Small World Journeys

10/02/2025

The recent North Queensland floods highlight our food’s frequent long journey to us. On a Small World Journeys tour, why not learn to build a aquaponics system—a simple, soil-free way to grow food without land! Reduce reliance on transport and distribution with this sustainable solution.

04/02/2025

Thanks to Reforest for hosting this event and thanks to our Small World superstar Lisa who got her hands dirty and planted trees! Small World Journeys is working with Reforest to ensure a tree is planted for every group that visits the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area....and each group gets a link to see where their tree is planted locally!

03/02/2025

Our hearts go out to our friends in Townsville and north Queensland who are experiencing severe flooding. We here in Cairns are wet but doing fine...and our gorgeous falls are raging!

24/01/2025

International Day of Education 2025 🌍✨

Today, we celebrate the incredible impact of education in shaping our future.

At Small World Journeys, we believe that learning about diverse cultures and ecosystems empowers young people to become agents of change. Let’s inspire the next generation to explore, understand, and protect our planet!

💚 What does education mean to you? Share your thoughts below!👇

16/01/2025

Our Commitment to Sustainable Tourism Recognized!🌎

EarthCheck has rated our business and given us 4 “Earths” to acknowledge all our efforts! After submitting a lot of data on our energy use, water use, carbon emissions, chemicals, community and employee impact, paper use and waste.

EarthCheck is the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for sustainable travel and tourism. We’re pleased with the results and know we still have room for more effort to get our fifth “Earth”.

07/01/2025

Meet Reforest: Our New Tree-Planting Partner for 2025💚

This year, we're excited to introduce Reforest, a Brisbane-based social enterprise that helps us take authentic climate action by planting trees in high-quality local reforestation projects.

We'll be using Reforest to offset the carbon from our trips and office activities, with a special focus on restoring the critically endangered Mabi Forest in the Atherton Tablelands. This unique forest is home to the Lumholtz tree kangaroo (or "Mabi"), and less than 4% of its original area remains.

By partnering with Reforest, we're not just offsetting carbon - we're helping restore a precious ecosystem and supporting local biodiversity!🌳

23/12/2024

Each Christmas, Small World Journeys donates our buses to transport locals to the Warm Hearts and Merry Souls Christmas Day Lunch (see their page if you'd like to attend - it's free!) It's all about community and love. Thanks to Rob & Kathleen for making this special event possible for people who would otherwise be alone.

18/12/2024

⭐️Celebrating Our Bronze Win!⭐️

To win the Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism, businesses must demonstrate how they foster environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation at the very highest level. We’re pleased to have won the bronze this year!🥉

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing team, partners, and supporters who have made this achievement possible. Your dedication to ecotourism inspires us every day.

With 2025 just around the corner, we’re filled with excitement and optimism for what lies ahead. Here’s to new adventures, continued growth, and making an even greater impact together! 🌿💚

15/12/2024

Sustainable tourism funding for Cairns and FNQ! Thanks to mayor Amy Eden and Cairns Regional Council, $14.5 million will be injected into this marketing for the Cairns region over the next 4 years. Thank you from a grateful Cairns tour operator.

Council will inject $14.5 million into destination marketing over the next four years through its continued support of Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ).

09/12/2024

Creating care packages for those in need!💚

We are proud of our dedicated students who last week created over 80 care packages filled with essential items for people in need. Just like last year, when this school assembled care packages right before the cyclone and flooding affected Cairns and the greater region, these care packages were sent to those in need.

This initiative not only supports the community but also teaches students about sustainability and the challenges many face in their lives.

Thank you to all the schools participating in 2024. Your efforts make a difference!🫶🏻

06/12/2024

🌱 Free Mini-Aquaponics Systems! 🐟🌿

Based in the Cairns area and looking for a sustainable way to grow your own organic fruits, veggies, herbs AND fish right in your urban space? We've got you covered!

These 25L mini-Aquaponics systems are perfect for small spaces and easy to maintain. Set it up near an outlet to power the water pump, and you're all set! Here’s how it works:

1️⃣ Bottom Level: Pump, water, and fish of your choice
2️⃣ Middle Level: For viewing
3️⃣ Top Level: Scoria garden bed for your plants!

The beauty of the system? It's a closed-loop! Fish waste provides nutrients for your plants, and the clean water is pumped back to the fish. The result? Faster-growing veggies and herbs with minimal effort!

Please email [email protected] to secure a system and arrange a pick up time at our office in Cairns North.

29/11/2024

We are beyond grateful to receive a generous donation of mini conditioners and body balms from Mantra Trilogy here in Cairns! 🙏✨

These lovely products will be put to great use in 2025, as they will be included in the hygiene packs that our visiting groups assemble and donate to those in need throughout the Cairns and surrounds community. 🧴💖

Thank you for your support in helping us make a positive impact in our local community. Your generosity is truly appreciated! 🙌

26/11/2024

A huge thank you to for recognizing our ongoing support! 🌱 This year, our groups have planted over 1,000 trees, contributing to a healthier planet. Here’s to continuing our journey towards sustainability and making a lasting impact!

14/11/2024

Great news! Not only can you recycle your blister packs with us here at Small World Journeys, but you can also recycle them at your local Chemist Warehouse! The aluminium is reprocessed into an aluminium de-oxidant product that aids in the steelmaking process.

♻️ Check Pharmacycle's Store Locator to find a location nearest you! https://www.pharmacycle.com.au/find-a-location

Pharmacy retailer Chemist Warehouse and Pharmacycle have rolled out Australia’s largest specialised blister pack recycling initiative.

10/11/2024

Look at the great work Reef Restoration Foundation (RRF) is doing!

RRF has been creating coral nurseries with cuttings (the cutting process encourages faster growth) to help with coral recovery at The Great Barrier Reef. These nursery "trees" are made of fibreglass rods onto which they attach 20-40 cuttings. A rope attached allows RRF to easily and safely raise and lower the nursery from the shallowest point.

Tropical Cyclone Jasper crossed the coast north of Cairns in December 2023, discharging in the order of 20,000 gigalitres of sediment laden freshwater – the equivalent of around 40 Sydney
Harbours – into the northern Great Barrier Reef. RRF's research and efforts to help the reef is so greatly appreciated.

Welcome to our Resilience & Recovery program! We snip five fragments from healthy mature colonies of corals on the reef for placement in our mid-water spawni...

08/11/2024

The Rainforest is a place where every corner unveils a story waiting to be discovered! 🌿

The cassowary, the queen on the rainforest, she is the prominent feature of the story. While crocodiles lie in wait, watching ever so carefully, an observer standing on a rock, captivated by the beauty. This is our guide Lisa’s perception of the beautiful surrounding we are living in.

Together with Binna, our Indigenous artist from Janbal Gallery, our students have poured their creativity into stunning dot paintings that show their deep connection to this landscape. Each canvas is not just a souvenir, it is a story brought to life!

Ask us how we can incorporate Indigenous culture learnings into your next educational student trip!

31/10/2024

Sustainability Coordinator Hannah and Marine Guide Rob recently completed the Cairns/Port Douglas Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP) Community Panel. Over 5 full-day workshops, they explored cutting-edge reef interventions with scientists, including coral aquaculture, enhanced corals, and coral relocation.

Hannah and Rob are now integrating this knowledge into Small World Journeys’ marine curriculum. They’ve already shared their insights with visiting students from All Hallows School, Brisbane, during a recent trip to Fitzroy Island.

We’re excited to incorporate these discussions in future programs, highlighting the innovative efforts to protect our reef from climate change impacts.

22/10/2024

Did you know? Mangroves are often called the “lungs of the coast” because they filter pollutants and provide vital habitats for countless marine species! 🌿 Our geography students recently participated in another mangrove cleanup, learning about the essential role these trees play in our ecosystems. As we tackled trash along the creek, we discovered how mangroves serve as nurseries for aquatic life and filter salt from seawater, creating a healthy environment for fish, birds, and more. Every piece of litter removed not only protects these ecosystems but also deepens our connection with nature. Swipe to see our eco-warriors in action! 📸