TECHNICAL DETAILS
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ADVENTURE CAMPING TOURS
We've made it easy. We supply everything needed to make camping holidays comfortable and fun! We provide all the necessary camping equipment including high quality easy to erect tents, cold food storage containers, camp lights, stoves and other camp accessories.
Campgrounds situated in stunning natural settings give our groups' opportunities not found by conventional tourists. Although they may vary significanctly in terms of quality and service, most national park campgrounds have basic facilities including pay showers and flush toilets. Where we choose to stay in more isolated areas or 'bush camps' (indicated by BC in the itinerary) the surroundings will quickly make you forget any lack of facilities. On some of our more adventurous tours we enjoy the unique experience of sleeping outdoors in swags (a mattress and sleeping bag in a canvas bag).
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SPECIALIST LOCAL OPERATORS
OzXposure enables you to explore further off the beaten path and into even more remote regions of Australia and New Zealand by utilising the specialist expertise of regional operators. Our independent regional operators are carefully selected for their vast knowledge, experience and professionalism and in many cases use specifically designed 4WD vehicles to cope with the more rugged terrain. Please note that some of these tours are not exclusive to OzXposure, so will be joing a group of passengers represented by a different company. Rest assured, that these independent operators maintain OzXposures philosophy for delivering frindly, personal tours that offer unbeatable value for money.
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THE FOOD KITTY
On many of our camping and lodging tours, our groups share in the preperation and cooking of the food. Supplies, excluding soft drinks and alcohol, are purchased from the food kitty and each member of the group pays AUD/NZD$70 per week. this covers three meals on most days; eating fresh foods that we purchase as we travel to satisfy the international flavour of the group - a healthy way to travel at an unbeatable price. Naturally this does not cover hotel stops or when OzXposure groups sometimes sample regional cuisine at local restaurants. Most meals are provided on the majority of our Western australian tours and on selected Northern Territory tours - see tour page for details.
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LODGING TOURS
We make great use of a range of different styles of accommodation during the course of the tours, anything from hostels, cabins, lodges, ranches, motels and hotels - with the occasional pub stay or overnight on a sailboat. Most nights are based on multi-share and where possible, we try to accommodate couples. Twin share rooms cannot be guaranteed but may be requested for a supplement. All our New Zealand tours are in single sex accommodation only. Please ask your OzXposure sales consultant for more information and prices.
A sleeping bag is not required on our fully accommodated lodging tours in Australia or New Zealand.
All en route accommodation is included in the price of your tour and you will find the style of the accommodation indicated in the tour itinerary for each night.
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TRAINING
It is our belief that the most important ingredient for the success of any tour is the tour leader, and we are extremely proud of the high professional standards set by our tour leaders. Our training programme begins with recruiting the right people and developing their natural talents to be great team leaders.
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OUR FLEET
We use a range of well maintained vehicles specifically suited to the type of terrain we will be travelling through, from comfortable mini buses to 4WD Troop Carriers and big 4WD 16-25 seaters. All are equippedwith air-conditioning and many have excellent stereo systems. On most of our trips you will be virtually self sufficient and able to explore the back roads 'where the crowds can't go.
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PASSPORT AND VISA
You will need a valid passport, together with visas where necessary, for all the countries that you will visit. To apply for an Australian visa online, please visit the following website: www.eta.immi.gov.au. For information on New Zealand visas please visit: www.immigration.govt.nz.
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TOUR DEPARTURES AND FINISH
Tour and accommodation vouchers and our Trek Tips (providing you with all essential pre tour information) will be emailed to you on receipt of final payment, after any ammendments and again approxiamately 6 weeks prior to your tour departure. Most Treks begin and end at our gateway hotels. You will normally depart at approximately 7:30am. Some of our tours may start or finish earlier so please see Trip Details and check your voucher for accurate pick-up points and times. On the final day, your tour will normally arrive at the hotel around 5:00pm (1700 hours). If you require hotel accommodation on thias night, you MUST buy an accommodation voucher in advance.
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HOTEL TRANSFERS
All OzXposure passengers make their own way to and from our pre/post hotels. You will find detailed instructions on how to get to our hotels in your Trek Tips which we send you with your confirmation/invoice.
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PRE AND POST TOUR HOTELS
We can offer discounted rates on pre and post tour accommodation. these 'gateway' hotels are conveniently located in each of our departure and arrival cities. Rooms are based on twin share as most passengers prefer to stay with other tour participants at an affordable price - it's also a great opportunity to make friends with your fellow travellers. Reservations at our gateway hotels can be made on the booking form by indicating the number of nights you require (1 night before and 1 night after in all gateway hotels).
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COMBINATION TOURS
Tours featured in our brochure or on our website may be part of a longer combination tour. For example, the two shorter NZ tours comprise of the longer Grand Island Explorer. Being able to combine these tours allows us to offer more departures to give our clients a greater selection of departure dates and gateway cities.
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ITINERARY CHANGES
Our routes have been carefully chosen to include the best night stops and highlights, and we endeavour to run all tours as they are published in the brochure; however, it is sometimes necessary to alter itineraries to adapt to local conditions and park entrance regulations. We will make every attempt to notify you in case of any major alteration to your tour.
Your tour leader will provide a more detailed trip outline at the beginning of your tour and will look to maintain a degree of flexibilty throughout the course of your journey, catering to the specific interests of the group and taking advantage of specific opportunities as they arise.
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SLEEPING BAGS
If your tour includes camping nights you will need to bring a sleeping bag - a 3-4 season sleeping bag is recommended. We provide thermal sleeping mats, but encourage you to bring your own self inflating sleeping mat for added comfort. You can purchase a 3-4 season sleeping bag from us on any of our tours departing from Sydney for AUD$70, and sleeping bags are available for hire on selected Northern Territory tours and on all of our Western Australian departures.
A sleeping bag is not required on our fully accommodated tours in Australia and New Zealand.
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LUGGAGE
Your luggage will either be carried in a trailer behind the vehicle or on the vehicle itself and on the majority of our tours you're able to bring a medium sized suitcase, soft rucksack or duffel bag up to a maximum of 20kg in weight.
There is a weight restriction of 15kg on all of our Western Australian tours, as well as the 4WD Red Centre Safari, Inner Oz and Territory In-Depth tours. No suitcases are allowed on these tours and we reccommend you bring a rucksack or duffel bag together with a small daypack.
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VEHICLE
It may be necessary from time to time to substitute another vehicle for the one described in the brochure or on the website, or to change the number of persons carried in any vehicle.
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MEDICAL
You should consult your doctor concerning which inoculations are advisable and necessary for the specific areas that you will visit. Illness or dental trouble can spoil your holiday, so it's always wise to have a thorough check-up before you leave home.
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LEVEL OF FITNESS
Although our vehicles do most of the work, in many cases the last few kilometres are covered by foot. A certain amount of fitness is required to hike into the spectacular gorges and other places of interest. Since fitness levels are hard to gauge, we ask only that you be active, healthy and have a desire to be outdoors. We require you to notify us at the time of booking of any medical conditions that may affect you during the course of your tour.
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AGE LIMITS
OzXposure tours are designed for adults (18+). However, due to the nature of these tours, they tend to incorporate activities and nightlife that appeal to the young and young at heart. Naturally people of different ages and backgrounds have different interests, so a spirit of adventure and flexibility are essential. Please note: on our 12-day Territory In-Depth tour you may be travelling with families and children (aged 8+).
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LANGUAGE
Although passengers come from many countries around the world, all tours are conducted in English.
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CLIMATE AND CLOTHING
Australia is by nature a warm and friendly place. You can expect high temperatures in the summer but be prepared for lower temperatures at night and during the Australian winter (May to September), with conditions changing quickly, especially in South Australia.
In Northern Queensland and around Darwin the weather can be very humid in the summer wet season (October to April) and we recommend you bring a sheet sleeping bag as well as your three season sleeping bag at this time of year, with plenty of insect repellent and sun lotion.
Renowned for having four seasons in one day, New Zealand can vary considerably in terms of temperature from a relatively mild North to cooler temperatures in the lower South Island, so be prepared for rain and even snow at times.
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