FNQ Nature Tours
FNQ Nature Tours
5
Walking ToursEco ToursHiking & Camping ToursNature & Wildlife ToursPhotography Tours
About
FNQ Nature Tours provides unrivalled nature and wildlife encounters on our small group tours through exclusive sites access, exceptional customer service, passionate interpretive guiding and a deep understanding of native wildlife and the natural environment. We are committed to the preservation and support of native flora and fauna through responsible eco-tourism
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Meets animal welfare guidelines

Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles172 reviews
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172
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Sarah W
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2022 • Solo
I did the four day wildlife tour of the Daintree and Atherton Tablelands and it was truly an amazing experience. A very small group and many wonderful encounters with the incredible wildlife endemic to far North Queensland. I learnt so much from our guide Matt, who was friendly, helpful and just astoundingly knowledgeable. He went above and beyond for our group, tweaking the itinerary to our special interests and to make sure we all had an opportunity to witness the iconic wildlife of the area. I would recommend this tour and this tour group to anyone with a keen interest in wildlife or just looking to experience far North Queensland at its best. So happy with this experience 🙂
Written 29 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
G'day Sarah, You are most welcome, and we appreciate your support so much! We have an opportunity to improve the likelihood of survival for some of our endemic creatures, and the conservation tour is at the tourism forefront of that fight! I had an amazing debrief from Matt about the Crocs, Cassowaries, Leaf-tailed Geckos and even a Rufous Owl perched with a good view through the scope, how good is that! Thank you for your review Sarah!
Written 31 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

John S
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022 • Family
My wife and 3 kids booked a wildlife tour to the atherton tablelands. It was a private tour facilitated by James. It was our second trip to Cairns from Ireland and we thought we had seen everthing there was to see in the area.

Our specific focus was wildlife spotting and we started with high hopes. However, we were still shocked to come across a family of 3 cassowaries within the first 30 mins. We were extremely fortunate to witness a male, female and 1 year old, all together and be present for the parting of the adults and baby. James was able to provide in depth context on the significance of this sighting, relaying how rare such an event is to be witnessed.

James proceeded to bring us to several beautiful locations for breakfast, lunch and for wildlife trekking. At each stage James explained the history and importance of the location. His extensive knowledge of zoology and ecology was astonishing.

James tailored the trip to our needs and continuously adjusted the itinerary as conditions changed and where we requested a change of focus. He was particularly flexible managing our young kids, who were entranced by his stories.

We were delighted and fascinated by the array and variety of animals we got the opportunity to observe. These included a forest dragon, a water dragon, a platypus, saw shelled turtles, a bee-eater, giant fruit bats, red-tailed cockatoos, kites and the elusive cassowaries.

I would highly recommend booking a private tour with this company and i look forward to returning and doing so myself
Donagh walls
Written 13 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
G'day Donagh, This review made me so happy and proud. 6 years ago we were all working for larger companies that lacked personalisation and closer interaction with the region and its inhabitants. Walking along the creek looking for Platypus with the kids on my heels, it was so exciting. Having the opportunity to share those experiences means everything to us. I must add, it was a huge pleasure spending the day with your family and the kids were incredible, asking very intelligent questions! I appreciate the time it took to provide this feedback Donagh, all the best! James
Written 18 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Yvonne T
Brisbane, Australia17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2021
Having just returned from the 3 night 4 day wildlife and conservation tour I can honestly say that this small group tour was wonderful. All the arrangements went smoothly from start to finish. The itinerary is well planned and James has extensive knowledge of all fauna and flora. He also had interesting stories to share of past explorers of the region. He also went above and beyond in ensuring that the needs (and requests) of his guests were accommodated. The visit to the bird sanctuary and the quoll conversancy were wonderful bonuses.
Written 27 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Yvonne, It's always a pleasure to spend time in nature with likeminded individuals. We had a really fun group and I enjoyed myself very much. It was great talking photography with you and I hope you come back again one day!
Written 27 July 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Emma G
Dunedin, New Zealand71 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Solo
I loved every minute of this multi-day tour, the predominant focus was birds but we also saw many other things, platypus, bats, lizards, possums, spiders, snakes, wallabies, bandicoots, and frogs. James was an excellent guide, as the owner of the company he and his staff have a great ethos towards the conservation of flora and fauna of the region, giving back where they can. Having a small group meant the itinerary had some flexibility depending on the wishes of the group and what we had already seen, James consulted and discussed the plans with the group daily. We saw so many birds species over the 5 days (144) and each day was packed with activity, James is also an excellent photographer, happy to help or give tips to anyone that wants them, the low light in the rain forest can be a challenge at times. The accommodation and food throughout was excellent, and I enjoyed the random breakfasts on the side of the road or in the parks whilst looking for birds. I personally loved having not to think about much except for turning up on time, having everything organized for you by someone who know the area intimately was great, and for me (the usual organizer) a holiday in itself. James is very considerate and goes above and beyond for his clients, I cannot recommend the tour highly enough, it far exceeded my expectations. Thanks James for everything, especially the Cassowary on day one!
Written 28 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Emma, Firstly, your photos are absolutely fantastic, thank you for sharing them with us on TripAdvisor! Your review really highlights to us exactly why we do what we do, and helps us improve and grow our business ethos. You made some great points here, which I am very glad to read, and what a great way to start a birding tour with a Southern Cassowary on day 1 haha. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to help our future customers understand what we're all about. Hope to catch you again in 2025 Emma!
Written 6 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Matt S
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Friends
We spent ten days traveling around FNQ with James from FNQNatureTours and it was absolutely amazing! James & Nature Tours gave us an experience that we'll never forget as we traveled from the Daintree to Undara to the Tablelands and more. If you'r into wildlife, nature, photography, and incredible local food...don't hesitate and book time with this company. This experience is proper! Honestly, we could have done another 10 days of traveling, exploring, learning, and laughing with James and he provided insights, history, and found almost every animal we were looking for.

My wife and I were part of a 10 person photography workshop and relied on NatureTours experience to get us in the right places at the right time. Everything was always taken care, and we never had a worry. James and his team drive you around all the local hotspots along with hidden gems they've curated over the years. They know the people in the community which made us feel safe and right at home (we're from the US). If food is your thing, he knows all the best places to eat in the small towns and always directed me to local cuisine or found a great little coffee shop, and knowing we were supporting local businesses made it even better. Plus we made plenty of stop to grab as many Tim Tams as possible.

I would recommend this to anyone that is doing a single day or multiple day trip. You cannot go wrong with either. Whether you're looking for macropods and the elusive tree kangaroo or the Southern Cassowary in the Daintreee rainforest, they make it happen. During our trip we saw almost 200 different species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. It was an unforgettable trip! If you're thinking of using them, just do it. don't delay.
Written 29 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
G'day Matt, I can't express to you enough how grateful I am to read this review. It's been a long career leading nature and wildlife tours, and it's these exceptional groups with unique, fun loving characters that last with me forever. Our team have worked hard to piece together the most interactive and yet, highly ethical wildlife viewing encounters possible and comments like your are the big reward for that effort. You and Jodie will forever be in my memory. Thank you for your wonderful company, your enthusiasm and please DO reach out if you ever return to FNQ! Till then, I'll continue to enjoy your incredible wildlife content on the Gram :)
Written 6 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Vanessa L
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2024 • Friends
I just completely a 5 day, 4 night group guided wildlife tour of far north Queensland with FNQ Nature Tours. I was intentionally seeking out a tour that gave as much of a legitimate local experience as possible. FNQ Nature Tours is simply fantastic. It's a small business, run by two people, and both are extremely knowledgeable about wildlife, natural resource management issues, and both are actively involved in local conservation. I was impressed by how our guide, Matt, seemed to know everyone we ran into over the course of five days, including random people in towns. It was very important to me that my money benefited local communities. We stayed in locally-owned lodging, and ate exclusively at locally-owned cafes and restaurants.

Matt was simply a phenomenal guide. A little about me: I'm a college professor of wildlife management in the United States. I have a very high bar for trips like this, where my primary goal is finding and seeing wildlife. I understand that wildlife are wild and not all sightings are guaranteed, but Matt knew all the hotspots, knew all the other local guides we bumped into (and they worked together, sharing information on wildlife sightings, simply great comradery), and had such an innate understanding of where wildlife would be and when that we saw nearly everything we were looking for.

Please do not let my expertise scare you away if you are a relative novice, however. My group contained 8 people, myself, a colleague of mine, and 6 retirees with experience ranging from little to moderate. Matt did a fantastic job juggling these different skill-levels and expectations, still allowing me (the proverbial expert I guess) to have a fantastic time even among folks who weren't looking for such an intense experience.

If you are looking for a professional guide with a small company to get a personal experience finding various species of wildlife, while also being mindful of keeping your money local, this is the group for you. I really can't say enough good things about FNQ Nature Tours, my experience was excellent.
Written 26 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Vanessa, Both Matt and I were thrilled to read this review, thank you ever so much for going into such detail! Our extended tours take a lot of time and effort to build, advertise and operate, reviews like this truly help support our ethos. We are working hard to 'kick goals' for our wildlife and wilderness areas. This includes bridging tourism and conservation. You mentioned several key points that we strive for, including our comradery and ambassadorship of the Wet Tropics. This made my day. All the best Vanessa :) I sincerely hope Melissa makes it over next time! James
Written 1 July 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Trevdi
Adelaide, Australia33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
A couple in our 70s, we undertook a private 3 day/2 night nature, wildlife and conservation safari with James. The tour incorporated the Daintree Rainforest (including a superb river cruise on the Solar Whisperer) and the Atherton Tablelands.
Although not cheap, it was worth every cent. James was a wonderful guide with an amazing knowledge of the wildlife that we encountered. In particular, his ability to identify the many birds we saw and to help us spot them in their varied habitats was exceptional. We appreciated his respect for the environment, his concern for its protection and his support for those working to enhance it.
We also enjoyed his engaging personality, his enthusiasm, his easy-going but professional manner and his attention to detail.
We would highly recommend FNQ Nature Tours to any discerning travelers looking for the ultimate wildlife experience.
Written 17 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
G'day Trev and Di, What a sensational review. I will truly remember this tour forever. Those puns were flowing strong and the friendship and engaging conversation was refreshing, thank you for that! I have much to learn about wine, haha It was my pleasure showcasing a wonderful part of Tropical North Queensland All the best using E-bird and I hope I get the chance to pop in and say hi next time I'm in Adelaide!
Written 26 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Kate N
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Business
Just wrapped up a custom 10-day wildlife tour with James for a photography workshop, and I could not recommend him enough. James is a fun, knowledgeable and overall amazing human who helped my group have the most incredible wildlife encounters across 4 amazing locations in FNQ. From the planning to the execution it really was perfect — James kept the energy high and is the sole reason we were able to see/photograph over 160 species (and tick off everything on the bucket list including cassowaries, platypus, a tree kangaroo, emus, macropods and more). It was a dream to work with him and learn from his love of nature. An incredible family business that deserves ALL the praise — 100/10 🥰
Written 23 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
G'day Kate, What a beautiful review, thanks so much :) It was a pleasure working with you also! Thank you for teaching me so many things about photography and supporting our business in North Queensland! If was a super memorable excursion :) I look forward to working with you again in 2025!
Written 29 August 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

MrMicr0ph0ne
Owings Mills, MD11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Family
I would highly recommend FNQ Nature tours, and particularly James as a guide. He curated an entire day trip for us (me, my wife and 21-year old son) which included a Daintree river excursion on a solar-powered boat, lunch at a fabulous teahouse, and two hikes in the Daintree rainforest. We saw plenty of tropical birds, fruit bats and baby crocs as well as an orange legged paddymelon! James was an expert on the wet tropics flora and fauna and also provided amazing digital photographs to us with his high powered camera. In all, we had a wonderful excursion!
Written 22 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello again and thank you for this lovely feedback! We aim to please :) May your future endeavors be safe and always exciting! James
Written 11 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Mithril74
Burlington, Canada42 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
We spent a few days in Cairns on a recent Australia wildlife trip and had a day with James, from FNQ Nature Tours, exploring the Atherton Tablelands. This was a wonderful day, right from being picked up at the hotel after breakfast until being dropped off there in time for supper. James is incredible - his knowledge of the flora, fauna and history of the area is unparalleled and he was entertaining and informative about everything we saw. We were able to get great views of a tree kangaroo, a platypus, flying foxes, a huge number and species of birds ....there seemed to be a better view around every corner. I would not hesitate to recommend James and his company to anyone looking to do some wildlife viewing in the Cairns area.
Written 27 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This review made my day! Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a beautiful and informative review. James xo
Written 30 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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