Carbon Footprint & Offset Report: Southern Grampians Peaks 5-Day Epic Trek: Jimmy Creek to Dunkeld
Quick Snapshot
Estimated CO₂e footprint per participant: 700 kg CO₂e
(higher-end conservative estimate – covers all on-tour impacts plus average travel to/from Halls Gap/Melbourne)
Our 200% offset commitment per booking: 1,400 kg CO₂e
Funded through genuine landscape restoration in climate-vulnerable developing regions (reforestation, mangroves, soil regeneration, etc.). This creates real net-positive impact beyond neutrality.
Tour summary
- 5 days / 4 nights
- Max 12 guests
- Starts Halls Gap (shuttle to Jimmy Creek); ends Dunkeld (shuttle back to Halls Gap)
- Trailhead & gear shuttles (~100 km total)
- 4 nights remote platform tent camps (twin-share, eco-toilets)
- All meals from lunch Day 1 to lunch Day 5 (hearty trail food, snacks)
- Highlights: ~62 km guided Grampians Peaks Trail hiking (8–16 km/day), summits of Mt Abrupt & Mt Sturgeon, fern gullies, wetlands, wildflowers, brolga spotting
Overview
This report estimates the carbon footprint for one individual participant on this tour using higher-end data from trusted sources. We intentionally choose upper-range figures to fully cover every impact – including hard-to-measure parts like supply chains and indirect effects.
We then double it (200%) and fund genuine landscape restoration projects in developing and climate-affected regions worldwide. This goes beyond standard offsetting to deliver real, lasting benefits for ecosystems and communities.
All figures in kg CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent – the standard measure that includes all greenhouse gases).
Tour Details
- Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
- Key locations: Halls Gap, Jimmy Creek to Dunkeld along Grampians Peaks Trail (Stony Creek, Wannon, Djardji-djawara, Mud-Dadjug camps)
- Travel style: Multi-day guided pack trek with daily pack shuttles (light load)
- Assumptions: Average participant, standard behaviours, higher-impact choices where uncertain. Travel to/from Halls Gap is factored into the higher-end footprint for completeness.
Calculation Approach
- Sources: UK DEFRA 2025 conversion factors, Australian National Greenhouse Accounts 2024, UNWTO tourism data, IPCC guidelines, and peer-reviewed studies.
- Higher-end scale: Upper-range emission factors everywhere, plus well-to-tank fuel effects, +20% uncertainty buffer, and conservative assumptions for shuttle vehicles and remote tent camping.
- Per person, full tour experience.
- Excludes only purely personal extras (e.g. souvenirs or optional brewery stop upgrades).
Detailed Emissions Breakdown (per participant)
Transportation – 120 kg CO₂e
- Average travel to/from Halls Gap (higher-end domestic flights MEL + local): 100 kg
- Trailhead & gear shuttles (~100 km shared): 20 kg – higher-end diesel factor
Accommodation – 200 kg CO₂e
- 4 nights remote platform tent camps: 50 kg per night – higher-end for off-grid support
Meals & Food – 100 kg CO₂e
- 5 days of full trail meals + snacks: 20 kg per day – higher-impact estimate
Activities & Excursions – 280 kg CO₂e (buffer for full coverage of guided interpretation and park fees)
- 62 km guided hiking with summits, cultural insights, wildlife spotting
TOTAL ESTIMATED FOOTPRINT PER PERSON: 700 kg CO₂e
Our 200% Offset Commitment
- Amount we will offset:2 × 700 kg = 1,400 kg CO₂e per individual booking
- How: Direct funding of landscape restoration projects – reforestation, mangrove protection, regenerative agriculture, wetland and soil carbon restoration
- Where: Developing countries and regions most affected by climate change (e.g. Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America) for maximum global benefit and community co-benefits
- Why 200% and higher-end estimates: To guarantee coverage despite any measurement discrepancies and to create genuine extra positive impact
Important Notes
- Numbers are deliberately conservative (higher) so we over-deliver on restoration – real footprint may be lower
- The tour already has strong sustainability practices; our independent higher-end analysis adds extra certainty
- Carbon accounting has natural uncertainties – doubling it is the responsible way
- This directly supports long-term carbon-sequestering landscapes and local communities