Australian Pacific Touring (APT), has revamped its website to widen its appeal to the consumer in the year that it celebrates its 80th anniversary. This year will also see the opening of APT’s new wilderness lodge in the Northern Territory, and the unveiling of the newly renovated Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge in Western Australia. 

Still family-owned and operated out of its homeland of Australia, APT was founded by Australian entrepreneur Bill McGeary in 1927 and continues to be run by his son, Geoff McGeary. A company that began as a single makeshift bus when a tram strike crippled the city of Melbourne has turned into a hugely successful business that takes over 150,000 people on holiday to Australia, New Zealand and Canada every year.

The new website has been designed to be content-rich and more consumer-friendly, with the aim of encouraging people to use it as a major resource for planning their holiday. APT’s tours range from small luxury adventure tours in some of the most sought-after wilderness spots in the Southern Hemisphere to the ultimate 20 day holiday-of-a-lifetime tour of Australia and/or New Zealand, or Canada and Alaska.

APT’s numbers to Australia and New Zealand have grown steadily with a rise of 15% in 2006. With a wider range of active and adventure-type tours from a day’s duration and longer, such as outback safaris and 4WD tours, APT believes that it has a major role to play in travel Down Under as the market for independent and tailor made travel grows.

APT’s extensive Australian portfolio is being enhanced with two new notable openings. April sees the opening of a brand new lodge, Kings Canyon Wilderness Lodge at Kings Creek Station, a fully operational 1800 sq km cattle and camel station in the Northern Territory. The Lodge will consist of ten luxury tented cabins with full en suite facilities, and gourmet meals served in the stunning surrounds of the Outback. Exclusive to APT, Kings Canyon will cost from £105 per person per night (twin share) including breakfast and dinner.

April also sees the unveiling of APT’s Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge (formerly the Bungle Bungle Wilderness Camp) in the Kimberley, Western Australia. Set in the World Heritage listed Purnululu National Park on Aboriginal land, and also exclusive to APT, Bungle Bungle is undergoing a total refurbishment costing $450,000. All 30 cabins will offer en suite facilities and crisp linen, duvets and towels, hot and cold showers and dedicated camp hosts and cooks. Furthermore, nine tented cabins are being converted to double beds. In keeping with the upgrade, there will be new dining menus, and interpretive flora and fauna trails. Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge will cost £80 per person per night twin share.

Also new to APT in 2007 are its luxury small group adventures, such as through the Coromandel, Marlborough or Fiordland of New Zealand (four day Marlborough Regional Experience from £540 per person); or the Gourmet Wanderer Tour of Tasmania that takes in the very best of the Australian state’s wilderness, wines and food (four day tour from £795 per person).

APT’s escorted tours are the most flexible of any on the market. The Freedom of Choice touring concept means that the length and price of tours can be tailor made to choice. While all the top attractions are included, within the tour and price there are several different options that allow for independence and special interests ranging from hot air ballooning over Christchurch to riding a Harley Davidson around Uluru. Likewise, the Freedom of Choice dining concept means that guests can dine alone, with friends, early or late.
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