Abstract

Recreation in natural areas has been promoted for numerous reasons (e.g., health, nature appreciation,
education, financial gain) and leisure time spent in protected areas has increased substantially
in popularity in recent decades. However, upkeep of such protected areas represents considerable
financial outlay and to recoup these costs, tourism potentially provides a self-financing mechanism
for ecological sustainability. In Australia, the adventure sport of canyoning has increased in popularity
in the Blue Mountains National Park (Australia), part of a recently declared World Heritage Area,
in parallel with an overall increase in wilderness recreation. This study sought canyoners’ perceptions
of visit impacts, together with their attitudes to potential management of these unique areas.
It also compares findings with American wilderness research outcomes. The results identify that
the current level of traffic through the canyons was not considered to be detrimental to canyon
visit enjoyment. While the findings were broadly similar, even at much lower visitation levels
than American wilderness recreationists tolerate, Australian canyoners avoid heavily trafficked
canyons. Although perceptions and attitudes differed with level of experience, overall, the conclusion
is that the visitors encountered were tolerant of other canyoners and the discarded debris
of past excursions. In this context, it is not surprising that most canyoners did not see an immediate
need to implement further management restrictions.