Small World Journeys

05/09/2026

Duuuuuude....rehabilitated turtle returns to the ocean! The Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre cares for sick and injured turtles with this ultimate goal. Jelly, a vulnerable flatback turtle and important breeding female, is a wonderful example: after being rescued from entanglement and successfully rehabilitated, she was released back into the wild at Fitzroy Island in August. For every Small World Journeys group visiting Fitzroy Island, we donate to both the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre AND Resilient Reefs — helping protect the wildlife and ecosystems our students come to experience.

A great reminder of the important work the Centre is doing, and a reminder that tourism can give back. 💚🐢🪸

Rescued flatback turtle “Jelly” has been released back onto the Gre...

29/08/2026

We’re thrilled to see Small World Journeys and our "young eco-travellers" featured in the latest Reef & Rivers Magazine! It’s wonderful to be included alongside the passionate people, scientists and organisations working to protect the incredible waterways, rainforests and Great Barrier Reef we call home. (page 34 to be exact) https://wettropicswaterways.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ReefRivers_Mag26_WEB.pdf

12/08/2026

A message from Small World Journeys owner:
I’m honoured to be named the CBWC Businesswoman of the Year. This recognition means so much, not just for me, but for the mission-driven work we do at Small World Journeys — creating meaningful learning experiences for young people and helping them discover the magic of the natural world.

A huge thank you to Champions in Real Estate for generously sponsoring this award and for championing local businesswomen.

Deep gratitude to Margaret Gill, whose leadership continues to blaze a trail for women in business across Cairns. Your legacy lifts all of us.

To my friends and family — thank you for standing by me through every high and low, especially during the COVID pandemic when Small World Journeys almost shut down. Your belief kept me going when the future felt uncertain.

And to the Small World Journeys team — this award is yours as much as mine. Your passion, integrity, and commitment to learning outcomes make it easy to lead a business with purpose. I’m so proud of what we create together.

Here’s to more impact, more joy, and more young people discovering the world in meaningful ways.

Thanks Cairns Business Women's Club; the recognition has filled my heart.

Businesswoman of the Year – Laurie Pritchard

Laurie Pritchard is the driving force behind Small World Journeys, a Cairns-based educational tour operator creating immersive learning experiences for students from Australia and around the world.
Since 2008, Laurie has brought together education, sustainability, conservation, community and Indigenous culture to create journeys that extend far beyond the classroom.
Working alongside local communities, researchers, conservation organisations and Traditional Owners, Laurie is helping inspire the next generation to connect, learn and make a positive impact on the world around them.

12/08/2026

We love Peninsula Grammar! Check out their post...

05/08/2026

Whenever Small World Journeys has fresh fruit and other unused produce or food left over from our tours, we donate it to local organisations that provide meals and support to people doing it tough. Nothing goes to waste if it can help someone else.

This week, we're proud to deliver bags of fresh fruit to Rosies - Friends On The Street, whose incredible volunteers head out into the Cairns community four nights a week, offering friendship, food, and compassion to people experiencing homelessness and hardship.

For many people Rosies supports, fresh fruit is a rare treat. We're grateful that something as simple as surplus produce can become a healthy meal and a small reminder that someone cares. (And how adorable is Don, the volunteer coordinator shown here?)

Thank you to the amazing Rosies volunteers for the difference you make in our community. 💚

01/08/2026

Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre continuing great work! Since 2012, Small World Journeys has donated more than $100,000 to support the incredible work of the Rehab Centre. 🐢💚

Every donation helps give sick and injured marine turtles a second chance through expert rescue, rehabilitation and release back into the Great Barrier Reef. We're proud to support an organisation making a real difference for one of Australia's most iconic marine species.

Thank you to everyone who has travelled with us—your journeys are helping protect the reef for future generations.

30/07/2026

After an incredible first half of the year, it was time to swap buses, boats and backpacks for cowboy boots! 🤠🎉

Last night our team headed to Cairns' newest hotspot, The Wild Pony, to celebrate the amazing effort everyone has put into making this season such a success. We also celebrated the completion of one particularly challenging trip that reminded us just how much teamwork, resilience and dedication goes into creating unforgettable experiences for our students.

We were also thrilled to officially welcome Ariana, our newest Groups Coordinator, to the Small World Journeys family. 💚

There was shuffleboard, a little line dancing, plenty of laughter, and a fantastic evening spent with the people who make Small World Journeys what it is.

To every member of our team – thank you for your passion, your professionalism, and for always going the extra mile. Here's to an even bigger and better second half of the year! 🌏✨

23/07/2026

Australian schools: here's the link to the Reef Educational Experience Fund (REEF). Discount for your students travelling on one of our reef-based excursions!

This $6 million program offers Australian Government rebates for schools across the country to take eligible Year 4 to Year 12 students on educational trips to the Great Barrier Reef.

23/07/2026

Exciting news for Australian schools! 🌊🐠

The Australian Government's new Kids for the Reef rebate program will help make Great Barrier Reef excursions more affordable for eligible schools until June 2028. That means more students can experience this World Heritage wonder through hands-on, curriculum-aligned learning with Small World Journeys. From snorkelling and citizen science to meeting marine experts, there's never been a better time to inspire the next generation of Reef champions. Contact us to learn how your school can take advantage of this exciting opportunity!

https://www.smallworldjourneys.com.au/ecosystems-and-global-biodiversity-coral-reefs/

For those with limited time, this is a perfect opportunity to explore the Great Barrier Reef in a compact excursion. Learn more about biophysical interactions, biotic and abiotic factors, and human and natural impacts on the reef with fun, dynamic activities. Students contribute to a global database...