Astro-tourism on the rise
Building on the global attention generated during the 2023 Ningaloo Total Solar Eclipse, which attracted more than 20,000 visitors and catalysed significant State investment in dark‑sky infrastructure and events, the region is now well‑positioned to grow a sustainable and high‑value night‑sky tourism offering.
The Gascoyne Development Commission (GDC) has played a central role in shaping this emerging sector. GDC initiated and leads regional collaboration on Dark Sky tourism through the Astrotourism Working Group, bringing together all four local governments to coordinate development, branding, and investment priorities.
GDC has also delivered targeted support for product development, including assistance to operators such as Ningaloo Stars, Wooramulla Cultural Journeys, and Gwoonwardu Mia, and the commissioning of equipment and planning work to enhance stargazing experiences across the region.
A night-sky campaign
A major milestone was the creation and rollout of the Gazing the Gascoyne campaign, developed by GDC in partnership with Australia’s Coral Coast. Supported through $10,000 in GDC funding and matched in‑kind, the campaign generated over 1 million social impressions, 25,693 webpage views, and extensive media coverage across national and international publications. It also linked consumers directly to local operators, tours, and events, strengthening commercial outcomes and raising the region’s profile as Western Australia’s leading Dark Sky destination.
Through continued investment, advocacy, partnerships, and coordinated planning, GDC is laying the foundations for a thriving astrotourism sector, one that celebrates the Gascoyne’s natural and cultural stories, attracts high‑value travellers, supports local operators, and extends visitation across the region year‑round.
Key Statistics
Gazing the Gascoyne campaign
Social impressions from campaign
Views on campaign page
Clicks onto page
Facebook reach on PerthisOK partnership
Instagram reach on PerthisOK partnership
EDMs opened
