Tag: Back Roads Tour

Hi Richard, Doug and I are safely home and hope you are having a break. I want to thank you very much for putting the “Spirit” into the safari across the Tanami. I appreciated your care of, and interest in, each of us, and sharing your knowledge of Aboriginal culture, spirituality, both of the land and life in general, made what was quite a physical challenge for me more bearable especially over those couple of days totally in the bush! In fact it was enjoyable. Playing the Ekhart Tolle CD was very thoughtful and special for me, so thanks for sharing that too. The entire trip was really excellent – good food. good company, lots of local information about places and peoples, a spirit of co-operation and fun seeing amazing scenery and wonderful paintings at the art centres. You are a terrific guide and we look forward to another trip in the future (with bathroom amenities for me!!). I will attach a few photos for you. Again, thank you so much for everything. Best Wishes and may the Universe fulfil your dreams.

“Best Day EVER”

Wonderful personalised trip to Central Australia I went on a trip of Central Australia with Spirit Safaris last year through the Western MacDonald ranges to Uluru. We had a wonderful time in a very small group 4WD tour. We opted for the 'roof over the head' option instead of camping and also took the optional trip to Chambers Pillar which is a long day drive over dirt roads. The scenery was amazing and we were looked after really well. The tour was also flexible enough for changes if needed along the way. I highly recommend Spirit Safaris and I'd easily travel with them again and found Richard and Lynne professional and friendly guides. Places like central Australia really need to take a four wheel drive trip if you can. It makes a massive difference to what you will see. I loved Palm Valley, Ormiston Gorge, Gross Bluff meteorite crater and Kings Canyon. Visited September 2016 Kathy M  - Sydney  

Dear Lynne, Just a short note to thank you for your expert guidance on our tour of South Australia and Lake Eyre recently. Joan and I appreciated your depth of knowledge and your total professionalism. On behalf of my sister Joan, thankyou for the side trip to “Reilly’s” – Yours sincerely

An extra-ordinary experience”

Broome to Alice Springs along the Tanami Track Dear Richard, Many thanks for hosting us on a wonderful adventure and discovery journey from Broome to Alice Springs along the Tanami Track. You are an excellent and most accommodating guide, and your knowledge of places and peoples and your expertise of the bush and 4WD driving made it a really enjoyable and rewarding experience for everyone. Each day more than fulfilled our expectations, visiting astronomical wonders of Wolf Creek Meteorite Crater and Gosse Bluff Comet Crater, Palm Valley oasis, Glen Helen gorge and Newhaven wildlife sanctuary with streams and lakes full of water and Central Australia blooming with plants and wildlife from recent rains. The awesome presence, stories and geology of Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Mt. Conner. As well as the opportunity to visit Aboriginal communities to view their iconic artwork, enjoy their love of Aussie Rules footy, and an appreciation and respect of Aboriginal culture, bushcraft and dreamtime legends. Cheers Joe and Coral

Hi Lynne, Thank you for a very informative, interesting tour. While the intention was always to do a flight over Lake Eyre and the flight met my expectations, I found the tour bent beyond what I expected. Your willingness to accommodate my wishes, to show me historical places I didnt even know about and to provide me with a great experience went beyond my expectations. I would have no hesitation in recommending you and your tours to anyon

Your ability to connect me with the land was extraordinary”

Brilliant 4WD Tour Including Lake Eyre in Flood We did this trip a few years ago. It was exceptionally well organised from booking to return. The guide was an excellent driver, and she was very knowledgeable and flexible. She provided perfect food, which meant we weren't stuck with having to return to a pub meal, and we were able to go to Coober Pedy, across to Lake William and Marree, and back through Wilpena Pound. We did a lot of our own research and she was very interested in it, and in getting to as many new places that we had found on top of her planned itinerary. Could not have been better.   Michael M - ACT Australia

Hi Richard, Thank you very much for the wonderful trip and for showing us very special places. The Kimberley’s is much more than we could have imagined. Thank you for sharing your time with us, and we appreciated your cooking expertise, the food was great. (You can share that comment with your doubters) Also a thank you for the caps we wore them around Broome the last day we were there. Thanks again

felt so relaxed, like I had been away a week” (re 3 hr trip)

Trip of a Lifetime Our recent trip with Spirit Safaris - tour guide Richard O’Neil, was a trip of a lifetime. We booked a tour and received an adventure, far exceeding our expectations. Our adventure was ‘off the beaten track’, visiting aboriginal communities in remote areas. This trip was only possible because of Richard’s skills, capabilities, cheerful and pleasant manner. Behind the scenes was a lot of organising and coordination, a basis for a flawless adventure. Thank you Richard, we’re coming back for more! Doug M QLD

Dear Richard,Many thanks for organizing a great trip for us. Adrian was a wonderful host and guide and we enjoyed his company immensely.Regards

“One of the best rock engraving experiences I have ever had”

4x4 Adventure Tour A big "Thank you" must go to Spirit Safaris 4x4 Outback Tours for our most memorable two week journey of discovery through the beautiful Kimberley region of WA. Particular thanks must go to our driver, Adrian. My wife and I have not stopped talking about our excitingly different 11 day Broome to Darwin 4x4 road trip. Adrian's professional manner & genuine friendship, his outstanding 4x4 driving skills, vast local knowledge of the Kimberley geography and it's amazing flora & fauna, knowledge of the ancient regional indigenous rock art sites, etc., was so appreciated and will be remembered for some time. We both loved the concept of this "Australian grown" holiday adventure with Spirit Safaris and it is something we would seriously recommend to all. Thanks again guys. From Brian C

Hi Richard, – Just letting you know that I had the best holiday ever. It was great to get out bush and see country I have never seen before. I can’t believe how clean South Australia is without rubbish. The 10 cent deposit scheme obviously works well. The country was so interesting and seen at its best with all the rain. Paddling in Lake Eyre will put Mothers Day 2012 in the very special category. Flying over early in the morning and the birdlife and colours of Lake Eyre North. Seeing the punt on the Cooper and the birdlife there and also seeing all the water at Innaminka coming down. Staying at resorts and pubs was very pleasant, I normally camp but certainly enjoyed the 5 star trip. We had a fun group and Adrian was great. He had done his homework and was very knowledgeable on the country we traveled and was a careful and capable driver. He didn’t scare me once and I’m not a good passenger as I was in an accident once and now prefer to drive myself. Every time we dissapeared on an airplane or tour he cleaned the car. It was amazing what he did with a scrubbing brush. I felt very spoilt like I was with a group of friends and not on a tour. I just wish we had had more time but I certainly will be back. Many thanks and I will certainly come again. Cheers

“I saw the importance of my role in my company and how I can add so much more value”

Brilliant Trip to Blue Mountains 100% More Special Hi Richard Thought I would drop a line to say "thank you" once again for the  brilliant trip yesterday, in particular the way you were so great with the fact that Martin doesn't go at any kind of fast pace. You made the trip 100% more special, and it was already a fantastic trip. Will recommend spiritsafaris to anyone we know coming to this side of the world. Regards Debbie and Martin x

Hi Richard, I just wanted to thank you again for a most amazing tour. When I first decided to book this tour I had absolutely no expectations other than I was going to see Lake Eyre and a number of other places I had never been to. However this trip was far more than I could ever have imagined. Walking in the magic places your tour took us was such a pleasure and for me a feeling of belonging I am unable to explain. Each section of the trip was so different and I am sure you guys perform magic as each day seemed to include some magic: the amazing cloud of budgerigars, the sunset at Big Red, the sunrise over the waterhole at Mungerannie Hotel just to begin with. The only down point was that the trip had to end. A friend and her husband are heading off for 3 months through the centre to Darwin, across to and down the west coast, I was able to pass on some of the experiences from my trip and wish I was heading off with them. Once again I would like to thank both yourself and Adrian for the places you took us and the amazing amount of information you are able to give to the people on your tours. Our group were an amazing group of people and although you see many people on your tours I am sure this was indeed a very successful trip. Please do not forget to forward details of trips for next year as they begin as I would be very interested in another trip. Regards and best wishes

“I really got why I’ve not been tapping my full potential…. this trip has been a real breakthrough for me … the easy and welcome way that you helped us connect with the land, and with my true self, and the group energy you brought together helped me see this

Richard, I have been meaning to send you an email since our return from the Lake Eyre Coober Pedy trip we did with you earlier this month. My husband, Ray my father and myself want to express how much we enjoyed what your trip covered. Adrian was fantastic and couldn’t do enough for us. Each day we seemed to pack so much in and cover a lot of ground. Nothing was too much trouble for Adrian it was great to have some one with his experience to show us around. Thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the tour and have recommended your company and what you have to offer to all our friends. We travelled in comfort and the accommodation and meals everywhere we stayed were better than we had expected. Adrian catered well and we certainly had a great variety of meals. Appreciate all your and Adrian’s efforts please pass on our best wishes to him and convey how much we enjoyed our tour. Thanks once again and sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

“I rewrote my business plan the next day”

Hi Richard, I want to tell you how wonderful the trip was! Adrian was a wonderful guide, fed us with plenty of good food, took us to places we never would have seen otherwise, and impressed me with his local knowledge and skill as a driver. We saw many off-the-itinerary sites over and beyond those on the list, each one enhancing our knowledge and experience of the areas we visited. He was aware of my needs as a photographer and often stopped so we could take that special shot. The accomodation was lovely, and the flights over lake Eyre and Wilpena Pound were fabulous, and the pilots were excellent (filled a nervous flyer with confidence!). I cannot think how the trip could have been improved. At breakfast the day after the tour’s end, I was talking with the Mulhollands (co-travellers) and asked them how they would sum up the trip in one word. They said, Massive. Fabulous. Magnificent. My first thought was Stupendous. I was also impressed by the way Adrian catered for Reg, our elderly team mate, without condescending, and for myself, a bit overweight and not as fit as I thought! He encouraged without being at all belittling, quite a skill! The Rock art was interesting, but the site was poorly signposted and without much interpretation, I expect we missed a lot of its significance, but it was still a wonderful place to see. Humbling and thought-provoking. Anyway, thanks very much for organizing such a great tour. Although it was a stretch for me financially, I don’t regret a single cent!

Afternoon Richard. We had a great time with you last May and thanks again for the way you supported us and Aden on this fantastic look at the Kimberleys. Gay accidently bought a painting by Donny who I believe you know well. Its got the big round faces which I think is  Gion Gion style. Haven’t got around to the poem yet. It is still a possibly. Take care.We will catch up with you again. Best Regards, Peter Taylor

Great Trip. Everyone is green with envy about such a wonderful trip. Here is a CD of photos I took.  Thanks a lot - Heather

I would like to order one of Paul Lockyer’s books on Lake Eyre please. Russell and I did your tour of Lake Eyre over Easter with Adrian and had a great time.Thank you.

Our trip to the Northern Territories was planned at the last minute and we chose just three travel groups to contact. We intended to fly to Darwin and during the approximately 2 weeks we had until our boat arrived, wanted to see Kakadu, Katherine's Gorge, Alice Springs and Uluru Rock. The other criteria we had was ,at some point, we wanted an Aboriginal guide. Richard of Spirit Safaris was clearly the most responsive and, in short order had a trip planned around the itinerary we had established. But travel is more than sightseeing and each person you meet brings something of themselves to the mix. It is exactly this point that, I felt, made being with Richard and Lynne the right choice. Victor was the perfect balance for an aboriginal guide. Still steeped in his traditions, he was, none the less, open to our curious nature and answered our questions warmly and with insight. His personalized views of his culture, the land and the rock art added to our understanding and appreciation of what we saw. The major attractions for each area are pretty much set, whether you 're on a river or at one of the famous rocks. The information, insights and personalized service distinguished how we experienced each area and was attributable to being with Richard and/or Lynne. Their lunches along the way were a real treat. We had a great time and, despite significant heat, made long hikes, met Victor, our aboriginal guide and accomplished our goal of a total experience. Spirit Safaris is aptly named; it's where Richard and Lynne come from as people. This is the 'secret sauce' they bring to the experience. My wife and I are very experienced travelers. I can't think of better people to have explored the Northern Territories with or...

Richard. This note is a little delayed but none the less heartfelt. We had an enjoyable few days with Adrian commencing in Broome on Monday 12 May. We felt as if we were on holidays with a friend who enjoyed exploring with us. His enthusiasm was contagious. His inquisitiveness & confidence encouraged us to tackle terrain that alone may have bluffed us, resulting in our getting into many rewarding & memorable locations without drama. His guidance on things such as balance, where & how to walk on loose rocks proved helpful both then & since. His wayside enquiries of locals contributed to this not being a mass produced trip. We reckon if Adrian were to specialize in Pilbara ramblings he would continue to come up with gems that escape the common throng. Each trip would build on its predecessor. We were most appreciative of his attention to detail & wish him well. Thanks foe an excellent experience. We will spread the good word. Regards. Jenny & John Denning

Dear Richard, I wanted to express my appreciation and pleasure for having had the opportunity to participate in one of your tours Tho’ a small group we were singularly fortunate with having an excellent and experienced driver, ideal weather, and good companions who readily shared their enjoyment of all parts of the tour . please pass on my appreciation to Adrian Beer for his well run tour I in turn will pass on recommendations to others who may like to similarly enjoy small group outback tours.

We’ve just spent a full month in and around Sydney with our three kids testing the full gamut of custom touring experiences. We wanted to make the chapter aware of two extraordinary companies in particular, because any chapter member would be dazzled by their ability to create “only-in-YPO” magic. - Richard and his partner Lynne create custom, personalized wilderness and outback tours. They obsess over every detail and go “all in” to create over-the-top experiences. Building phenomenal experiences is baked into the DNA of this company and I felt an introduction was in order. We’ve been traveling around the world (24 countries so far) now for 7 months with our children. We’ve worked with a spectrum of custom tour companies and this is the first time I’ve felt compelled to facilitate an introduction to YPO. - Jesse USA