Down Under Tours
Down Under Tours is a Cairns-based tour operator and coach charter company that runs one of the largest premium coach fleets in Tropical North Queensland, delivering guided day tours, private tours, multi-day adventures, and group transport to international/domestic tourists, MICE events, schools, and convention clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersCairns, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Down Under Tours does
Down Under Tours is a Cairns-based day-tour and coach charter operator founded in 1990 by James Dixon and now operating as a subsidiary of The Travel Corporation (TTC). The company runs one of the largest premium coach fleets (30+ vehicles in 20/28/44/53 seat configurations) in Tropical North Queensland, delivering guided and self-guided day tours to UNESCO World Heritage destinations including Kuranda, the Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation, and Mossman Gorge, alongside wildlife experiences (Hartley's Crocodile Adventures), Aboriginal cultural tours (Daintree Dreaming with Kuku Yalanji people, Djabugay-led Barron Falls experiences), private touring, multi-day adventures, school transport, and convention/incentive group transport for groups of 20 to 4,000+ delegates.
Its technology stack centers on the proprietary Kuranda Boarding Pass system (digital/printed passes providing pre-allocated tickets, skip-the-line access across Skyrail and Kuranda Scenic Rail, multilingual written guides, and attraction discount coupons) and Kruse-Go GPS-activated audio commentary delivering ~3 hours of multilingual commentary per Cape Tribulation service. Operating technology is reinforced by ATAS industry accreditation and Advanced Eco-Tourism certification across multiple tour products.
Commercially, Down Under Tours sells primarily through direct-to-consumer channels — its own e-commerce site, phone reservations, and email — supplemented by a dedicated agent portal for trade travel partners and a separate sales desk for group and charter contracts. Day tours are priced per person in Australian dollars inclusive of GST (e.g., adult AU$108-$418, family tiers to AU$1,432), with children's rates and infant-free travel as standard, creating a transactional unit-economics model. The customer base spans international and domestic leisure tourists, MICE/convention organizers, schools, and private small groups, all served from a single regional footprint in Queensland, with no disclosed expansion beyond Tropical North Queensland.
Down Under Tours firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Down Under Tours
- Legal name
- Down Under Tours (Australia) Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://downundertours.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Down Under Tours is a Cairns-based tour operator and coach charter company that runs one of the largest premium coach fleets in Tropical North Queensland, delivering guided day tours, private tours, multi-day adventures, and group transport to international/domestic tourists, MICE events, schools, and convention clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Down Under Tours industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Tour Operator Services
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (48711), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Guided Tours & Interpretive Services (Ranger-Led, Naturalist, Cultural Interpretation) (THAAAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF), Transportation & Access Services (Shuttles, Ferry Access, Scenic Drives Permits) (THAAAGAC), Safari & Overland Wildlife Adventures (4x4/Jeep) (THAJABAD)
Keywords
Where Down Under Tours is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cairns
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Down Under Tours business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Day Tour Bookings: Direct sales of day tours to tourists visiting Cairns and Tropical North Queensland, including transfers, guided experiences, and attraction admissions. Customers book via website, phone, or email.
- Coach Charter & Group Transport: Charter services for airport transfers, convention shuttles, off-site event transfers, group sightseeing, and incentive programs. Catering to groups from 20 to 6000 delegates.
- School Bus Transport: Dedicated school bus transport services within the region.
- Private Tours: Exclusive private touring experiences with customized itineraries for groups, accommodating up to 6 passengers in comfortable private vehicles.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Australian Armour & Artillery Museum Tour - Adult/Child/Family |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hartley's Crocodile Adventures - Half Day PM Tour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hartley's Crocodile Adventures - Half Day AM Tour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kuranda, Scenic Rail, Skyrail & Hartley's Crocodiles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Australian Armour & Artillery Museum, Skyrail & Scenic Rail Tour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kuranda, Scenic Rail & Skyrail |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kuranda, Skyrail & Scenic Rail |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kuranda, Scenic Rail, Rainforestation & Skyrail |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kuranda, Scenic Rail, Rainforestation & Skyrail Including Lunch |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cape Tribulation, Daintree & Mossman Gorge |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Waterfall, Wetlands, and Skyrail Tour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Daintree Dreaming Aboriginal Tour |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Down Under Tours product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Down Under Tours operates guided and self-guided day tours, multi-day adventures, private tours, coach charter services, school bus transport, and business event transport services across Cairns and Tropical North Queensland. Core destinations include the Daintree Rainforest, Kuranda (Scenic Railway and Skyrail), Cape Tribulation, Mossman Gorge, Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, and Aboriginal cultural experiences. Tours are delivered via a fleet of 30+ luxury coaches with multilingual GPS audio commentary and proprietary Kuranda Boarding Pass ticketing.
Product overview
Down Under Tours operates as a tour operator and transportation company offering a comprehensive portfolio of day tours, multi-day adventures, private tours, and coach charter services in Tropical North Queensland, Australia. The core product portfolio centers on guided and self-guided tours to UNESCO World Heritage sites including the Daintree Rainforest, Kuranda village, Cape Tribulation, and the Great Barrier Reef region. Key tour products include Kuranda experiences combining the Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Cape Tribulation and Daintree adventures, Hartley's Crocodile Adventures wildlife experiences, Aboriginal cultural tours (Daintree Dreaming), and specialty attractions like the Australian Armour & Artillery Museum. The company also provides business event transport services and group charter solutions. Tours operate from Cairns, Port Douglas, and Northern Beaches, with multilingual support including GPS-activated audio commentary and written guides in German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese. The fleet consists of luxury coaches with 20, 28, and 44/53 seat capacities, with accessibility initiatives including wheelchair-accessible vehicles planned through 2027.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Day Tours from Cairns
Companies that use Down Under Tours
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Down Under Tours technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Down Under Tours partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Rainforest Rescue - Daintree ProjectflagshipPartnership through TTC's not-for-profit TreadRight Foundation for restoration of the Daintree Rainforest, the world's oldest tropical rainforest. Supports Eastern Kuku Yalanji people's practices and knowledge sharing through Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation.
- TreadRight FoundationflagshipTTC's not-for-profit foundation focused on sustainable tourism and conservation. Supporting the Daintree Project for rainforest restoration.
- The Travel Corporation (TTC)coreParent company of Down Under Tours. TTC is a leading global travel company comprising brands such as AAT Kings, Contiki, Trafalgar, Costsaver, Uniworld, and others. They have over 40 sales offices, 10,000 team members globally, serving 2+ million customers annually across 70+ countries.
- AAT KingscoreSister brand under The Travel Corporation, also operating in Australia. TTC is installing solar panels in AAT Kings' Alexandria office as part of sustainability initiatives.
- Skyrail Rainforest CablewaycoreKey attraction partner where Down Under Tours sells combined tour packages including cableway experiences. Customers receive pre-allocated tickets through the Kuranda Boarding Pass system.
- Kuranda Scenic RailwaycoreKey attraction partner where Down Under Tours sells combined tour packages including scenic rail journeys. Gold Class service option available. Pre-allocated preferential seating via Kuranda Boarding Pass.
- Hartley's Crocodile AdventurescoreMajor wildlife attraction partner. Tour includes entry, Wetlands cruise, and shows. Advanced Eco-Certified experience partner.
- RainforestationcoreAttraction partner set in 40 hectares of gardens and rainforest, featuring Army Duck tours, wildlife park, and Pamagirri Aboriginal experiences.
- Djabugay Aboriginal PeoplecoreCultural partnership for tours on Traditional Djabugay lands, including exclusive Barron Falls (Din Din) experiences with Djabugay Cultural Guide and Calling to Country ceremonies.
- Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal PeoplecoreCultural partnership for Daintree Dreaming tours on Traditional Kuku Yalanji lands, including Aboriginal Coastal Adventure, Mossman Gorge walks, and art experiences with Janbal Gallery artist Brian 'Binna' Swindley.
- Australian Armour & Artillery MuseumminorMuseum partner featuring over 220 displays of armour and artillery pieces, the largest collection in the southern hemisphere.
- ContikiminorYouth travel brand under TTC. GoodFuels biofuel partnership benefits Contiki's European trips.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Down Under Tours competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Trafalgar Tours: Sister brand under The Travel Corporation offering premium guided vacations worldwide. Shares TTC parentage and guided-tour operational backbone, but operates at a much larger geographic and product scale.
- Contiki: Sister brand under The Travel Corporation, focused on youth (18-35) guided group travel globally. Comparable in guided-tour business model and TTC ownership, though the customer demographic and product scope (multi-day international itineraries vs. regional day tours) differ.
Direct peers
- Tropic Wings Cairns Tours: Cairns-based tour operator offering day tours to Kuranda, Daintree, Cape Tribulation, and surrounding attractions. Direct competitor for the same international tourist segment with overlapping coach-based guided tour product.
- Great Adventures Cairns: Cairns-based operator offering reef and island day trips including Green Island and Great Barrier Reef tours. Direct competitor in the Cairns day-tour market with overlapping international tourist customers.
- AAT Kings: Sister brand under The Travel Corporation operating guided coach tours in Australia. Direct comparable in product offering (guided coach touring), customer base (international and domestic tourists), and parent-company structure.
- Wayoutback Australian Safaris: Australian small-group safari operator running guided 4WD tours from Cairns to Cape Tribulation, Cooktown, and the Daintree region. Directly comparable guided tour product targeting adventure travelers in the same Tropical North Queensland geography.
- Passions of Paradise: Cairns-based reef and island cruise operator with a focus on environmental responsibility. Comparable eco-certified day-tour positioning and similar international tourist customer base in the Cairns region.
Others
- Tourism Tropical North Queensland: Regional tourism body for Tropical North Queensland, including Cairns. Not a competitor but a destination marketing partner with deep influence over inbound visitor flow to the region Down Under Tours services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Down Under Tours social profiles
Digital presenceDown Under Tours compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Down Under Tours financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Down Under Tours leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Down Under Tours funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Down Under Tours M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Down Under Tours
What does Down Under Tours do?
Down Under Tours operates guided and self-guided day tours, multi-day adventures, private tours, coach charter services, school bus transport, and business event transport services across Cairns and Tropical North Queensland. Core destinations include the Daintree Rainforest, Kuranda (Scenic Railway and Skyrail), Cape Tribulation, Mossman Gorge, Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, and Aboriginal cultural experiences. Tours are delivered via a fleet of 30+ luxury coaches with multilingual GPS audio commentary and proprietary Kuranda Boarding Pass ticketing.
Is Down Under Tours a public or private company?
Down Under Tours is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Down Under Tours founded?
Down Under Tours was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Down Under Tours based?
Down Under Tours is headquartered in Cairns, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Down Under Tours make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Day Tour Bookings are the primary driver. The others are coach Charter & Group Transport, school Bus Transport and private Tours.
Who are Down Under Tours's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Trafalgar Tours and Contiki. Direct peers are Tropic Wings Cairns Tours, Great Adventures Cairns, AAT Kings, Wayoutback Australian Safaris and Passions of Paradise. Tourism Tropical North Queensland is listed as an others.
Does Down Under Tours have an API?
No public API is recorded for Down Under Tours.
What industry is Down Under Tours in?
Down Under Tours's product category is Tour Operator Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAGAB, Guided Tours & Interpretive Services (Ranger-Led, Naturalist, Cultural Interpretation), with a secondary code of THAAAGAF, Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized). Its NAICS code is 48711 and its SIC code is 7990.