Eco Tourism Outline | School Programs | Tourism Studies | Penguin Tours | Penguin Discovery
Tourism & Natural Resource Management | Island Discovery | Tailored Tours | Cafe, Gift Shop & Tram | Booking Info

If your class is seeking to achieve specific learning outcomes involving the natural / marine environment or tourism, or if your just looking for a fun and entertaining outing with an educational basis, Granite Island Nature Park will provide for your needs. Our range of programs cater for any special needs and all ages. We are extremely flexible and will work with the teacher to design tours and activities that achieve required learning outcomes for your class.

It is our policy to provide enjoyable educational experiences through activity based programs. We have an extensive range of programs lasting from one hour through to full day packages including meals. Students are able to gain experiences such as exploring the natural environment; sensory exploration; gain insights into managing natural resources within a tourist development; human impact; come face to face with wild life.

We have developed a two hour eco tourism program and accompanying teacher
resource pack suitable for year 11, 12 and University students.

Our program focuses on the penguins and the eco tourism business as a Case study. The main focus of the program is how we achieve a balance between responsibly managing natural resources and achieving a successful tourism operation. Over the past three years the eco tourism program has developed to a high standard and we have received excellent feedback from teachers who have participated in the program.

Eco Tourism Outline
The following is a brief outline of the eco-tourism program content:
Granite Island, past present and future including history, facilities, attractions and current and future developments
Human Impact, both positive and negative starting from Aboriginal occupation through to present day

Research
How we monitor the health of the penguin colony. With this knowledge we are able to make informed management decisions and implement appropriate strategies benefiting both penguins and their environment and the quality of the experience received by tourists. (Responsible resource management and a balance between tourism and conservation).

Marketing
A look at the business, business growth and visitor statistics on Granite Island.

Guided Tours
We will do a mini tour and discuss how tours play a part in the management of the penguins and why the tours are so successful. Please phone Natalie Gilbert on 8552 7555 for further information | TOP

Granite Islands School Programs
Over 100 schools and 5000 students participated in tours at Granite Island Nature Park in 2001. Why? Because we offer unique educational experiences, of high quality, in a range of subject areas.

Whether you're seeking to achieve specific learning outcomes, or visiting for recreational purposes, Granite Island Nature Park will provide for your needs. We are extremely flexible and will work with the teacher to design tours and activities that achieve required learning outcomes for your class.

We have an extensive range of programs relating to Tourism, Natural Science and Ecology, Marine Biology, Natural Resource Management and History. We are continually expanding our range of subject areas and content within subject areas. We can provide programs from one hour through to full day packages including meals.

The success of our school programs is enhanced by our guides who are passionate about providing students with knowledge on the environment and its management. Our guides are trained in both the environment and interpretation skills and provide high quality experiences | TOP

Guided Penguin Tours
The Guided Penguin Tours are our most popular tours and are the winners of the 'Peoples Choice Award' from the 2001 Yellow Pages South Australian Tourist Commission Awards. They have been operating since 1991 and are conducted seven days a week (excluding Christmas Day and New Years Eve). Commencing from the Penguin Centre on Granite Island at dusk, tour times vary as sunset times and daylight saving times change.

The tour is a comprehensive and enjoyable nature experience. Participants meander through the penguin colony on Granite Island with a guide to view the Little Penguins as they come ashore after a days fishing. The penguin’s make they’re way to their burrows where they can be seen displaying various behaviours, depending on the season. These behaviours may include, feeding chicks, nest building courting, mating.

Visitors may see up to a 100 penguins during peak times. However, numbers vary in relation to the annual penguin life-cycle, nevertheless, our professionally trained staff will always make this tour an interactive and enjoyable experience and in many of the areas of Granite Island, tour participants can enjoy viewing the penguins to within five meters.

The professionally trained guides provide students with an enjoyable and educational experience. As they view the penguins in their natural habitat. Students will learn about the penguins lifestyle, behaviours, adaptations and ecology of these charismatic creatures. Human impact and current Scientific research measuring the health of the colony and environmental management strategies implemented to benefit the penguins is interpreted, which adds interest to the tour.

Tour groups are small to ensure a high quality experience. This is a highly reputable, ethical and professionally managed eco tourism experience for all visitors to the Fleurieu Peninsula. Our environmental Education Officer can ensure your specific learning outcomes are achieved if you wish to focus on a particular topic.

Note: Due to increasing pressure from visitors to Granite Island, a guide must accompany all persons wishing to view the penguins at dusk, in order to protect the colony. Bookings are essential

Test your senses (Smelly, noisy, yucky, fun)
Imagine sitting on granite boulders in total silence, eyes closed, listening to the waves crashing, wind through your hair. Absolute Peace!
Now imagine your entire class enjoying this experience. This activity based program is so much fun and will hHave your class learning, exploring intrigued and laughing, as children collect smells, make sound maps, and participate in blind fold games and many more sensory based activities. The program is broken into many short fun games and activities and at the conclusion of each activity, the group debrief to relate their experiences back to an environmental learning outcome | TOP

Penguin Discovery (Daytime)
(Penguin predators games and explore secret hideaways)

This activity based program is a fun way to learn about penguin behaviors, adaptations and ecology. Children will gain an insight in to threats and impacts effecting penguins. They will spend time discovering why and where these charismatic little creatures live and how they go about their daily routines. This activity is a highly recommended daytime penguin activity. The program is broken into many short fun games and activities and at the conclusion of each activity the group debrief to relate their experiences back to an environmental learning outcome | TOP

Tourism and Natural Resource Management
Focusing on the popular tourist attraction of 'Penguin Watching' students can focus on issues such as effective interpretation techniques, human impact, environmental management strategies, etc. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into the operations / management of an ecotourism business. We explain how scientific research measures the impact of humans on the colony of penguins. How research guides management plans and in turn management strategies and how the implementation of these strategies effects the tourist industry, local communities and the penguin colony. We liaise with the teacher to tailor make a tour to suit your particular perspective and to ensure your learning outcomes are achieved.

Island Discovery Tour
The tour highlights the significant points of interest on Granite Island, detailing Aboriginal history and dreaming, European settlement and explanations regarding the magnificent 120 year old structures of the Causeway, Working Jetty, Screw Pile Jetty and Australia's first ever breakwater. The flora and fauna of the island is of particular interest with a focus on penguins, their habitat, current scientific research and management of these charming creatures. In addition, the islands interesting geology, whale watching and the fishing and tourist industry are interpreted. We can provide a general tour or focus on a theme, for instance, flora and fauna, Aboriginal history, environmental management etc | TOP

The Reef Cafe
The Reef Cafe on Granite Island offers a wide range of quality snacks, meals, drinks and treats. We offer excellent value to school group bookings with meal deals that provide packages containing a meal & drink. The Cafe has toilet facilities | MORE

Gift Shop
The gift shop on Granite Island provides a large range of souvenir items at reasonable prices. The gift shop is a popular stop for school children looking for a small souvenir to take home with them. A visit to the shop after hours before penguin tour can easily be arranged, just ask when you make your booking | MORE

Horse Drawn Tram
Victor Harbor's historic Horse Drawn Tram service is a tourism icon of both the Fleurieu Peninsula region and South Australia, providing more than 155,000 passengers a year with a fun-filled, nostalgic trip across the Causeway between Victor Harbor and Granite Island | MORE | TOP

Penguin Watching Protocol for School Groups
All School Groups must be on a guided tour. A guide will be provided for each group of 25 students and one teacher/adult. All visitors are asked to respect the fauna on Granite Island and appreciate the unique experience on offer.

• The use of white light torches or flash photography of little penguins is strictly prohibited as it damages their eyes
• Guides use red filter torches. Please do not allow students to bring torches for use on the Penguin Tours
• Excessive noise disturbs the penguin colony
• Please remain at least 5 metres from penguins and their burrows at all times. DO NOT touch the penguins. If you are concerned about a bird, notify a guide or Granite Island staff.

Before you arrive...

• Explain to the children what a special experience it is to be part of a penguin tour, it is important to keep noise levels down and keep calm. It is fine to be excited but remain sensible. When you arrive on the island, walk the children up to the Bistro in an organised group. Remain on paths and refrain from getting too close to penguin burrows. | TOP
  
  

Booking Information

Phone – 08 8552 7555 : Fax – 08 8552 8011
Email – gisland@adam.com.au

A price for such groups is negotiated annually for Granite Island tours and activities.

Such groups requiring specific outcomes from visits to Granite Island need to discuss your individual requirements with our Environmental & Education Officer. For further information please phone (08) 8552 7555.

Payment of accounts is as agreed by Granite Island Nature Park & the institution.

PAX numbers will be as confirmed no later than 24 hours prior to your visit to Granite Island. If number of PAX is less than originally booked or confirmed 24 hours prior to your visit to Granite Island, then the chargeable amount will be on the expected number of PAX booked.
Granite Island Nature Park reserves the right to charge an accounting & processing charge to overdue accounts. Such fee is set at $20.00

Confirmation of time and number of students

1. The institution is required to confirm the booking 3 days prior to the date booked.
2. Student numbers & teacher/parent numbers are to be confirmed at this time.
3. Late arrival for the expected/confirmed time of arrival may impact on the duration of the booked activity. Most tours are time controlled and as such, staff may be in specific attendance to meet our obligations for your booking. Late arrival by a group may incur an extra payment of out of pocket expenses to Granite Island or reduce the time of the tour/activity.
4. Free of Charge principles apply.
5. On land based tours a policy of 2 adults FOC with 25 students is allowed.
6. This is based on the expectation that such teachers/parents will assist the guide by way of applying a level of supervision with regard to the children.
7. Teachers/parents accompanying sea based groups will be charged at the same rate as the negotiated student rate.
8. Extra teachers/parents on land based tours are charged at the same rate as the negotiated student rate.
9. A "NO SHOW" on the day of a booking made & not cancelled in writing will be charged at 100% of the value of the booking.

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