Tag-a-long tours

"You pay for your fuel, food, drinks, accomodation and any repairs when finished so was wondering where the $150 a day goes"

Hmmm .... went on one and the $$$s included food, entry and camping fees etc. Paid for your own fuel and drinks. Seemed quite reasonable to me.

Well never having been on one but I dare say you would get knowledge, experence and support if you are unsure on what you are doing. I guess they would advise on vehicle and personal preperations IE what to take and what not to take. I dare say you would also get into some places most others would not get to see and they would organise any permits if needed. Fuel drops if needed.

I'm not sure I would go on one simply when I trip now if I decide i'm to tired I just stop, this I dare say would be a little hard as you generally need to be somewhere by days end.

No offence intended to any tour operator just my guess is all.

My 2 cents worth.

Brian

Beadell tours offer a 20 self catered, full Gunbarrel hwy tag a long tour for $3000.

Looking at the criteria to do it on you own, I am seriously considering this option.

$150 a day isn't that much for an experienced guide , I charge $220 per day for an experienced guide.

A Tag a long tour wouldn't be my fist choice but if I could do the Gunbarrel with out a hassle well we will see.

Cheers Steve.

I just look at the tour company iternaries for ideas... They usually go to the best spots... Just get there in the morning before them so you have some piece!!!

Cheers, Will.

I've used tour companies for the odd trip I was unwilling to do by myself or with the 4wd club. Best one I did was the Madigan Line with AussieTracks in 2004. And I also organise a lot of trips every year, but would never do that commercially - why ruin a good hobby?

I don't baulk at the cost, because I wouldn't do their job for that sort of money.
After you take out their own vehicle expenses, and business costs, and work out their hourly rate, I figure they are doing it for the love of it. And they supplied the expertise, had a full RFDS medical kit, and had the sat phone for emergency contact. And as it turned out, they plugged all the punctures.

Like Steve, I've also been looking at Beadell tours - take you somewhere well off the beaten track, with a fair bit of expertise.

I think they offer a viable alternative for those just getting into the touring thing and also for those who would like the comfort and support of travelling with a tour group.

We started touring this way and whilst we travel on our own these days I would never rule out doing it again sometime.

Wayne from Great Divide tours is a regular here and you wouldn't find a more helpful person or touring companion.

If you really get down to dollars and cents then yes they can be expensive BUT you get support and expertise. Also, you may get the advantage of access onto private property and heaps of local knowledge that can make a trip interesting. I was on a trip a few years ago where the guide new all about the local flora and fauna, history and up to date facts about farming in a remote area and arranged evening meals with the land owners. That trip in a remote area was the easiest way for me to have back-up support in a remote area and make personal contact with the locals in the limited time that I had available. If you are involved with running a small business you will also know that the operators fees are probably very reasonable. Built in to daily costs are their own holidays, sick leave, liability insurance, vehicle costs, salary etc etc. If you are interested in going on one of these trips then ask the operator if you could contact some one who has been on a previous trip with them.

Hi

Hubby and I have only 6 weeks to wait until we head off to Eighty Mile beach to start our first ever tag-along tour. We're doing the red centre with Tag-Along Tours Broome. It's $3036 for the 2 of us for 23 nights, that includes all caravan park/camping and/or motel fees, entry fees, permits and all activities except a helicopter flight over Uluru. They even provide a BBQ type dinner on several occassions and also provide a shower and toilet at our camp sites. So we only have to pay for fuel and food.

We have wanted to do a desert tour for ages but we are travelling oz on our own and didn't want to do the deserts alone, so this was the best option for us. Also the guides have been doing this for about 30 years so their knowledge of the area alone is worth the money. If we enjoy it this time we will definitely be booking the Kimberley tour with them for June 2008....will let you all know how it goes

Why not join a reputable 4wd club? they usually run tours through the year. i.e. Toyota Lancrusier Club or similar

fujimiester

We did a tag a long tour recently and really enjoyed it, we have already booked another one for later in the year.

Agreed they are not cheap, but it gives you some security and takes you to a few places that you would have not otherwise known about.

My wife is not willing to travel by ourselves, so we do not have a choice.

We are in a club, however they mainly do local trips and one big trip a year.

Chard many tag alongs are excellent particually for novices to touring. You get taken to all the best spots, many unavailable to the average Joe without the worry of planning, navigating, applying for permits, finding a decent campsite or looking for others to travel with in remote areas. You may need to pay $150 a day but that can save you buying or hiring a sat phone or HF radio & includes their mechanical expertise & 4 wheel drive guidence. Before the trip they let you know exactly what's required & may even do a mechanical check on your car ensuring you're ready to go. They do much of the work making the trip more of a holiday particually when fully catered.
Several years ago I wittnessed a tagalong group coming into Birdsville late towing 2 near new Pajero's, one with gearbox failure & one with fuel issues. If they weren't with a group or a tour company the recovery cost from the desert would have been as much as paying for a guide anyway. It's this security that makes them value for money.
On my 1st few central Oz trips I drove past 1/2 of the attractions because I simply didn't know they were there. For this reason I suggest to individuals to tag a long for the first couple of trips to learn the ropes before doing it on your own. 4x4 clubs are another great way to pick up experience as well.
Cheers Craig...............

We did a tag-along on the CSR a couple of years ago, we were lucky in that the guides who we went with new the CSR like the back of their hands, they have written books on it. The track became quite wet when we were up there (the top half anyway, rained and rained and rained) our guides knew the tracks to take so that we didn't all get bogged like 15 other vehicles did at the time. Had a lovely time, we are still friends with the others and other trips have been arranged since then. The CSR was the main one that we needed company and we felt that a tag-along was the go. I think from memory it cost about $1700, they helped with any mechanics that was required on the track, advised what would be needed to take on the trip, gave us so much information about the Canning and we saw places that some others wouldn't have known were there. A wonderful trip.

I guess one of the downfalls of a tag-along could be what the other people were like, it is a bit of a risk as three weeks with someone that you have a personalty clash with could be a problem considering you don't meet until you leave. Must admit it crossed our minds a lot before we met.

Cheers

D