AUSTRALIAN PACIFIC TOURS

The "seeds" of Australian Pacific Tours (APT) were sown in Victoria during the 1920's when an enterprising young man named Bill McGeary saw an opportunity during a cable tram strike in Melbourne, to enter the passenger transport business by building a bus body onto a tray truck and operating over part of the tram route.

Progressing through other bus ventures Bill McGeary emerged in the early 1930s as the owner of a 3-bus run in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton. In 1961, with his health deteriorating, Bill's 19-year old son Geoff was granted an under-age bus-driving licence in order to take over the business and believing there was a demand, concentrated on extended coach tours within Australia and in 1967 seeing the expanding business prosper, "Australian Pacific Tours" for formed, thus becoming the state's largest coach charter operator.

Australian Pacific developed rapidly and by 1974 had devised a programme of coach touring holidays ideally suited to the demands of the Australian holidaymaker. Deciding to specialise in this field, the Company sold off the old charter coaches and bought the first Mercedes-Benz fully air-conditioned, toilet-equipped luxury coaches, which were to revolutionise coach travel in Australia and in ensuing years become synonymous with Australian Pacific quality.

Today APT takes the approach that you may never go back to the same places again, so not wanting to miss major highlights, all sightseeing and attractions are included with no hidden extra's, giving the very best touring available and a most memorable holiday.

The highest priority is that you are welcomed and treated as an individual and will enjoy the companionship, convenience and camaraderie of travelling with a group, but the flexibility of being able to do your own thing. Typically, tours include a number of single people either travelling by themselves or with friends and for many, part of the enjoyment of the tour is to meet & mix with people from all over the world. APT always make sure that single travellers meet, mingle and enjoy the ambience and camaraderie of the group.

APT has planned its itineraries to perfection, with the right balance of sightseeing and leisure time, exploring and shopping time, fun time and time for relaxing. An APT tour is ideal for those wishing to learn more and broaden their horizons. All itineraries offer a stimulating and educational experience with each tour being a mix of culture and entertainment, sightseeing, unique highlights and leisure time and group fun with fellow travellers from all over the world, yet, total privacy. All adding up to a memorable holiday

All APT coaches offer the ultimate in comfort and safety, featuring advanced breaking system, reclining seats, full toilet facilities, individual public address system, video, the best air conditioning and ample leg room. In Australia the coaches are fitted with seatbelts and will even kneel for easy entry and exit.

The accommodation is one of the most important elements of any holiday and all hotels have been carefully selected for all tours. Stays are in comfortable hotels, possibly hotels that are well know and have been heard of. APT has a worldwide reputation of unrivalled quality and value in hotel selections, all in or near national parks, historical reserves and major towns in the centre of key sightseeing locations. Staying at the closest hotels, will give maximum time to experience and appreciate all there is to see and do.

APT know how important meals are to the success of the holiday and this is why they have placed particular attention and care in ensuring that your meals are a memorable dining experience. APT pioneered the Freedom of Choice dining concept to give you the widest selection of dining choices and an opportunity to sample local specialities.

All the APT Tour Directors and Coach Captains and Guides are specially selected for their tremendous knowledge, their great personalities and their ability to relate to people. They will become your friend on tour, and someone you can turn to for advice, information, assistance and with whom you will share local knowledge and all those fascinating stories that you will simply not find in guide books.

All APT Escorted Tour Prices that are shown in Australian Dollars are there only as a guideline. The exact tour cost will be advised upon request or at time of booking confirmation.