A Day Volunteering with Eco Barge. Discovering a Different Side of Airlie Beach

Many backpackers come to Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays to experience the stunning Whitehaven Beach, dive into the Great Barrier Reef, take scenic flights over the Heart Reef, or enjoy skydiving with breathtaking island views. Evenings often end with live music and drinks at local bars.

While these are fantastic ways to enjoy a holiday, there's another special opportunity to see the Whitsundays from a different perspective—by volunteering with Eco Barge.

Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc. is a not-for-profit organization based in Airlie Beach, dedicated to protecting the marine environment and wildlife of the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef.

Each week, Eco Barge organizes different volunteer activities. When the weather is favorable, they arrange boat trips to nearby islands for beach clean-up events. Volunteers help remove marine debris from impacted beaches, contributing to the preservation of these beautiful areas.

Additionally, Eco Barge operates the Whitsunday Turtle Rescue Centre, where they care for sick and injured marine turtles. Volunteers may have the chance to assist in turtle rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

Witnessing the Environmental Impact Behind Tourism

If some people go to the islands to pick up trash, then naturally, others are needed to sort and process it afterward.

When sea conditions aren't suitable for boat trips, Eco Barge conducts land-based activities like sorting collected marine debris. This was the focus of today's volunteer session.

We sorted debris by color, emptying bags of waste onto tables and placing items into corresponding bins or baskets. Once filled, the sorted materials were transferred into large hessian sacks. The task was straightforward, with the main caution being the occasional insect or spider hiding among the debris.

Trash sorting area.

Sort the plastic waste by color. The tasks for each volunteer session may vary.

These plastic items will be sorted again and may be turned into various handmade crafts.

Sorting the trash is very simple—just be careful, as insects or spiders might be hiding inside.

Sometimes, volunteers also count specific items like plastic bottles, toothbrushes, or fishing floats. This data helps Eco Barge provide recommendations to local businesses on reducing single-use plastics and other waste.

The duration of volunteer activities varies depending on the day's tasks. Today's session ran from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM, but volunteers are welcome to join late or leave early. Eco Barge maintains a flexible approach to accommodate different schedules.

"Of course, we hope everyone can participate fully, but even if you can only spare half an hour or an hour, it's better than nothing, right?" one volunteer remarked.

During today's sorting, we discovered a small piece of coral growing on a blue bottle cap. It's a stark reminder that plastic waste can persist in the environment for a long time, providing surfaces for marine life to grow but also posing significant threats to ecosystems.

Coral growing on a plastic bottle cap.

Tourists flock to the Whitsundays for its stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity. However, the influx of visitors also brings an increase in waste, impacting the very environment they come to enjoy.

Conscious Living Makes a Positive Difference

In our sorting efforts, we noticed a significant number of plastic containers and bottle caps. These items might have been accidentally blown into the sea from boats or left behind by campers on the beach, later swept away by rising tides.

Travelers can help by keeping personal belongings secure and ensuring nothing is left behind on the beach. Airlie Beach offers several public water refill stations, making it easy to use reusable water bottles instead of purchasing bottled water—a simple yet effective way to reduce plastic waste.

Q.How can I sign up for Eco Barge's volunteer activities?

After registering your email on the Eco Barge website, you'll receive notifications about upcoming events. You can then sign up for specific dates through their online calendar.

Q.What if I'm not confident in my English skills?

The tasks, especially sorting debris, are straightforward and don't require advanced language abilities. If you're still concerned about communication, feel free to reach out—I'd be happy to accompany you.

Q.Where can I learn more about Eco Barge's other activities?

Although I've lived near Airlie Beach for some time, this was my first experience volunteering with Eco Barge. I plan to continue participating and will share more information as I learn. In the meantime, you can visit their website to explore their various programs and initiatives.