Tassie Tours Guide Academy
Transform your love for Tasmania into an exciting career sharing its beauty with visitors from around the world.
Become a Tassie Tour Guide!
Love Tasmania? Love People? The Tassie Tours Guide Academy welcomes passionate individuals of all backgrounds and ages to join our Short Course and launch an exciting career in Tasmania's thriving tourism industry!
Our structured, progressive training program is designed to build your skills step-by-step, with a curriculum grounded in best practice and contemporary industry standards. No experience is required – we provide all the training and mentorship you need to succeed!
You'll learn directly from experienced guides and tourism professionals who bring real-world insight to your development. Through hands-on training, you'll gain practical experience leading trial tours with actual guests, including cruise ship passengers, building your confidence in live settings.
Upon completion, you'll receive our industry-recognised Tassie Tours Certificate of Completion – a respected credential that boosts your job readiness in Tasmania's vibrant tourism sector, with opportunities for employment beginning as early as September for successful graduates.
While a Light Rigid (or higher) driver's licence is an advantage – it's not required to start your journey with us! We welcome applicants with a passion for Tasmania and a desire to share its stories.
Places for our June-August program are strictly limited and filling fast. Apply now to secure your opportunity to turn your love for Tasmania into a rewarding career showcasing our island's breathtaking locations to visitors from around the world.
Structured, Progressive Training
Our multi-phase training program builds your guiding skills step-by-step. From storytelling and local knowledge to guest engagement and safety protocols, our curriculum follows industry best practices to give you a solid foundation for success in tourism.
Learn from the Best
Train alongside Tasmania's most experienced tour guides and tourism professionals. Benefit from their wealth of knowledge, real-world insights, and personalised mentorship as you develop your own unique guiding style under their expert guidance.
Real Experience on Real Tours
Gain invaluable hands-on experience leading trial tours with actual visitors. Work with cruise ship passengers and other guests in live settings to build your confidence, refine your presentation skills, and learn to handle real-world guiding scenarios.
Industry-Recognised Certification
Graduate with our respected Tassie Tours Certificate of Completion – a credential recognised throughout Tasmania's tourism industry that demonstrates your professional training and opens doors to employment opportunities both within Tassie Tours and beyond.
Explore Iconic Destinations
Gain firsthand knowledge of Tasmania's most sought-after locations as you visit and learn to guide at these spectacular destinations
Learn to showcase this island paradise's dramatic landscapes, abundant wildlife, and renowned local produce to visitors seeking Tasmania's natural wonders.
Master the art of bringing Tasmania's convict heritage to life through compelling storytelling at this UNESCO World Heritage historical site.
Discover how to guide visitors through this subterranean wonder, explaining its geological significance and captivating visitors with its dramatic formations.
Learn to weave together stories of colonial history, maritime heritage, and modern culture as you guide visitors through Tasmania's charming waterfront capital.
Develop expertise in leading nature experiences through Tasmania's pristine landscapes, identifying flora and fauna while ensuring safety and environmental protection.
Master the skills to guide visitors through one of Tasmania's most iconic wilderness areas, sharing insights about alpine ecosystems and the cultural significance of this World Heritage site.
Learn to guide visitors through the spectacular Freycinet Peninsula, highlighting the pristine beaches, pink granite mountains, and diverse coastal ecosystems of this breathtaking destination.
Develop skills to showcase Tasmania's second-largest city, from its historic architecture and Cataract Gorge to the renowned Tamar Valley wine region that surrounds this charming northern hub.
Perfect your guiding technique along Tasmania's stunning east coast, highlighting pristine beaches, charming coastal towns, and the region's fresh seafood and local produce offerings.
Launch Your Tour Guiding Career
The Tassie Tours Guide Academy is your pathway to an exciting career in Tasmania's flourishing tourism industry. We're seeking passionate individuals from all backgrounds and ages who share our love for Tasmania and want to create unforgettable experiences for visitors.
Our June-August program combines classroom learning with field trips to iconic destinations, hands-on practice with real guests, and personalised mentorship from industry experts. You'll develop comprehensive guiding skills while building connections that can lead to employment opportunities starting as early as September.
Discover our unique program features:
- Comprehensive multi-phase training program covering storytelling, local knowledge, and guest engagement
- Personalised mentorship from Tasmania's most experienced tour guides and tourism professionals
- Practical experience leading trial tours with actual visitors, including cruise ship passengers
- Industry-recognised Tassie Tours Certificate of Completion that boosts your credibility in the tourism sector
- Direct pathway to paid tour guiding roles with opportunities beginning as early as September
- Program runs from June through to late August, perfectly timed for employment opportunities in the upcoming tourism season
- Successful graduates may begin paid tour guiding roles as early as September, just in time for the busy visitor season
- Weekly commitment of approximately 15-20 hours including classroom sessions, field trips to iconic destinations, and practical guiding experience
- Inclusive entry open to individuals of all ages and backgrounds - we value diverse perspectives and experiences
- No prior tour guiding experience required - just bring your enthusiasm and willingness to learn
- Applicants must be over 19 years of age to meet industry requirements
- Must have held a Full Driver Licence since 1 September 2024 for insurance purposes
- Those with Light Rigid or higher-class licences will receive priority for tour guide placement after graduation
- Most importantly, you must have a genuine passion for Tasmania and a desire to share its unique stories with visitors
Our Academy serves as a launching pad for exciting career opportunities in Tasmania's growing tourism sector. Successful graduates will be considered for employment with Tassie Tours, with positions potentially available as early as September following program completion.
Beyond Tassie Tours, your certification and experience will open doors across Tasmania's diverse tourism landscape. You'll develop valuable industry connections and explore specialised career paths from eco-tourism and wildlife experiences to cultural interpretation and adventure guiding.
Candidates with knowledge or qualifications in flora and fauna, geography, geology, culture, or history will find these specialisations highly valued and can develop tour experiences that showcase their unique expertise and passions.
Your Questions Answered
Our Academy delivers a carefully designed progressive training journey that builds your guiding expertise from the ground up. The comprehensive curriculum includes:
- Theory & Knowledge Development - Immerse yourself in Tasmania's rich history, diverse flora and fauna, unique geography, and profound cultural significance
- Practical Skills Workshops - Master the art of engaging communication, compelling storytelling, and effective group management techniques
- Destination Familiarisation - Experience firsthand the iconic locations you'll be guiding, including Bruny Island, Port Arthur, and Hastings Caves
- Shadowing Experienced Guides - Observe and learn from seasoned tourism professionals as they expertly lead authentic tours
- Practice Tours - Apply your skills by leading actual tours with real visitors, receiving supportive feedback to refine your approach
Every element of our program reflects contemporary industry best practices, ensuring you'll graduate with the professional capabilities valued throughout Tasmania's thriving tourism sector.
At the heart of our Academy is our exceptional team of instructor-mentors – Tasmania's most accomplished tour guides and tourism professionals who are passionate about developing the next generation of guiding talent.
These seasoned professionals bring decades of collective experience leading visitors through Tasmania's diverse landscapes. They understand the art of creating memorable experiences and will share their insights on everything from handling challenging questions to adapting your presentation for different audiences.
Their personalised coaching goes far beyond theoretical knowledge – they'll help you develop your authentic voice and unique guiding style while mastering the practical skills that can only come from years of on-the-ground experience.
Throughout the program, you'll also connect with guest speakers and industry leaders from across Tasmania's tourism sector, building a professional network that can open doors throughout your career.
Absolutely! A standout feature of our Academy is the extensive practical experience you'll gain by leading real tours with actual visitors – including international cruise ship passengers and domestic tourists exploring Tasmania.
These guided experiences take place in supportive environments where you can build confidence while receiving constructive feedback. You'll learn to engage diverse audiences, answer spontaneous questions, adapt to changing conditions, and handle the unexpected moments that make tour guiding such a dynamic profession.
By graduation, you'll have led multiple tour experiences under expert supervision across different locations, developing the practical confidence that employers value most. This real-world preparation ensures you're truly job-ready from day one.
This practical focus is what distinguishes our Academy – rather than simply learning about tour guiding in theory, you'll actually be guiding tours and developing professional-level skills throughout your training.
Our comprehensive training equips you with a complete professional toolkit spanning every aspect of exceptional tour guiding:
- Masterful Storytelling - Transform historical facts and cultural information into captivating narratives that resonate with visitors and bring Tasmania's unique story to life
- Dynamic Guest Engagement - Create meaningful connections with diverse audiences through interactive experiences that adapt to different interests, ages, and cultural backgrounds
- In-Depth Local Knowledge - Develop expert understanding of Tasmania's unique history, wildlife, geology, and cultural heritage to answer questions confidently and enhance visitor appreciation
- Professional Safety Management - Learn the critical protocols that ensure guest safety while exploring Tasmania's diverse environments, from urban settings to wilderness areas
- Tour Vehicle Operation - Build competence in managing tour transportation logistics and commentary delivery while ensuring passenger comfort and safety
- Digital Engagement Skills - Master modern approaches to enhancing customer experiences through social media and digital platforms that extend the impact of your guiding
Most excitingly, you'll have the potential opportunity to co-create and collaborate on developing tour experiences that reflect your own unique passions and interests, allowing you to add your personal touch to Tasmania's tourism offerings.
Completing our Academy opens doors to Tasmania's growing tourism industry, with successful graduates considered for immediate tour guiding positions at Tassie Tours as early as September. Our program is specifically timed to prepare you for the upcoming tourism season when demand for qualified guides is highest.
Your Tassie Tours Certificate of Completion is recognised throughout the industry as evidence of high-quality, practical training. This credential significantly enhances your employment prospects across Tasmania's diverse tourism sector, from major operators to boutique experience providers.
While all graduates receive equal training, those with Light Rigid or higher-class licences will receive priority consideration for certain tour routes. Additionally, your specialised knowledge in areas like Tasmanian flora and fauna, geography, geology, Indigenous culture, or colonial history becomes a valuable differentiator that can lead to specialised guiding opportunities.
Beyond direct employment, the professional network you'll develop through the program connects you with industry leaders and fellow guides, creating pathways to diverse opportunities in eco-tourism, adventure experiences, cultural interpretation, visitor centers, and tourism management.
Taking the first step toward your new career in tourism is simple. Here's our streamlined application process:
- Complete Your Online Application - Fill out our detailed application form sharing your background, interests, and why you're passionate about showcasing Tasmania to visitors
- Application Review - Our selection team carefully evaluates all applications, looking for enthusiasm, potential, and genuine love for Tasmania
- Personal Interview - Shortlisted applicants join us for a conversation about their interests, aspirations in tourism, and suitability for guiding
- Program Offer - Successful candidates receive a formal invitation to join our upcoming Academy intake
- June Commencement - Begin your training journey with orientation, followed by an engaging mix of classroom learning, destination visits, and practical guiding experiences
Important: With strictly limited places available and applications already coming in, we strongly encourage early registration. Previous intakes have filled quickly, so don't miss your opportunity to be part of this transformative program.
We especially welcome applicants from all backgrounds, ages, and walks of life – our diverse community of guides reflects the rich tapestry of perspectives that make for exceptional storytelling and guest connection. No previous guiding experience is necessary – just bring your passion for Tasmania!
Ready to Turn Your Passion for Tasmania into a Career?
Places in our 2025 Tour Guide Academy are limited and filling fast. Apply now to secure your place.