Edge of the Bay is passionate about respecting local people and places. We are committed to making a positive impression on the community and reducing our impact on the environment through sustainable initiatives.

From its inception in the 1970’s, the core value of Edge of the Bay has been to provide understated, low-impact accommodation that is sympathetic to the natural surroundings. It’s a location for guests to immerse themselves in nature-based holidays, while minimising environmental impact, preserving the pristine landscape and wildlife, and safeguarding community and cultural lifestyles and values.

Sustainability lies at the heart of who we are as a business – from adopting innovative green technologies, to getting back to basics and working closely with the Freycinet Peninsula residents and Traditional Owners. It’s in our DNA to continuously look for areas where can have a more positive impact and expand our efforts to tackle important sustainability issues.

Reducing emissions: Edge of the Bay continues to work to reduce our emissions and waste to minimise our impact on the environment.

Environmentally friendly: Energy-efficient LED lighting is used throughout the property. We source eco-friendly cleaning products instead of harsh cleaning chemicals and sustainable amenities are provided in the rooms.

Reducing single-use plastics: We are working to eradicate single-use plastics from Edge of the Bay guest areas, including the rooms and restaurant. In the kitchen, we avoid single-use plastics and are working with suppliers to reduce the delivery of items wrapped in plastic. Our effort to influence supplier practices is having a positive flow on effect, with new approaches to food delivery providing long term environmental benefits.

Re-usable drink containers & no plastic straws: Guests are provided with complimentary reusable drink bottles to use during their stay. We support the anti-straw movement to help clean up our oceans. Paper straws are available upon request.

Trees & wildlife: Our partnership with Greening Australia allows us to help bring degraded landscapes back to life and support their efforts in restoring ecosystems, protecting wildlife, and creating lasting benefits for people, planet, and future generations.

Renewable energy: We’re in the process of investing in solar energy and actively looking at ways that we can support the transition of the property to 100% renewable energy.

Local produce & food waste: We work with suppliers in the Freycinet region to source local, organic, free range, fair trade, biodynamic and sustainably farmed produce and products. We are also committed to recycling and diverting food waste from landfill where possible.

Community engagement: Around the property you’ll see our support for local artisans and their creative works. We are supporters of the local economy, working with local suppliers on eco-friendly activities offered to our guests.

Drinking water treatment: Our water is sourced from a catchment of an existing water course. The water runs and drains through the soil and vegetation before reaching the catchment area. The natural vegetation, particularly button grass and Kunzea (native tea tree), adds a natural tannin (tea-like colour), which is common in most rivers and lakes around Australia.

The depth of the colour is dependent on the amount of recent rainfall. The more rain, the darker the tannin. This region is usually particularly dry and the water is naturally “bleached” by the sun.

Once the water reaches our catchment, it then goes through a three-stage filter process: a course particle filter, a fine particle filter and finally, an activated carbon filter. This process creates pure water; we do not chlorinate it. The impact of trying to bleach the water clear is toxic and would create ecological issues that are contrary to our core values.

It is important to note: owing to the fact that this pure water is not regularly tested at government laboratories, we are required to instruct you that water for drinking purposes in our cabins and studios should be brought to the boil before consumption. This is mandatory advice. Please be reassured that you’re likely to leave here feeling better than when you arrived, in part due to the water you use.

Waste water treatment: Dedicated to extending the core values and philosophy at Edge of the Bay, it was determined that a treatment plant would be required to treat the wastewater from the property to a much higher standard. This change was made around 20 years ago and we are proud to be the first business in the area to undertake such an expensive and environmentally responsible step.

An aerobic, microbial treatment plant was instituted and there have been upgrades made along the way; including refining the process and improving output quality so that it can be used to sustain the natural vegetation during our normally long drought spells.

We appreciate that some guests may not anticipate the consequences of our eco-friendly practices. Most commonly, the tannin stain in our water during and soon after high rainfall periods. Nevertheless, we sincerely hope that you will join us on our mission, continually striving to minimise Edge of the Bay’s impact on our pristine, tiny part of the world.