvon, Exmouth, Broome, Kununurra and Perth, go to Customer Service WAy events.