THE Australian Walking Company (AWC) has submitted plans for new “eco-sensitive accommodation” on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, under a $4 million project along the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail.
AWC is co-owned by former airline rivals, ex Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon and Virgin Australia Founder Brett Godfrey, and was established in 2015 to raise awareness of Australia’s “outstanding walking destinations and associated product offerings”.
The Kangaroo Island proposal will see two new 14-guest lodges built, along with the renovation of lighthouse keeper’s cottages at Cape du Couedic for use by AWC and the general public.
Dixon said lodgement of the development application was the “next step forward in our quest to elevate Australia as a world class walking destination”.
The new Kangaroo Island Lodge Walk would be the first start-up operation for AWC, which also operates lodges in Tasmania’s World Heritage Areas through the long-established Tasmanian Walking Company.
Bookings for the Kangaroo Island offering will open in Jan, with the first walk scheduled to depart in Oct 2019.
The $5.8 million Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail was established by the SA Government, and since its Oct 2016 opening has seen more than 4,000 visitors experience the 61km walk.
Source: traveldaily