Frequently Asked Questions
- Who will lead our group?
- What is included in my trip?
- Where does the tour depart from?
- What about optional tour & activities?
- What about meals?
- What will the weather be like?
- What do I pack?
- Are there luggage restictions?
- Is there an organised seat rotation system?
- Will I be able to buy photographic supplies while on tour?
- What are the facilities like at camping sites & bush camps?
- What about smoking & alcoholic beverages?
- Do you have a roster system for duties?
- What about travel insurance?
- Does the itinery ever change?
- What if I have an emergency?
- How much travelling will be done in a day?
- How do I book?
- What happens if I cancel my booking?
- Is my tour a confirmed departure?
The Crew on all tours consists of a Safari Driver/Tour Leader and a tour Cook. Where necessary, crew may only consist of a tour guide. Special Interest tours have an adittional guide that is specific for that tour. Birding Tours have a Birdwatching leader, our WA Wildflower tour has a Botanist on board.
The itinerary sets out most of the detail. All tours include 4WD surface travel, all camping fees, admission to national parks and meals as indicated in the itinerary (B – BREAKFAST, L – LUNCH, D – DINNER).
The tour fare also includes camping gear - a safari tent (twin share or single basis), foam sleep mat, camp stretcher and a bush dining area with tables and backed chairs. Sole use of tents can be requested at time of booking (limited number available) at no charge.
For the 2011 season, we now offer Sleeping Bag Kits that are available for hire. These kits contain a sleeping bag, a cotton liner and a pillow for your use for the duration of the tour. They are available for hire for $35pp. These need to be prebooked, so let us know if you require this option.
Some itineraries include accommodation, where detailed on brochures. Most accommodation is based on a twin share basis, with a single supplement charge for single people.
Where does the tour depart from?
Check your brochure for departure points as this changes. Tours can depart from Broome, Kununurra, Alice Springs, Cairns, Perth, Adelaide or Sydney. Check your brochure, it will advise specific times for pickup.
What about optional tour & activities?
There are some activities that are not included in the tour price. These activities are labelled ‘optional extras’ in the brochures. Passengers will have a choice as to whether they participate or not. All costs and charges are in addition to the tour fare and are payable by passengers at the time of the activity.
Most tours are fully catered with breakfast (cereals and toast), lunch (salads and cold meats) and dinner (two course meal). Most tours have a dedicated chef to organise the kitchen and ensure that everyone gets excellent meals throughout the tour. If you have any dietary requirements please specify these on your booking form at the time of booking. Sometimes on the itinerary, there are ‘Free’ dinners where we do not include a meal and passengers are free to sample the local cuisine of the town that they are in. These dinners are at passenger’s own expense.
What will the weather be like?
Weather is unpredictable at the best of times. We find that it’s best to pack for all temperatures and conditions.
We suggest that you check the climate of the area that you are visiting before departure to ensure that you pack for the correct climate.
Clothing
The golden rule is "do not pack too much"! Some individual, small plastic bags for storing wet or dirty clothing and footwear are a good idea inside your suitcase. Casual clothes are all that are necessary - comfortable and easy care. For a 2 week tour we suggest - 2 pairs shorts/skirts; 2 pairs jeans/trousers; 1 pair casual slacks; 3 quick drying blouses/shirts; tee-shirts; 2 windcheater/jumpers; socks; underwear; head-scarf/sun hat; bathers; pair of desert boots, or strong rubber-soled shoes; leg gaiters when walking in bush, a light raincoat, ponchos are all that is needed and available from $2 shops; a beanie and warm woollen socks are ideal for cool nights. For Bushwalking tours, please ensure that you bring your walking boots in addition to the list above.
Equipment
A good quality warm sleeping bag is essential; towel; Pears soap will lather in hard water; small pillow; torch (with spare batteries and globe); water bottle (500-750ml); short clothes-line (lacing) and a few pegs; sunscreen; small packet of wet wipes, insect repellent and a camera with spare film. Passengers sensitive to changing water supplies may wish to carry water purification tablets for their own drinking water and eating utensils. (See ‘Eating Utensils’ below). When packing, leave your utensils bag separate from your luggage as you will need it at lunchtime and it will travel in the 4WD with your day pack. For Birdwatching tours, please ensure that you bring your binoculars in addition to the list above.
Handy Tips for Bush Camps:
Keep clothes sorted in aplastic or light cotton bags and use a seperate bag for soiled clothes. Avoid thick bath towels, try a chamois towel, they are much easier to dry and take up less space. Choose toiletries in small quantities, look for firm screw lids, not clip lids as these can easily burst and spoil your luggage. A plastic container such as a 2 Litres ice-cream container is useful - pack small items in your bag and use it at night in your tent as a handy depository for torch, water bottle, tissues, watch etc. It can also be used on bush camps as a personal wash basin. Carry wet wipes with you on tours, as it is handy during the day and to freshen up.
Eating Utensils
You will need to bring the following utensils. These should be carried in a cloth bag with your name clearly marked.
- Plate, bowl, mug (plastic or enamel)
- Knife and fork, dessert spoon and a teaspoon
- Plastic lunch box with lid and named
- Tea towel /Chux
Please notify us of any medical problems you may have and medication required in case of an emergency. Please ensure that you have ample supplies of regular medication before departing on a trip.
Are there luggage restictions?
Due to the amount of equipment needed to conduct a successful camping safari in the outback passengers are reminded of the luggage restrictions. The limit for all combined luggage is not to exceed 20kg. The company reserves the right to weigh luggage at the departure point. Please do not bring large suitcases, stools or stretchers. We reserve the right to reject luggage that is oversize and /or overweight.
Three pieces of luggage are allowable:
- One only, medium size soft bag, i.e. barrel bag.
- Small backpack allowable for day use to be placed in safari vehicle under the seat in front.
- Sleeping bag (no swags allowed)
For remote desert tours, this is restricted to 10kg per person. When travelling along remote desert tracks like the Canning Stocke Route or the Simpson Desert, this is imperative that you adhere to these restrictions.
For Flying Tours, the luggage is restricted to 9kg per person and should also be a a soft barrel bag. This is also strictly adhered to due to weight and balance of the planes that are used.
Is there an organised seat rotation system?
Yes, we do have a rotation system for seating aboard the vehicle, with passengers moving around the vehicle each day. This provides the opportunity for every passenger to sit forward and on a window seat.
Will I be able to buy photographic supplies while on tour?
This is probably one of the most important aspects of your tour, so start out with an ample supply of film. Film can be purchased in main town centres on the tour, however, in remote areas supplies of particular film types can be limited. To protect your valuable camera equipment from dust, we suggest strong, sealable (zip lock) plastic bags. Digital and video cameras can be recharged after evening meals in most caravan parks (not in remote areas). Please ask crew for details.
What are the facilities like at camping sites & bush camps?
Although campgrounds vary considerably in the outback we always choose the best available. Most have grassed areas, clean toilets and shower facilities and clothes washing facilities. A lot of our tours contain a night or two of ‘bush camping’. These camps are always a highlight of the tour and enable everyone to get back to nature and experience the great outdoors, camping under the stars hundreds of kilometres away from anyone else. Hygiene of course is extremely important when in these bush camp situations. A vessel of water and soap is always available, adjacent to the vehicle, which people should use before handling any food, or after “bush visits”. Bush camps of course do not have toilet facilities, so people should practise the art of using the “shovel dunny”, the time proven way of keeping the bush tidy. A spade and a roll of toilet paper are carried a good distance into the bush. We leave nothing but footprints!
What about smoking & alcoholic beverages?
Passengers are not permitted to smoke in the vehicle. Drinking alcohol is also not allowed on the vehicle, however, feel free to relax around the camp with a drink in the evenings. Usually the passengers will run a communal bar with an honesty system.
Do you have a roster system for duties?
In the event that there are two crew members – a tour guide and a cook, we do not run a roster system however, a helping hand is always welcome. In the event that the crew consists of a tour guide only, a roster system will be put in place for the duration of the tour.
We strongly recommend travel insurance against loss of possessions, accidents and cancellation through unforeseen circumstances. Outback Track Tours Pty Ltd is not responsible for loss or damage or theft of luggage and/or personal injury, accidents, illness, hospitalisation or medical expenses. Insurance is now available through Outback Track Tours. We organise insurance through ‘Aussie Travel Cover' Insurance, which is a world-wide Insurance. If you require a quote, please call the office and we can send you a brochure.
Every effort is made to follow the itinerary as laid out in the brochure, however, factors such as road and weather conditions may make it necessary for the safari crew to vary the itinerary. Outback Track Tours does not accept responsibility for expenses incurred due to weather or road conditions, strikes, bushfires or floods.
We have satellite phones on all our tours which means that all our passengers have access to the Royal Flying Doctor if needed. If you would like to leave a contact phone number with family while you are on tour, please give the office phone number on (02) 9439-3056. Alternatively you can contact the office after hourse if it is an emergency on 02-9439-3010. The office can always get a message to crew for passengers to call home for any urgent matters. All messages are treated as a priority by the office and are actioned as soon as possible.
How much travelling will be done in a day?
Australia is a big country. On full days of travelling you may cover approximately 500km a day on rough outback roads. Despite this, even on travelling days we always strive to get into camp before dark. All of our vehicles have air-conditioning, reclining cloth seats, foot rests, and seat belts and are the ultimate for comfortable travel.
A deposit of $250 (camping), $500 (accommodated) or 20% of price (Flying tours), unless otherwise stated on your tour brochure, will apply to confirm your reservation. Final payment is due 45 days prior to departure. Cheques are to be made payable to ‘Outback Track Tours Pty Ltd’. We also accept VISA, MASTERCARD and BANKCARD. All credit card transactions over $250 will attract a 3% fee (as charged by the bank). All tour costs are in Australian Dollars, include GST and are quoted per person.
What happens if I cancel my booking?
In the event of cancellation, the following levies will apply per person. Note that these conditions form part of the booking conditions.
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Days notice of cancellation given
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Amount payable
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45 days or more
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50% of deposit
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44 – 10 days
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80% of full fare
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9 – 0 days
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100% of full fare (No refund)
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Is my tour a confirmed departure?
Every tour operates on minimum numbers. Each tour brochure advises what the minimum number is required for the tour to operate. All tours are not confirmed departures until they have reached the minimum number required. We recommend contacting the office on whether the tour is a confirmed departure before booking flights and accommodation.
