Cape York reptile safaris

[viridis]

Guided Cape York Wildlife Tours, who would be interested.

Ok APS members, I want to know your honest opinions and thoughts regarding Guided tours of Cape York. Would people on APS (or their friends) outlay their hard earned money on a guided tour? The reason I ask is because I have been toying with the idea of offering a Reptile and Bird watching orientated tour of Cape York for the last 18 months but have never taken the idea to the next step.

Finding and photographing native animals in a natural environment is one of the most rewarding things that I have experienced and I believe that many people would have the same opinion if they were given the opportunity to do so?

The idea behind the tour would be to enable people to have the ability to experience Australia’s remote and often inaccessible areas such as Cape York at a reasonable cost.

The question that I have is how many Aussies would be interested in participating in a similar tour?

Firstly I would need to address the insurance side of things in case of any accidents ect.

Pricing is something that would obviously need to be addressed in further detail if I was to go ahead with the idea. The average Cape York camping tours contain approx 8-22 people and are priced between $350-450 per person per day. Although this may seem excessive, the cost of hiring a four wheel drive, diesel, camping equipment and fuel alone would quickly add up to this. Pricing would be significantly more affordable than any of the existing tour companies.

I am a chef by trade and meals would be as detailed or as simple as required. There are not too many dishes that cannot be cooked whilst camping to please the most fastidious eaters.

Transport would consist of a late model 100 series Land Cruiser with all camping equipment (swags, tents, and cooking facilities’) with all fuel and meals supplied. Depending on the location of the tour pricing would be adjusted to allow for the required QPWS and Indigenous permits.

The tour would have a strong focus on Reptiles and Bird watching in order to photograph some of the many endemic species of Cape York such as Palm Cockies, Eclectus Parrots, Riflebirds and Green Pythons (season and weather permitting). However, I have a strong personal interest in Aboriginal culture and feel that a Cape trip would not be complete without visiting some of the many ‘Quinken’ Rock Art galleries.

The tours would be designed for both individual and small groups with a maximum of 4 people. Depending on what specific species or interests one may have, tours would be designed to suit. Guided reef fishing, Indigenous presented Rock Art tours and guided Pig Hunting could also be addressed at an additional cost.

Tours would usually leave from Cairns Airport, however, depending on location, length and specific target species, tours could commence from Cooktown

Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[Perko]

Great idea, if i had the time i would love to go.
You should be posting this on some of the OS forums.

 

[SeaDragon]

I have been contemplating doing one of the birdwtaching tours in the next few years, but if I could get birds and herps together even better, so would definitely be interested.

 

[FAY]

Sounds like a fantastic idea viridis.
Be interesting to see what you had in mind of accomodation??
As you know I hate camping, but would enjoy the bushwalking etc
Maybe do the odd non camping one??

 

[Cheyne_Jones]

I would love to do a herp safari with a bit of fishing and hunting along the way.

I think you have an awesome idea and if you can afford to price in within the reach of the average person you could have a real winner.

I envy you for being able to combine your passion with your job!

 

[jacorin]

i second Fay,bloke....sounds like an awsome idea

my 1 thought was that it should be for small groups (4 - 6) and u answered that for me lol

also if you got it up and running,possibly look at tourists(like craig says)

keep us all updated on ur progress

 

[JasonL]

If set up correctly and advertised in the right way it will do fine, it's one of the best places in the world and many tour operators run successful operations in the area. I think your main target audience would be OS though, and you would probably find more people interested in birds than snakes, even frogs would probably be more liked than snakes... a good general fauna / flora knowledge is a must for such a buisiness, I'd be selling it more as a general nature tour instead of limiting those who only like birds and herps.

 

[Waterrat]

Jason, as you said, there are already number of tour companies doing CY and some of them would be very hard to compete with. However, non of them have any knowledge in reptiles and I think there is a niche for Nick. Most of the companies are working around the clock during the dry season and they couldn't care less who their clients are as long as they fill the seats and get as many tours on the way as possible each season. Not all their clients come back satisfied. If Nick can be more selective (instead of money-hungry) and provides a top quality professional service, the business will grow. Personally, I would suggest to him to specialise in reptiles and frogs (although there aren't too many frogs to be seen in the dry season) and leave the birds to the others. To be good in all around natural history is also essential to fill the gaps. That's just my opinion.

 

[Radar]

I imagine the possibility of pig hunting would bring in some extra clients, especially from OS. Im planning a tip to Iron range and the McIllraith's in the next 12 months, to go herping, birding, hunting, and just generally exploring, and I imagine there are a number of people out there that would love to do the same but not have all the resources or the ability to pull them together. If you can provide the equipment, Im sure people will come.

 

[Waterrat]

Rednut, how are you planning to get to McIlwraith Ranges? It's almost impossible in these days unless you have an indigenous relative living in there.
Pig hunting and natural history tours don't fix too well (dogs, guns, etc.,) you couldn't go to any of the NPs and that would take the best part of the tour away. For example, at Iron Range, there is no other place to camp but inside the NP.

 

[Radar]

Waterat....you almost nailed the first bit, but there is one other way that I know of, and yes, it is legal.

I've been hunting since I was 9, and never used a dog since I was old enough to go by myself.....I don't see the need to pit one animal against another, do the dirty work yourself

I regularly combine hunting and 'natural history', that's how I started out herping, Herp when the hunting is bad, hunt when the herping is bad, do both at night with a powerful spotlight. We're visiting Iron range, but not spending the trip there, or hunting, obviously. I guess it depends on what people are more interested in. I mean, if we go looking for pigs in amongst a set of lagoons, we take time to stop and admire the birdlife and plants (Im a Zoologist/botanist, and the 3 mates are all botanists or ecologists), but when the game is found we don't worry too much about gunfire scaring the birds away.
No firearms in NP's, but that's easy to deal with if you know people in the area, we take a ute and troopie, only take the gear we need into the NP's, leave everything else in the ute (including drums of fuel) with the firearms locked inside, at a stationhouse.

I said there would be demand from people who don't have all the resources or the ability to pull them together.....that's not me...

 

[Waterrat]

I have nothing against hunting, fishing and other outdoor sports. I am just thinking, it would be somewhat awkward combination if one wants to get eco-tourism accreditation, etc..
I believe it's better to be a specialist / professional in one aspect of tourism rather than try to cater for all.

 

[mrmikk]

Something I have thought about for quite a while now.

 

[flinders]

if your old man was doing the tours , no dramas. but you is a different story.

 

[viridis]

Thanks for the advice guys. If I go ahead with the idea it will be set up accordingly. Just hard to try and fill the gaps in an already 'busy' area of work.

Waterrat, I agree that the eco accreditation is a winner for the o/s visitor side of things.

Thanks for the positive words and advice,
Cheers,
Nick

 

[DanN]

Sounds like a great idea Nick! As I am sure you are aware there will be a hell of a lot of things to consider, but you'll never know unless you give it a shot - and what fun trying!

Rednut, without relevant permissions there is no 'legal' way of accessing the McIlwraith. I hope you do find a way however, as it is a truly special place - just be careful.

 

[viridis]

Thanks DanN,
I have just secured private access to a uniqe patch of land up there. I am heading up for a few test runs before the wet. Looks like the first tours will be up and running by late April / early May (weather permitting).
Nick

 

[andyscott]

Great idea Viridis.
Once you have all the kinks ironed out and things are up and running.
Advertise to the Yanks on their forums ect.
Thats where the cash for you idea will be.

Ive got a mate that lives in Port Douglas and before that, he was in the Daintree.
He has a boat and 4WD and spends a bit of time fishing and hunting the Cape.
So im up there about 4 to 6 weeks every year.
Ive been up and down the Cape with him a few times.
When your up there with someone that knows their way around and knows a few of the Capes little secrets, it makes for a great trip.

 

[Waterrat]

Nick, I would suggest, rather than doing a test run or two by your self, take a few mates with you (they chip in for all expenses) and do the test run as if it was the real thing. You will find little things that you may not see otherwise.
Also, bear in mind that the cashed up OS participants may not like to wash their dishes after meals, crap in the forest, they want to have a shower every night, etc., etc., you may have to tow a trailer (all the provisions plus you guest's personal gear) ...... I have been there!

 

[eipper]

One thing that has stopped a few people doing this......you need to go to Uni to get a degree to be an accredited Tour guide......

on top of this you need permits.....a birding tour is easier than a herp tour.....birds tend to fly off before someone can grab them.

Problematically, if you were granted the permits (through DERM), I believe they will hold you accountable (at least in part) for what happens on the trip, if a client grabs a lizard for a photo ...or worse...Could you run into trouble as you would need to be supervising their actions while they are on YOUR trip?

Secondly, what happens if you fall ill, you need to price the trip with at least 2 guides.

Not trying to rock the boat mate.

Cheers,
Scott Eipper