Margaret River Adventure Company’s Cam O’Beirne wins national award for coasteering experiences

When Cam O’Beirne called time on his career as a Busselton-based rescue helicopter crew member, he turned his attention to giving others a similar experience. He runs coasteering adventures, giving tourists and adrenaline junkies a chance to scale the region’s spectacular coastline. Coasteering is an adventure sport which involves swimming in rough waters and scaling and climbing cliffs and rock faces. Mr O’Beirne’s Margaret River Adventure Company has been recognised on a national stage as part of a new award celebrating Australia’s tourism industry. Airbnb’s inaugural Host Awards highlighted the work of some of the country’s most successful hosts and tour operators, and Mr O’Beirne’s company was named Australia’s Most Magical Experience. “I’d often think about how I could take people out in challenging ocean conditions similar to that of a rescue environment,” he said. “Coasteering — jumping into waves, scrambling over rocks and fighting the surge and currents — is exactly that.” Airbnb host advisory board member Merrydith Callegari said the experience was truly unique. “Cam helps his guests discover the fire inside themselves and teaches them that they could also be involved in rescue groups,” she said. “Cam instills his guests with his own love of our coastal areas and his desire to rescue people.” Yallingup’s Petit Eco Cabin and Burnside’s Freshwater House are finalists in the Best Designated Stay category.