Gwondana Photography Sightseeing Tour Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Table of Contents

1. Booking information
2. Vehicle, Group size and age limits
3. "Trees to Sea" and "Off The Beaten Track"
4. Sightseeing Tours v Photography Tours - what is the difference?
5. Personal items and clothing to bring
6. Touring in bad weather conditions & cancellations

7. Personal Fitness level - Sightseeing walks
8. Travel insurance
9. How much money do I need to bring?
10. Food, Refreshments and accommodation
11. The importance of professional operator Eco License / Accreditation
12. About Australia and the places we visit with Australian Sightseeing Tours

1. Booking information

At Australian Sightseeing Tours we welcome your inquiries.
When you contact us it is important that you supply the following information so that we can help you to get the best experience from your tour or workshop with us.

1. Your date of arrival in Sydney.
2. The number of dates you have available for a tour.
3. Your preferred tour location ie Sydney, the Sydney coastline, Blue Mountains one or two day tour, rainforest or the four day Narooma, Montague Island and Eurobodalla NP. Perhaps you would like a combination of locations.
4. Your capacity to engage in short bush walks which are normal in National Parks.
5. Catering requirements.
6. Accommodation requirements.
7. Pickup / meeting point.
8. Tour inclusions to meet your budget. Most of our clients prefer to handle their own catering and in some cases accommodation to reduce overall cost.

All our tours offer the basic:

• Pick-up and drop off - interstate & international visitors.
• Transport.
• Entry to National Parks.
• Loan of Trekking poles.
• Photography assistance / tuition.

If your questions aren't answered on this page contact me via email or 'phone: Ken : +61 2 4628 2528 / 02 4628 2528 or Email for additional information.

2. Vehicle, Group size and age limits

• Our tours have a maximum of 6 participants which is dictated by the seating capacity of our luxury touring vehicle.
• We do not take unaccompanied children under 16 years of age.
• Our Tour Vehicle shown above was purchased specifically for our Narooma, Illawarra Coastline and World Heritage Blue Mountains tours.
• This luxury model-has a lot of leg room and leather seats for your comfort. All seats have lap sash seat belts for your safety. Dual zone air-conditioning adds to your comfort and we are sure that you will feel comfortable and arrive at your destination relaxed and refreshed.
• Transport is an inclusion for our Narooma, Illawarra Coastline and World Heritage Blue Mountains tours only. If you require transport for our photography workshops please call to discuss and organise.
• A trailer is used to carry larger luggage items on tour.

NOTE: Smoking and the consumption of food and drink is not allowed on this vehicle. There are however frequent stops on tour which smokers can take advantage of.

3. Boutique "Trees to Sea" and "Off The Beaten Track" Tours in New South Wales National Parks

• " Trees to Sea" tours start in the rainforest and finish by the sea on beaches, rock platforms or headlands.
• "Off The Beaten Track" applies to most of our tours and workshops locations which are not usually on the general tourist routes.
• Most of Australian Sightseeing Tours is with New South Wales National Parks. Entry to all National Parks is included in the cost.
• NSW National Parks offer a tremendous variety of Eco systems, coastal and mountainous panoramas and rainforest locations.
• Road quality is good and facilities can be found in the most frequently visited parks.
• Our custom and very specialised tours introduce you to the experience of being in the rainforest or on the cliff tops.
• Venture out with the whales fur seals, land on Montague Island itself an extinct volcano one of many which built the east coast of Australia.
• See migratory sea birds land and lay eggs within two hours.
• An aboriginal educator, of the Yuin people, one of Australia's First People will take you by 4wd to the top of an extinct volcano where you will hear stories dating back 10's of thousands of years and see one of the most sacred sites in Australia.
• You may stand on some of the oldest rock on earth at a point where is meets Sydney sandstone, a mere 240 million years old.

4. Sightseeing Tours v Photography Tours - what is the difference?

Australian Sightseeing Tours evolved from a photography background and we still run photography workshops and tuition from www.australian-photography-tours.com

Photography advice and assistance is available to anyone on our sightseeing tours but the difference is:

• Sightseeing tours travel to more locations and over greater distances.
• Sightseers are not burdened with heavy camera, tripods, backpacks etc
• Less time is spent at each location because photographers can easily become bogged down with detail.

5. Personal items and clothing to bring

There is a laundry available in the accommodation complex at Narooma.

Personal items

• Sun cream
• Sun glasses
• Personal insect repellent
• Personal toiletries
• Money / credit card for personal shopping, lunches etc

Clothing requirements

• Sturdy comfortable walking shoes with good grip.
• Raincoat and small folding umbrella.
• A beanie, gloves, thermal underwear for cold weather.
• Hat.
• Water bottle

6. Touring in bad weather conditions & cancellations

Our tours operate unless unless there is a severe weather warning for the specific tour location.
For example:

• High temperatures during bush fire conditions.
• High winds which easily cause Australian Gum trees to drop their branches or fall on the unsuspecting passerby.
• Extreme temperatures which can cause dehydration even when prepared.
• Bush fire or flood warnings in the locality of the tour.
• Local bush fire brigade back burning.

Under these circumstances other tour locations will be offered if possible or an alternative date recommended.

Cancellations made within 30 days prior to the tour will be subject to an administrative fee.
Acceptance of an alternative tour or date will incur no administrative fee, please call +61 2 4628 2528 to book your place.
NOTE: Moneys already paid by Gwondana Photography for bookings on your behalf for accommodation and catering cannot be returned in the event of total cancellation by you.

7. Personal Fitness level - Sightseeing walks

Locations are often accessed directly from vehicle with the most distant being 600 metres from car parking areas to cliff tops when whale watching or visiting cliff tops and rock platforms.

Most of our National Park rainforest tours do include walking on approved easy grade trails along gorges up to 3.5 km or 2.17 miles in length. Trails are uneven with slight inclines, short steep flights of steps may be encountered when walking in the Blue Mountains.

Trips to the top of Mt Gulaga on our Narooma tour with the Lynne Thomas on her aboriginal tour is by four wheel drive.

A high degree of fitness is not required but If you have health or mobility issues please talk to us prior to deciding upon booking a tour or workshop.

Contact Ken on +61 2 4628 2528 or email for additional information.

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8. Travel insurance for tour participants

Personal travel insurance is not included in the tour price.
You are required to purchase travel insurance before attending our tours. Your insurance should protect you against any accidental loss or damage to your photographic equipment, as well as any personal injuries or emergency transportation costs and the cost of a companion to travel with you during an emergency situation.

9. How much money do I need to bring?

The inclusions of your boutique tour may or may not include catering and refreshments. This is based on cost established at the time of booking. Some tours include refreshment and lunch.

You will need money for:

1. Dinner, lunch and refreshments if you have not requested their inclusion.
2. Mementos from local shops.

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10. Food & Refreshments

• Mid morning refreshment and lunches are not included in the tour price unless it is a Personalised / Customised tour.
• Refreshments are not included in the workshop price unless stipulated.
• We have access to pubs, clubs and restaurants on our tours / workshops.
• Dietary needs can be met with a large range of dishes on the menu in some locations.
• Food where not included in the tour can be factored in. Most of our clients prefer to handle their own food and accommodation to reduce overall cost.

Accommodation

• The majority of our clients on overnight tours prefer to organise their own accommodation / catering to reduce the overall costs of their tour / holiday.
• Accommodation is not included in the tour price unless stipulated.
• Refreshments / lunch is not included in the tour price unless stipulated.
• If you require accommodation and/ or catering inclusions request this at the time of booking along with any dietary requirements
• We have access to pubs, clubs and restaurants on our tours / workshops.
• Suite accommodation is included for three nights at Narooma for the Narooma, Montague Island and Eurobodalla NP tour.
• Blue Mountains two day tour accommodation is not included but can be arranged.

11. The importance of professional operator Eco License / National T-Qual Accreditation

Australian Sightseeing Tours (Gwondana Photography Tours P/L) meets the Ecological requirements of National Parks for professional tourism in the locations monitored by them. We are also accreditation by T-Qual Accreditation for the high standards we ensure in our business. Make sure that you book with a business that has the required Eco License from National Parks in NSW when you want to enjoy guided experiences in our beautiful parks.

Their guidelines ensure we at Australian Photography Tours:

1. Are aware of environmental and safety requirements of New South Wales National Parks.
2. Work with National Parks by lodging returns on the number of tours and visitors on our activities enabling better management of the tracks, trails and facilities.
3. That there is no conflict with the Rights of locals by over use of their locality.

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12. About Australia and the places we visit with Australian Sightseeing Tours

After arrival in Australia I started bushwalking and was delighted, one could say overawed, by the magnificent coast line of Eastern Australia within the Sydney and Illawarra regions of NSW. The landscapes, seascapes, rainforest and bush were so different to any other place I had previously visited. Our beautiful and ancient coastline arose from the sea created by a string of volcanoes at least 240 million years ago and its history fascinates me to this day.

Sandstone is colourful, soft and easily eroded by the sea, weather, temperature changes and the very plants which grow on it. These elements create some amazing rock formations, textures and patterns. On our tours you will visit areas where the rock ranges from 240 to 415 million years old.

Our First People, the Australian aborigine arrived here maybe 50 to 60 thousand years ago and are thought to be the oldest culture on the planet. Their history and culture is fascinating and I have been privileged to work with them on the environment in the past. I hope to do so in the future.

The flora of Eastern Australia is unique and quite spectacular. Banksia, Bottlebrush and the five metre plus tall Gymea Lilly with its’ huge red flower heads are really beautiful. Grass Trees have the incredibly slow growth rate of only one centimeter per year. They offer some protection against the ravages of bush fire to over sixty different species of native insects and small animals. The Australian gums are a success story living in every climate on the island continent. They can be found growing in the snow throughout the Snowy mountains to the tropical rainforests of Northern Queensland.

Most Australian native animals are nocturnal, however, in one special place you may see Eastern Gray Kangaroos and Wallabies grazing throughout the day. Kangaroos like the gums are also a success story. They have adapted with climate change over time and can be found throughout Australia. Their hopping motion can carry them effortlessly for very long distances at high speeds.

This is what our tours are all about.

• Tel: +61 2 4628 2528 - 02 4628 2528
• Email