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?
Steve Jobs biography - what a guy!

Where would you like to be 5 years from now?
I'd like to have fully developed Hands On Humanity 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.

Pictures from the family album of some of our recent adventures.

Corsica, France

Zambezi River, Zambia

Exuma Islands, The Bahamas

Suossevlei, Namibia

Silver Star, Canada

Auton, France


Hands on Humanity

Hands on Humanity

What others are saying

"All aspects of our rugby tour to Argentina were handled with great care and effect".  Steve Reid - Merewether Carlton Rugby Club

Steve Reid MCRC Argentina Tour

This trip was a 10 out of 10 expeience.  To demonstrate what a great trip this was, the four teachers came back feeling like they had been on a holiday!

Glenn Edwards - Pimlico State High School, Vietnam Tour 2010

Everything went smoothly and the organisation was excellent. The itinerary was perfect and the sites visited were excellent.

Glenn Edwards - Pimlico State High School, European Study Tour 2009

"Caroline and the team at Australian Group Travel were outstanding. Their communication and attention to all aspects of the tour arrangements were second to none. I would thoroughly recommend Australian Group Travel."

Clive Tanner, Head of Snow Sports, The Scots College

Thanks Caroline for the fantastic daily updates of our children’s trip to Canada and the International Children’s Games. The trip has been a great success.

Helen Campbell Drury - Yarra Valley Grammar, International Children's Games, Canada 2011

"The Australian Group Travel Company has a very efficient structure to provide complete benefits for groups".

Sheena - Kincoppal-Rose Bay School student

Thank you Caroline for doing another fantastic job.  Everyone had a great time and appreciated the professional and well organised tour.

Glenn Edwards Pimlico State High School Vietnam 2010

"Thanks so much for everything you have done.  It has been a brilliant experience for the lads and it is thanks to you and your team.  I would have no hesitation in recommending you to others, and look forward to working with you in the future."

Fady Ibrahim - St Peters Lutheran College

"This whole experience has been an amazing journey for everyone.  The updates have been a lifeline and we have enjoyed them so much.  Thank you!"

Lee Fing - Belmont Christian College

"I can't really thank you enough for all you did to make the tour such a wonderful experience.  Nothing can ever top getting the Royals involved - that was AMAZING!"

Meredith Hudson - Belmont Christian College

"We are so indebted to you for making the trip such an incredible experience for us.  You did a fantastic job organising everything, and I firmly believe the trip would not have been nearly half as good if it had been left in someone else's hands.  So thank you very, very much!"

Ashleigh Rodgers - Belmont Christian College

"My heartfelt thanks for all of your time and effort, and, of course, the thoroughness with which you approached the trip and your passion for travel and looking after people."

Greg Robinson - Hunter Valley Grammar School

"The whole tour was an outstanding success due to the experience, contacts, and meticulous planning of the AGTC team.  It took a lot of the pressure and stress away from the staff and brought excellent publicity to the college.  Thanks Caroline and AGTC."

John Betteridge - Assistant Principal, Belmont Christian College

Thanks so much for keeping us in touch with our kids as they travelled - it made it much more fun for us left at home.  The trip has been wonderful and your service to enable us to enjoy it vicariously was great.  Very many thanks.

Margaret-Anne Faulds - Parent, Barker College Cadet/History Tour

Thank you so much for putting together the updates for us all, it really was very special.  It has been the highlight of our holidays reading your updates as the trip progresses.  I have no doubt it will be the trip of a lifetime, something to cherish and always remember.

Sue McRoberts - Parent, Barker College Cadet/History Tour

Thank you so much for the amazingly sensational job done for the Barker tour.  My son had the absolute best time, and now has the travel bug big time!

Stephen Blood - Parent, Barker College Cadet/History Tour

We were certainly very happy with the way the tour went.  Buses, guides, meals etc were always present and correct and that made our job so much easier.  Thank you for your part in making it such a successful trip.

Greg Longney - Head of History, Barker College

Thank you for putting together such a wonderful trip for the Barker students.  My daughter enjoyed it all so much, and commented a number of times on how well organised everything was.

Rachel Guest - Parent, Barker College Cadet/History Tour

"The trip was great and all of our activities went really well.  Your work, both in Shaoxing but especially in the preparation, played a big part in the success of the tour and it is greatly appreciated."

Gregory Kerr, The University of Newcastle Chamber Choir

"Thank you for a great trip for our U12s to New Zealand.  Bottom line, we had a ball!"

Brian O'Sullivan, Clovelly Eagles

"The tour was absolutely fantastic and everything went so incredibly smoothly.  Thank you for all of your work in making the tour such a fantastic experience for the boys."

Lath Stewart, St Peters Lutheran College

"Thank you very much for organising a great tour for us.  We all benefitted from this experience.  Not only did we learn more about rugby, we learnt knowledge about NZ and their traditions.  So thank you again for sharing it with us."

Lane Cove Junior Rugby U14s

"A great rugby experience.  Well organised, well executed and Keryn always obliged to make everything work for us."

David Bowie, Lane Cove Junior Rugby Club

"Thank you for organising such a great trip for our students.  It was a very memorable and hassle free trip for us all."

Geraldine Campbell, Forest Lake College

Absolutely awesome experience, with a balance of life changing moments.  This well organised tour is a MUST if you have the opportunity.  Thank you Caroline!

Serena Kavanagh - Belmont North Netball Club

We were extremely happy with the service provided to us by AGTC.  From start to finish we found them well organised, friendly and efficient.  They were one step ahead of us the whole way.

Glenn Johnson - Forest Lake College

Thank you for all your hard work.  Our girls had a wonderful time.  Your communication with the parents whilst the girls were on tour was outstanding.

Karen Grant, Mount St Benedict College

Many thanks to Australian Group Travel for your continued support of the International Children's Games and the co-ordination of our Aussie delegations.

Richard Smith - Sec General ICG

Thanks to Australian Group Travel for making our trip to the International Youth Sports Challenge such a success.  The Singapore Sports School was fantastic and the tour organisation was unsurpassed. 

Trude Yen - International Youth Sports Challenge

Everything about this tour - the training, the managers, the coaches, the places we visited and the organisation - was brilliant.

Josh Evans - Jets Youth Development Tour

Our sincere thanks for such a magnificent tour.  Your team are fantastic and your passion and enthusiasm are to be congratulated.  Thank you to your family for sharing you with us.

Stacey Dickinson - Jets Youth Development Tour

What an amazing job you have done.  The trip has surpassed all of our expectations.There is not one thing that could have been changed to improve the trip.

Tracey Burraston - Jets Youth Development Tour

Your organisation before, during and after our tour was exemplary.  You have risen the bar in terms of service, communication and delivery.

Clive Tanner - The Scots College

Thank you for your wonderful organisation of HSHS's recent trip. Your professionalism ensured this was a wonderful trip the students will remember their whole lifetimes.

Louise Gallagher - Principal, Hunter Sports High School

Thank you for your professional and friendly manner when organising our netball trip.  We are all very grateful to you for creating such a fantastic experience.

Brooke Elers, Newcastle Netball Association

The International Children's Games 2008 can only be described as a huge success. The AGTC was exceptional in putting this tour together.

Greg Piper - Mayor, City of Lake Macquarie

"Your attention to detail and the support that you provided to students, staff and parents was exceptional and very much appreciated by everyone."

Sue Middlebrook, Principal Tara Anglican School

This prestigious event was a valuable growing experience for the girls and one they will long remember.  Thank you for your excellent efforts in making this happen.

Larry Bolitho - Mayor, Baulkham Hills Shire

Thank you for your professionalism and tireless support of our group.  You have given our students the opportunity of a lifetime and words cannot adequately express the educational, cultural and emotional experiences had by all.


Rob Barter, Newcastle Grammar School

"Thank you for your professional service.  Nothing was too much trouble and nothing was left to chance.  The organisation you put into the tour resulted in an experience that was enjoyable and memorable for all."

Brett Blake, NSW Country Rugby

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