PARKTOURS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Retired National Parks and Wildlife Officer
Alan Don is a retired national parks and wildlife officer and forester who worked in Central and Southern Queensland. Alan has travelled with interNATIONAL PARKtours in Japan, South America, Madagascar, Singapore and Australia. He has cycle toured around eastern Canada, and also travelled in Indonesia, Ireland, Namibia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. He is now a volunteer guide at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, and spends two months a year caretaking a colony of endangered mammals in western Queensland. Alan is a long-time field naturalist and amateur photographer.
Pursuing a career in outdoor recreation after a lifetime spent rock climbing, abseiling, bushwalking, and exploring - Amy has shared her passion for the bush with people from all walks of life, providing them with memorable experiences in the natural world. Her extensive knowledge of flora, fauna, geology, and history…
Twice-named ‘Eco Guide of the Year' by Ecotourism Australia, Barry Davies is one of the most experienced nature tour leaders within Australia and New Zealand, with a particular passion for birds and wildlife. Since 2008 Barry has been a naturalist and lecturer aboard an expedition vessel visiting islands from Fiji to Papua New Guinea and has lead tours in Papua New Guinea, Borneo, Australia and New Zealand. His work background, previously as naturalist guide and activities manager at Binna Burra Mountain Lodge, coupled with independent guiding explorations with his own specialist touring company, Gondwana Guides, provide him with considerable cumulative knowledge of the ecological and biological nature of all regions within Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific Rim.
Daniel Feinstein, recognized as a "Trusted Travel Expert" by South America travellers, was born into a family of naturalists and spent most of his childhood traveling and hiking in Patagonia and throughout South America. Daniel continued his travels around the world, working in Europe, hiking in Nepal and Sikkim, and climbing in Peru and Ecuador. Since becoming an official guide in 1981, he has escorted and designed hundreds of hiking and natural history tours throughout Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and other points in Argentina & Chile. His passion and knowledge of this area will ensure a memorable experience.
David Heap was brought up in the north of England where his first experience walking was with his school's hiking club. From there, he spent much of his time in the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District, North Wales, various parts of Scotland and the South of England. He has spent time underground exploring the subterranean wilderness in England, France and Tasmania. After emigrating in 1988 he found many new caves within the pristine rainforests of the West Coast and nurtured a passion for Tasmania's beauty, both above ground and underground! In recent years David has returned to the UK to walk the Pembrokeshire Coast Walk, the Coast to Coast, the Cape Wrath Trail and parts of the Pennine Way. He has walked extensively throughout Tasmania and New Zealand and has called Flinders Island home for the past 11 years. His interests include geology, flora and fauna of the areas visited and sharing his passion for bushwalking.
Didier Ramilison has lived and worked in Madagascar all his life. Didier is a keen bird watcher and holds a degree in Nature Science from the University of Madagascar. Didier has organised and led interNATIONAL PARKtours to Madagascar since 2012 and always receives excellent guest feedback. Where appropriate Didier works alongside…
Job Titles:
- Scientific Advisor, Founder of "Save Indonesian Endangered Species Fund
Dr Claire Oelrichs is a scientific advisor, founder of "Save Indonesian Endangered Species Fund (SIES)" and veterinary surgeon. SIES supports conservation of National Parks, protected areas and other wild places of Indonesia by working with communities and supporting local Indonesian initiatives in long term development projects. To save Indonesia's unique wildlife including orangutans, Sumatran tigers, Sumatran elephants, Sumatran rhinoceros, birds and turtles, SIES has projects to protect and reforest the great rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. As conservation coordinator, she travels to Indonesia several times a year to monitor these projects, working closely with national parks and guide training courses to raise awareness of protecting local wildlife and their habitat. With intimate knowledge of wildlife and conservation issues, she has a true connection with local people from all walks of life and is the driving force behind numerous grass roots projects that have delivered true change to the lives of local communities and increased the safety of wildlife. On tour Claire utilises the services of specialist local guides and National Park Rangers to enhance the touring experience.
Enzo is from Agerola on Italy's Amalfi coast and lives in Melbourne with his wife Cathy and two children. Enzo's 'Southern Italian Sojourn' tour to the Amalfi Coast & Sicily is one of interNATIONAL PARKtours signature tours, with guests loving his friendly manner and ability to enliven the Italian experience with his singing and local contacts.
Graeme McGregor is a geographer with a passion for discovering our natural and cultural environments, especially through walking. Some of Graeme's early roles include teaching and establishing and operating the Grampians Field Studies Centre near Dunkeld; planning for the Grampians and Point Nepean National Parks in Victoria, and planning or managing numerous national parks and reserves in Queensland, Northern New South Wales and on Kangaroo Island. Graeme is the author of many park management plans and schools' educational material on soil conservation and land use planning. Graeme's most recent work was with the South Australia National Parks and Wildlife Service on Kangaroo Island where he lived for 4½ years, finding time to discover the wonders of Kangaroo Island and other areas of South Australia. He now lives in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. Graeme is passionate about our natural and cultural environments and enjoys nothing more than sharing it with others.
An adventurer by heart, Ian Gray has been involved in the field as a tour leader and caterer for numerous walking journeys throughout Australia's wondrous National Parks and overseas throughout Asia/Pacific for many years. His geology and geomorphology knowledge will ensure a unique journey, engaging travellers to view destinations from a different perspective and return from a trip more aware of their surroundings. He has a keen eye for group dynamics and ensures participants experience the richness of being part of a community.
Born in South Africa, in his youth Jeremy served as an Officer in the South African Defence Force where he learned bush survival and leadership skills. He is an experienced four-wheel-driver who loves flora and fauna, and is a hobby photographer. Now based in Perth, Jeremy spends most of his life "on the road". Because of the vast distances in Australia, he often covers 10,000 kms in a month.
Judith Kunzlé is an internationally recognised artist who lived in Rarotonga for 27 years and recently moved to California. During her time on the island, she worked as a designer for UN / government projects and the Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust on natural history projects on Rarotonga, Atiu and…
Leo San Sebastian grew up in Spain's Basque Country and has been a professional tour leader for over 25 years, leading walking holidays throughout Spain, Morocco, the French Swiss & Italian Alps, South America and Asia. Over the past 15 years he has created and led our Spain, Morocco and Portuguese programs. Leo's care and concern for travellers, his passion and desire to showcase the areas we visit along with engaging local guides will ensure an enriching trip and one not easily duplicated if travelling independently.
Lisa Groom is the daughter of ParkTours founders Tony & Connie Groom and grand-daughter of Binna Burra Mountain Lodge founder Arthur Groom. You could say the great outdoors is in Lisa's blood. Growing up with the business she commenced working as a tour leader and co-ordinator with ParkTours in 1991, and took over the helm of the company from her parents in 2001. Leading walking holidays in the Scenic Rim, South East Qld and Europe, her passion is for regional ecotourism, discovering local characters and showcasing nature from a different perspective.
Luke Christiansen has worked as a guide and environmental educator for most of his adult life. For just over a decade, he was employed at one of Australia's longest-established nature-based resorts, Binna Burra Mountain Lodge, and spent his days guiding visitors through the beautiful wilderness of the Lamington National Park. Luke performs regularly as a musician and creates visual art across a range of mediums. He is also a keen adventure traveller and has crossed several Australian deserts and spent two years working his way around the country. He now lives on Tamborine Mountain with his wife and two boys in their hand-built, eco-friendly home and is the new owner of ParkTours in 2024!
Ozgur Tepe has been leading interNATIONAL PARKtours journeys to Turkey since our first foray to this region. A professional guide with broad knowledge of archeology, art history, literature and folklore, he enlighens us the curious cultural marvels of his homeland along with showcasing unique landscapes and natural wonders. Giving a local perspective, his relaxed personalty and romantic poetic style is refreshing. Previous interNATIONAL PARKtours clients have enjoyed his passionate presentations and lively company.
Phil Cullen is an avid bushwalker, historian, explorer by heart and accomplished photographer. A former ABC broadcaster, Park Tours marketing manager and tour coordinator, Phil has led tours in Australia, Romania, the Loyalty Islands, Cuba, Costa Rica and Guatemala. He has lived in China and Qatar with his wife Louise for the last seven years and has explored China, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Georgia, Romania, Turkey, Croatia, Jordan, Oman, Egypt, Portugal, Tunisia and Spain during his time off.
Quentin Chester is an accomplished traveller, writer and guide. A regular contributor to Australian Geographic since 1986, he's also been a mainstay at Wild magazine with his long-running column ‘The Wild Life'. In the 1990's he and Alasdair McGregor co-authored two landmark books, The Kimberley: Horizons of Stone and Australia's Wild Islands. Other books include three volumes of wilderness-inspired essays. Quentin has a diverse background as an outdoor guide and interpreter with stints leading Himalayan treks, Kimberly cruises and nature-based tours in Flinders Ranges and on Kangaroo Island. A confirmed islophile, Quentin grew up with the granite outliers off South Australia's Encounter Bay. In the 1980s he spent eight years living on Dangar Island on the Hawkesbury River. Since 2009 he's called the eastern shores of Kangaroo Island home, where he also guides at Cape Willoughby's lighthouse. Now also an award-winning photographer, Quentin's work is widely published in magazine features. His fine-art images are exhibited on KI and in Adelaide.
Ramona Cazacu has guided tours in her birth country of Romania since 2003 and works with her husband Daniel as the tour driver. Ramona has a passion for photography, meeting new people and introducing guests to the Romanian countryside, villages and local life. With a degree in literature and tourism, she works as an English and French speaking guide and has travelled widely all over Europe (and once in Australia). With a good sense of humour, great communication, and having worked with Park Tours before, she guarantees a memorable journey to Romania.
Since arriving from Ireland in 1974, Ray Dickson has enjoyed living and working in the wide open spaces of Western Australia. Ray's love for the Australian outback and its unique wildlife is born out of many years working in the Pilbara, zoo keeper duties in the Perth Zoo and Northern Territory Wildlife Park. He has been guiding for speciality tour groups within Western Australia and Northern Territory for over 20 years. With interests including Geology, Ornithology, Herpetology, Australian Archaeology and Bushwalking, he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our Western Australia journeys.
Rob Elvish is a terrestrial ecologist with a BSc and MSc in bird ecology. He has worked as an environmental consultant and in botanical and zoological research. Rob manages educational programs around Australia and the South Pacific for American universities. He has led tours for ParkTours in Australia and overseas…
Sandra has worked with ParkTours as a tour coordinator since early 2022 following a 22-year career with Flight Centre Travel Group in a variety of roles, including travel consultant and sustainability officer. Sandra has family based in Bassano and considers it her second home. Her regular visits allow her opportunity to converse in the language, spend precious time with family and friends, enjoy the unique gastronomic delights of the region and truly immerse herself in Bassanese life. Her love of Northern Italian culture, alongside her knowledge and connections in the area, have allowed her to carefully curate this tour to showcase some of the best that the Veneto region has to offer. Outside of tour coordinating and guiding, Sandra is currently studying a Master of Science degree in Responsible Tourism Management with Leeds Beckett University.
Suzanne Noakes is an adventurer by heart, travelling to every continent and developing a deep understanding of the variety and vibrancy of people and cultures around the world. Over the past 25 years she has travelled extensively throughout Asia Pacific, leading up to 100 expeditions for private groups, university alumni…
Born in the centre of Sardinia, the area known as a Blue zone (land of the ultra-centenarians), Telemaco has had a love of the outdoors and sports since adolescence. As a certified tourist and hiking guide, he has been leading groups for almost twenty years in Sardinia and Corsica and…
Tony Groom founded interNATIONAL PARKtours with wife Connie in 1975 inspired by a Churchill Fellowship visit to the National Parks of the US and Canada. 40 years later he continues to find inspiration in the National Parks of the 65 countries he has visited. He says "National Parks are islands…