John
Founder, Lead Guide & Chief Platypus Spotter
People often ask how I ended up running guided kayak tours.
The truth is… it started long before I ever sat in a kayak.
I grew up in the broadacre farming community of the Millewa in north-west Victoria, about 20 kilometres from the mighty Murray River. Ever since I can remember—probably from the age of two—I’ve been fascinated by two things…
Water and fire.
Our family would head down to the Murray a few times each year for camping trips. We’d spend our days fishing, swimming, exploring the riverbanks, and our evenings sitting around a campfire watching the stars come out.
Those are some of my happiest childhood memories.
The Murray is a very different river to the Pioneer. It’s much wider, generally deeper, and sadly today not nearly as healthy as it once was. The introduction of European carp changed much of the river’s ecosystem, muddying the water and impacting many native species. While platypus once occurred much further along the Murray system, today they’re largely confined to the upper reaches.
Even as a kid, I found that fascinating.
I’ve always loved animals and the way nature is connected. Every species has a role to play, and when one part of an ecosystem changes, everything else feels the effects—from the smallest insects right through to the largest animals and the plants that depend on them.
At school we took part in “Emu Bobs,” collecting rubbish from roadsides and bushland. It taught me early that even small amounts of litter and pollution can have lasting impacts on wildlife and their habitats. That passion for protecting nature has never left me.
By trade I’m a boilermaker (still playing with fire), and over the years I’ve worked in a variety of industries. But one experience changed my perspective forever.
In 2001, at 28 years old, I packed up and travelled around Australia.
I explored as much of this incredible country as I could, joining tours, hiking, paddling, diving and seeing places I’d only ever dreamed about. The Kimberley is still on my list, but that trip showed me just how incredibly diverse and beautiful Australia really is.
It also made me appreciate just how lucky we are to call this country home.
I’ve now been a Queenslander for more than 20 years, and much of that time has been spent outdoors training for adventure races, triathlons and endurance events.
Those adventures took me all through the Pioneer Valley—trekking around Mount Dalrymple and Finch Hatton, cycling around Mount Blackwood, riding to Airlie Beach, travelling through Mount Martin and out to Broken River. Every journey reminded me that nature never gives you exactly the same experience twice.
That’s what keeps drawing me back.
But the moment that really changed everything came much later.
After a visit from my sister and brother-in-law, I took them out for a leisurely paddle on the Pioneer River. It wasn’t a race, it wasn’t training, and I wasn’t trying to get from A to B.
For the first time, I slowed down.
That afternoon, we saw platypus—local residents I’d never noticed before, despite spending years on that same stretch of river. It made me realise something simple but powerful…
Every other time I’d been on the water, I’d been in a hurry. Focused on distance, speed, or the next destination.
But the river doesn’t reveal itself when you rush.
It reveals itself when you slow down.
That moment changed the way I see the river—and it’s the reason Platypus Adventures exists today.
Today I’m a qualified kayak instructor with current First Aid and CPR certification, but those qualifications are only part of the story.
What I enjoy most is sharing moments that people might otherwise miss.
The mist rising from the river at sunrise.
The call of the birds before the rest of the world wakes up.
A turtle slipping quietly beneath the surface.
Or that unforgettable moment when someone sees their very first platypus in the wild.
If you’re lucky, I might even finish the tour with one of my famous trivia questions. Fair warning… they’re usually harder than they sound!
Whether you’re stepping into a kayak for the very first time or you’ve paddled for years, my goal is simple:
To help you slow down, reconnect with nature, and leave with memories you’ll still be talking about long after you’ve left the river.
🧡 Slow down. The river will show you…
— John
Founder & Guide
Platypus Adventures
