I agree with Steve,
When I was doing bird guiding in sw Gippsland up to 6 years ago I really
needed to clear at least $200 a day to cover costs - I never paid myself a
wage. Insurance is an immense cost to small nature guiding tours, not to
mention cost of running vehicles and remember four guides - one from CLC and
three local landowners who need a lot of knowledge to avoid sacred sites and
inadvertent trespass and damage to them. The aboriginal guides probably
devote about 3 days to a one day tour with customers.
As Steve said, the distances cover and the resultant wear and tear on
vehicles to get guides to the meeting place, food and other supplies all
cost and costs out there are exorbitant to travellers and locals alike.
Don't assume that the guides are sitting around doing nothing waiting for
the occasional tour group to come along. They probably have some other work
they have to leave undone or pay for someone else to do.
Comparing outback Australia to places like Thailand is ridiculous and
insensitive. I too missed out of seeing the Princess parrot while I was up
there earlier this year. While the cost would be crippling for me living on
ill-health retirement superannuation, I might have somehow made it happen -
maybe even forego the two nights most basic accommodation (not counting
food) at Yulara.
Cheers
Elizabeth Shaw
Phillip Island
Victoria
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