Facilities
We provide a comprehensive list of the facilities available at the places we visit on our extended tours. Information includes mobile phone coverage, credit card/EFTPOS, shops, banks and washing facilities.
Much of our travel is in the countryside as well as in the Victorian High Country where toilets are few and far between. We stop at toilet facilities every opportunity available and ‘drop toilets’ (i.e. they don’t flush) are available in the High Country, otherwise trees and bushes make a great substitute.
We provide toilet paper, hand soap and water.
Payment
Yes, credit card and/or fuel surcharges may apply. The listed price includes tax and is the price you pay.
It is not necessary to have a printed copy. However, you should have a text message or email on your phone that was sent to you after you make your reservation. Otherwise we require that you show ID matching your reservation and also the order # that is immediately emailed to you.
Please contact us to get the latest information on your desired trip.
Personal Health
Our tours are suitable for both the young and the young at heart, age is no limit. Many of our clients are over 50, usually with a great sense of humour and adventure. You don’t need to be overly fit, but you do need to be in good health for our tours.
You are travelling at your own risk and, while there are country hospitals nearby, you should carry any medicines you may need, let your guide know should you think we need to know about any health issue.
Yes, all of our guides are first aid trained.
We do our best to cater for all dietary requirements.
Preparation
Tours start and finish either in Melbourne CBD or Mansfield Area, and we pick you up from your accommodation where appropriate. Be ready 10 minutes prior to your pick up time.
Wear whatever is comfortable. It is recommended to have a sturdy pair of broken-in trail shoes, boots, or sneakers. It is preferable to dress in layers and wear clothing that will wick away perspiration and keep you dry and comfortable. Throw in a wind/rain jacket in your backpack as the weather can change and it will be colder in the alpine area.
Not much, remember our trips are all inclusive. Bring a hat, sunscreen, camera, bottle of drinking water, and suitable footwear. If you are taking any medication ensure you have a sufficient amount for the duration of the tour.
Reservation
Yes. Reservations are required for guaranteed spots on all tours. Reservations help us determine the number of guides we need to ensure that our groups remain manageable and enjoyable, and they allow us to notify you of changes to the tour due to weather or anything that could disturb the tours.
We operate for small groups only, and all of our tours operate for a minimum of two passengers. Our tours have a maximum of 4 passengers.
Passengers travelling alone are welcome, so let us be your travelling partner. Many of our passengers are travelling alone, and many go home with new found friends. Our tours need 2 passengers for a tour to proceed, so you may have to be flexible if no one else is booked on that tour.
The Tour
The itinerary for each tour indicates inclusions. Unless otherwise stated, all fees and permits are included. Drinks such as water, tea and coffee are included. Alcoholic drinks are NOT included.
The distance we travel each day varies on each tour. We strive to get a good mix between covering the distances in the countryside and having enough time to stop and enjoy the experience. There will be many stops for meals, photos, meeting local characters, getting up close and personal with flora and fauna, and just taking in the scenery.
This varies on the tour, but rest assured we will be looking out for all the wildlife, birds and wildflowers along the way. Our guides are experts on spotting things. We regularly see kangaroos, wallabies, deer, wedge-tail eagles, lizards, lots of birds, and much more.
We are happy to organise a custom made or charter tour for couples or groups, especially those with special interests such as bird-watching, photography, 4wding or bush-walking. Contact us for ideas or a quote.
In the unlikely event something does go wrong we have a comprehensive emergency management plan in place. We carry first aid kits and your guide will be a trained first-aider. We also carry Personal Location Beacon in remote areas to ensure we can make contact with emergency services if needed.
We operate with a Toyota Landcruiser 4WD vehicle, which seat 4 passengers. Our vehicles are air-conditioned and fully equipped for travel in remote areas.
Coverage is limited, and at times unreliable. Telstra has the best regional coverage of all the carriers.
Yes, we run tag-along tours.
We allow children to travel on our tours, just keep in mind it can be a long day and the possibility of alcohol consumption at a winery.
Weather
The weather varies in Melbourne and in Victoria, we can even leave Melbourne in rain and it can even be fine once we get over the Great Divide (and vice versa). Most of all, it can be unpredictable.
We do hike in the rain, snow, wind and any other weather conditions that nature decides to throw at us. After all, we’re going on adventures! If the weather is unsafe for any reason, the trip will be changed or postponed. You will be notified before your trip if there are changes due to weather.
Many roads in the High Country are unsealed, and rain can sometimes cause road closures. In the unlikely event that this happens we make every effort possible to re-route the tour, but this is not always possible. There may also be occasions where it is necessary for our guide to make a decision to depart early or change a destination to avoid road closures due to impending rain.