Photographer and nature enthusiast Bridgette has been running the Let’s Go Buggin & Let’s Go Shroomin Tours for 6 years. She created the tours from her love of nature and expertise in macro photography. Often called ‘The most unique tours in Cairns’, Bridgette has created an experience allowing participants to get up close and personal to all the little things that goes mostly unnoticed. With over 1500 tours and 500 Tours under her belt, her knowledge of critters in the Cairns Botanic Gardens is unmatched.
Favourite Wildlife Organisation: Paul Watson Foundation
Favourite FNQ Insect: Giant Rainforest Mantis (Hierodula majuscula)
Favourite FNQ Frog: Orange-thighed Frog (Litoria xanthomera)
Favourite FNQ Mammal: Eastern Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus ssp. aculeatus)
Favourite FNQ Reptile: Jungle Carpet Python (Morelia spilota)
Favourite FNQ Spider: Green Ant-hunter Jumping Spider (Cosmophasis bitaeniata)
Favourite Nature Celebrity: Sir David Attenborough & Paul Watson
Favourite thing to encounter on Tour: Anything new not seen before
Rachel is a Cairns local who developed a love for nature at a young age scuba diving with her Dad on the Great Barrier Reef. She’s been working in and around the local tourism industry since 2018 and loves to both entertain guests and share her knowledge with them. She got her start in Macro Photography on the 4 Week Macro Course which got her hooked line and sinker and as a lifelong Pokémon fan, she often likens macro photography to a real-life version of the game. This further fuels her passion for the hobby and the bug world as a whole.
Favourite Wildlife Organisation: Resilient Reefs Foundation
Favourite FNQ Insect: Jewel Flutterer Dragonfly (Rhyothemis resplendens)
Favourite FNQ Frog: Graceful aka Dainty Tree Frog (Litoria gracilenta)
Favourite FNQ Mammal: Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps)
Favourite FNQ Reptile: Olive Sea Snake (Aipysurus laevis)
Favourite FNQ Spider: Beetle-mimic Jumping Spider (Simonellia)
Favourite Nature Celebrity: Dr Jane Goodall
Favourite thing to encounter on Tour: Papuan Frogmouth (Podargus papuensis)
Wildlife Science graduate with a love for all things nature, Mia has a particular interest in conservation, eco-tourism, and human-wildlife conflict. She joined the Let’s Go Buggin Team in 2026, and loves searching for creatures and educating people about how cool and important wildlife is – from the big to the very small.
Favourite Wildlife Organisation: Greenpeace or National Geographic
Favourite FNQ Insect: Peppermint Stick Insect (Megacrania batesii)
Favourite FNQ Frog: Green-eyed Tree Frog (Spicospina serrata)
Favourite FNQ Mammal: Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)
Favourite FNQ Reptile: Boyd’s Forest Dragon (Lophosaurus boydii)
Favourite FNQ Spider: Ogre-Faced aka Rufous Netcaster (Asianopis subrufa)
Favourite Nature Celebrity: Sir David Attenborough
Favourite thing to encounter on Tour: Spiders moulting or anything feeding
Elena is a Zoology and Anthropology student passionate about wildlife, marine life, frogs, and species endemic to very limited areas. She comes with a background working in adventure tourism from snowboard instructing to snorkel guiding, and loves exploring the variety of wildlife found in Far North Queensland. Elena uses the OM SYSTEM cameras available for camera rental, as well as the Olympus TG-7 and Canon EOS650 film camera.
Favourite Wildlife Organisation: Friends of the Kuranda Treefrog
Favourite FNQ Insect: Peppermint Stick Insect (Megacrania batesii)
Favourite FNQ Frog: Waterfall Frog (Litoria nannotis)
Favourite FNQ Spider: Any of the very cute Jumping Spiders
Favourite FNQ Mammal: Striped Possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata)
Favourite FNQ Reptile: Australian Scrub Python (Simalia kinghorni)
Favourite Nature Celebrity: Steve Irwin
Favourite thing to encounter on Tour: Any and all jumping spiders!
