Meet The Crystal Caves Team

René was born in the Netherlands and has a Montessori schooling.

He has always been a lover of all things ‘nature’.

He completed his military service with the Dutch Marines in Papua New Guinea which is when he vowed to return to the tropics one day.

René created The Crystal Caves in 1987 and he and his wife, Nelleke, have explored different countries in the world in search of unique and perfect crystallised mineral specimens to share with visitors.

Today, he and Nelleke live at Tinaroo in an open plan Bali hut which they share with all manner of creatures, including their beloved spoodle but also occasional snakes, bats, giant golden orbs, goannas and one very curious wallaby.

Nelleke Boissevain was born in the Netherlands. After she graduated high school, she studied accounting and secretarial services which included learning shorthand in English, French, German and Dutch.

She met the charismatic René when she was 17. She was selling programs to an open day in ‘Berg en Bos’, a 250-hectare nature park of which her father was the director.

In an effort to impress young Nelleke, René offered to buy all her programs. She declined but did agree to give him a personal tour of the parklands at the end of the day. Later that evening, René had secured a dinner date.

Unfortunately, when it came time to pay the bill, he realised he didn’t have a wallet with him and Nelleke was stuck paying for dinner using the quarters she still had in her pocket from selling the programs earlier that day.

Since that first date, Nelleke has continued to manage René’s finances. Nelleke has accompanied René to all his Agate creek camps and on many overseas trips including Uruguay, Mexico, Brazil and Arizona.

Ghis was born in Holland and immigrated to Atherton, with her parents René and Nelleke, in 1977. Ghis grew up in Atherton and loves it here! A great place to raise her kids and the gateway to the outback with creeks and rivers where she loves to go camping.

In her spare time, Ghis loves to socialise, takes her dog Mila for swims at Tinaroo, spends quality time with her parents and often travels down the range to the beaches for a bit of variety. Caring for the environment has always been important to Ghis. Her husband and her live off the grid and they aim to be self-sufficient and carbon neutral. Together with local revegetation organisations, 15,000 Mabi forest trees are being planted along their creek which feeds into the Barron River.

Ghis’s favourite annual event to attend is the Wallaby Creek Festival up in Rossville. You’ll find her barefoot on the dancefloor and spending time in nature.

Kazza was born in Ingham and has loved the tablelands for quite some time now. She fell in love with its natural beauty and rural settings. She loves the tablelands lifestyle.

In Kazza’s free time, she’s a bit of a gamer and watches movies. Also spending time with her fur baby – Kaw. A couple of Kazza’s favourite things to do on the tablelands is to visit the different eateries and swimming in her sisters dam on a hot day. Kazza loves spending time with her family.

Kazza believes in helping reduce waste and is always supporting the local farmers.

Kazza loves dogs. If you bring your doggy in, expect it to receive some love from Kazza.

Zara was born in Cairns but has lived on the Tablelands for most of her life. She loves the cooler temperatures, the birdlife and the speed with which everything grows in our tropical climate.

A mother of two young boys, she spends her spare time with her kids and her dog. Zara loves dogs about as much as René loves crystals. If you bring your dog into The Crystal Caves, we will all love your dog, but no one more than Zara.

She is passionate about supporting local businesses, including the historic pubs in the region and The Crystal Caves. In fact, it is not actually safe for Zara to work at The Crystal Caves, because she spends all her wages on rocks.

Originally from Tasmania, Melissa came to Cairns in the ’90s for a quick holiday – and never left. Over 15 years ago, she made Atherton home, drawn by the Tablelands’ beauty, lifestyle, and community spirit.

Now living the dream at The Crystal Caves, she meets visitors from all over and loves sharing stories and laughs along the way. For Melissa, work is fun, fascinating, and full of unforgettable conversations.

A nature lover and seasoned solo traveller, she’s always up for a trail walk or offering locals-only tips to help you explore the region beyond the Caves.

Sarah is a true FNQ girl – born in Innisfail, raised in Cairns, and now proudly calling the Tablelands home for the past seven years. She loves the sense of community up here and the cooler weather (a welcome change from life on the coast!).

When she’s not at Crystal Caves, you’ll find her camping, exploring, or spending time with her kids down at Tinaroo. One of her favourite weekend traditions is visiting the local markets. Nothing beats fresh produce and a friendly chat with the stallholders.

Sarah is passionate about supporting farmers and strong family values, which shines through in everything she does. As a mum of three, she brings warmth, patience, and a grounded energy to the team.

Born in Cairns and raised partly in Canada, Mahli has called the Tablelands home for the past five years. She loves the close-knit community, the stunning waterfalls, and the endless natural beauty.

On her days off, Mahli enjoys hunting for treasures at local op shops and exploring the markets. She’s always up for an adventure, especially if it involves chasing waterfalls, swimming in creeks, or walking one of the many nature trails nearby.

Mahli is passionate about climate action and believes that small everyday choices like recycling, reducing waste, and being kind to animals, makes a big difference. She brings that same mindful energy to her role at The Crystal Caves, helping guests connect with the wonders of the natural world.