tours for Australia & New Zealand
 

Has anyone been on an escorted tour of Aus/NZ that they could recommend?
Sightseeing is important, fully escorted.
Hotels, nice clean hotels.
Food is not important.
Thanks.

I am going to Australia on 2/22 with OAT. This is my first trip with them, but have traveled with their partner Grand Circle several times. I am also happy with SmarTours. Both have good itineraries, great tour guides who go out of hteir way to ensure a great trip.

Thanks.
What's OAT (?Overseas Adventure Tours?)

Australian Pacific Touring (APT) http://www.aptouring.com does a very good job. Out of necessity, there is a degree of regimentation (as there is with all organized tours) and the downside is that there is very little "free" time to go where you want and do what you want. You may have to get up at 6 AM, have bags outside your door and be at breakfast at 7 AM and board the bus by 8 AM. After 2 weeks of this, you are ready to regain control of your own schedule. To be fair, you do see a lot, don't have to worry about where you are staying that night or where you will be eating your meals.

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

Thanks Vic. APT works!
So far I have the following tours that fit our timing: Tauck (sold out), Trafalgar Contrasts and APT. APT and Tauck are significantly more expensive.
We've been on Tauck and they do a great job (con: much too much food and liquor - we're more activity people, up early, etc.).
I would like to hear more reviews from anyone who has been on any of these tours.

Is there a particular reason you want to take a tour, rather than travel independently? I haven't been to Australia, but New Zealand is pretty easy to navigate.

How many days do you have for this trip?

Lee Ann

I can highly recommend Outback Spirit Tours which are a small group company who travel all over Australia. We have had six trips with them and found them to be very efficient. Their buses are designed to travel off road in the outback etc. and they only take about 26 passengers.
Also for New Zealand we have used Grand Pacific Tours who are also extremely good.
You will find that Tours are not really encouraged on this Forum but we very much prefer to travel this way and in doing so have managed to cover a great deal of Australia with much enjoyment.

You almost got it...Overseas Adventure Travels. They have small groups 14 -16 and also accomodate singles.