Aussie Off Road Tours

Overview

Finishing the tour with drinks and nibbles
on Gantheaume Point Beach

• Explore the wonders of remote areas of the Kimberley: tours visit local tourist spots such as Cable beach, various aboriginal communities such as Biridu, fantastic remote gorges such Windjana and Geikie, spectacular waterfalls such as the Mitchell and Manning Falls, National parks such as Purnululu and station stays on Mt Hart, Mt Elizabeth, El Questro and Home Valley.
• Share the diverse history of the Kimberley area: with reference material on local history, local knowledge and the knowledge of local guides clients get a diverse view of the history of the Kimberley.
• View magnificent scenery of the Kimberley: visiting places such as Cape Leveque, Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Gibb River Road, Mitchell Falls and Purnululu National Park which all have unique views and scenery.
• Link in with local Aboriginal guides who are the custodians of the areas we visit: we link in with local guides who have grown up in the area and can share their stories with clients. Using local guides also gives us the opportunity to support other individuals and communities in growing their own small tourist businesses.
• Develop a greater understanding of Aboriginal history: clients have the opportunity to develop a greater understanding of Indigenous history and people.
• Have hands on, authentic experience with Aboriginal culture: clients get the opportunity to find and sample bush tucker, participate in smoking ceremonies, listen to traditional stories around the camp fire, make damper and camp out under the stars. Many of these activities are conducted by local Aboriginal guides who are from the areas visited.
  

About the owners

Sally, Lisa and Keith Capewell

Aussie Off Road Tours is run by husband, wife and daughter team, Keith, Sally and Lisa Capewell. When living in Shark Bay in the 1980s, Sally and Keith were based at Monkey Mia and helped manage the caravan park. During the last 25 years they have travelled extensively throughout Australia which has given them an excellent understanding of what their clients will want and need whilst on their travels.

Co-owner and lead guide Keith Capewell, has a rich Indigenous family heritage, with knowledge and stories passed down through the generations. Keith is from the Shark Bay area and is from the Nanda tribe in the Murchison area.

Cultural authenticity

Clients participating in a Smoking Ceremony
at Biridu Community

Tours provide an authentic experience for clients by linking in with local Indigenous guides who are custodians of the areas visited. Both Keith and Lisa are Indigenous, and are respectful of Indigenous protocols. They are able to share general information about Australian Indigenous cultures with their guests, though rely of the local custodians for sharing their stories and information as appropriate.

Lisa and Keith always identify whose country they are travelling through and have sought and received the support of the local communities and surrounding businesses for each of their tour itineraries.

Designing custom tours

Aussie Off Road Tours specialize in designing flexible itineraries for smaller groups. These tours are planned in consultation with each client group who wish to participate in choosing the experience they have. Keith's knowledge of the local area and his contacts in the local Indigenous communities assist tailoring itineraries to suite customers specific needs. As a result each tour is unique. Feedback received has been very positive with clients saying their experience was 'unforgettable' because they were able to choose where and when they stopped, making the most of the Kimberley environment.

Education and interpretation

Local guide relates a Biridu story

Clients are able to experience contemporary lifestyles and learn about the history and natural environment which is unique to each stop on the itinerary.

Supporting other Aboriginal businesses

When visiting Biridu Community, near Fitzroy Crossing, local elder Dillon Andrews and his family share with traditions and dreamtime stories. Dillon leads a visit to a remote Indigenous art site and gives hands-on demonstrations of local bush tucker.

The tour company has just launched an exciting new Minyirr Cultural Experience. They worked closely with the Yawuru people of Broome to develop this tour. Local elders and custodians will walk with us on tour and share their unique knowledge, stories, history and culture.

Sustainability

Aussie Off Road Tours educate clients to respect and preserve the lands visited. They set examples by using environmental and culturally respectful practices such as collecting rubbish left behind by others and not visiting environmental and culturally sensitive areas. They maintain a fleet of small four wheel drive vehicles to enable them to gently access remote localities and minimise the environmental footprint.

Other sustainability initiatives include:

• Using vehicles suited to the number of passengers to minimise carbon emissions
• Recycling paper for scrap paper and mulch
• Recycling aluminium cans and bottles and minimising packaging for catering by using reusable containers
• Tour guides putting out camp fire pits responsibly when used
• Composting food waste and growing vegetables for catering
• Always staying on established tracks to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles in the bush
• Seeking up to date information from local experts in regard to any factors which may impact on the tour e.g. bushfires or animal migration
• Ensuring no insect repellents or sunscreen is used before swimming in natural waterholes

Business growth and improvements

The Aussie Off Road Tour business experienced a successful and busy season in 2008 and forward bookings for 2009 are looking very strong. The business has three vehicles in operation and these are chosen to match the group size on tour and the areas being visited.

Groups of no more 12 people are taken on any single tour and a tag along service is also available where appropriate. In 2008 Aussie Off Road Tours took out over 300 clients on their tours.

To improve the marketing of the business, new brochures and a new website were designed last year to reflect the Indigenous cultural emphasis of the business and capture the friendly family run nature of the business.

New equipment has been purchased; vehicles have been detailed and improved with new suspension, new air-conditioning and other enhancements to improve comfort and safety. The owners have worked closely with business mentors to compile a comprehensive business plan and carry out an annual review to continue to drive improvements the business profitability, product development, customer experience, procedures and policies.

Feedback from customers

• 'Thank you for your care and consideration......You made our outback experience more like a luxury cruise'. Connie, July 2008
• 'Had a great trip. Would certainly do another tour with you'. Sarah, June 2008
• 'Very friendly, knowledgeable.....thoroughly enjoyable experience'. Rex, June 2008
• 'Enjoyed the stories and history of the area.....great lunch' Emma, July 2008
• 'A very pleasant trip with a very pleasant and informative guide .....We would recommend them'. Ray and Betty, July 2008
• 'Great trip, small group, great guides....... would recommend to others' Stuart, August 2008

Key success factors

Keith and Sally Capewell are strategic in their approach to running the business and ensuring it is well managed and professional. Through constantly reviewing and refining written policies and business management systems they ensure consistently high standards of service. This has included marketing the business with professionally printed brochures, a regularly updated website and the continual sales presentations for promotion of the company brand.

In line with their understanding that first impressions are critically important, all vehicles are immaculately maintained and guides are always professional in their appearance. Keith and Lisa take their tour guiding role very seriously and are well researched to continually develop their knowledge of the flora and fauna of the Kimberley.