The Australian Group Travel Company

Quick Questions with Caroline

Where did the whole travel obsession thing begin?
A year spent in Canada as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student was a great way to kick start a career in travel.  It's an experience I'd recommend to anyone.  I met so many wonderful Canadians as well as other exchange students from around the world.  I still have my awesome Canadian 'family' and have made loads of trips back to Canada and across the globe to catch up with old friends.

Why group travel?
Group travel provides endless scope for touring opportunities and exploring new ideas.  The challenge is much more exciting and the end result is incredibly rewarding when it's multiplied by 30, 40, 50 clients at a time!

Two places you'd most love to visit and why?
Antarctica - because it's the road less travelled.  The Kimberley region of north west Australia because it sounds adventurous.

If you could blow the travel budget what would you do?
Ski at Silver Star (Canada) every year with my family.  We'd stay in the condo's with the outdoor spas right next to the Town chair lift and have lunch at Long John's every day (best ribs and hot chocolates ever!)

Best travel advice you've ever received?
Always check your passport and your kids' passports well ahead of time (I learned this one the hard way myself).  Always get to the airport well ahead of schedule because it's uncanny how things tend to wait to go wrong until the day of your departure.

Most relaxing travel experience?
3 months cruising and snorkelling the Bahama's with my family living aboard our yacht 'Blind Date' was fantastic.  Having my Canadian family join us was the icing on the cake.

Most interesting travel experience?
Exploring and touring in Namibia.  This was an amazing journey as the people, the landscapes and the animals are all incredible.

Most ambitious travel experience?
Crossing the Simpson Desert in 1989 in a solo vehicle with my (then) boyfriend.  He insisted that we travel from east to west as this is the hard way.  The feeling of being in the middle of Australia in such complete isolation and totally dependent on each other and our vehicle was exhilarating.  The skies at night in the Simpson have to be seen to be believed.  The journey ended happily - I married him!

Most rewarding career moment?
Watching the Newcastle Grammar School Cadets march in WW1 uniforms at our nation's first ever Dawn Service on Anzac Day 2008 in France.  The service took place at Villers Bretonneux at the Australian Memorial.  The idea of having students represent our nation at this historical event and the co-ordination of the project was proudly an Australian Group Travel Company initiative.

What's the best thing about working with The Australian Group Travel Company?
It's enormously satisfying to know that every person in every group who travels with us has an experience that is not only great fun but one that teaches some valuable life lessons and has equipped them well for the future.  The second best thing is my great team who make it all happen with me.

Projects that you're working on at the moment?
Mount Saint Benedict College Netball tour to USA & Canada, Newcastle Netballers tour to Singapore, Pimlico State High School History tour.  Also, there's lots going on behind the scenes with new groups and new challenges.

Things you love outside the travel world?
My hubby & kids, sharing in their adventures and their interests.  Sailing and skiing / snowboarding are family favourites.

What are you reading at the moment?
Somme Mud.

Where would you like to be 5 years from now?
I'd like to have fully developed the Service Projects opportunities within The Australian Group Travel Company so that every group who travels with us not only has a great personal experience but has also made a positive difference to someone else's life in the process.  I hope I'll still be sharing in as many adventures with my family as I possibly can while The Australian Group Travel Company continues to produce exceptional tour experiences under the leadership of my great team.