Category: Blog

When you hear WA wildflowers, you probably think everlastings, but you know, there are so many other beautiful flowers to see during WA's spring season. The winter rains have come and gone this year, bringing with them the opportunity for our wildflowers to grow. We have already had a successful four-day tour and two one-day tours, visiting our national parks and country areas, spotting the ever-popular WA wildflowers such as everlastings, donkey orchids, wattles, wreath flowers, blue leschenaultia, dampiera and more. Now it's time to visit the WA wildflowers in the south and south-east, and it's not too late for you to book on the tour we have planned.  We'll be visiting Hyden, Newdegate, Lake King, Ravensthorpe, Fitzgerald National Park, Hopetoun, and the Stirling Ranges, looking out for flowers in every direction. The places we visit have hundreds of species of wildflowers and amongst them we should find spider orchids, morning irises, swamp bottlebrushes, scarlet banksias, southern cross flowers, five pointed stars, and painted ladies, to name a few. We even hope to stumble upon the very rare Queen of Sheba orchid! Let's keep our fingers crossed for that one! The tour runs for four days from Saturday 21 to Tuesday 24 October 2017 and is a very reasonably-priced $1,100 (+$250 for single supplement). The price includes motel accommodation, air-conditioned vehicle, three breakfasts, three dinners, entry to all national parks, and our wildflower guide from Kings Park who will help you find and identify flowers each day. There's not a lot this lady doesn't know! For more information about our tour, or to book to see the amazing south WA wildflowers, contact us at aussieredbacktours@yahoo.com.au or phone 1300 662 026 for a full itinerary. Seats are filling fast, so don't hesitate - contact us now! We are also on Facebook,

Imagine yourself travelling on the iconic Gibb River Road, or walking through the towering Bungle Bungle Range, or even marvelling at the ancient boabs that dot the Kimberley.  If you have wanted to do this, Aussie Redback Tours have three amazing tours to the Kimberley in 2017 to experience the beauty and grandeur of the area, with its mind blowing scenery and its powerful presence. Our 14 day Gibb River – Bungle Bungles tour,  which leaves on the 10th of June takes us to places people only dream of, such as Bells Gorge (pictured), Galvins Gorge, the unbelievable Cockburn Ranges, El Questro, Cambridge Gulf, Cathedral Gorge (in the Bungle Bungles), and Hidden Valley, just to name a few! We make sure we enjoy each spot and have time to immerse ourselves in one of the world’s most pristine untouched landscapes in the world.   Our 9 day Kimberley Dreaming tour, departing on the  23rd of July will take us to Kununurra, Tunnel Creek, Lake Argyle, Keep National Park, El Questro, Windjana Gorge, China Wall, Geikie Gorge and more.  This tour would suit those wanting just a taste of the Kimberley but be warned, it will leave you wanting more! Our 11 day Kimberley Landscapes Art Tour departs on the 27th of May and has been tailored for artists and photographers to spend extra time in different locations to really capture the spirit of the Kimberley on paper and canvas.  Well-known Australian artist, Greg Allen, will be our tutor for this tour. This year the Kimberley experienced an above-average wet season which means we hope be treated to some of the most colourful scenery the area has ever seen. If you've ever wanted to travel to the Kimberley, now is the time! All of the tours include the opportunity to fly by

What an amazing and interesting "music, opals and silver" tour we've just had, visiting parts of South Australia, NSW, and Victoria. The tour focused on the Tamworth Country Music Festival, complete with buskers and street acts, well-known musicians such as Lee Kernaghan, Troy Cassar-Daley, Beccy Cole, and Kasey Chambers to name a few, stalls, street events, a cavalcade, and fireworks. The atmosphere was electric with something for everyone, and we were especially pleased to see local talent Kimberley Gold get to the finals in the buskers competition. Other than the festival, we travelled to the famous opal town of Lightning Ridge where we caught our breaths, stayed two nights, and were treated to a fascinating underground walk-in mine tour on one of the days.  And yes, an opal or two was purchased!  Lightning Ridge is a very interesting outback country town with lots to see and do, and some unusual characters to meet. Another major stop on the tour included Broken Hill (famous for silver, lead and zinc), where we visited the miners memorial, the famous Palace Hotel (much of the movie "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" was filmed here), the living desert sculptures, and Silverton (where we met  country music singer Catherine Britt). Other highlights on the tour included a paddle boat cruise on the Murray River in Mildura; the Parkes Observatory (where some of the film "The Dish" was filmed); the Bread Knife in the Warrambungles; the Back O' Bourke Visitor Centre; and the beautiful historic town of Burra. The tour was made even more successful with the country hospitality in towns we stayed at, particularly The Cameo Inn at West Wyalong.  Gail, the owner, is one of the nicest people we have met on our tours.  She runs her motel like a top notch five star motel,

It's just 52 days until the 2017 Tamworth Country Music Festival starts, and we are going to be there for the last four days of the Festival!  The Tamworth Country Music Festival is an annual event held in Tamworth, NSW, and features numerous concerts and live performances at various venues in the town.  Famous country musicians and vocalists attend, making this one of the world's top 10 music festivals.   There are free shows every day and night in the park and streets, buskers, stalls, activities and street performers - something for everyone! Tickets can also be purchased for special events. The line-up for 2017 includes John Williamson, the Bushwackers, Lee Kernaghan, the McClymonts, 4 Highwaymen, Carter and Carter, Beccy Cole, Troy Cassar Daley to name a few..... We put together a special tour, by popular request, and have included some famous outback towns along the way there and back.  Lightning Ridge (black opal capital of the world), Broken Hill (the first city of Australia to be included on the national heritage list due to its outstanding heritage significance to the country), and the famous "Back-o-Bourke" are just a few of those towns. The combination of Australian country music and hospitality and significant outback towns make this a tour that will be remembered for years to come. Dates for the tour are Mon 23 Jan - Sun 05 Feb 2017 (14 Days), including flights Perth-Adelaide-Perth.  If you want more information including a full itinerary, please call us on 1300 662 026.  Limited seats available!  

Things are "travelling" along quite well here at Aussie Redback Tours.  We are excited to be putting on extra tours, and we have some wonderful new ideas for seniors travel and tours for the remainder of 2016 and all of 2017.  If you're on our mailing list, you would have received our first postal newsletter for the year. I hope you found it to be a good read.  Since the newsletter has gone out we have acquired the services of "Miss Adventure", a luxury 48 seat Scania coach. She is beautiful, a delight to drive and to travel in.  As our newsletter has told you, we have had some great little outings in the 2015- 2016 season, with plenty more to come, including one-day tours, exciting extended tours, and art specific tours. By popular request, we have put together the following shorter tours: 4 day Busselton - Margaret River tour - 02 May 2016 - $999, seniors $950, (s/sup $240) 2 day Wave Rock- Mulka’s Cave tour - 14 May 2016 - flat rate of $399 (s/supp $60) 6 day Mt Augustus tour (during wildflower season) - 28 Aug 2016 - $1250, seniors $1190 (s/supp $240) We have kept the prices as low as we could go, but without forgoing the attractions because travel with us is about value for money, not bums on seats! Our next travel brochure (Issue 3), will feature new tours, including: 14 day Tamworth Music Festival (incl Lightning Ridge/Broken Hill) - 23 Jan 2017  - Tamworth Music Festival 2017 7 day Murray River Experience - 11 Mar 2017 - Murray River and Surrounds 11 day Norfolk Island Getaway - 15 Apr 2017 - Norfolk Island Info Prices for the above three tours to be advised. Why not come travel with us!  Call 1300 662 026

If you've never visited Monkey Mia before, we highly recommend it, and of course, we will be travelling there in just under 3 weeks' time.  Situated just north of Denham (Shark Bay), it is well worth a visit, not only because it is famous for its dolphin interaction experience (sustainably managed), but the area is beautiful in its own right, with its rusty red sand dunes contrasting with the white sandy beaches and turquoise bay. Monkey Mia is just north of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area - one of the most important natural treasures on Earth. In 1991 it was ranked alongside places such as the Galápagos Islands, the Great Barrier Reef and the Grand Canyon as a site of global environmental significance. Shark Bay has species, scenery and situations that are either unusual or unique on the planet. Our 6 day tour in April will take us up the coast of WA through the Pinnacles and via the stunning Kalbarri National Park.  The ever-changing landscape of white sand dunes around Lancelin to the pristine blue waters of Shark Bay will simply amaze you and as we arrive into Shark Bay you will be surprised at how the ocean looks like you'll drop off the earth if you sail out far enough!  It has an uncanny still, flat look about it at times. The shell beach made up of millions of microscopic shells (bright enough to almost blind you) and stromatolites (first life form single celled organisms on earth) are also are quite an experience.  You really have to see them for yourself. More of our Monkey Mia Tour Highlights: Lobster Shack Tour HMAS Sydney Memorial Lynton Convict Settlement Rainbow Jungle Kalbarri Sunset Cruise Monkey Mia boat cruise Eagles Nest boardwalk Hamelin Bay Telegraph Station Tour details: Sun 17

South Australia is a Timeless Land South Australia dates back 20,000 years, and that is evident in its rugged mountain ranges, known as the Flinders Ranges and Mount Lofty Ranges. We will visit both and explore this scenic vista on our South Australian Outback Tracks tour this year. There is a lot to see and do on this tour which takes in the vast areas of the South Australian outback, and we'll be taking in picture postcard scenery every day. We have learned recently that Lake Eyre is flooding, so it will be a perfect year to visit as there will be an abundance of bird life around and you'll have the opportunity to view this from above in a fixed wing flight. Amongst other places, we'll also visit Wilpena Pound, an amazing sight, and we'll noodle for opals at Andamooka.  We'll spend time in Roxby Downs where we shall have a tour of the Olympic Dam Mine and we'll also explore Marree which is famous for playing a big part in the history of the Ghan Railway. The tour also includes a visit to the Wadlata Centre in Port Augusta, where we step back in time and learn the story of ancient Australia, its people and its treasures down under. We also take in the history of Burra, a historic old copper town.  The whole town is heritage listed and is a must see while visiting South Australia. If this is something you've always wanted to do, now is the time.  The weather at this time of year is around 26  degrees - perfect for travelling.  Details are: 7 day South Australian Outback Tracks Tour Departing Saturday 2 April 2016 $2500 for Seniors and $2550 for Adults - S/Supp $400 (includes air fares to and from Perth, motel accommodation,

Think it costs a lot to travel in Australia? As a small tour company, we are only too aware of the cost of a holiday in Australia.  But when you compare to taking a holiday overseas (apart from Bali), it is well within the means of most people.  Australia is a beautiful country with some of the most amazing scenery in the world which is why we have so many overseas visitors arriving at our shores every day. The cost of travel in Australia may seem high, but that’s because we have such a vast country with an abundance of open spaces, so travel is not cheap because of distances between each place.  The cost of accommodation can be high too, but just for a moment put yourself in the remote operator's position. They are only able to operate a number of months a year and have to survive the rest of the year on the money they make over the holiday season, not knowing what the off season will bring.  Most remote operators are station and farm owners trying their hand at tourism to make ends meet, as a lot of them can’t make their properties bring in the vital income they need to run their business, especially if they've been affected by drought, flood or fire, which is just some of Mother Nature’s fury. The transport costs of living in remote areas are enormous too. So next time you’re looking at a tour of remote Australia, don’t think “Oh my, that’s expensive", just think what your valuable dollar is doing to help the economy of Australia’s outback people. If you look at your tour this way, then you just might agree you are helping an Australian out and feel good about it.  Keep your dollars in Australia. We

Christmas Mystery Lunch Tours "Another Christmas has been and gone and I can't believe how fast time flies"!  Our first ever Christmas as Aussie Redback Tours was amazing!  We had two tours which saw our passengers treated to a relaxing, scenic trip in the countryside, followed by a delightful Christmas lunch, complete with all the trimmings and good cheer. Both of our lunches were held in Toodyay at the charming Victoria Hotel, where our chef Narelle cooked up a storm!  Nobody went home hungry!  We had Christmas crackers too, which provided a bit of light entertainment with jokes to share, hats to wear, and odd little trinkets to take home.  Thanks, Marg, Narelle, Bianca and Paula for making both of our days very special.  (Note: you can read more about the Victoria Hotel in Toodyay here: Victoria Hotel, Toodyay). Our passengers were also treated to a Christmas Lucky Dip where everyone got a little gift to take home and put under their tree (although it seems nobody could wait - there was a lot of wrapping paper lying around as we left for the trip home)! We had more than enough time before and after lunch to explore this historic town, including the amazing Christmas shop where you can spend anywhere from $2 to $4000 on any one item!  Some of our passengers remarked that it's the best Christmas shop they've seen and it can only be compared to a shop they'd visited in Canada.  Well, there you go - you don't have to go to Canada to buy your Christmas decorations any more! On Sunday we were fortunate to be there when the markets were on, so we made the most of that opportunity too, buying up on jams, arts and crafts, and patting the alpacas.  We had sunshine