Our Story
Who Is David Lyons?
Before founding Kuranda Tours & Transfers, David Lyons worked for years as a registered nurse in Tropical North Queensland. That background quietly shapes every experience — calm decision-making, comprehensive first aid preparedness, and a steady presence in the field. It's not marketed. It's simply how he operates.
Trips Completed
Five-Star Reviews
Maximum Guests
Negative Reviews
The Beginning
From the Forest Floor Up
David's connection to the Wet Tropics developed through years of time spent in the forest — learning its rhythms, seasonal shifts, and understanding when wildlife activity peaks.
What began as private touring gradually evolved into something more specialised. A request from a visiting birder — looking for more than a standard half-day outing — became the catalyst for developing dedicated Wet Tropics birding expeditions.
That request reshaped the direction of the business.
Today, Kuranda Tours & Transfers operates private wildlife-focused experiences designed around habitat access, timing, and serious ecological depth — always in small groups of no more than six guests.
“A request from a visiting birder became the catalyst for developing dedicated Wet Tropics birding expeditions. That single request reshaped the direction of the business.”
Specialist-Led Experiences
David personally hosts all tours. For specialist programmes, he collaborates with a small circle of highly regarded local experts — ensuring seamless logistics alongside genuine subject-matter depth.
Wet Tropics Birding Expeditions
The Wet Tropics is home to some of Australia's most sought-after endemic species. Meaningful birding here requires time, varied habitat access, elevation changes, and flexible scheduling.
These private multi-day expeditions are designed for committed birders seeking depth — not checklist tourism.
David manages transport, adaptive routing, and access across locations, while acclaimed local ornithologist Clayton leads field identification, behavioural interpretation, and habitat tracking.
A structured, private birding expedition — built from real-world demand and refined through experience.
Nocturnal Wildlife Tours
Many of the Wet Tropics' most remarkable species are active after dark. Tree kangaroos. Possums. Owls. Reptiles and amphibians.
Nocturnal Wildlife Tours can operate as dedicated evening experiences or as part of broader itineraries. Timing aligns with wildlife movement — not convenience. Small groups allow quiet access and low-impact observation.
Not spotlighting from a bus. Deliberate, considered wildlife viewing.
Rainforest Botany & Ecology
For guests seeking deeper ecological understanding, David partners with respected botanist Les. Botany interpretation can be integrated into broader day tours or delivered as focused interpretive experiences exploring endemic flora, rainforest layers, and ecological relationships.
David manages pacing and movement; Les provides specialist depth.
Immersive without being academic. Detailed without being overwhelming.
How We Operate
Built around three principles
Habitat Access & Timing
Tours are designed around when and where wildlife is active — not around bus schedules or attraction opening hours. Dawn departures, elevation shifts, and seasonal routing are standard.
Genuine Subject-Matter Depth
Specialist programmes pair David's operational expertise with recognised local authorities. Clayton for ornithology, Les for botany. Seamless logistics alongside genuine knowledge.
Small Groups, Low Impact
Maximum six guests on every tour. This isn't a marketing number — it's the threshold for quiet forest access, genuine wildlife encounters, and meaningful engagement with guides.
Ready to see what everyone's talking about?
Every tour is private, every itinerary is flexible, and every guest matters.