This immersive educational adventure showcases the iconic landscapes of northern Australia, including UNESCO World Heritage–listed rainforests, the rugged Australian outback, and the Great Barrier Reef. Led by an expert naturalist guide, your journey comes alive through encounters with unique Australian wildlife, vibrant local communities, and spectacular tropical scenery. Meaningful interactions with Indigenous Australians provide insight into how Aboriginal culture and traditions continue to thrive in contemporary Australia. Designed for international student groups, this tour delivers an unforgettable introduction to Queensland’s extraordinary environments and people.
for 15 or more students
for 10-14 students
Details
- Crack a Whip and Milk the Cows on an Outback Cattle Station
- Plunge Down a Natural Rainforest Waterslide and Swim Under Waterfalls
- Learn About The Rainforest from an Indigenous Guide
- Find Nemo at The Great Barrier Reef
- Meet Massive Crocodiles, Feed Kangaroos and Cuddle a Koala
- Learn How to Make Damper – Aussie “Bush Bread”
- Visit a Turtle Rehabilitation Centre
- Enjoy a Classic Aussie BBQ, Bonfire and Stargazing Under Outback Skies
15+ students: $2498 AUD per person (inc GST)
10-14 students: $2557 AUD per person (inc GST)
Includes:
- Risk assessment
- Cairns airport transfers
- Small World Journeys guide Days 1-3, 5-6
- Small World Journeys marine guide Day 4
- Specialty guides and educators
- All activities and entrance fees as described in the itinerary
- Transportation to activities
- 4 nights at Cairns 3-star hotel (2, 3, or 4 share rooms)*
- 1 night outback cattle station (basic single gender dorm style cabins)
- 1 night Daintree Rainforest cabins (2, 3, or 4 share rooms)*
- All breakfasts
- All lunches
- All dinners
- 101 Animals of the Great Barrier Reef field guide for each student
- Mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit hire on the reef trip
- Marine Park taxes and levies
- Reusable water bottle and cloth shopping bag
- Donation made to Reef Restoration Foundation to the “Care for Coral” program on behalf of your group (we give you a certificate on your trip)
- NEW: we offset the carbon emissions from your trip activities AND your flight to Cairns through Reforest
* Two teacher rooms (private twin or triple share rooms) are included in the trip price for groups of 15 students or more. For trips with low numbers (10-14), one teacher room is included. A single supplement is charged if an additional private room is required for the trip. If teachers are happy to share a room, no additional costs are incurred.
Small World Journeys reserves the right to change the order of activities for logistical reasons.
Prices are valid for travel 1 April 2026 until 31 March, 2027 outside of peak travel times.
(If you wish to travel before 1 April 2026, ask us about 2025-26 pricing)
Peak times: 1-7 April | 21 June – 13 July | 19 September – 6 October 2026
- Airfare to Cairns
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Personal expenses (laundry, souvenirs, etc.)
- Photo with koala ($28 AUD)
Planning Your Trip
ACCESSIBILITY MENU: Small World Journeys’ website provides an accessibility menu. Visitors to our website can click on the “person” icon on the right side of the screen to bring up this menu. Options include increasing/decreasing font size, increasing/decreasing contrast, dyslexia-friendly fonts, and the ability to hide images, among other things.
BOOKING FORM: On our online booking form, we ask all participants to list any special needs they have, be them medical, dietary, or accessibility needs. We also offer free sensory packs to our guests who are neurodivergent, which include headphones, a timer for transitions, a squeezy fidget toy, and other treats to appeal to the senses like flavoured lip balm.
WAIVER FORMS: We understand that not all of our participants’ parents have a strong command of written English and therefore understanding and signing our on-line waiver may prove challenging. We therefore have our wavier form available in the following languages on request: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.
Arrival at Cairns Airport
ACCESSIBLE TOILETS: Public toilets are located throughout the terminals. Each toilet facility includes an accessible toilet suitable for wheelchair access.
TGSI and HEARING LOOPS: The Cairns Airport makes use of Tactile Ground Service Indicators (TGSI) and Hearing Loops to assist people with vision impairments and hearing difficulties, respectively. For example, Braille is included on toilet doors/signs to assist a person with vision impairment locate the correct facility.
ASSISTANCE FOR HIDDEN DISABILITIES: If you or someone you are travelling with has a hidden disability, you can request a hidden disability lanyard through a form here. Wearing a sunflower lanyard when you are at Cairns Airport is a discreet way for you to indicate to the airport team that you may need a little extra help, guidance or time with the airport processes. The airport team has been trained to recognise the lanyard and provide the assistance and support you may need. Some of the airport staff will also be wearing a Sunflower badge on their shirts or lanyards to help you feel a little more at ease.
VISUAL AND WRITTEN STORY GUIDES: Visual Story Guides are available for Domestic Arrivals and have been designed to help you to understand how an airport works and what to expect. Written Story Guides are also available for Domestic Arrivals.
Our Safety Talks
Our arrival safety talk is done verbally but is supported by cards that illustrate the main talking points. Similarly, our snorkelling safety talk is done in the same manner, supported by cards with pictures and illustrations.
We can provide a transcript of our safety talk to any hearing-impaired guest.
Transport
Our buses have two steps up of approximately 40 cms to get inside. There is no lift for a wheelchair or mobility device. Similarly, on occasion we hire large coaches for bigger groups and those buses also have two steps up of about 40 cms to get inside. All buses are equipped with seatbelts.
Presentations & Workshops
OUR OFFICE & PRESENTATION SPACE: We use the Small World Journeys office space for presentations, workshops and some community service projects. There is a rise of approximately 2 cm to enter the presentation room. We have one accessible, gender-neutral toilet block with shower.
In the outside area of our office, planes fly overhead frequently and the noise can be startling and confronting. However, as part of the terms of construction, the entire building has sound mitigation devices (double glazed windows, etc.) which creates the opportunity for multiple breakout spaces for neuro-divergent people who desire a quiet space with reduced stimuli.
Our presentations are designed to appeal to both visual and auditory learners. We can provide a transcript of our presentations to any hearing-impaired guest.
NOVOTEL PRESENTATION SPACE: We also use Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort for presentations at dinnertime.
Overall accessible resort information:
- All entries to the hotel are wheelchair-accessible
- 2 accessible spaces in the on-site car park, near lifts
- 1 accessible toilet in hotel lobby (hand rail | grab bar)
- Most walkways within the hotel are wheelchair-accessible
- Well-lit main areas
- All meeting rooms are accessible
- Braille call buttons for lifts on each floor (external)
- On-site restaurant & breakfast buffet is mostly accessible – Please ask for assistance at hot food station.
Hotels
FLEXIBILITY WITH ACCOMMODATION: We have flexibility with the accommodation we choose; therefore if we know in advance that we have a guest with a wheelchair, mobility scooter or is short statured, we can choose hotels that cater accordingly.
PREFERRED HOTEL 1: One of our preferred Cairns hotels is centrally located and one block from the waterfront. The reception and breakfast room are widely accessible through a double automatic door as there are no steps or thresholds. Accessible guest rooms are all on the ground level. The staff are happy to move the furniture around if required, and the rooms are fitted with a zipped-together queen bed or two single beds depending on preference. The under-bed clearance is 40mm, and there’s around 1000mm of space between the side of the bed and the wall. Unfortunately, the balconies have sliding door tracks and may not be completely accessible. Light switches are all large dish-style type and located 1000mm from the floor in accessible locations. The air conditioning can be remotely controlled. Moving into the bathroom: the hotel boasts accessible showers and toilets that are hobless and fitted with a fold-down seat. Both horizontal and vertical grab rails are fitted and the shower is home to a hot and cold flick mixer tap. The lifts which provide access to the third accessible room provide ample space for wheelchairs, and also boast buttons fitted with Braille.
PREFERRED HOTEL 2: A second preferred hotel is also centrally located. With accessible rooms that boast a double bed and a single bed, the staff at Coral Tree Inn are also happy to move the room furniture around to suit guests who use a wheelchair or mobility device. With a coffee and tea making space and a small bar fridge at hand, the TV can also be controlled by the remote. It’s worth noting that at this hotel the air conditioning unit cannot be operated by a remote. There is an accessible combined toilet and shower facility fitted with grab rails and a fold-down set. The shower is also hobless for added accessibility. Unfortunately, the balconies have sliding door tracks and may not be accessible to all guests, and there are also no designated accessible parking bays. However, there is ample room for drop offs immediately in front of reception.
Entering the reception may also be a little difficult as the door is manual, but staff are always happy to assist (and man the desk 24 hours). There are wide paths that lead from the reception to every area of the resort, including the BBQ area, the pool and the adjoining dining room.
Meals & Restaurants
FLEXIBILITY WITH RESTAURANTS & CATERING: We have quite a bit of flexibility with the restaurants we choose; therefore if we know in advance that we have a guest with a wheelchair, mobility scooter or is short statured, we can choose restaurants that cater accordingly.
We offer flexible menu options for people who have food allergies or intolerances, and in many cases religious requirements relating to food.
Guests are given space on our online booking form to specify their allergy, intolerance or religious requirement. On arrival we then give them a bag containing, for example, lactose-free milk, nut-free cereal and snacks, and/or other food items that cater to this allergy or intolerance. Unfortunately, we are not able to guarantee catering for preferences like low carb meals or FODMAP.
Similarly, we inform all caterers and restaurants of our guests’ food allergies or intolerances. Breakfast is typically served at the hotel, whilst lunches are often boxed lunches as we move around quite a bit on our tours.
Activities
If we are informed in the planning phase of your trip about any participants or (potential participants) who have disabilities or special needs, we can suggest certain activities over others or suggest certain boats to the reef. For example, one boat that travels to the reef has a lift for a guest in a wheelchair to get in and out of the water which is a great choice for guests with wheelchairs or mobility devices. Conversely, we know that the facilities on the boat that travels to the Fitzroy Island reef is not well set up for those with wheelchairs or mobility devices. We also can include activities such as the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which recognises and supports the Sunflower program for people with hidden disabilities.
On this particular trip, there are quite a few activities:
Mossman Gorge Walk
The Visitors’ Centre and toilets are accessible for wheelchair or mobility devices. People using a wheelchair or mobility device can access the the river track & first 500m to the look-out on board walk. Groups can be kept to under 10 people for guests with mild to moderate hearing impairments so guide can project their voice loud enough for guest to hear; guides like to have one on one conversations & questions if guests needed. There are many quiet spots in the park where people who are neurodivergent can rest.
Great Barrier Reef Trip
- The boat cannot accommodate persons using wheelchairs and mobility devices.
- Safety instructions are given verbally (no written instructions available).
- The captain is the first point of call for any questions or queries in regards to accessibility and/or special requirements that guests may have on the day.
- Assistance dogs are permitted, but must be confirmed with the reservations team prior to the trip.
- The boat uses pictogram signs (for example a pictogram showing feet standing on coral with a red line through it) to assist people with low literacy levels or who speak English as a second language. The company also has risk snorkel assessment forms in Japanese & Chinese for those nationalities.
- The distance from the Reef Fleet terminal to the vessel is approximately 150 metres; unfortunately no assistance is available for guests with mobility impairments.
- Lunch catering is sourced from a third party contractor who supply very detailed ingredient lists on request. Most dietary restrictions (gluten or lactose free, vegan, nut-free) can be accommodated.
- Although the boat itself does not have a specific low-stimulus quiet area, there are places on the island that could serve in this capacity.
- The island has dirt tracks and uneven terrain to get to the turtle rehab centre, and the beach front is mostly coral rubble
Outback Cattle Station
The property has an accessible toilet and shower. Bunk houses are suitable for people using a wheelchair or a mobility device. Eating area is located on a rock & slate surface, which is relatively smooth but slightly uneven in some places. The pioneer homestead and the hay truck (for wildlife viewing on the property) is not accessible for people using a wheelchair or a mobility device. There are many places on site where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli. People with hearing impairments can receive safety instructions for cow milking, boomerang throwing and other activities in a visual format. People with vision impairments can receive verbal safety instructions for cow milking and other activities in a visual format, however boomerang throwing is not recommended.
Millaa Millaa Falls
Millaa Millaa Falls in the lower carpark at the base of the falls which has an accessible viewing platform nearby. There is no access to the swimming area at the falls, with no provisions for peopel who use a wheelchair or mobility device. There are accessible toilets adjacent to the car park. There is a spot on site where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli. People with hearing impairments can read the interpretive panels at the falls.
Curtain Fig Tree National Park
There is an elevated 180m wheelchair accessible boardwalk that begins right by the carpark and encircles the fig tree. There are no toilets on site. There is a spot on site where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli. People with hearing impairments can read the interpretive panels at the falls.
Wooroonooran National Park: Josephine Falls
The toilets, picnic shelter and picnic tables in the car park area are wheelchair and mobility device-accessible. Wheelchair and mobility device access is available to the viewing platform at the top area. Stairs lead to the bottom pool where swimming takes place. People with hearing impairments can read the interpretive panels at the falls. There is a spot on site where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli.
Crocodile and Wildlife Park
The park is about 98% fully accessible for wheelchair and mobility device users. Wheelchairs are available free of charge from Admissions (need to be pre-booked). The pathways to Gondwana Gateway and Cassowary Walk are moderately steep and assistance may be required. The only area not suitable for a person in a wheelchair is the Crocodile Farm Tour as they cannot see into the pens; however they can still listen to the information given on croc farming. Ambulant access toilets are located at Lilies Restaurant and at our Gallery of Living Art. People with hearing impairments can read the interpretive panels at the different areas of the park. Support dogs for people with vision impairments have limited access to certain area’s i.e.: restaurant, shop and limited croc area, but some areas with wallabies, kangaroos, koalas and birds the dogs are forbidden access; clients CAN leave the dog with us in the air-conditioned office.
Rainforest Walk/Swim & Damper Making
The park and toilets are not accessible for wheelchair or mobility devices. There are no toilets on site. There is a spot on site where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli. People with hearing impairments can read the interpretive panels along the walk.
Departure at Airport
VISUAL AND WRITTEN STORY GUIDES: Visual Story Guides are available for Domestic Departures and have been designed to help you to understand how an airport works and what to expect. Written Story Guides are also available for Domestic Departures.
Excursion Safety & Compliance Checklist
1. Check Small World Journeys Safety Record
☐ Demonstrated excellent safety record with thousands of high school students – both Australian students and international students
☐ Teacher safety references available on request
☐ Proven experience delivering school excursions and educational tours
2. Risk Management & Documentation
☐ Written risk assessment completed for every excursion
☐ Risk assessment provided to organising teacher prior to departure
☐ Activities governed by documented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
☐ Crisis Management Plan in place and available to schools
☐ Daily risk review conducted by guides during the program
3. Student Safety Briefings
☐ Mandatory student safety briefing delivered during program orientation
☐ Briefing addresses local environmental hazards and regional risks
☐ Clear expectations for student behaviour and group safety
4. Transport Safety
☐ All buses fitted with seatbelts for every passenger
☐ Vehicles exceed Queensland minimum legal requirements
☐ Daily vehicle safety checks conducted by guides
☐ Buses undergo Department of Transport inspections every 12 months
5. Guide Qualifications & Child Safety
☐ All guides hold current Senior First Aid certification
☐ All guides hold current CPR certification
☐ Valid Driver’s Authority held by guides when driving
☐ Valid Working With Children Check (Blue Card)
☐ Guides have undergone thorough background screening
☐ Guides trained in duty of care, code of conduct with teenagers and risk management
6. Supervision & Duty of Care
☐ Appropriate student-to-guide supervision ratios
☐ Teachers supported by experienced trained guides
☐ Clear lines of responsibility for student wellbeing and incident response
7. Compliance Assurance
☐ Program aligns with school excursion policies and approval requirements
☐ Documentation suitable for principal approval and risk review
☐ Ongoing communication with schools before and during the excursion
Itinerary
Arrival:
On arrival, you are welcomed by a Small World Journeys staff member and take part in a program orientation and safety briefing, ensuring you are prepared for your tropical Queensland adventure.
Rainforest Swimming and Damper Making:
To introduce you to Far North Queensland, your guide leads you to a secluded freshwater swimming hole hidden within the tropical rainforest. Gentle waterfalls cascade into clear, cool pools framed by granite boulders and shaded by lush rainforest canopy. For those keen to participate, you also learn how to make traditional damper, often called Aussie bush bread, using classic outdoor cooking methods. This hands-on activity offers a fun and authentic taste of Australian bush culture—and a delicious reward at the end.
Later, you are transferred to your accommodation in the heart of Cairns, perfectly located for exploring the city and surrounding region.
Accommodation: Cairns 3-star hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
Curtain Fig Tree:
This morning you travel into the Cairns Highlands, where fertile volcanic soils support lush tropical rainforest ecosystems rich in birdlife, mammals, and reptiles. You visit one of the region’s most iconic natural landmarks—the Curtain Fig Tree—and learn how these spectacular strangler figs grow, slowly enveloping their host trees in a dramatic process straight out of Lord of the Rings.
Millaa Millaa Falls:
Next you stop at Millaa Millaa Falls, one of Tropical North Queensland’s most photographed waterfalls. Cascading over ancient basalt rock, the falls plunge into a clear natural pool ideal for swimming. You can also explore the unique columnar basalt formations and view the waterfall from behind for a memorable perspective.
Outback Cattle Station:
You then journey into classic Australian outback country, where kangaroos and dingoes roam freely across open landscapes. As exclusive guests at a working cattle station and homestead, you enjoy a guided station tour followed by a traditional Aussie BBQ. The evening continues with a bonfire and stargazing, offering a true taste of rural Australian life under vast southern skies.
Accommodation:
Tonight you stay in simple, dorm-style bunkhouse accommodation. Single-gender cabins feature bunk beds and sleeping bags, with toilets and showers located in a nearby amenities block, providing a comfortable and authentic outback overnight experience.
Accommodation: Outback Cattle Station
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Cattle Station Life: Cow Milking, Animal Feeding and Whip Cracking:
This morning you experience authentic Australian outback life on a working cattle station. You can feed goats and chickens, learn how to milk cows, and try your hand at whip cracking in classic stockman style. A visit to the cattle yards introduces you to musters, branding practices, and modern approaches to humane animal welfare. You then step back in time at the historic homestead, exploring well-preserved furniture, tools, and memorabilia that tell the story of Australia’s early pioneers.
Boomerang Throwing:
Yes—they really do come back! Your guide explains the cultural significance of the boomerang and how it was traditionally used for hunting. You learn proper throwing techniques and the aerodynamics that make a returning boomerang work.
National Park:
Later, you travel into Wooroonooran National Park, a diverse section of the UNESCO-listed Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, home to some of the oldest continually surviving rainforest on Earth.
Josephine Falls:
One of the most scenic locations in the Wet Tropics, Josephine Falls is reached via an easy rainforest walk filled with birdsong from species such as king parrots and bowerbirds. Josephine Creek cascades into a series of crystal-clear pools surrounded by granite boulders, creating a natural swimming hole and rock slide set in lush rainforest.
Future of the Reef Talk:
In the evening back in Cairns, you attend an engaging presentation on the future of the Great Barrier Reef. Led by a marine naturalist, the session explores the current condition of the reef, dispels common myths about coral bleaching and climate change, and examines the positive and negative impacts of reef tourism. You learn about the four major threats to the reef and cutting-edge scientific responses such as assisted evolution, where corals are bred for greater heat tolerance. The talk concludes with practical actions students can take to help protect the reef long after the tour ends.
Accommodation: Cairns 3-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Ferry Ride:
This morning you travel by ferry to Fitzroy Island, a lush tropical island set in a turquoise sea on the inner Great Barrier Reef. A fringing coral reef surrounds the island, creating a calm, sheltered marine environment that supports a diverse range of reef fish and coral species.
Snorkelling:
With full access to snorkelling equipment for the day, you can step straight from the beach into the water to explore the vibrant reef system encircling the island. Just offshore, a kaleidoscope of marine life awaits, including colourful hard and soft corals, parrotfish, lionfish, turtles, cuttlefish, rays, and giant clams. Your marine naturalist highlights key reef features and helps you identify species, enhancing your understanding of this unique marine ecosystem.
Turtle Rehabilitation Centre:
You also visit the island’s Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, where dedicated volunteers care for sick and injured sea turtles until they are strong enough to be released back into the wild. This visit offers insight into marine conservation, threats to turtles, and rehabilitation efforts on the Great Barrier Reef.
Field Guide:
Each student receives 101 Animals of the Great Barrier Reef by Dr Martin Cohen, a practical field guide that supports species identification and deepens understanding of the reef’s extraordinary biodiversity—and is yours to keep.
Accommodation: Cairns 3-star hotel
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Rainforest Discovery with Indigenous Guide:
Today you explore the Daintree Rainforest at Mossman Gorge, an area of deep cultural significance to the Kuku Yalanji people. Your experience begins with a traditional smoking ceremony, followed by a guided walk along rainforest trails. Along the way, your Indigenous guide explains how Aboriginal people navigated dense rainforest, built shelter, and identified native plants used for food, medicine, tools, and hunting. Through storytelling, you learn how seasonal changes shaped daily life, the roles of men’s and women’s “business,” traditional fire-making techniques, and clever fishing methods. The experience concludes with a tasting of billy tea and wattle seed damper, cooked over the fire and topped with rainforest berry jam.
Daintree Rainforest & Beach Eco-Lodge:
Later you enter the heart of the Daintree Rainforest, the oldest continuously surviving tropical rainforest on Earth, where rainforest meets the Coral Sea. Your eco-lodge accommodation is set in a spectacular location within the rainforest and directly on the beach, featuring a swimming pool, guest laundry, BBQ facilities, and comfortable communal spaces. A recipient of a Queensland Tourism Award and TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, the lodge demonstrates strong sustainability practices, including greywater irrigation, locally sourced produce, and recycling of up to 80% of waste. Students stay in dorm-style cabins with ensuites, falling asleep to the natural sounds of the surrounding jungle.
Accommodation: Daintree Rainforest Cabins
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Cape Tribulation and Swimming Hole:
After a night immersed in the rainforest, you wake to birdsong and the sounds of the jungle in Cape Tribulation. Just a short walk away is a crystal-clear rainforest swimming hole, popular with locals and the perfect place to cool off beneath the tropical canopy.
Crocodile Farm & Wildlife Park:
Today you visit Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, a multi-award-winning eco attraction and one of the best places in Australia to see saltwater crocodiles. Through guided talks and lagoon boat rides, you learn how crocodiles were once hunted to near extinction and why they play a vital role in healthy ecosystems today. Safe, close-up viewing in a natural setting is complemented by engaging crocodile feeding, snake, and wildlife presentations. In the Gondwana Gateway, you also encounter iconic Far North Queensland species, including reptiles and the endangered southern cassowary.
Optional Photo – You and a Koala:
If you’ve always wanted a classic Australian koala photo, here’s your opportunity (extra cost).
Beach BBQ Party:
In the afternoon, you head to the beach for music, games, and a relaxed BBQ cookout—the perfect way to celebrate and wrap up your unforgettable week in the tropics.
Accommodation: Cairns 3-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, enjoy free time in Cairns for last-minute shopping or souvenir purchases. If you are departing later in the day, you may choose the following optios:
Optional Community Service Project:
Take part in a hands-on community service project in Cairns, supporting people experiencing homelessness. Students create reusable care bags using upcycled materials, then fill them with essential food and hygiene items most needed on the street. The packs are distributed by Rosies Friends on The Street, a local not-for-profit organisation. A Rosies representative may also speak with the group about local homelessness, its causes, and how community support makes a difference. No crafting experience is needed—the activity is simple, meaningful, and rewarding. (On request, no extra cost.)
You are then transferred to Cairns Airport for your flight home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
How Your Trip Makes The World A Better Place
We’re not talking rainbows and unicorns. We’re talking about how we have put significant thought into how to make our student tours as safe as they possibly can be while still being fun; encouraging students to learn about and contribute to the community they are travelling in; and teaching them what “sustainability” really means.
Sustainability
OUR COMMITMENT: We are determined and motivated to be the most sustainable business we can be. This is why we run our office on renewable energy, voluntarily offset our carbon emissions (AND your flights to get to us!), and fulfilling our policy to give at least 5% of our annual net profits to local environmental and community organisations and charities. Here’s what else we are doing:
HELPING THE REEF: For every group that visits the reef, we make a donation to the Reef Restoration Foundation (RRF) to support their "Care for a Coral" program. The coral propagation work led by RRF is groundbreaking and recognised as a major initiative in efforts to help restore the reef. Each group receives a "Care for a Coral" certificate from RRF as a token of our contribution and commitment to reef conservation.
ADOPTING A RAINFOREST PLOT IN YOUR NAME: For each group that visits the rainforest, we contribute to the not-for-profit organisation Reforest to support the planting and nurturing of a tree, helping to regenerate the endangered Mabi rainforest. As part of your excursion, your group will receive a certificate recognising this meaningful gift to the environment.
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Community
SUPPORTING OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY: It is our policy to include a talk or an activity with an Aboriginal person on every trip we offer. By taking this trip, you are supporting grassroots Indigenous tourism ventures and encouraging Aboriginal pride in culture.Additionally, our student community service project involves students in making “Moon Sick Care Bags” which supply re-usable sanitary products to Aboriginal women in remote communities — this helps both Indigenous women AND the environment! (Ask us how your group can do this on their tour)
SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES: It is our policy to use locally owned suppliers and businesses unless their standards are not up to par (for example, if they have a bad environmental record).
VOLUNTEERING IN OUR COMMUNITY: Small World staff are incentivised to volunteer in the community...
Safety
SUPERB SAFETY RECORD: Small World Journeys has safely hosted thousands of Australian high school students on educational excursions across Australia. We are proud of our excellent safety record and are happy to provide teacher references specifically addressing student safety and risk management on request.
RISK ASSESSMENT FOR EVERY TRIP: A comprehensive risk assessment is completed for every school excursion and provided to the organising teacher prior to departure. All activities operate under documented safety protocols outlined in our Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Manual, supported by a detailed Crisis Management Plan. In addition, all students receive a mandatory safety briefing during orientation, addressing regional hazards, environmental risks, and expected behaviours relevant to Far North Queensland.
SAFE BUSES: All vehicles used on our student excursions are fitted with seatbelts for every passenger, exceeding Queensland legal requirements because student safety is our priority. Our guides conduct daily vehicle safety checks, and all buses undergo Department of Transport safety inspections every 12 months, ensuring compliance with national transport standards.
We do custom trips!
Still haven’t found exactly what you are looking for? All our tours are fully customisable and can be catered to suit your time-frame, student interests and budget. A geography excursion to the Great Barrier Reef? A biology excursion to the Daintree Rainforest? An Aboriginal culture excursion? Our educational trips in Queensland and New South Wales are hand-crafted for those who cannot find exactly what they want from the inflexible set itineraries of large tour operators.
If you are looking for a science trip, ecology trip, Aboriginal culture, or just a sample of the best of Australia – we can help.
