Wet Tropics Naturalist Guide
Clayton Smith
“I've spent 20 years learning where the birds are, how they behave, and what to listen for. That knowledge is what I bring to every tour.”
Clayton
About Clayton
Clayton grew up in Tasmania and moved to rural Queensland in 1999 to complete a Diploma in Wilderness and Wildlife Management. His early career took him from wildlife keeping at one of Australia’s largest sanctuaries to guiding snorkelling and island trips on Lady Musgrave Island on the Great Barrier Reef.
For the past twenty years he has lived and worked in Tropical North Queensland as a professional guide for small group touring. Over that time he has built a comprehensive knowledge of the region’s flora, fauna and natural history, including Australian Aboriginal cultural experiences and specialised bird and mammal spotting and photography tours.
His guiding style is quiet and patient, built around behaviour and habitat as much as the birds themselves. Guests who want the Wet Tropics endemics get them; guests who want time watching a riflebird display get that too.
When not touring, Clayton spends time in his garden and teaches classical guitar at the local Steiner school.
Clayton's Career in Wildlife
From koala keeper to one of North Queensland's most experienced naturalist guides.
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Crocodile Catcher
Before settling in Kuranda, Clayton worked as a crocodile catcher across Far North Queensland, gaining a rare understanding of reptile behaviour and habitat that still informs his wildlife tours today.
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Koala Keeper
Clayton's career began in hands-on wildlife care as a koala keeper, working closely with Australian marsupials and developing the fieldcraft and patience that defines his guiding style.
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Great Barrier Reef
As a deckhand on the Great Barrier Reef, Clayton gained firsthand knowledge of marine ecosystems, completing a career that spans reef to rainforest.
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20 Years in the Wet Tropics
Two decades based in the rainforest village of Kuranda, leading birding and wildlife tours across the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and Atherton Tablelands.
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Wildlife management
Diploma in Wilderness and Wildlife Management, 1999
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Twenty years guiding
Tropical North Queensland
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Wildlife keeper
One of Australia’s largest sanctuaries
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Great Barrier Reef
Guiding on Lady Musgrave Island
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Birds and mammals
Spotting and photography specialist
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BirdLife Northern Queensland
Active member
Clayton in the Field
Atherton Tablelands
Hasties Swamp
Nocturnal survey
With guests
Digiscoping
Expeditions Led by Clayton
Multi-day wildlife experiences with one of the Wet Tropics' most experienced naturalist guides.
Coming Soon
The Endemic Birds of Tropical North Queensland
Clayton is currently authoring a field guide to the 15 species found nowhere else on Earth. Available soon as a free download for expedition enquiries.
By Clayton Smith
Book an Expedition with Clayton
Join Clayton for a multi-day birding or wildlife expedition in the Wet Tropics. Two guides, premium optics, 20 years of local knowledge.