"Australia is a continent-sized country that rewards exploration above all else. With 30 years of guiding experience, we know where to take you — and how to make sure you come home changed."
🔍 Find Your Perfect Australian Tour
Search from 50+ guided tours across all Australian states and territories — departing weekly from the Gold Coast and Brisbane
Australia: A Continent of Extraordinary Experiences
Discover why Australia remains one of the world's most extraordinary travel destinations — and why guided touring is the very best way to experience it
Australia is not merely a country — it is a continent-sized adventure that defies any single description. Approximately the size of the continental United States, but home to just 27 million people, Australia offers a combination of ancient natural landscapes, sophisticated urban culture, world-class wine regions, and wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. This extraordinary diversity makes guided touring not just convenient but genuinely transformative: local expertise turns good experiences into unforgettable ones.
Cooee Tours has been guiding Australians and international visitors through the nation's most extraordinary experiences since 1994. With over 30 years of local knowledge, ATAS accreditation, and a team of passionate Australian guides, we specialise in crafting touring experiences that go beyond the obvious — revealing hidden gems, authentic encounters, and moments of genuine connection with the places, people, and stories that make Australia what it is.
🏆 Why Choose a Guided Australian Tour?
Australia's scale makes independent travel genuinely challenging. The distances between attractions are enormous, the road conditions in remote areas are unpredictable, and the context that makes Australia's landscapes meaningful — Indigenous cultural significance, ecological stories, geological history — requires expert interpretation to fully appreciate. Guided tours eliminate the logistics, provide the context, and allow you to simply be present in some of the most extraordinary places on Earth.
With Cooee Tours, you also benefit from 30+ years of relationships with attraction operators, cellar doors, and local communities that simply aren't available to independent travellers — delivering access and experiences that go well beyond what you could arrange yourself.
ATAS Accredited
Australia's peak travel industry accreditation — guaranteed quality and compliance
4.8★ Rated
650+ verified reviews on TripAdvisor, Google and Facebook
Expert Local Guides
Passionate Australians with genuine insider knowledge of every destination
Premium Coaches
Air-conditioned, comfortable coaches with ample luggage space
Weekly Departures
Regular scheduled departures plus private charter options
All 7 States & Territories
Comprehensive Australia-wide coverage from one trusted operator
Tour Australia's 7 States & Territories
Each Australian state offers a completely distinct travel experience — from tropical reef and rainforest to ancient desert and pure island wilderness
Queensland — Sunshine, Reef & Rainforest
Australia's holiday state delivers the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, Gold Coast hinterland wineries, and year-round tropical sunshine. Cooee Tours offers more Queensland experiences than any other state.
New South Wales — Icons & Wine Country
Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Blue Mountains wilderness, Hunter Valley's 150+ cellar doors, and some of the world's most beautiful coastal scenery — NSW delivers relentlessly.
Victoria — Cafés, Coast & Culture
Melbourne leads the world in specialty coffee culture, artisan food, and creative living. Beyond the city, the Great Ocean Road, Twelve Apostles, and Yarra Valley deliver breathtaking experiences.
South Australia — Barossa & Beyond
Australia's undisputed wine capital, South Australia produces over half the nation's wine. Add pristine Kangaroo Island wildlife, Spencer Gulf seafood, and Adelaide's acclaimed food scene.
Western Australia — Wild Coast & Margaret River
WA's sheer scale is breathtaking. Pristine Indian Ocean beaches, Margaret River's world-class Cabernet, Rottnest Island's quokkas, and the remote Kimberley await the adventurous explorer.
Tasmania — Pure Wilderness & Whisky
Australia's island state surprises every visitor. Cradle Mountain, Wineglass Bay, Bruny Island oysters, boutique whisky distilleries, and a food culture that punches well above its weight globally.
Northern Territory — Uluru & Ancient Culture
The Northern Territory is Australia at its most ancient and most moving. Uluru's sacred red rock, Kakadu's extraordinary ecosystems, and Indigenous cultural experiences of profound depth and significance.
Australian Tour Types
From sunrise reef snorkelling to sunset wine tastings, motorsport events to night photography — Cooee Tours covers the full spectrum of Australian experiences
Guided Day Trips
Our most popular format — full-day expertly guided coach tours departing from the Gold Coast and Brisbane to Queensland's most iconic destinations.
From $89 per personWine & Cellar Door Tours
Dedicated driver means you can drink freely and safely. Hinterland Heritage Wine Tour, Husk Distillery, Hunter Valley, Barossa and beyond — all covered.
From $129 per personWildlife Encounters
Ethical, accredited wildlife experiences led by knowledgeable guides. Kangaroos, koalas, platypus, quokkas, penguins and more — seen responsibly.
From $99 per personCoastal & Beach Adventures
Queensland and NSW coastal tours showcasing pristine beaches, snorkelling, lighthouse walks, and the fresh seafood that defines Australian coastal culture.
From $89 per personNight Photography Tours
Award-winning star trails, Milky Way, light painting and long-exposure photography experiences for beginners and serious photographers alike.
From $149 per personMotorsport & Events Tours
VIP packages for Australia's biggest motorsport events — Bathurst 1000, Supercars Championship, F1 Grand Prix, MotoGP, IndyCar and more.
From $189 per personCultural & Heritage Tours
Indigenous cultural experiences, historic goldfields, colonial heritage, art gallery walks, and garden festivals that reveal Australia's layered cultural identity.
From $89 per personCustom & Private Charters
Bespoke itineraries designed around your group, interests, and schedule. Full flexibility, private guide, and exclusive experiences — tailored completely to you.
From $POACan't Find What You're Looking For?
Our team has 30+ years of experience designing custom Australian touring itineraries. Tell us what you want to experience — we'll make it happen.
Why 650+ Travellers Chose Cooee Tours
Experience counts when you're travelling Australia. Here's what sets Cooee Tours apart from every other operator on the road.
30+ Years of Local Knowledge
Since 1994, we've been refining every itinerary, building relationships with the best local operators, and discovering the hidden gems that make our tours genuinely different. This knowledge simply cannot be replicated.
ATAS Accredited & TripAdvisor CoE
Full ATAS accreditation means we meet Australia's highest standards for financial management, customer service, and industry compliance. Our TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence reflects consistently excellent guest experiences.
Senior & Over 50s Specialists
Many of our tours are specifically designed for mature travellers — well-paced itineraries, comfortable coaches, knowledgeable guides, and an understanding of what makes a truly relaxing but genuinely enriching touring experience.
Dedicated Driver — You Drink
On all wine and cellar door tours, we drive so you don't have to. Enjoy every tasting fully and safely, with no designated driver worries, no calculating who's had too much, and no compromises on the experience.
Sustainable & Responsible Tourism
We are committed to operating tours that respect Australia's extraordinary natural and cultural heritage. We work exclusively with accredited ethical wildlife operators, support Indigenous enterprises, and follow responsible tourism principles.
Personal Service — Real People
When you call or email Cooee Tours, you speak to a real Australian with genuine knowledge of our tours and destinations. We're not a booking algorithm — we're a team of travel-passionate people who care about your experience.
Best Time to Tour Australia
Australia's size means dramatically different seasons in different regions. Here's how to time your trip perfectly for every destination.
Spring — September to November
Perfect for Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and South Australia. Wildflowers bloom across Western Australia's southwest in extraordinary displays. The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers transforms Queensland's Garden City in September. Warm days, mild evenings, and minimal crowds make spring the most pleasant all-round touring season.
Summer — December to February
Tasmania is superb in summer — warm, long days and accessible wilderness. Cricket season and beach culture peak along the east coast. The Northern Territory's wet season produces extraordinary waterfalls and lush landscapes in Kakadu, though some roads may be inaccessible. Hot in the interior and excellent for alpine Victoria.
Autumn — March to May
Arguably Australia's finest touring season. Comfortable temperatures everywhere, wine harvest festivals across the Barossa, Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley and Hinterland, fewer crowds, and stunning autumn colour in Victoria's elevated wine regions. Queensland's hinterland cellar doors are at their very best in April and May.
Winter/Dry Season — June to August
The absolute best time for Queensland and the entire tropical north. Crystal-clear skies, manageable temperatures, and full access to Kakadu's otherwise-flooded billabongs and Kimberley gorges. Uluru glows deepest crimson in winter morning light. Perfect for the Outback, the Top End, and for enjoying Queensland without summer heat and humidity.
Booking Advice for Australian Tours
- Book 2–4 weeks ahead: Most day trips can be booked up to a week in advance, but popular wine tours, motorsport events, and seasonal experiences fill rapidly — especially during school holidays.
- School holidays fill fast: December–January and June–July are peak school holiday periods. Demand for Queensland tours in particular is very high during these windows.
- Seasonal tours sell out: Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, harvest festivals, and special events are limited-capacity experiences. Book as early as possible for these.
- Group bookings: For groups of 6 or more, contact us directly for group rates, customised itineraries, and tailored pickup arrangements.
- Weather flexibility: Some outdoor tours are weather-dependent. We'll always communicate any changes promptly and work to reschedule where possible.
The Essential Guide to Touring Australia
Everything you need to know before you book — from scale and logistics to cultural considerations and insider tips
Understanding Australia's Scale
Australia is almost exactly the same land area as the continental United States. Sydney to Perth is approximately the same flying distance as New York to Los Angeles. This is not a travel brochure exaggeration — it is essential planning context. The single most common mistake made by first-time visitors is attempting to cover multiple states in a single trip, ending up exhausted and rushed. Our strongest advice: choose one or two regions and explore them deeply. A focused two-week Queensland and NSW itinerary will deliver infinitely more authentic, memorable experiences than a rushed continental sweep.
The best Australian travel experiences happen when you slow down, look closely, and let the country reveal itself at its own pace. We've been helping people do exactly that since 1994.
— Cooee Tours, Queensland's Touring SpecialistsQueensland: Cooee Tours' Home Ground
Queensland is where Cooee Tours began, and where our knowledge runs deepest. The Sunshine State offers more accessible touring variety than anywhere else in Australia: tropical reef and rainforest in the north, world-class hinterland wineries and distilleries in the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast hinterlands, fertile Darling Downs farmland, dramatic Granite Belt wine country near the NSW border, and the extraordinary outback landscapes of Longreach and beyond. Day trip options from the Gold Coast and Brisbane are extraordinary in their variety — we operate tours ranging from the internationally famous Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers to intimate Hinterland Heritage Wine experiences and Husk Distillery rum immersions.
Respecting Australia's Indigenous Cultural Heritage
Australia's First Nations peoples represent the world's oldest continuous culture — over 65,000 years of deep connection to Country. Every tour we operate takes place on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Country, and we approach this responsibility with genuine respect. We encourage all guests to learn the name of the Country they're visiting, seek out Indigenous-led cultural experiences, and follow all protocols at culturally significant sites. Climbing Uluru was permanently prohibited in 2019 in accordance with Anangu traditional law; the base walk is both the respectful and the genuinely more revealing alternative. Supporting Indigenous-owned tourism enterprises creates direct economic benefit for communities that have been custodians of this land for thousands of generations.
What to Expect on a Cooee Tours Guided Experience
Every Cooee Tour begins with a friendly, knowledgeable guide who will become your companion, narrator, and logistics expert for the day. Our guides are passionate Australians — they know the stories behind every attraction, the best spot for photographs, the local café worth stopping for, and the subtle details that transform a sightseeing trip into a genuine experience. Our coaches are comfortable and air-conditioned, our itineraries are considered and well-paced, and our relationships with local operators mean you often get access and experiences that aren't available to independent visitors. From the moment you board to the moment we drop you home, our job is simply to ensure you have an extraordinary day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about booking and travelling with Cooee Tours across Australia
What tours does Cooee Tours offer in Australia?
Cooee Tours offers a comprehensive range of guided touring experiences across Australia, including day trips, multi-day packages, wine and cellar door tours, wildlife encounters, coastal adventures, motorsport event packages, night photography tours, cultural and heritage experiences, and fully bespoke custom private charters.
Our Queensland tours are particularly comprehensive, departing regularly from the Gold Coast and Brisbane to destinations including Toowoomba, Tropical Fruit World, Husk Distillery, the Gold Coast Hinterland, and the Granite Belt wine region. We also offer tours across all other Australian states and territories.
Where do Cooee Tours depart from?
Most Cooee Tours depart from Gold Coast and Brisbane pickup points. Specific pickup locations vary by tour and are detailed on each individual tour page. Common pickup points include Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, Robina, and central Brisbane locations.
We also offer private charter tours with custom pickup arrangements for groups. Contact us to discuss the pickup option that works best for your location.
How far in advance should I book?
We recommend booking at least 2–4 weeks in advance for most tours, and significantly earlier for popular seasonal experiences. Key booking timelines:
- Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers — book 4–8 weeks ahead (very limited capacity)
- Wine tours and distillery experiences — book 2–4 weeks ahead
- School holiday departures — book 4–6 weeks ahead minimum
- Motorsport event packages — book as soon as events are announced
- Regular day trips — often available up to 1 week ahead, but earlier is always better
Are Cooee Tours suitable for seniors and Over 50s travellers?
Absolutely. Cooee Tours has a long history of operating tours specifically designed for mature and senior travellers. Our itineraries are thoughtfully paced, our coaches are comfortable, our guides are experienced with senior groups, and we have well-established relationships with the Over50sMeetup community.
We understand that a great senior touring experience requires the right balance of activity, rest, commentary, and flexibility. Our guides are trained to support guests with varying mobility requirements — contact us to discuss any specific needs before booking.
What is included in Cooee Tours packages?
Inclusions vary by tour but all Cooee Tours include air-conditioned premium coach transport, expert commentary from a professional Australian guide, and designated pickup and drop-off from published pickup points.
Additional inclusions that vary by tour: entry fees, cellar door tastings, meals, morning and afternoon tea, and activity equipment. Full inclusions are listed on each individual tour page. For any questions about a specific tour's inclusions, call us on +61 (0) 409 661 342.
Is Cooee Tours ATAS accredited?
Yes. Cooee Tours is fully accredited with ATAS — the Australian Travel Accreditation Scheme — which is the peak accreditation body for Australian travel and tourism operators. ATAS accreditation requires operators to meet rigorous standards covering financial management, consumer protection, customer service, and professional conduct.
We also hold a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, recognising consistently excellent guest experiences across hundreds of verified reviews. Our ABN is 12 343 872 092.
What is the best time of year to tour Australia?
The best time depends entirely on where in Australia you want to go. Our general guide:
- Queensland and tropical north: May–October dry season — clear skies, comfortable temperatures, full access
- Sydney and NSW: Spring (Sep–Nov) and Autumn (Mar–May)
- Melbourne and Victoria: Spring and Autumn — Summer for the Alps, Great Ocean Road year-round
- South Australia: Spring and Autumn — harvest season (Feb–April) for wine regions
- Outback and Uluru: Winter (June–August) for manageable temperatures and extraordinary light
- Tasmania: Summer (Dec–Feb) for wilderness access and long days