CaPTA stands for Cairns and Port Trips and Attractions (or more affectionately known as Charlie and Pip’s Trips and Attractions).
CaPTA currently employs over 200 staff across the group, which consists of Rainforestation Nature Park, Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, Wildlife Habitat, Cairns Koalas & Creatures, Billabong Sanctuary Townsville, Tropic Wings Cairns Tours & Charters, Careers Training Centre and ABC Sales & Maintenance.
While the CaPTA Group’s business focus is centred around tourism products and experiences across North Queensland, the group has also expanded into tourism and Indigenous training through the Careers Training Centre, and into coach chartering, sales and service through ABC Sales & Maintenance.
The Woodward Family CaPTA Group (CaPTA) was founded by Charles and Pip Woodward, who opened Rainforestation Nature Park in 1976 in Kuranda. Charles and Pip pioneered rainforest tourism with Army Duck Tours and later introduced the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience and Koala & Wildlife Park.
In 1981, Charles and Pip started Tropic Wings Coach Tours and then expanded significantly during the new millennium, adding Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, Cairns ZOOM & Wildlife Dome and Jungle Tours & Trekking to become the CaPTA Group. In 2023, Cairns Koalas & Creatures was opened, and in 2026 Billabong Sanctuary Townsville joined the CaPTA Group, further expanding the family’s tourism operations across North Queensland. Their three sons, Michael, Ben and Peter, are all now actively involved in the business.
CaPTA has also established the Careers Training Centre, a Registered Training Organisation specialising in tourism and Indigenous training, and more recently expanded into Yutong coach sales, coach maintenance, service and parts through ABC Sales & Maintenance.
Vision & Mission Statement
OUR VISION
Trailblazers in nature based experiences.
OUR PURPOSE
A connection to, and pride in, people and place.
OUR MISSION
We develop and champion passionate people, innovation and the love of nature to deliver transformational moments.
Awards
We are proud to receive the following recognition for our commitment to training, traineeships and career development.
2008 Regional Finalist – Queensland Training Awards
2008 Runner Up – Ministers Awards for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices
2008 Finalist – Queensland Tourism Awards – Tourism Education and Training
2009 Finalist – TTNQ Tourism Education and Training Award
2009 Finalist – TTNQ Tourism Education and Training Award Judges Commendation
2010 – Charlie Woodward – Queensland Tourism Awards – The Marie Watson-Blake Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual
2010 Regional Finalist – Queensland Training Awards – Employer of the Year
2011 Finalist – Queensland Tourism Awards – Tourism Education and Training
2012 Regional Finalist – Queensland Tourism Awards – Employer of the Year
2015 – CaPTA Group – Golden Backpack Awards – Lifetime Achievement
2016 – Charles Woodward – Tourism Tropical North Queensland – Life Member
2017 Winner – Queensland Reconciliation Awards – Business
2018 Winner – Queensland Training Awards – Caitlin Fullerton – Bob Marshman Trainee of the Year – Tropical North Queensland Regional Winner
2018 – Wildlife Habitat – Ecotourism Australia – Hall Of Fame
2019 – Rainforestation Nature Park – Queensland Tourism Award – Gold – Qantas Award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism
2019 – Tropic Wings – Ecotourism Australia – Hall Of Fame
2021 – Rainforestation Nature Park – Queensland Tourism Award – Silver – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism
2022 Winner – Queensland Training Awards – Large Employer of the Year
2022 – CaPTA Group – Skal Sustainable Tourism Award – Winner – Major Tourist Attractions
2022 – Wildlife Habitat – Queensland Tourism Award – Silver – Major Tourist Attractions
2023 – Pip Woodward – Tourism Tropical North Queensland – Life Member
2023 – Tropic Wings – Queensland Tourism Award – Silver – Major Tour & Transport Operator
2024 Winner – Queensland Training Awards – Georgia Simpson – Bob Marshman Trainee of the Year – Tropical North Queensland Regional Winner
2024 – Tropic Wings – Queensland Bus Industry Council (QBIC) – Environmental Innovation Award
2024 – Tropic Wings – Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) – National Environmental and Innovation Award
2025 – Tropic Wings – Tourism Tropical North Queensland Sustainability Excellence Award
2026 – Charles & Pip Woodward – Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) – Life Members