Zero Trace CO₂e Report — Gordon River Kayaking | 7-Day Wilderness Paddle (Tasmania)
Results Summary
- Estimated total per person: ≈ 780 kg CO₂e
- Offset per person (200%): ≈ 1.56 t CO₂e
- Group total for context (12 guests): ≈ 9.36 t CO₂e
Method: high-estimate with Well-to-Tank (WTT) and aviation non-CO₂ effects via RF = 1.9; includes single-origin guest flights, all meals (included + off-tour), on-tour road transport, camp/guesthouse nights, yacht return, and +10% uncertainty uplift.
Purpose
Conservatively measure greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂e) across Scopes 1–3, report per person (with group totals for context), and state the 200% offset applied per person.
Key Tour Info
- Region: Gordon River & Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania
- Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
- Start/Finish: Hobart ⇄ Strahan ⇄ Hobart (return road transfers)
- Group size used for context totals: 12 guests (page shows max 10–12)
- Kayak distance: ≈ 77.5 km total paddled
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Logistics included: Return Hobart–Strahan road transfers, sailing yacht return from Sir John Falls to Strahan, national park fees, all meals, 1 night guesthouse + 5 nights wilderness camping, expedition kayaks & safety gear.
Scope & Boundaries
- Scope 1: On-tour vehicle fuel (Hobart–Strahan transfers; local shuttles).
- Scope 2: Purchased electricity only if directly attributable (generally captured via accommodation factors).
- Scope 3: Guest flights to/from tour start (single-origin rule), accommodation (guesthouse + camping), all meals (included + off-tour), sailing yacht return (fuelled operation), and uncertainty uplift. Capital goods excluded.
- Method frame: GHG Protocol; DEFRA-aligned factors with WTT; aviation RF = 1.9 for non-CO₂ effects.
Feeder Hub (Guest Flights) — Single Origin Rule
- Chosen origin hub: Melbourne (MEL) as the nearest major capital to Hobart (HBA).
- Routing applied (return): MEL ↔ HBA for each person.
Emission Factors & Conservative Defaults
- Flights: Distance-based economy factors (DEFRA), WTT included, RF = 1.9 applied.
- Road (coach/mini-coach): Higher passenger-km factor to reflect lower occupancy (conservative).
- Marine (yacht): Treated as a small marine diesel operation for a full return segment day.
- Accommodation: Room-night approach (guesthouse + camping) using regional benchmarks to avoid undercounting.
- Meals: Meat-heavy mixed diet at ~2.5 kg CO₂e per meal (upper-bound).
- Uncertainty uplift: +10% added to the subtotal where primary meter/fuel data is missing.
Activity Data Applied
- Guest flights: MEL ↔ HBA (≈ 617 km each way).
- On-tour road: ≈ 700 km total per person (Hobart→Strahan ≈ 290 km + Strahan→Hobart ≈ 290 km, plus allowance for local logistics).
- Sailing yacht return: Sir John Falls → Strahan (full return segment day; conservative marine diesel assumption).
- Accommodation: 6 nights (1 night guesthouse + 5 nights wilderness camping).
- All meals consumed: 21 meals/person (7 days × 3/day), regardless of inclusions.
Results — Per Person (high-estimate, no tables)
Flights (MEL ↔ HBA, return; WTT + RF = 1.9): ≈ 370 kg
On-tour road (≈ 700 km; conservative passenger-km factor): ≈ 87 kg
Sailing yacht return (marine diesel, conservative): ≈ 80 kg
Accommodation (6 nights; region benchmark): ≈ 120 kg
All meals (21 × ~2.5 kg): ≈ 53 kg
Subtotal: ≈ 710 kg
+10% uncertainty uplift: ≈ 70 kg
Estimated total per person: ≈ 780 kg CO₂e
Reporting focus is per person. Group totals are provided only for context.
Group Totals (context, 12 guests)
- Tour total: ≈ 9.36 t CO₂e
- (Offsets are applied per person only: ≈ 1.56 t CO₂e retired per traveller.)
Assumptions (transparent)
- Origin hub fixed: Melbourne for all travellers (nearest major capital to Hobart).
- Aviation: Distance-based; WTT included; RF = 1.9 to reflect non-CO₂ warming.
- Road: Not all shuttle kms listed; used itinerary road legs + buffer to remain conservative.
- Marine: Yacht treated as fuelled operation for a full return segment day (conservative litres/hour assumption).
- Accommodation: Camp nights counted via room-night benchmarks (prevents underestimation).
- Meals: Every meal during the trip window counted, independent of inclusions.
- Uncertainty: +10% uplift applied to subtotal to capture unknowns.
Versioning
Generated 23 Aug 2025 (Australia/Perth). Factors reviewed at least annually or when official sources update.
References