Help centre
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers on booking, our tours, entering Australia and staying safe on the road – 19 questions in four topics.
What would you like to know?
Choose a category below or scroll through all the answers.
Booking & Payments
How to reserve a tour, when to pay and what happens if your plans change.
There is no online checkout – every trip is arranged personally. Send us an email at [email protected] or call +44 7915 320589 with your preferred tour, travel dates and number of travellers. We check availability, send a written proposal with a day-by-day plan and price, and confirm the booking once you accept it and pay the deposit. The whole process usually takes a few days, so contact us early for peak periods. Start on our contact page.
A deposit of 25% of the total price secures your booking. The remaining balance is due 60 days before departure. If you book less than 60 days before you travel, the full amount is payable at the time of booking. Payment instructions and the exact due date are shown on your booking confirmation. Full conditions are set out in our Terms of Use.
Cancellation charges follow a sliding scale based on how many days before departure we receive your written notice: 60 days or more – the 25% deposit is retained; 59–30 days – 50% of the total price; 29–15 days – 75%; 14 days or less, or no-show – 100%. Some suppliers, such as airlines, may apply stricter rules, which we tell you about before booking. This is one reason we strongly recommend travel insurance with cancellation cover. See the full table in our Terms of Use.
All tour prices on our website are quoted in US dollars (USD) per person and are "from" prices, usually based on two people sharing a room in the lowest available season. The final price depends on your travel dates, room type, group size and availability at the time of booking. Your written proposal lists the exact price and everything that is included, so there are no surprises. International flights to and from Australia are not included unless stated.
Yes – our signature tours are designed as starting points. We can add extra nights, upgrade accommodation, swap an excursion or link two trips together, for example the Red Centre Spiritual Journey before the Ultimate East Coast Explorer. Tell us what you would like to change and we will send a revised plan and price. Self-drive itineraries are the easiest to adjust; guided small-group departures follow a fixed programme.
Our Tours
What our itineraries include, how big the groups are and which trip might suit you.
Inclusions vary by tour and are listed on each itinerary page. Typically you can expect accommodation, daily breakfast, the main excursions and national park fees, and on several trips domestic flights or a rental car. For example, the East Coast Explorer includes the Sydney–Cairns flight and a full-day Great Barrier Reef trip. International flights, travel insurance, most lunches and dinners, drinks and personal spending are generally not included unless stated.
We prefer small groups because they mean quieter wildlife encounters and more time with your guide. Our Australian Wildlife in Focus tour, for instance, is limited to a maximum of 12 guests with an expert naturalist guide. Group sizes on other guided trips depend on the local operator and departure date, and we confirm the expected size in your proposal. Self-drive trips, of course, are just you and your travel companions.
Most first-time visitors want a mix of cities, beaches and the reef, which is exactly what the 14-day Ultimate East Coast Explorer delivers. If you have only a week, Sydney & Melbourne: A Tale of Two Cities is a relaxed introduction. With more time, add five days in the outback at Uluru. Browse our full offer or tell us your interests and we will recommend a route.
Yes. Two of our signature itineraries are self-drive: Tasmania's Wilderness & Culinary Trail (9 days) and The Great Ocean Road & Grampians Self-Drive (5 days). Both include a rental car, pre-booked accommodation and a detailed route plan with suggested stops, so you get the freedom of a road trip without the planning. You need a valid driving licence; if it is not in English, carry an International Driving Permit as well.
Many of our itineraries work well for families and mature travellers, especially the city, self-drive and island trips, which have a relaxed pace and comfortable hotels. Some activities have minimum ages or require a reasonable level of fitness – for example reef snorkelling, the Sydney BridgeClimb or walks in Kings Canyon and Kakadu. Let us know the ages and any mobility needs of everyone travelling and we will check suitability with each supplier before you book.
Travel to Australia
Entry requirements, seasons and the practical basics of a trip down under.
It depends on where you go. Seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere: summer runs from December to February and winter from June to August. The southern states – Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales – are best from October to April. The tropical north and the Top End are most comfortable in the dry season, roughly May to October. The Red Centre is pleasant from April to October, when days are warm and nights cool. Our region-by-region guide has more detail.
Travel insurance is not a legal requirement for most visitors, but we strongly recommend it for every trip. Choose a policy that covers medical treatment and emergency evacuation, trip cancellation and curtailment, lost luggage and the activities you plan, such as snorkelling or diving. Medical care in remote areas can involve costly evacuation, and only some countries have reciprocal health care agreements with Australia. Buy insurance as soon as you pay your deposit so that cancellation cover applies straight away.
Australia uses the Australian dollar (AUD). Cards, including contactless payments, are accepted almost everywhere, though it is useful to carry some cash for remote areas and small markets. Tipping is not expected, as wages are relatively high, but rounding up for good service is appreciated. Eating out and alcohol can feel expensive compared with many countries, while national park walks and beaches are free or low-cost. Our money and budget tips help you plan daily spending.
Distances are huge – the country is almost as large as continental Europe. As a rough guide, Sydney to Melbourne takes about 1.5 hours, Sydney to Cairns about 3 hours, and Sydney to Perth around 5 hours. That is why our itineraries combine regions carefully and include domestic flights where driving would take days. For an overview of flights, trains and road trips, read Getting Around Australia.
On the Road / Safety
Staying safe in the sun, the sea and the bush – and what to do if something goes wrong.
"Stinger season" is the period, roughly November to May, when dangerous box jellyfish and Irukandji jellyfish are more common in the tropical waters of northern Australia, including the Cairns and Whitsundays regions. You can still swim and snorkel: reef operators provide full-body stinger suits, and many beaches have netted swimming enclosures. Always swim at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags and follow local signs. Our safety guide explains more.
Saltwater crocodiles live in rivers, estuaries, billabongs and coastal waters across northern Australia, including the Top End and Far North Queensland. Never swim where signs warn of crocodiles, and keep well back from the water's edge. Only swim in places officially designated as safe, such as some plunge pools in Litchfield National Park when they are open. On our Top End Adventure your guide knows which waterholes are open and safe each season.
Australia has some of the highest UV levels in the world, and you can burn in as little as 15 minutes on a summer day, even when it is cloudy. Follow the local advice: slip on a shirt, slop on SPF 50+ sunscreen, slap on a broad-brimmed hat, seek shade and slide on sunglasses. Drink plenty of water, especially in the outback, and plan walks for the early morning. Our packing list covers sun essentials.
Australians drive on the left. Speed limits are strictly enforced and usually range from 50 km/h in towns to 100–110 km/h on highways. Avoid driving at dawn, dusk and night in rural areas, when kangaroos and other wildlife are most active. Distances between fuel stops can be long, so fill up when you can and carry water. Rental agreements often exclude unsealed roads, and a valid licence – plus an International Driving Permit if it is not in English – is required.
You will receive our 24/7 contact details with your travel documents. If a flight is cancelled, the weather closes a road or you feel unwell, call us on +44 7915 320589 and we will help re-arrange your bookings with hotels and operators. In a life-threatening emergency anywhere in Australia, dial 000 first for police, fire or ambulance, then contact your travel insurer. Keep a copy of your insurance policy and passport on your phone.
Still have a question?
Our planners are happy to help by email or phone – tell us what you have in mind and we will reply with honest, practical advice.
Contact us Browse travel tips