Ecosystems & Global Biodiversity: Reef & Rainforest

• Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef with a marine biologist
• Soar high into the Daintree rainforest in JCU’s canopy crane
• Participate in CoralWatch service project and collect primary data on coral bleaching
• Discuss traditional land uses with Indigenous guides on country
• Collect primary data about water quality and aqautic invertebrates at a university rainforest research station
• Learn about traditional and contemporary protected area management
• Visit a Turtle Rehabilitation Centre run by volunteers

15+ students: $1998 AUD per person (inc GST)
10-14 students: $2097 AUD per person (inc GST)

Includes:

• Risk assessment
• Cairns airport transfers
• All activities as described in the itinerary
• Transportation to activities
• Small World Journeys land guide on Days 1, 2 and 5
• Marine naturalist/marine biologist on Days 3 & 4
• Expert speakers and Indigenous guides
• 4 nights Cairns 3-star hotel accommodation (2 or 3 share ensuite rooms)*
• 1 night Daintree Rainforest research station (single gender dorm-style rooms)
• All continental breakfasts
• All lunches
• All dinners (except on Day 4)
• Mask, fins, snorkel hire on Fitzroy Island and outer reef trip
• Stinger suit hire during the wet season
• 101 Marine Animals of the Great Barrier Reef and 101 Marine Animals of the Wet Tropics field guide for each student
• Small World Journeys BPA free reusable water bottle and cloth shopping bag
• National Park and Marine Park taxes and levies
• 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

*Cairns accommodation – 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 supplement is charged if an additional private room is required for the trip (please ask us for pricing). If teachers are happy to share a room, no additional costs are incurred. Single supplement is not available at the Daintree Rainforest Research Station, teachers and guides may be required to share dorms here.

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

Excludes:

• Airfare to Cairns
• 1 Dinner – free choice in town
• Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, etc.)

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 accessible

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.

JCU RESEARCH STATION: The station is not well-equipped for people using wheelchairs or mobility devices. All of the activities we do on site are within a 5 minute walk from the station, terrain is uneven, on grass, pebbles or dirt.  There is an ambulant bathroom and toilet in the block directly opposite the students dorms, without walking up or down stairs.

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 two reef excursions: one to the inner reef and the other to the outer reef.

The Inner 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.

The Outer Reef Trip

• One boat in the fleet can accommodate persons using wheelchairs (again, if a wheelchair user is in the group, kindly let us know in the planning stage for your trip)
• 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 which are displayed for guests at the buffets. Most dietary restrictions (gluten or lactose free, vegan, nut-free) can be accommodated.
• Students with ASD can retreat to the boat whilst the other passengers are on the pontoon for quiet and reduced stimuli.

Indigenous Culture Activity

This particular trip includes a beach walk/coastal exploration where accessible toilets are not available nor are there provisions for wheelchair or mobility device users. There are  quiet places available where a neurodivergent person could find with reduced stimuli.

JCU Research Station

The station is not well-equipped for people using wheelchairs or mobility devices. All of the activities we do on site are within a 5 minute walk from the station, terrain is uneven, on grass, pebbles or dirt.  There is an ambulant bathroom and toilet in the block directly opposite the students dorms, without walking up or down stairs.

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

Arrival:

Welcome to the tropics! You arrive in Cairns, the gateway to Far North Queensland, and are warmly greeted at the airport by one of our staff members. This marks the beginning of your Australian geography field excursion (arrival before 12 noon today).

Presentation on Biodiversity and The Wet Tropics:

Before entering the rainforest, students take part in a curriculum-aligned presentation exploring the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, which includes the Daintree Rainforest. Students examine why this region is a global biodiversity hotspot, home to over 100 rare or threatened species and many plants found nowhere else on Earth—including ancient species that pre-date dinosaurs. The session explores Traditional Owner land management, alongside contemporary environmental management at local, regional, and national scales. Students investigate why the Wet Tropics is a geographical anomaly, and discuss key geography concepts including climate change impacts, vulnerability versus resilience, and biophysical interactions within tropical rainforest systems. This provides essential context for the fieldwork ahead.

Daintree Rainforest Research Station:

Next you travel north into the Daintree Rainforest, the oldest continuously surviving tropical rainforest on Earth. By special arrangement, you visit the James Cook University Daintree Rainforest Observatory, an internationally recognised eco-monitoring and research facility equipped with wet and dry laboratories. Located deep within the rainforest, the station is recognised as one of the most biodiverse research sites in Australia. Following a safety induction and orientation, students learn about current scientific research, invasive species management, and sustainable rainforest management strategies, linking field observations to real-world environmental decision-making. (Research station activities are available on weekdays only.)

Night Walk in the Daintree:

After dinner, students participate in a guided night walk through the Daintree Rainforest, experiencing the ecosystem during its most active period. This field activity focuses on identifying crepuscular and nocturnal species, with attention to endemic wildlife unique to this region. Observing rainforest processes after dark deepens understanding of ecosystem interconnections, species adaptation, and biodiversity, reinforcing key senior geography concepts related to environmental change and management.

Accommodation: Daintree Rainforest Research Station
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Environmental Debate:

This morning students take part in a role-based environmental debate focused on a proposed development project in Cairns. Working in small groups, students adopt the perspectives of different stakeholders and present arguments for or against the development, considering environmental, economic, and socio-cultural factors. Teachers vote on the most persuasive case, reinforcing critical thinking, evaluation of competing viewpoints, and real-world decision-making—all key components of the Australian Geography curriculum. This engaging activity uses a real-life case study that has attracted national media attention.

JCU Canopy Crane:

Next students gain special access to the canopy crane at the James Cook University Research Station, one of only three tropical canopy cranes in the world. Following a safety briefing and expert explanation of rainforest significance, students board a suspended gondola that ascends above the Daintree Rainforest canopy. The crane rotates 360 degrees, allowing students to survey one hectare of rainforest biodiversity within this UNESCO World Heritage area—an exceptional opportunity to study ecosystem structure, spatial distribution, and biodiversity. (Students must be at least 15 years old; activity operates Monday–Friday only.)

Water Quality Measurements & Aquatic Invertebrate Sampling:

While not in the crane, students undertake hands-on geographical fieldwork focusing on freshwater ecosystems. Using nets and sampling equipment, students collect water quality data—including pH, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, and phosphate levels—from both a pond and a stream. These indicators help identify nutrient pollution, eutrophication, and environmental stressors affecting species survival. Samples are analysed in the laboratory under microscopes, and students apply the SIGNAL biotic index to draw conclusions about water health, species tolerance, and human impacts, supporting inquiry skills required in Senior Geography.

Geography & the Reef Presentation:

Later you return to Cairns for a dynamic geography presentation on the Great Barrier Reef, led by a marine naturalist. Students explore reef formation and geomorphology, alongside natural and human impacts placing stress on reef systems. The session examines traditional Indigenous reef management, modern governance, and factors influencing reef vulnerability and resilience. Students are introduced to biotic and abiotic interactions, spatial patterns within reef systems, and innovative scientific techniques being used to protect the reef from climate change and environmental degradation, directly supporting Australian Senior Geography curriculum outcomes.

Accommodation: Cairns 3-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ferry Ride:

This morning, you travel by ferry to Fitzroy Island, a pristine island within the inner Great Barrier Reef. A fringing coral reef surrounds the island, creating a sheltered marine environment that supports a rich diversity of life, including colourful corals, parrotfish, lionfish, sea turtles, cuttlefish, rays, and giant clams—an ideal case study for coastal and marine geography.

Guided Snorkelling:

With full access to snorkelling equipment for the day, students enter the water directly from the beach to explore the surrounding reef system. Led by an experienced marine naturalist, students observe marine biodiversity, indicator species, and key reef features, reinforcing geographical concepts related to ecosystems, interconnections, and environmental processes.

Mapping Activity Addressing Contemporary & Traditional Protected Area Management:

A lunchtime mapping and spatial analysis activity supports the development of key geography skills while exploring protected area management strategies for the reef, both traditional and contemporary. Students examine how the area has been sustainably managed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for over 60,000 years, discussing practices such as sustainable fishing, totems, and Traditional Owner stewardship. The activity encourages critical thinking by asking students to consider the challenges of relying solely on traditional management today, given modern pressures on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and to compare these with contemporary management approaches, including the Australian Government zoning plan introduced in 2003.

Human Impacts Activity:

Students participate in a human impacts evaluation, assessing how tourism and daily activities affect the island environment. Using a structured “report card”, students record observations and analyse environmental impacts, directly linking to curriculum outcomes related to sustainability and environmental management.

CoralWatch Data Collection:

In the afternoon, students collect primary field data through a CoralWatch citizen science activity, addressing climate change and coral bleaching. Students learn how and why coral bleaching occurs, identify coral types, match coral colours using a waterproof chart, and record observations in pairs. The data can be submitted to University of Queensland CoralWatch scientists, which contributes to long-term global reef monitoring. Students can then receive a graph of their results, supporting skills in data interpretation and geographical inquiry.

Turtle Rehabilitation Centre:

Students also visit the island’s Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, where volunteers care for sick and injured sea turtles until they are ready for release back into the ocean. This experience highlights human responsibility, conservation efforts, and wildlife management, reinforcing the role of individuals and organisations in protecting marine environments.

Accommodation: Cairns 3-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Boat Ride to Outer Reef & Orientation with Marine Biologist:

This morning you travel aboard an air-conditioned vessel to a floating pontoon on the outer Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s most significant marine environments. On arrival, your marine biologist introduces the extraordinary biodiversity of the reef and provides an overview of the Eye on the Reef program. Through hands-on instruction, students learn how to conduct a Rapid Monitoring Survey, a key citizen science tool used to assess reef health. This activity builds understanding of fieldwork methods, ecological monitoring, and sustainable environmental management, directly supporting Australian Geography curriculum outcomes.

Citizen Science Data Collection & Species and Predator Identification:

During a guided, timed snorkelling session, students collect primary field data, recording underwater observations using waterproof data slates. With guidance from the marine biologist, students identify reef species, calculate benthic zone coverage, and look for coral predators that significantly impact reef health. Collected data is submitted to the central reporting system used by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), contributing to long-term monitoring and sustainable management of this World Heritage area.

Pontoon Activities:

Back at the pontoon, students continue their reef investigations through immersive learning experiences, including a semi-submarine, glass-bottom boat, and underwater observatory. Guided by your marine biologist, students explore marine ecosystems and interconnections, learning how small organisms can help forecast outbreaks of Crown-of-Thorns starfish (COTS)—a coral predator linked to climate change impacts. Students examine current scientific research and management strategies, including monitoring, targeted intervention, and reef restoration projects that repair cyclone-damaged coral areas. These activities highlight human-induced environmental modification and contemporary approaches to ecosystem management.

Field Guide:

Each student receives 101 Animals of the Great Barrier Reef by Dr Martin Cohen, a comprehensive reef identification guide that supports species recognition and understanding of marine biodiversity. This resource is yours to keep.

Cairns Night Markets:

Back in town, dinner is your free choice, and students have the option to explore the Cairns Night Markets, providing a relaxed conclusion to a day of geographical fieldwork.

Accommodation: Cairns 3-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

On Country Cultural Experience with Indigenous Rangers:

Your Far North Queensland geography excursion begins with an exclusive On Country cultural experience, travelling south from Cairns to an Indigenous community on the traditional lands of the Gunggandji and Yidinji peoples. Following a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, Gunggandji–Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers share stories about community history, cultural connection, and contemporary life On Country.

Students explore the Indigenous Ranger Program as a powerful example of land and sea management, examining how Rangers work with Elders to plan Caring for Country, support biodiversity protection, and contribute to community wellbeing through leadership and intergenerational knowledge transfer. Students also learn about modern ranger activities, including the use of drone technology to monitor crocodiles, highlighting the integration of traditional knowledge and contemporary environmental management tools. A spear-making and throwing demonstration introduces traditional technologies, materials, and skills, reinforcing links between culture, environment, and sustainable resource use. (Allow approximately 6.5 hours total, including travel and activities.)

Airport Transfer and Depart:

Eventually all good things must come to an end. You return to Cairns with your guide and transfer to the airport for your departure flight. (Please plan flights to depart no earlier than 4:00 pm.)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch