Tour guides recognised through inaugural tourism award

These passionate pioneers are being recognised for their everyday work in making every visitor’s day unforgettable and sharing Tasmania’s stories. How they’re creating great experiences, one tour at a time.

Nathan Cocks was highly commended for his work as a tour guide at the Tasmanian Tourism Awards. Picture: Linda Higginson

It’s the beauty of the oceans, the smell of the forests and the diversity of Australia’s natural offerings that keeps Cat Davidson entranced.

An eager young outdoorswoman with a passion for nature, Ms Davidson set off from her home country of Scotland nearly two decades ago to work as a kayaking and rock climbing instructor.

After stops in Canada and the Falkland Islands, Ms Davidson found herself on Bruny Island, taken on as a tour guide with ecology and birdwatching-based company Inala Nature Tours.

“On my adventures kayaking and rock climbing I found I was just gushing about ecology all the time, and realised that this very much should be the focus of my next career,” she told the Mercury.

Cat Davidson Inala Nature Tours tour guide on a tour. Picture: supplied

“I wanted to seek out somewhere I could settle and have a really wonderful next chapter, and the name of the company that all guides talk about conservation and ecology is Inala.

“So I talked them into employing me.”

Nine years and hundreds of tours later, Ms Davidson now holds the title of the Tasmanian Industry Council’s (TICT) Tour Guide of the Year.

As the award’s inaugural recipient, Ms Davidson said it was an “enormous honour”.

“I know how many skilled and passionate guides there are in Tasmania, and how many have not been recognised until the award existed,” she said.

“The cultural history we have here with the Palawa people is so grounding, and mixing that with the vibrant layers of modern Tasmania just makes this really gorgeous tapestry, which as an outsider I appreciate very deeply.

“I really hope this brings so many more people to the front to show their voices.”

The introduction of the category at this year’s awards is part of a greater push to recognise tour guiding as a viable and important skill – critical, given it was placed on the national Occupation Shortage list for the first time last year.

Cat Davidson Inala Nature Tours tour guide with a tour group. Picture: supplied

But Nathan Cocks, recognised as “highly commended” by the TICT, said the local industry had seen major growth in recent years.

“There’s so much stuff happening and all the high quality nature, food and wine down here I think helps draw a larger range of people,” he said.

“It also means we have such experienced guides in a broad range of categories, who are great to learn from.”

Mr Cocks entered the industry after finishing school in 2019, becoming involved in hiking tours during his gap year.

After stints in the Northern Territory, Mr Cocks returned to Tasmania to work at touring company Tassie Tours, where he has remained for the past 18 months.

“It was probably a really lucky time to start because having lost a lot of guides during Covid, they were really crying out for them,” he said.

Nathan Cocks was highly commended for his work as a tour guide at the Tasmanian Tourism Awards. Picture: Linda Higginson

“I couldn’t believe I was getting paid to be in nature.”

Now 23, Mr Cocks represents the future of the industry – one that Ms Davidson agreed was becoming more diverse and respected as the years went on.

“It takes real dedication to be a good tour guide,” she said.

“The most exceptional guides are really well read and have a comfort with language, and along with that depth of knowledge they have a really high level of EQ.”

“Tour guides have a really big role to play in how people perceive Tassie, so you need to be personable,” Mr Cocks added.

“Even if the weather’s not great or the bus was crowded and hot you have the ability to make something a really good day, which I think is really cool.”

TICT CEO Amy Hills said both Ms Davidson and Mr Cocks were examples of the “skilled, diverse and passionate guides” needed to support Tasmanian’s visitor economy.

“Tour guides are at the heart of delivering outstanding visitor experiences in Tasmania, (and) it’s not just for young Tasmanians, but for people from all backgrounds and walks of life,” she said.

Cat Davidson Inala Nature Tours tour guide at the TICT Top Tourism Towns awards ceremony 2/7/25. Picture: supplied

“After all, what better job is there than guiding in Tasmania’s most breathtaking places, sharing our stories, and forging genuine connections with visitors who want to understand our island more deeply.”

In encouraging more people to consider tour guiding as a career path, Ms Davidson said “surrounding yourself with people who feel passionately about nature” was paramount.

It was something that was made easy in Tasmania, she said.

“I’ve been hunting for a community like this in my travels and Tasmania fulfils that emotional need for myself, and for the guests as well.

“It makes it so easy to love it.”