Rainforestation Nature Park Kuranda announced as global Peace Park

Award-winning Rainforestation Nature Park Kuranda has been announced as an IIPT Global Peace Park. In collaboration with SKAL International Cairns, and this week’s Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference, the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) welcomed and dedicated the park with a special ceremony at Rainforestation this morning (16th June).

There are over 450 IIPT Global Peace Parks throughout the world, which dedicate a piece of land to the commitment of "Building a Culture of Peace”.

Rainforestation Nature Park Kuranda joins several other Peace Parks around Australia – the Lone Pine Peace Park in the Blue Mountains, Q Station in Sydney, and a Peace Promenade in Hobart incorporated within the new Macquarie Point development.

Rainforestation offers three unique experiences – Army Duck Rainforest Tours, the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience, and a Koala & Wildlife Park. The Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience won the 2019 Gold Award for Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism, the Silver Award in the same category in 2021, and Bronze at the 2019 National Awards.

IIPT Australia President Gail Parsonage said as a non-profit incorporated association, their mission is to foster and facilitate tourism initiatives to help bring about a peaceful and sustainable world.

Parsonage notes “our Global Peace Parks aim to nurture the growth of peace and understanding at home and throughout the world, creating a common ground for members of the community to come together in celebration of their nation’s people, land, and heritage.

“We welcome Rainforestation to this prestigious network, particularly in recognition of the work they have done by fostering indigenous tourism and employment in the region.”

Western Australia Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC) Chief Executive Rob Taylor, which is hosting the Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference, said they intended to build an ongoing partnership to establish more Peace Parks at the future host locations.

“We see this as a legacy project that we hope to implement with more indigenous tourism partners in the host locations of our annual conference,” he said.

CaPTA Group Director Michael Woodward said it was an honour for the park to be recognised and added “pioneered by my parents Charles and Pip Woodward, Rainforestation first introduced an Aboriginal cultural experience in 1987 with boomerang throwing, and then expanded this further with the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience in 1993.

“My late father, Charles, would have been very proud to see the park receive this accolade in honour of the ethos of reconciliation and harmony that he fostered with mum.”

Skal International Australia President Ivana Patalano said the tourism networking organisation was pleased to once again be a partner of this initiative.

More information on Rainforestation Nature Park Kuranda