Your Naturalist Guides for Kinrara

Cathy

Cathy Wharton, the visionary behind https://nwozsafaris.com.au, is an undisputed legend in the tourism industry, renowned for her passion for the land and an illustrious career as an adventurer, tour guide, and local tour operator.

Cathy has introduced the international market to Kinrara Expeditions. Bringing clients from around the world. Netherlands, USA, Canada, Belgium and France. Who have already experienced the uniquely Australian experience.

Raised on a cattle station in north Queensland with close ties to the aboriginal community, Cathy's deep connection with nature has been a lifelong journey.

In her early 20s, Cathy embarked on extensive travels, exploring the landscapes of Afghanistan, Iraq, Northern Africa, Europe, and sailing across the Pacific Ocean, including the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. These enriching experiences ignited her interest in discovering the treasures of her own country and delving into Aboriginal culture, paving the way for her role as a dedicated tour guide.

With over two decades of experience in the local tourism industry, Cathy and her team of North West Australian Safari guides specialize in delivering unique, high-quality tours to a diverse range of clients, including small groups, VIPs, and private charters, both domestically and internationally.

Cathy's extensive exploration of Australia's varied landscapes, from the Australian Outback and Cape York Peninsula to Arnhem Land, Uluru, the deserts of Western Australia, and the ancient Daintree rainforest, showcases her commitment to showcasing the country's natural beauty. Her passion has not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by her inclusion in the prestigious 'Magnificent Seven (Australian Guides)' by travel expert Mark Chipperfield in World Travellers Magazine in 2016.

Her qualifications, including a Wet Tropics World Heritage Tour Guide Accreditation and a Certificate IV in Tourism Guiding, reflect her dedication to excellence. Cathy has also been honored with the 'Cairns Tourism Association's KAMSLER Award for Promoting Excellence in Tourism.' Additionally, she holds essential certifications such as Senior First Aid and CPR, a Medium Rigid Drivers License, Queensland Drivers Accreditation, and an Australian government-issued Blue Card for working with young people.

Cathy's mission goes beyond guiding tours; she takes pride in fostering an appreciation for Australia's unique beauty, history, and culture. Her goal is to cultivate a genuine understanding and respect for Aboriginal Australians and their ancestral lands. Cathy and her team aspire to leave clients with indelible memories, igniting a lasting desire to explore more of Australia's wonders.

Rick

Born and bred in Bundaberg, South East Queensland I was lucky to grow up along the coastline with the largest sea turtle rockery on the east coast of Australia.

The majority of my career has been involved with ecology in one field or another, beginning with Mon Repos turtle rockery as a volunteer researcher for 4 seasons. That was my first taste of tourism and educating the public. This led to my move to North Queensland where I have been involved in Wet Tropics research such as frog monitoring, fauna surveys and weed control.  I also specialized for 5 years in nocturnal tours, spotlighting for rare and endemic wildlife.

As a naturalist guide my career is driven by my love for the environment, marine and land. I thoroughly enjoy working as an interpretive tour guide in Cairns and surrounding regions with North West Safaris, taking diverse groups of people into remote areas and educating them on such issues as biodiversity, native flora, fauna and environmental responsibilities.

During my work as a North West Australian Safaris guide I have extensively explored the tropical Far North Queensland including the Tip of Cape York in Queensland. I have also been fortunate to work as a guide in other incredible locations in Australia including the red centre and Uluru (Ayers Rock), into Dinosaur country at Winton, Tasmania and many more. I have been privileged to experience the Indigenous culture of this land. As a result I have great respect for these people, continually learning more about their bush tucker and medicine.  I dabble in playing didgeridoo and boomerang throwing. My travels have taken me through South America, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. I enjoy on a personal level horse riding, camping, birding, kayaking and star gazing.

Oscar

I was born in Brighton, England! But despite being born in the wrong hemisphere, I was raised in Australia and have lived almost my entire life in this wonderful country. Ever since I could talk I have had a passion for teaching people about wildlife and the ecosystems of the world. At 7 years old I was bringing snakes into my classroom for show and tell!

As a tour guide, I have been told I have an “infectious enthusiasm” regardless of what I’m talking about. I’ve inspired a few people to take up bird-watching as a hobby, there was even one person who strangely took up Geology after spending some time with me.

In over 10 years working as a professional tour guide, I am very lucky to have been to some amazing places to show my guests amazing things. From spending a few months as a tour guide in Antarctica, to running adventure tours in the Caribbean, Greenland, Canada, New Zealand, Komodo Island and many more, I have educated and entertained people all over the planet.

However, Australia is my home and I have done years of guiding in this incredible country, including the Kimberley Region, the Far North Queensland region, throughout Tasmania, Victoria and inland NSW. The only state I haven’t guided in is South Australia!

But it hasn’t just been tour guiding, my career with wildlife has involved feeding crocodiles for shows at a local crocodile park, catching crocodiles as an Officer for Queensland Government, and performing and educating with venomous snakes, and stonefish, and sharks, and cassowaries and koalas, and the list goes on and on.

Now that I am working with North West Australian Outback Safaris, I am incredibly excited to bring my infectious enthusiasm for the natural world to our guests as we explore the Cape York Peninsula, the Daintree Rainforest, Kinrara Wetlands and anywhere else we find ourselves.

Patrick

I like to think of myself as a channel through which others can enjoy and ponder the wonders of the natural world. I decided I wanted to work in the natural sciences at the ripe, old age of 4: to protect our oceans for future generations to enjoy. Fast forward about 20 years and I had my Honours in Marine Biology and Aquaculture, a foot in the door as a demonstrator and researcher for the university in South Australia, which helped me to gain confidence and experience in educating and connecting others to the natural world. Since then, my career has taken many turns, but what has remained constant has been my passion for bringing people amongst the natural world.

Following working for the university, I was somehow lucky enough to land a job presenting, live, in a full SCUBA setup, on an interactive, educational broadcast, ‘diveLIVE’ – bringing the coral reefs of the Caribbean to lounge rooms around the world. When this wrapped, I was given the opportunity to be a ‘fish out of water’, swapping my wetsuit for khaki for a year, presenting on land in the naitonal parks of both Kenya, and South Africa, on a National Geographic backed program, ‘safariLIVE’. This experience solidified a previously unknown love for the land and all it holds, and further strengthened my passion for connecting others with the world outside.

Since returning to Australia I have spent my professional life guiding, teaching and presenting the plants, animals and all the other types of living things that Australia has to offer. I have been blessed enough to have opportunities to do this in Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory, and Queensland, in a diverse array of habitats ranging from the dry outback, to the vibrant Great Barrier Reef.

I will relish the opportunity to be connecting our clients to the beauty that is Far North Queensland and look forward to being a part of the North West Outback Safari Team. 

Steve

Growing up among dramatic landscapes of World Heritage Cradle Mountain in Tasmania well fostered Steve’s innate passion for pure, untouched wilderness.

His particular interest is in Earths more extreme environments & the subtle & spectacular adaptations of wildlife that carve out their existence in such places.

Desire to discover further shores, led to extended expeditions throughout the Himalaya & Tibet, South American Andes & Galapagos, Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, traversing New Zealand’s Southern Alps & a European journey from Sicily to Arctic Norway.

After a rewarding year teaching English in Indonesia & exploring her islands, Steve returned to Australia to complete formal ecological studies, turning love of shared nature experiences into his profession, based in Tasmania’s unique wilderness.

Further interest in Aboriginal cultures & tropical ecosystems drew Steve to several years leading overland adventures in Australia’s rugged Kimberley, Kakadu & Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Parks, & as naturalist on coastal expeditions, exploring crocodile infested mangroves & lush ancient rainforests from Borneo to Madagascar & colourful coral reefs as far afield as Aldabra Atoll & Papua New Guinea.

With one eye firmly fixed on the horizon & returning to his native Southern Ocean, Steve’s extensive exploration of Tasmania’s offshore islands naturally grew into his passion for the wild circumpolar oases of Sub-Antarctic Islands & the spectacular beauty of Antarctica.

Finding a mirror image of exotic destinations in the Northern Hemisphere, he’s explored Arctic’s Russian Far East, Alaska, Northwest Passage, Greenland & the many island jewels that link them – as an enthusiastic leader & naturalist on various expeditions.

After a decade at sea, Steve’s recently returned to where his outdoor adventures all began, rekindling his love of land-based expeditions in Australia’s wildest places. These include the remote & intriguing tropical regions of the Kimberley, Kakadu & Arnhem Land, enchanting Central deserts & wild Western Australia fringing Ningaloo Reef. He’s excited to be joining the Cathy & the Team at North West Safaris this season, exploring one of Earths greatest treasures, Queensland’s luxuriant Wet Tropics & Cape York, with such an experienced company, deeply rooted in this breathtaking landscape.

Cassy

Growing up on the Gold Coast it was the ideal place for me to start in Hospitality. Fresh out of school as a 17-year-old, I completed a Traineeship as a Front Office Receptionist, in a Surfers Paradise property. My career in the industry continued moving onto larger properties and management groups encompassing properties throughout Australia and New Zealand. It’s here I managed allotments, agents, staff in various regions totalling 25+ years of experience.

I lived in Canada for 12 months and camped extensively throughout western Canada, traversed from the west to the east of the United States and trekked through the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

After returning to Australia, I left the Gold Coast to move to beautiful, tropical Cairns and start my family. My love of travel and camping has continued to grow with my family. Nowadays we frequently go on camping adventures throughout Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland with more trips planned.

I look forward to seeing more of this gorgeous country of ours working with North West Outback Safari team.