Sustainability
and Eco Tourism
Baird Bay Experience is proudly ECO Certified by Ecotourism Australia, recognising our commitment to responsible travel that conserves the natural environment and supports local communities. In 2025, we were honoured to be inducted into Ecotourism Australia’s Hall of Fame, celebrating more than 20 years of continuous certification and leadership in sustainable tourism.
Sustainability isn’t a box we tick – it’s embedded in every aspect of how we operate, from our marine tours and villas to our culinary philosophy.
Protecting Baird Bay’s delicate ecosystems begins with minimising our impact. Our tours are designed to ensure respectful, low-impact interactions with marine life. Group sizes are intentionally small (fewer than 20 guests per guide), and every tour begins with a detailed briefing that outlines clear, non-intrusive behaviours around wildlife. Guests are reminded never to chase, touch, or approach the animals, and our experienced guides continually monitor both guest and wildlife behaviour to ensure harmony.
Vessel operations follow strict environmental protocols, including speed restrictions near wildlife, regular maintenance checks, and switching off engines at every viewing opportunity to reduce noise pollution. Anchoring is done only on sand or rock, avoiding damage to sensitive seagrass and reef environments.
Minimising Our Footprint
Sustainability at Baird Bay also extends to waste, water, and energy management. We prioritise waste diversion through composting, recycling, and reusing materials wherever possible, including in our kitchen operations. Greywater is used for irrigation, and guests are encouraged to be conscious of water usage in our arid environment.
Our villas and communal areas are built with rammed earth to maximise thermal efficiency and reduce reliance on heating and cooling. Solar power supports a portion of our energy needs, while all appliances are chosen for energy efficiency. Refillable soap dispensers, reusable water bottles and keep cups, and a reduction in single-use plastics are standard practice across the property.
Our connection to the Eyre Peninsula is reflected in our sourcing. From trap-caught seafood to local produce, nearly every ingredient is selected for its sustainability and origin. Our Head Chef designs each dish around what’s in season and available locally, including seafood caught right in Baird Bay and meat from free-range, regional suppliers. The culinary team grow herbs and salad leaves on-site and continually seek creative ways to reduce food waste, including composting and preserving by-products.
Beyond the kitchen, our commitment to local flows into everything from hand-crafted ceramics by a Streaky Bay artist to Indigenous artwork from Ceduna. All trades and services are locally sourced to ensure the region benefits directly from our operations.
Conservation and Community
Baird Bay Experience is deeply engaged in the long-term health of our environment and community. We work closely with the Department for Environment and Water on population counts and research for the endangered Australian sea lion colony, which has seen positive growth over the past three decades. Our team also contributes to local conservation through revegetation projects, bird and shore surveys, and citizen science programs in partnership with the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board.
We support local causes through donations to community fundraisers, and we’re proud members of the Streaky Bay Business and Tourism Association. As we move forward, we’re committed to better understanding our environmental impact through emissions tracking, with the goal of developing an offset program for future guests.
