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Website:
www.smallworldjourneys.com.au
Contact email:
info@smallworldjourneys.com.au
What we Offer:
Small World Journeys is the ecotourism travel
company of Cairns, Australia.
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Small World Journeys aims to serve its guests by offering a true ecotourism experience in Cairns, Australia.
Our goal is to promote sustainable travel by keeping tourist dollars in the community by using only locally-owned businesses, by making our operations carbon-neutral, and by raising awareness of the environmental and cultural issues facing Australia's tropical north and the world.
Our multi-day itineraries mix nature, adventure and culture with unique lodging and exceptional cuisine. Led by a local naturalist guide, our Small Group trips are designed to give guests the best of the Cairns region-the classic attractions and the hidden gems-while traveling in an ecologically responsible and comfortable style.
4 day/3 nights.
All-inclusive set departure, maximum 10 guests.
Day and nocturnal wildlife viewing with professional naturalist guide,
discovering the Daintree rainforest, hiking in Wooroonooran National Park,
choice of sea kayaking, horse riding or jungle canopy zip line at Cape
Tribulation, and an authentic aboriginal culture/tracking experience. Includes
all meals, all transport, all accommodation in 4-star eco-lodge and Daintree
rainforest hotel, naturalist guide throughout, carbon offsetting and a
25-square metre plot of Daintree rainforest adopted in each guest's name.
$1795 AUD
8 day/7 nights.
All-inclusive set departure, maximum 10 guests.
Whitewater rafting, mountain biking, aboriginal-led rainforest walk, hiking in
Daintree and Wooroonooran National Parks, live aboard sailing to The Great
Barrier Reef, two full days of snorkeling or SCUBA diving. Includes all but 1
meal, all transport, all accommodation in 4-star eco-lodge and boutique hotel,
naturalist guide throughout, carbon offsetting a 25-square metre plot of
Daintree rainforest adopted in each guest's name.
$3395 AUD
8 day/7 nights.
All-inclusive set departure, maximum 10 guests.
Wildlife viewing, hiking in Granite Gorge, Daintree and Wooroonooran National
Parks, optional sunrise hot air balloon ride, live aboard sailing to The Great
Barrier Reef; two full days of snorkeling or SCUBA diving, aboriginal-led
rainforest walk, and outback pioneer homestead. Includes all but 1 meal, all
transport, all accommodation in 4-star eco-lodges and boutique hotel,
naturalist guide throughout, carbon offsetting a 25-square metre plot of
Daintree rainforest adopted in each guest's name.
$2995 AUD
4- to 8- day packages.
View the total solar eclipse of 14 November on your choice of three remarkable
tours: aboard a luxury boat moored overnight at the Great Barrier Reef on the
eclipse centreline (Eclipse by Reef Boat), from a lighthouse lookout on a
tropical island (Eclipse by Tropical Island) or from a lofty perch 2000 metres
above the earth in a hot air balloon (Eclipse by Balloon). All three adventures
include accommodation, some meals, and carbon offsetting and feature an eclipse
presentation by 2011 Nobel Laureate Brian Schmitt.
From $1795 AUD
Custom-designed according to budget and dates available. Individual travelers, couples, families, or groups. Local guide is optional.
Custom-designed trips according to budget and dates available. Specialty educational groups and students of all ages. Focus areas include: marine science, rainforest ecology, indigenous culture, biology, ecotourism, and wildlife viewing.
As a tour operator, our focus lies on travelling in small groups, helping
preserve the natural areas we travel in, supporting local businesses and people
and promoting positive social exchanges.
ENVIRONMENTAL:
We aim to have as little impact as possible. We offset 100% of our carbon
emissions and also give our guests the option of purchasing offsets for their
air travel. We do not produce multi-page paper brochures and the majority of
correspondence is done through email to reduce the need for paper. In our
office we use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs, biodegradable and
non-toxic cleaning products, and recycled paper. We also compost food scraps
and lawn waste to limit our contribution to landfills. On our trips, we abide
by Leave No TraceT environmental principles, use locally owned eco-friendly
lodging, and provide high-quality interpretation of Cairns' flora and fauna. We
also feel it is important to offer itineraries in a relatively small but
diverse area, thus reducing our need for petrol and providing our guests with a
more intimate and deeper travel experience.
SOCIO-CULTURAL:
We keep our Small Group trips at a maximum of 10 guests to lighten our
socio-cultural and environmental impact. Every Small Group trip includes an
interpretive walk led by an aboriginal guide to give our guests an indigenous
perspective and enrich their experience. We educate our guests about cultural
etiquette and appropriate behaviour through extensive pre-trip materials and
education during our trips. Experiences off the tourist trail, like a visit to
a private outback pioneer homestead or making didgeridoos with an aboriginal
family, provides guests with a deeper cultural understanding.
ECONOMIC:
By using only locally-owned accommodation, restaurants, and outfitters on our
Small Group trips, Small World Journeys ensures the community receives a direct
economic benefit. All of our guides are local people. We provide our guides
with appropriate training to ensure they understand and comply with our
responsible tourism policy. We also encourage our guests to buy locally
produced products available from locally-owned shops, markets and artists, and
we give guests a list of where they can find these places in Cairns. We
actively support cultural and environmental initiatives--such as Treeforce and
The Aboriginal Children's Advancement Society--through financial contributions
and direct participatory involvement.
BEST PRACTICES:
We have made a commitment to offset the carbon emissions that result from all
of our office operations, trips, and staff air travel through Sustainable
Travel International's myclimateT portfolio, thereby making us a carbon-neutral
company. Our memberships include the International Ecotourism Society (TIES),
Ecotourism Australia, and Sustainable Travel International(STI). We provide
every guest with their own reusable water bottle, cloth shopping bag, and a
rainforest tree planted in their name.
