Expert: Mick Maurer - 3/11/2008

Question
We are planning a trip around Christmas for one month, give or take, want to get the most of both Australia & New Zealand..have to see outback, Cairns, andsheep sheering etc.in NZ.  Can we make arrangements ourselves, flights etc or is a tour better??

Answer
Darlene:
It is pretty hard to find an organized tour that will cover everything you want to do and see and not include some things that you might not care about.  One advantage is that you get to interact with other travelers and if you choose an Australia or New Zealand based tour company, a lot of them will be Aussies and Kiwi's.  The disadvantage is you spend a lot of time waiting around for everything to get organized, get in line, get loaded, etc. Some include meals which might or might not be what you prefer on a particular day or night.
You could try to do the trip yourself but Australia is as large as the U.S. and there are so many choices of activities, lodging, transportation options, etc., it is just too overwhelming for most people.
A third option is to retain the services of a travel professional that is both an Aussie Specialist and a Kiwi Specialist.  These people have passed comprehensive examinations on travel in the countries and many have visited the places you want to go and done the things you want to do.  They can make suggestions for activities and experiences you might overlook when trying to do the trip yourself, and the good news is most charge no more for making the arrangements than it would cost you to do it yourself or book a tour.
This type of arrangement can give you as detailed an itinerary as a tour but it can include exactly what you want to do and see and not what a tour operator thinks you want to do and see.  You can determine your own budget and the itinerary can include airport transfers, individual tours, meals, entertainment, and local transportation to whatever degree you desire.
I know I may not appear totally objective because I am an Aussie Specialist and Kiwi Specialist but I have experienced organized tours and attempted to plan a trip myself before I studied to become a specialist. I don't think anything can be better than having your own personalized itinerary that fits your dreams and budget, and provides everything that is good about an organized tour without the drawbacks.
Please email me directly if you would like to determine if an individual itinerary can work for you.  I can also book tours for you if that is a better option or if you would like contact information for other Aussie and Kiwi Specialists, send a follow up question to me at All Experts.

Mick Maurer
Aussie Travel
Aussiemick@aol.com