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A tour operator that loves teachers
(and caffeine)

The Small World team is a collection of educators, guides and tourism experts who, in many cases, drink a heck of a lot of coffee. This is because we are insanely dedicated to meeting your educational goals and providing a ridiculously high level of customer service.

“A professional and well-organised trip from start to finish. Materials and experiences matched description. The fact that we had everything so planned was amazing. Guides were personable, energetic and very knowledgeable. Small World Journeys was recommended by everyone we spoke to”.

– David Brennan, teacher, Wollongong School of the Performing Arts, NSW (Oct ’18)

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Check out our tours
SWJ team photo

“A professional and well-organised trip from start to finish. Materials and experiences matched description. The fact that we had everything so planned was amazing. Guides were personable, energetic and very knowledgeable. Small World Journeys was recommended by everyone we spoke to”. – David Brennan, teacher, Wollongong School of the Performing Arts, NSW (Oct ’18)

Make a booking
Check out our tours
  • 150
    trees planted
    last year
  • 1078
    corals surveyed for
    health and bleaching
  • 10
    kilos of rubbish cleared
    from mangroves
  • 87
    comfort packs made
    for the homeless
  • 8
    hours staff volunteered in community

Our Team

Our team is made up of very different nice folks,
but the one thing that unites us is our love of teaching young people.
Most of us have university degrees – and in some cases masters
degrees and PhDs – with years of tourism expertise to boot. This means
we are good at teaching your students about zooxanthellae with flotsam
jelly fish AND ensuring your hotel pillow is fluffy.

Read our latest news

Laurie Pritchard
Laurie Pritchard
Founder & Managing Director

Laurie founded Small World Journeys in 2008. Educated at the Cranbrook-Kingswood School and the University of South Florida in the USA and L’Institut de Touraine in France, Laurie also held a university teaching post in far western China.

A love of the outdoors led to 12 years working for and developing adventure trips for organisations like The World Outdoors, Adventures Cross-Country and People to People Student Ambassador Programs in the USA, and RnR Adventures in Australia. Laurie was a field instructor for the Outward-Bound School, leading educational wilderness expeditions for disadvantaged and at-risk youth and she was also the Wilderness Director for Oak Creek Ranch School. In addition to her Bachelor’s Degree, she holds a Diploma of Tourism from Far North Queensland TAFE and is a certified Bronze Medallion. Laurie has travelled to over 40 countries, and her articles about travel have appeared in magazines such as Transitions Abroad, Real Travel and on The Travel Channel’s World Hum. She is certified in Mental Health First Aid, has a Yellow Card for working with people with disabilities and is an active advance PADI SCUBA diver and former lifeguard.  In 2017, she was the regional winner for Institute of Manager and Leaders’ Owner/Entrepreneur category, and was named the CBWC Cairns Small Business Woman of the Year.
Nicole ”Nickie” Stewart
Nicole ”Nickie” Stewart
Groups Coordinator

Nickie brings over 20 years of diverse experience in environmental education, tourism, and community engagement to her role. With a background in biology and environmental science, she has worked as an Interpretation Ranger with Queensland Parks and Wildlife

a Ranger Coordinator in remote Indigenous communities, and an Activities Coordinator at Fitzroy Island Resort. Her career has taken her across Australia and overseas, including a stint teaching English in China. Nickie holds a Bachelor of Science (Biology), an Advanced Diploma in Biological Laboratory Techniques, and is currently studying Law and Arts (History and Geography). She also maintains certifications in First Aid, CPR, along with a valid Blue Card and open driver’s license. Passionate about connecting people to nature and culture, Nickie excels at delivering engaging educational experiences—from guided walks and interpretive tours to creative workshops and community projects. Her warm, inclusive approach and deep knowledge of the natural world make her a valued member of the team.

Andrew Micklewright
Andrew Micklewright
Operations Coordinator

Although Andrew grew up in the Northern Territory, the majority of his adult life has been spent in Far North Queensland. He is a highly experienced outdoor education professional with nearly two decades of leadership in outdoor recreation, education, and adventure tourism. He holds Certificates IV in

Outdoor Recreation, Wilderness First Aid, Swift Water Rescue, Lifeguard and other key qualifications, including a Blue Card and Light Rigid Driver’s License. Andrew’s extensive career includes roles as a Senior Program Officer with the Queensland Government, and as a contractor and group leader with respected organisations such as Hillbrook Anglican School, Trinity Anglican School, Adventure Alternatives, and Lake Tinaroo Active Recreation Centre. He specialises in facilitating experiential learning through activities like kayaking, hiking, high ropes, and multi-day expeditions, with a strong focus on safety, risk management, and youth development. Andrew has worked overseas in both Canada and England, and is also a certified open water sea kayak guide and mountain bike guide.  Andrew recently travelled all around Australia with his wife and two daughters.

Rachel Shields
Rachel Shields
Guide

Rachel is a proud Wailwan (Ngampa) and Gamilaroi woman with deep cultural ties to the Daintree, Cairns, Kuranda, and Atherton Tablelands regions. As our Lead Cultural Guide and Indigenous Education Facilitator, Rachel brings more than a decade of

experience inspiring and guiding young people through immersive nature-based and culturally informed learning journeys. Rachel has led educational tours both within Australia and internationally, including representing Indigenous youth at global conferences. Her dynamic storytelling, deep knowledge of Country, and inclusive approach create unforgettable learning experiences that foster respect, curiosity, and connection. With qualifications in early childhood and Steiner education, Indigenous leadership, and cultural awareness, Rachel is also certified in First Aid and Mental Health First Aid, including specific training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. She brings both lived and professional expertise in safety, group facilitation, and holistic wellbeing support. Rachel has worked with communities across Australia, co-developing programs that integrate traditional knowledge, language recovery, native foods, and cultural protocol. Her extensive background includes coordinating youth camps, mentoring Indigenous youth, developing place-based curriculum, and supporting cross-cultural learning in outdoor settings. Experienced in living off-grid and closely connected to the land, Rachel embodies sustainable living and the values she shares with groups. She’s known for creating safe, respectful spaces for deep conversations, and for helping people—especially young people—feel at home in nature and inspired to care for Country.

Karen Chopping
Karen Chopping
Guide

When it comes to tour guiding, Karen has decades under her belt.  Karen boasted seventeen seasons as a tour manager for the People to People Ambassador programs through Contiki, looking after the well being of young people who were discovering

Australia.  Karen also worked for Scenic Tours in two capacities: Tour Director and Ground Operations Manager in Australia, New Zealand, Canada.  Additionally, Karen has served as the go-to Cairns local tour guide for Abercrombie & Kent, Globus & Cosmos, and EF Education First.  Karen has an Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Accreditation from CSU, a Kakadu National Park Tour Guide Accreditation from Charles Darwin University, and is a member of the Tour Guides Association (TGA).  Having worked with dozens of different nationalities, and working in such colourful places as Tahiti, Fiji and Zimbabwe, Karen is a masterful diplomat and host. Karen has two children, and in her early life was a certified trapeze instructor.

Azri Saparwan
Azri Saparwan
Master Reef Guide

Azri is one of our Master Reef Guides and is working on his PhD. He grew up in South Australia, and his love of the sea took him frequently to the water. Azri studied at Flinders University (Bachelor of Science) where he attained high distinction for his

degree in marine biology. In Singapore Azri provided in-depth guided tours of one of the largest oceanariums in the world. It was here he was involved in animal husbandry, monitoring stress and disease on the fish population. Azri was the Volunteer Coordinator for Reef Restoration Foundation for the Great Barrier Reef, which includes coordinating volunteers in assisting maintenance of coral nursery and monitoring of individual coral growth and survival. He is also the founder of Sukamade Turtle Refuge, a non-profit organisation as an initiative to gather volunteers to aid rangers during the busiest period at a prominent sea turtle rookery in Sukamade, Banyuwangi, Indonesia. Azri is a Paramedic Level 1 with the Singapore Armed Forces, and a rescue SCUBA diver.

Alex Benavides
Alex Benavides
Marine Guide

When it comes to marine education and grassroots advocacy, Alejandra has an unmatched drive for impact. With years immersed in Queensland’s reef tourism and conservation scene, she’s led underwater tours as a dive instructor and eco guide while championing environmental causes through

community campaigns with AMCS and CAFNEC. Alejandra’s not just a seasoned diver—she’s also a media-savvy communicator with a Peruvian background in digital production, and she’s trained volunteers, coordinated outreach strategies, and crafted educational programs for both NGOs and school groups. Whether she’s speaking passionately about marine biology on deck or coordinating logistics for remote environmental camps, Alejandra brings creativity, compassion, and conviction to everything she touches.

Rachael MacLeod
Rachael MacLeod
Programs Manager

Rachael is our Queensland queen: having been born and raised in the Sunshine State, she is an outback girl at heart. With a diploma in Event Management from James Cook University, Rachael is a planner extraordinaire.

She has organised functions, festivals and major events from wedding expos to school camps from Toowoomba to Cairns. Rachael also honed her skills with young people after obtaining a Certificate III in Youth Work and facilitating regional youth programs for Council. She continued on working in tourism and hospitality, finding her niche as Function & Events Manager at the world’s oldest and largest operating woolshed of its kind.  Rachael had fun for over four years organising schools and groups on day visits and multi-day stays at this historic venue, where students could learn damper making and Australian history, witness blacksmithing and beekeeping and of course, watch the sheep shearing.  Whereas once Rachael’s wild side involved her in amateur competition drag racing, she now prefers camping, hiking, and training for Cairns Ironman and other running events.  Rachael is also an active volunteer at the Fitzroy Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, helping sick and injured turtles, and is on the Cairns and Far North Environmental Centre Marine Response Team.

Natasha Willis
Natasha Willis
Groups Coordinator

Natasha got her start in the Cairns tourism industry working as a travel consultant at the Cairns Visitor Information Centre. She was responsible for selling Cairns and FNQ tourism products to overseas travellers and Cairns locals. Her education

includes sales training through the Australian National Sales Academy and Business Administration through Hall Green Technical College in the UK. Natasha is also completing her Diploma in Project Management at TAFE Queensland and she is a member of the Australia Institute of Project Management. Natasha spent 16 years as an account executive with the WIN Network/Channel 9 and it was here she cultivated business relationships all over the Cairns region. Natasha is hyper organised and superb at time management after years having to meet tight deadlines. She is a lover of interior design and DIY projects and enjoys transforming spaces into visually stunning rooms. She has travelled to most places within Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, Botswana, South Africa UK & Europe, & The United Arab Emirates.

Kylie Michell
Kylie Michell
Sydney Guide

Kylie is our Sydney-based guide: she loves showing visitors the hidden and unusual corners of Sydney, and her two children keep her busy discovering more. Kylie got her start as a guide in 1994 with Contiki which gave her a sound background in managing of young people and an intimate knowledge of Australia’s

entire east coast. Kylie then went on to train tour guides for Contiki’s head office in Sydney, and even taught tour guiding at an adult college. Kylie studied mass communications at Macquarie University in Sydney, and obtained her NAATI accreditation as an interpreter which has led to work in Italian as well as French. Kylie has also recently completed a course on the colonial history of Sydney, which has added a new dimension to her knowledge of the city. Although Kylie spent her youth in Florence, Italy, having attended the American School there, she is an Aussie through and through. Consequently, Kylie is just as comfortable sipping a cappuccino at a cafe as a beer in a country pub.

Darryl Schwilk
Darryl Schwilk
Marine Guide

Darryl has both a Bachelor of Secondary Education and a Bachelor of Science (Marine Zoology) from James Cook University in Cairns. Having spent a significant amount of time in his youth on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, Cairns and Mackay, Darryl has been in

and around water his whole life and has devoted the last 15 years to teaching biology, marine and junior science to high school students at Cairns High School. Additionally, Darryl is a trainer / assessor for Royal Life Saving Queensland and for First Aid Academy Cairns as well as a PADI SCUBA instructor. He is also a qualified boatsafe trainer / assessor, a marine radio invigilator, and Chairman of the Peninsula Boating Committee. When on land, Darryl enjoys playing volleyball.

Leanne Hayter
Leanne Hayter
Sydney Guide

Lee has Sydney in her blood. She has volunteered as an “Aquarist” at the Sydney Aquarium, worked as a trainer at Taronga Zoo to teach employees about tour excellence, and developed and delivered tours focusing on Aboriginal and colonial heritage for

the Paramatta City Council. She continues her work at Taronga Zoo conducting guided tours and assisting on educational programs for young people. As an active member of the Professional Tour Guide Association Australia (PTGAA) and Guiding Organisation Australia (GOA), Lee has made it her life to introduce visitors to the wonders of Australia. Lee has a Certificate IV in guiding, a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and a Certificate III in Tourism under her belt. She serves as board member of Savannah Guides, and has attended guide training schools from the Wet Tropics to the eastern cape of South Africa. One of her many talents is organising volunteer activities for school holidays and special events. When Lee is not guiding visitors around Sydney, she is rocking out with her bass guitar and her band Something Else Trio.

Jessie Rhodes
Jessie Rhodes
Guide

Jess is our amphibious guide: she is skilled both in the water and on land. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports & Social Science from the University of Bath and has spent years teaching young people how to swim and be safe in the water. Jess holds a Level 1 & 2 ASA

and Australia Swim Certifications counts Ironman athletes, members of the United Arab Emirates royal family and two junior Commonwealth swimmers from the Kenyan national team as clients. Jess is also a professional “digital coordinator”, having produced and developed marketing campaigns and social media strategies for a major Cairns tour company. In that role she also utilised her skills as a certified drone pilot to capture the beauty of Far North Queensland. While she grew up in the United Kingdom, Jess has travelled the globe and now considers Cairns to be her home.

George Woodleigh
George Woodleigh
Guide

George is a Cairns-area local, with his Aboriginal ancestry (Yidinji) tracing back thousands of years in this region. George has explored almost every inch of Queensland, from the rainforests of the Wet Tropics to the tip of Cape York Peninsula. He has worked as a tour

guide, public servant and even ran his own…coach touring business. George loves teaching visitors about Australian flora, fauna, and biodiversity, and he is especially fond of teaching young people about his culture. George has three grown children and lives with his wife Alice, and loves both rugby league and country music. He has travelled to far flung locations such as the Philippines, and the home of country music, Nashville USA.

Elizabeth Stevens
Elizabeth Stevens
Senior Groups Coordinator

Elizabeth Stevens (Liz) is well equipped to organise all aspects of our tours, having a Bachelor’s Degree in International Tourism Management from the university of Surrey (with first class honours). Liz started her career as the first point of contact in

emergencies for a sheltered housing scheme, managing units which required learning calmness under pressure and high-level judgement. Liz also worked as a front desk agent at Hilton Gatwick, which is one of the biggest and busiest hotels in the UK.  Liz followed her heart to Australia, but before she could get her career started in Victoria, COVID hit. So she traded her scarf for overalls and worked some hard yards at a dairy farm, enjoying a complete change of scenery whilst she rode out the pandemic. Next Liz joined Flight Centre as a travel consultant and then eventually found her way to Small World.  Liz loves swimming, diving and cross-stitching. She has travelled to most countries in Europe, extensively through Southeast Asia, and the far corners of Africa such as Tunisia, Malawi and Rwanda.

Eva de Geus
Eva de Geus
Marketing Assistant

Eva is a passionate hospitality professional with a love for travel, people, and creating unforgettable guest experiences. Originally from the Netherlands, Eva has worked across Europe, including a recent internship at a luxury 5-star

hotel in Malta, where she refined her skills in front office operations and international service standards. With a background in Tourism Management and hands-on experience in both hotel reception and restaurant service, Eva brings a well-rounded approach to Small World Journeys. She’s known for her organisation, adaptability, and genuine enthusiasm for helping others feel welcome and cared for. Fluent in Dutch and English, with working knowledge of German, Eva thrives in multicultural environments and enjoys connecting with guests from all walks of life. Outside of work, she’s an avid volleyball player, a curious cook, and always planning her next adventure. Whether she’s behind the front desk or exploring a new destination, Eva brings energy, professionalism, and a personal touch to everything she does.

Elena Egorov
Elena Egorov
Marine Guide

Elena is an energetic and adaptable tourism professional with a passion for outdoor adventure and cross-cultural connection. She holds a PADI Divemaster certification, First Aid & CPR, and has worked across Australia, New Zealand, and Japan in roles that span marine tourism, alpine sports, and environmental fieldwork.

Her experience includes guiding snorkel and dive tours on the Great Barrier Reef, instructing snowboarding at Club Med Tomamu and The Remarkables, and conducting ecological field surveys for the Yellow Crazy Ant Eradication Program in Far North Queensland. Elena also taught English to adult learners in Okinawa, combining her love of language and cultural exchange with her growing proficiency in Japanese. Elena recently completed a 1200km solo pilgrimage around Shikoku Island, demonstrating resilience, self-reliance, and a deep appreciation for nature and personal growth. She brings a calm, confident presence to her work, with a strong focus on safety, inclusivity, and creating memorable experiences for guests of all backgrounds.

Ashaya Snedden
Ashaya Snedden
Guide

As a Cairns region local, Ashaya’s relationship with the rainforest began when she was quite young. She has worked as an environmental field officer, a landscaper, and in forestry with a regeneration program in both Queensland and New Zealand.

Ashaya is currently obtaining her conservation land and ecosystem management certificate through TAFE, and she is a certified Wet Tropics Tour Guide. Ashaya’s knowledge of Far North Queensland even extends to her knowledge about the Indigenous Djabugay language and culture. Although she has a chainsaw operator’s certification, Ashaya speaks for the trees. She has spent much of her time propagating seeds and planting trees in both a natural and landscaping environments. Ashaya is mother to an 8-year-old son, and has travelled extensively through South America and Southeast Asia.

Natalee “Nat” Strong
Natalee “Nat” Strong
Guide

Originally from Tasmania but now reef-rooted in Far North Queensland, Nat is a marine guide, dive instructor, and ocean enthusiast who’s basically swapped gumboots for fins. With a background in environmental education, reef ecology, and

citizen science, Nat has a knack for turning coral facts into captivating tales—ideal for student groups, eco-travellers, and anyone who’ll listen underwater or above it. She’s a certified PADI Scuba Instructor, Coxswain, and First Aid provider, and has worked with outfits like Mike Ball Dive Expeditions, Divers Den, and Cairns Aquarium. She’s led liveaboard expeditions to the far corners of the Coral Sea, wrangled ropes in wild Tasmanian swells, guided 12-day hikes without losing her sense of humour (or any hikers), and even moonlighted as a breath-hold commercial diver for abalone. Whether she’s delivering citizen science talks with ORCA UK, educating kids about shark poo at the aquarium, or pulling sea urchins from the depths, Nat’s all about creating memorable, meaningful nature experiences—with a big splash of fun. When not guiding, she’s probably writing conservation stories, untangling ropes, or plotting her next sea-based adventure.

 

Steven Gill
Steven Gill
Guide

Steven began his journey in tourism as a snorkel host and tour guide for Calypso and Tropical Journeys in Port Douglas, where he developed strong public speaking and science communication skills while guiding reef and rainforest experiences.

With a background spanning hospitality, groundskeeping, and education, Steven has worn many hats—including bars manager at the Sheraton Grand Mirage and restaurant manager at Longitude 131 in the Northern Territory. He’s also taught English in Brazil. In addition to Small World Journeys, Steven also works as an educator with Eye to Eye Marine Encounters, sharing his passion for marine environments with students. Steven founded Gone Buggo, a small business based in Cooya focused on bugs and nature-based education, and he’s maintained a long-standing commitment to environmental education and engagement. He’s known for his versatility, curiosity, and love of hands-on learning, and is often found exploring with his daughter or engaging curious minds through science storytelling.

Kate Flanagan
Kate Flanagan
Guide

Kate Flanagan is an experienced outdoor educator and adventure guide based in Far North Queensland. With a Bachelor of Outdoor Education and a strong background in environmental sustainability, Kate has

led school camps, guided river tours, and worked as a deckhand on marine excursions. She brings a calm, safety-focused approach to activities like kayaking, hiking, and rafting, and is passionate about helping people connect with nature.

our
Vision

To be Australia’s premier provider of education for youth outside the classroom.

our tours

What We Have To Offer
Besides Our Dashing Good Looks

We are fiendishly concerned about details. That includes everything from our risk assessments to creating activities to match your curriculum. It means thoughtfully arranging meaningful community service and citizen science projects that matter.

It also means being thorough and transparent with our pricing and creating a special trip website for all of our teachers. The “day by day” itineraries we send you are planned to the minutest of detail, leaving you free to simply enjoy your students and the trip. And if that’s not enough, you’ll also be pampered by ridiculously good looking people.

Search our tours
Tours matched to your curriculum
Aboriginal culture in every trip
Superb safety and risk assessment
Citizen science projects
Community service projects
Custom made tours
Activities found nowhere else
National and state award winning company
Our pricing is transparent
Sustainability focused

Who we sponsor and support (and sometimes kiss)

Our goal is to leave our community better because we exist, not despite it. We want to ensure the sustainability of the communities in which our guests travel. This is why Small World Journeys has committed at least 5% of net profits each year to support non-profit community and environmental organisations. We also give kisses for free.

Rainforest Rescue

Rainforest Rescue

By admin@smallworldjourney / April 11, 2024
Small World Journeys has given over $5,000 to Rainforest Rescue to support the adoption of rainforest land at risk. Every...
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Reef Restoration Foundation

Reef Restoration Foundation

By admin@smallworldjourney / April 11, 2024
We are a proud sponsor of a coral propagation tree at The Great Barrier Reef through Reef Restoration Foundation (RRF)....
Read More
Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre

Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre

By admin@smallworldjourney / April 11, 2024
Since 2012, Small World Journeys has given over $50,000 to The Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre on Fitzroy Island to support...
Read More
Rosies Friends on The Street

Rosies Friends on The Street

By admin@smallworldjourney / April 11, 2024
Small World Journeys’ groups participate in a community service project to help patrons of Rosies. Rosies Friends on The Street...
Read More

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

We humbly acknowledge Aboriginal People and Torres Strait Islander People as the first inhabitants of Australia and acknowledge Traditional Owners of the lands where we work and our groups travel, which include the Yirrganydji, Yidinji, Kuku Yalanji, and Djabugay people.

We were inspired by the beautiful artwork of local indigenous artist Colin Higgins – painter and musician from Yarrabah. We commissioned Colin for the use of his painting (symbolising the world in the dry season) and are grateful for his contribution to Small World Journeys

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