The South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) and Tourism Western Australia (TWA) have joined forces with key operators and a TV personality to promote a range of new safari itineraries.
SATC and TWA have teamed up with TV personality and wildlife expert Ray Mears, who will be the face of a consumer campaign to promote five new safari itineraries that will give visitors to Australia the opportunity to discover the country’s big five –– the koala, the quokka, the whale shark, the echidna and the kangaroo.
Accommodation in these itineraries vary from luxury lodges, to tented camps; boutique hotels to winery sleepovers.
Mears will also front a series of five videos promoting the new safari itineraries. Front line travel agents will be offered training on selling these new itineraries.
The tourist boards are also working with tour operator partners, including Audley, Wexas and Elegant Resorts, that will feature the itineraries in their programmes and be promoted in a variety of channels.
Talking about Australia and its wildlife, outdoors expert, author and TV presenter Ray Mears said: “I’ve been lucky enough to spend time in both South Australia and Western Australia and these new itineraries offer incredible access to some of the world’s most fascinating landscapes and species.
Whether you’re on a conservation tour of Kangaroo Island with the world’s leading expert on short-beaked echidnas or swimming with whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef with marine biologists – a thrilling underwater adventure which also advances scientific knowledge of these mysterious giants of the ocean; guests will enjoy very special wildlife encounters.
“Overlay that with the opportunity to spend time with indigenous guides, explore biodiversity hotspots, indulge in some of the world’s best food and wine and sleep under big Australian skies, and the safari traveller booking these new itineraries will return home with some wonderful stories,” added Mears.
Janice Kurrle, regional manager UK and Europe, South Australian Tourism Commission said: “Safaris have always been associated with Africa, yet these new itineraries spanning South Australia and Western Australia highlight the amazing opportunity to enjoy an immersive Aussie safari experience. We have some of the world’s best field guides who bring the landscapes to life in a highly insightful way without losing the laidback Aussie charm.”
Elen Thomas, UK Country Manager, Tourism Western Australia, said: “Western Australia is so wild but it's also accessible with year round sunshine and a direct flight from the UK. Combing Perth's quokkas and dolphins plus our biodiverse regions like Ningaloo Reef with South Australia’s iconic locations from the Flinders Ranges to Kangaroo Island gives visitors a uniquely Australian wildlife journey and an unforgettable safari experience.”
The new safari itineraries and the associated promotion launch in time for January 2023.
Five hero safari itineraries have been created which include:
• 'Ocean to Outback Safari' – featuring Perth, Ningaloo Reef, Adelaide and the Flinders Ranges
• 'Island Safari' – featuring Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Perth and Rottnest Island
• 'City Safari' – showing how to enjoy urban wildlife in both Adelaide and Perth
• 'Walking Safari' – combining the Kimberley region in northern Western Australia and the Arkaba Walk in the Flinders Ranges region of South Australia
• 'Food and Wine Safari' – featuring Perth, the Margaret River, Adelaide and the McLaren Vale and Barossa
Discover Western Australia and South Australia's wildlife on a 14-night tour with Elegant Resorts. Prices start at £15,340 per person including international and domestic flights and accommodation.
