Today, we’re going back to Australia to visit a scenic destination in Hunter Valley (famous for its wineries) near Mt. Royal and Barrington Tops national parks. Callicoma Hill offers accommodations for earth-conscious travelers, whether journeying in big groups or small (the eco-cabin and bunkhouse combined can sleep 25 people). For those of you who dig an eco-challenge, listen to this deal from Martin Fallding, who owns and operates Callicoma Hill with his wife, Jan: “We will offer free accommodation to anyone who travels from their home to Callicoma Hill using zero carbon emissions, and can provide satisfactory evidence of this.” Now that’s throwing down the green gauntlet. Especially when Martin says that means your transportation should be powered by renewable resources, not offset by purchasing carbon credits after the fact. Anybody have a no-carbon plan for getting to Australia? Post it here!
No matter how you get there, the Falldings have designed Callicoma Hill to ease your carbon guilt. The cabins’ electricity is 100 percent solar power; the heat comes from (sustainably grown) firewood chopped on the property’s 148 acres of forested land. (Those native trees also help offset the carbon the Falldings inevitably have to use for transportation.) They keep their energy needs low with efficient appliances and smart building design. The hardwood structures were “recycled and retrofitted,” in Martin’s words, to accommodate travelers. “Meaning that there was little new energy used in construction,” he explains.
Callicoma Hill uses non-toxic cleaning supplies from an Australian company, Pure Earth. Rainwater tanks collect water, and wastewater is treated naturally with on-site wetlands and used on the gardens.
Callicoma Hill is self-catering, meaning you bring your own food and linens. Martin says they have a neighbor who runs an organic farm; he encourages Callicoma guests to buy local food there to nosh on during their stay. After all that organic fuel, you’ll be ready to hike. Martin also runs Natural Adventures Australia, which gives guided walking tours of the surrounding area. Choose from short 5 km walks on easy terrain to climbing hikes covering 20 km. They can even arrange over-night adventures so you can fully immerse yourself in the Australian bush.
Come back tomorrow for more on Callicoma Hill’s accommodations and rates!
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