River life is ‘perfect’
THE concept of working from home is nothing new for Far North tour operators Bruce and Zona Belcher, who have been “walking down the driveway” to earn a living for over three decades.
A dream to live on one of the oldest rivers in the world has turned into a 35-year business for the couple, who is celebrating the milestone by offering free crocodile tours on the Daintree River.
Bruce Belcher and Son’s Daintree River Cruises has been part of the tourism fabric in the rainforest since they found a home, bought a boat and started running tours from their backyard.
“It has gone very quickly I can tell you,” Ms Belcher said.
“When the opportunity first come up we were living in Port Douglas and Bruce would commute to the Daintree.
“Our dream initially was to find a property on the river, and once we did we started the business.
“So we actually just walk down the driveway to work, walk to the pontoon and jump in the boat. “It’s the perfect lifestyle, really.” Mr Belcher, 72, has taken some of the world’s wealthiest and most famous people out on the river to spot salties, majestic eagles and an abundance of wildlife over the years – the owner of this newspaper, Rupert Murdoch, being one of them.
Former US President Bill Clinton was famously booked in for a trip on the day the World Trade Centretwin towers fell in New York on September 11, 2001.
Ms Belcher said regardless of their backgrounds “everyone just loves the river”.
It’s a magic place.
“The majority of people are happy all the time because they are on holidays,” she said.
“They want to be here, it’s on their list to go to the Daintree River.
“So, there are some pretty amazing people out there that have a great passion for this river, so we are very lucky to be surrounded by that all of the time.”
Residents living in the Douglas Shire can email info@daintreerivercruises.com.au to arrange a free tour to celebrate their 35th anniversary.