What makes Uralba 'Eco'?

Our aim at Uralba Eco Cottages is to provide guests with a uniquely beautiful, comfortable and ecologically sustainable experience.

Sustainable travel or ‘ecotourism’ is all about making simple choices in order to reduce your negative impact on the destination you are visiting.  Individually, each choice makes only a small difference in the big picture, but collectively, all these little things can have a huge impact.  Ecotourism and responsible travel practices strive to benefit not only the natural environment, but also the social, cultural and economic well-being the local community.

In December 2018 we proudly became the first accommodation provider in Nth NSW (between Port Macquarie to the Qld border) to achieve Advanced Ecotourism certification.  Many businesses claim to be ‘green’, ‘natural’ or ‘eco-friendly’, but we have been able to demonstrate our business meets the highest International standards of sustainability.

The cottages at ‘Uralba’ have been built on ecologically sustainable principles.   The buildings were designed to maximise airflow and comfort while reducing the carbon footprint.   Much of the timber used in construction of the cottages for example, has been sourced directly from the property and/or recycled materials.   Most of the furniture in Kookaburra Cottage has been bought second-hand, restored and upcycled.

The cottages run on SOLAR power entirely off-grid. Hot water comes from a separate solar system. There is a back-up generator and a LPG gas instantaneous hot water system if needed. Filtered rainwater is gravity-fed to the cottages. Our Worm Waste Management system provides an environmentally sustainable solution for wastewater, sewerage and organic waste.   We use renewable and recyclable locally sourced products where possible, provide recycling bins and compost all food waste on site.   

The substantial gardens supply fresh fruit, nuts, bushtucker, vegetables, herbs and spices on a seasonal basis.   The general design principles of the gardens are based on permaculture, and the entire property is organic (chemical free).

The property was a bare paddock used for cattle grazing when purchased in 1992, with heavily logged forest and sub-tropical rainforest areas in the gullies.  More than1000 trees have been planted to create the lush and biodiverse environment which exists today.  We have been involved in a reforestation project regenerating the rainforest, extending the habitat for the wildlife at 'Uralba', while also contributing to wildlife corridors in land surrounding (the World Heritage listed) Border Ranges.   An extensive amount of native flowering trees and plants, bush food trees and grasses have been planted to feed and house native wildlife and native birds.