Past Tours

2026

29.013°S 134.754°E

The Great Unknown - South Australia and Western Australia

The Great Unknown - South Australia & Western Australia June 2026

19 Days | Exclusive Escorted Tour and Rail Journey
Departs Thursday 18th June 2026

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Introduction

The Compass Society has been synonymous with exclusive escorted world travel and adventure tours for over 25 years. We’re a business with deep Australian roots, and it’s a privilege to turn our global perspective inwards to focus on the unexplored wonders of our own backyard.

After a very successful tour back in 2021, we have a marvellous opportunity to delve again into the brilliance of South Australia and now extending to Western Australia, as seen by very few.

We are very proud to present The Great Unknown of South Australia and Western Australia. Through experience, we have learned that an extended stay in any one area provides a better opportunity to fully appreciate the nuances and delights of a remarkable destination. At every turn you will have a sculptured and amplified experience in a very unique area of Australia.

This tour has created a set of its own challenges in its creation due to the remoteness of the areas we will be visiting.

Far from an average coach tour – this exclusive, fully-escorted journey is hallmarked with a number of establishments and flagship businesses, all of whom are united in their desire to provide us with unforgettable experiences.

The Compass Society would like to take this opportunity to thank the accommodations, the coach company and rail operators, the museums, the restaurants, and the attractions for joining us to showcase the very best of what they do. It truly is a pleasure to come together with such dedicated Australians.

Tour Highlights

Tour Highlights include:

Coober Pedy’s Underground World: stay in remarkable underground accommodation and explore this iconic opal town’s mines, churches, and lunar-like desert landscapes
Private Air Safari: Take to the skies on a breathtaking flight over Mount Eba Station, Anna Creek Painted Hills (the sole remaining example of ancient glaciation on earth), and the vast expanse of Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre
Dalhousie Hot Springs: soak in the largest natural thermal springs in Australia — a serene oasis amid the desert wilderness
Visit legendary landmarks such as the William Creek Hotel, Oodnadatta’s Pink Roadhouse, and the mysterious Marree Man geoglyph
Flinders Ranges majesty: immerse yourself in Adnyamathanha Country and ancient landscapes including Bunyeroo Gorge and the Flinders Ranges National Park
Discover character-filled historic outback townships including Blinman, Hawker and Quorn — each with a story shaped by railway, mining and pastoral heritage
Travel aboard a privately chartered heritage train from Quorn to Port Augusta, tracing the history of Australia’s great inland pioneers
Clare Valley Wine Country: enjoy a relaxed vineyard lunch and wine tasting in one of Australia’s most celebrated regions, famed for its elegant Rieslings
Indulge in the romance of rail travel aboard the legendary Indian Pacific, one of the world’s iconic rail journey from Adelaide to Perth, crossing the immense Nullarbor Plain in Gold Service comfort
A Grand Finale in Perth: conclude your journey on the Indian Ocean, exploring Western Australia’s vibrant capital before a memorable farewell dinner

Tour Map

42.301°S 146.449°E

Tasmanian
Highlands

3 Days | Exclusive Escorted Tour
Departs Saturday 8th August 2026

Introduction

A Yuletide Winter Escape Close to Home

This August, The Compass Society will embrace the magic of winter with a short but beautifully curated journey into the Tasmanian Highlands. Crisp mountain air, cosy winter woollies and the possibility of a dusting of snow will set the scene for a three-day escape filled with festive warmth, local flavour and good company.

Departing Hobart on Saturday 8th August 2026, this two-night discovery journey will celebrate the beauty and indulgence found right on our doorstep. Across the three days, we will enjoy premium local wine, whisky and gin tastings, a relaxed Sip ’n Paint experience, hearty hot breakfasts, and time to savour the atmosphere of Tasmania at its winter best.

Our journey will culminate in a special Christmas Celebration Dinner in magnificent high country surroundings, complete with mulled wine, festive cheer and the convivial spirit that makes Compass Society journeys so memorable.

With numbers strictly limited, this Yuletide Discovery Journey offers a delightful chance to escape the everyday, indulge a little, and enjoy Tasmania’s highlands through The Compass Society’s eyes.

Tour Highlights

Download the tour overview for more details

2025

In Pursuit of the Northern Lights

22 Days | Premium Escorted Tour and Cruise
Departing 21 January 2025

FULLY BOOKED
REGISTER NOW FOR FUTURE TOURS

It is with great excitement that I announce the third Compass Society expedition to the roof of the world, travelling In Pursuit of the Northern Lights.

These prior experiences give me a profound advantage in knowing how best to create an unprecedented journey that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Venture with me to a part of our planet where the limited daylight is offset by the night sky dancing with a truly magical type of light. Far from a journey into darkness, the earth is illuminated by the light interacting with the landscape covered in powdery snow. The combination being an ethereal, breathtaking experience that is bound to leave you speechless.

Tour Highlights

Stay in authentic local accommodation including log cabins with open fires, glass igloos, and traditional water front cabins overlooking both fjords and mountains
Search for the Northern Lights in a reindeer-drawn sleigh through the night forest
Enjoy a snowmobile safari through majestic scenery
Meet with the local Sámi people and learn about the Sámi culture
Wonder at the scenery as you ride the Flåm Railway
Cruise one of the most scenic maritime areas of the world for seven days onboard a 2016-refurbished modern Hurtigruten Ferry
International airfares to/from Australia and internal Norwegian flight

Authentic France and Belgium

25 Days | Premium Escorted Tour and Canal Cruise
Departing 26 April 2025

SOLD OUT!

It is with great pride that I present an unrivalled opportunity to embrace the romantic idylls of the French countryside like never before. We’ll journey together through this inimitably charming part of Europe, taking the time to stop and smell the roses as well as enjoying local appellations as we go.

Our elevated and considered accommodations have been carefully chosen to amplify our journey, entwining panache with that indefinable je-ne-sais-quoi. From a très chic boutique hotel in Paris to a breathtaking Chateau in Normandy, these unique properties will surprise and delight us in every destination.

In addition, we will meander along the Marne Canal as we cruise from Paris to Épernay. This is aboard a superb canal barge which provides both an authentic and timeless experience.

Our itinerary has been created with a view to providing an unparalleled experience. We’ll sip and savour our way through the fabled cuisine of France. We will visit the iconic attractions, experience the unfamiliar in all their splendour, as we waltz together through picturesque villages.

Every element of this small group journey has been thoughtfully designed to provide you with something magical. I very much hope you’ll join me.

Tour Highlights

Fully escorted ex Hobart
Visit to Monet’s House and Gardens
Be amazed at the Bayeaux Tapestry
Taste local foods
Discover the village of Hautvilliers, birthplace of Champagne
Explore the less visited areas of Bretagne and Normandy
See the unexpected Paris
Witness the majesty of Mont St Michel
Return international airfares
and much more

Tour Overview Map

Mongolia: The Land of Nomads and Eagles

20 Days | Premium Escorted Tour
Departing 2 September 2025

SOLD OUT!

REGISTER NOW FOR FUTURE TOURS

Mongolia is a country unlike anywhere else on our planet. For centuries the very name has evoked a sense of wonder and mystique. The ancient land of Genghis Khan and the Golden Horde, of the Silk Road which remains synonymous with the undiluted spirit of adventure. From the ever shifting sands of the Gobi Desert to the soaring eagles of the Burkitshi high in the mountains, together we’ll marvel at a world that few are fortunate enough to experience.

It is with great anticipation that I warmly invite you to join The Compass Society’s journey to Mongolia.

Tour Highlights

Fully escorted ex Hobart
Be immersed in the Altai Golden Eagle Festival
Explore the land of Genghis Khan
Meet with an Eagle Master
Ride a camel in the Gobi Desert
Indulge your senses at the Three Camel Lodge
Witness traditional games
Dine with Mongolian families
Walk the stairs of the Aryabal Meditation Temple
See the wild Takhi horses in the Hustai National Park
Return international airfares

2024

Laos Upper Mekong Private Charter and Thailand

18 Days | Premium Escorted Tour and Cruise
Departing 22 February 2024

Enjoy the splendour of Laos on Pandaw’s 10 night private charter expedition on the Upper Mekong. Sailing from Vientiane, the old French capital through Laos to Chiang Khong on the Thai-Laos border, you will witness stunning scenery, meet amazingly warm and friendly locals and learn about Laos’ national animal, the majestic elephant.

We stop for three nights at the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang with its dazzling wood-carved monasteries as well as heading deep into the mountains, through rapids and gorges on our luxury 2018-launched Pandaw vessel. We’ll also enjoy time in both Vientiane and Chiang Mai.

Tour Highlights

3 nights pre-cruise in Vientiane, Laos
- Includes breakfast daily and transfers
10 night exclusive Upper Mekong river cruise private charter for The Compass Society aboard RV Sabaidee Pandaw
- Includes all excursions, meals and drinks (only 14 cabins)
2 nights post-cruise in Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Includes breakfast daily and transfers
Includes return international airfare ex Tasmania

The Hidden Fiji

12 Days | Premium Escorted Tour and Cruise
Departing 26 September 2024

You are invited to join our very special Compass Society journey to the Lao archipelago in Fiji – where we’ll embark on a 7 night, all-inclusive luxury small ship sea voyage aboard Captain Cook Cruises’ MS Caledonian Sky, a voyage rich in cultural encounters and natural wonders to islands where few have the opportunity to visit.

You can choose to be as adventurous as you feel… this truly is an escape where you can switch into holiday mode and forget reality.

Tour Highlights

Fully escorted ex Hobart by experienced tour escort Cathi Burnett-Cosgrove
7 night luxury small ship immersive sea voyage to see the unknown Fiji: the Northern Lau Islands, where few have the opportunity to visit
Return international airfares
Set sail from Port Denarau aboard MS Caledonian Sky and explore the stunning, remote and unexplored islands of the northern Lau archipelago
Your all-inclusive cruise includes all meals and nightly cocktail canapes
Complimentary house beer, wine and soft drinks are served during lunch and dinner service
An expert 10-person expedition team of marine biologists, naturalists and a dive master provide immersive lectures onboard and guided marine and island, village, school and shore excursions
Exclusive shoreside experiences such as a traditional Fijian Feast (Lovo)
Explore the pristine waters with coral-viewing kayaks, standup paddleboards and snorkel equipment or relax onboard
We will celebrate the best and freshest South Pacific produce and the unique and enticing international fusion of flavours that is a hallmark of Fijian fare
2 nights pre-cruise and 2 nights post-cruise staying on Fiji’s stunning Coral Coast, with full breakfast daily

Melbourne Escape

4 Days | Premium Escorted Tour
Departing 27 November 2024

FULLY BOOKED
REGISTER NOW FOR FUTURE TOURS

Join us for an exclusive itinerary with 4 days of exploring and theatre!

Tour Highlights

Two nights at the Stamford Plaza Melbourne
A delicious breakfast included each morning
The days are free for you to explore or take the opportunity to explore the beautiful Melbourne arcades for special Christmas gifts
See the smash hit musical Sister Act
Be energised and mesmerised by the award-winning Tina, The Tina Turner Musical
Our own unique overnight African Experience staying in lodges at the Werribee Open Range Zoo!
Animal encounters, safari tours, African themed dinner and safari lodge accommodation & breakfast
Airfares included
Tour Escorted by experienced Travel Specialist & Designer Cathi Burnett-Cosgrove

2023

Vikings, Celts and Beyond

28 Days | Premium Escorted Tour and Cruise
Departs Saturday 3rd June 2023

28 day fully escorted Tour and Cruise departing Hobart on Saturday 3rd June 2023. Touring Ireland, INCLUDING an 11 day all-inclusive voyage aboard Silversea’s Silver Cloud expedition ship from Dublin to Reykjavik exploring 14 ports and 3 countries.

Tour Highlights

Fully escorted small group
Travel to Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Iceland
Stay in distinctive local accommodations in Ireland including small pubs, inns and country houses
Experience true Irish hospitality
Ride through the Gap of Dunloe by horse & trap
Stand atop of the Cliffs of Moher
Be one of the very few Australians to feel the isolation on St Kilda
Marvel at the Giant’s Causeway
See the wonders of Iceland

Mystical Morocco

23 Days | Premium Escorted Tour
Departs Saturday 2nd September 2023

23 day fully escorted Tour departing Hobart on Saturday 2nd September 2023, touring Morocco.

Tour Highlights

Fully escorted small group
Relive the movie “Casablanca” in an old time piano bar
Listen to bygone tales as told by a traditional Moroccan Storyteller – exclusive to Andrew Jones Travel
Learn the art of Moroccan cuisine with a hands-on cooking class
Enjoy a Berber lunch in the Todra Gorge
Ride a camel through the dunes of the Sahara Desert
Meet with the local Taureg known as the ‘Blue Men’ of the Sahara
Slip back in time to witness life of a bygone era

Melbourne Escape

6 Days | Premium Escorted Tour
Departs Thursday 19th October 2023

6 day fully escorted tour to Melbourne and Daylesford.

Tour Highlights and Inclusions

Return airfares to Melbourne
3 nights accommodation: very centrally located accommodation in Melbourne
2 nights accommodation in Daylesford
Breakfasts daily
All transfers
1 day tour
2 lunches (not your average style!) – including a glass or two of wine
1 dinner
One night at the Theatre
A visit to an exhibition (not one you might anticipate!)
Tour Escorted by experienced Travel Specialist & Designer Cathi Burnett-Cosgrove

2022

The Majestic West (Tasmania)

5 Days | Premium Escorted Tour
Departs Thursday 10th February 2022

With limited spaces due to location, I invite you to join me on a tour like no other to the West Coast of Tasmania.

Join me as we draw back the curtain on some of the world’s last remaining great wilderness, with The Compass Society’s signature flair.

Indulge in elevated experiences at every turn as we step into the fabled, otherworldly Tasmanian West Coast.

Feed your soul with exquisite food and wine, as your curiosity feasts on the legends and culture of this special corner of the earth.

Well, for those who survive the first night of murder and mayhem that is!

Image credit: Gordon River image supplied courtesy of RACT Destinations. Images on brochure: Rail image: West Coast Wilderness Railway; Strahan waterfront: Paul Fleming.

The King Island Experience

9 Days | Premium Escorted Tour
Departs Thursday 24th February 2022

We are very proud to present the next part of our King Island symphony.

Through experience, we have learned that an extended stay on the Island provides a better opportunity to fully appreciate the nuances and delights of this remarkable place. Although there are similarities between this adventure and previous visits, at every turn the experience has been sculpted and amplified to offer something new.

This tour has created a set of its own challenges in its creation due to the remoteness of the areas we will be visiting.

Far from an average coach tour – this journey is hallmarked with exclusive engagements with a number of establishments on King Island and a flagship business, all of whom are united in their desire to provide us with unforgettable experiences.

Same Country... Another World (northern Australia)

27 Days | Premium Escorted Authentic Journey
Departs Tuesday 24th May 2022

It is with great pride that I can now share with you an exclusive invitation to join me next year on a 27 day peerless adventure to some of the most remote corners of our wild continent.

The right words to describe just how powerful this experience will be are evasive. How can one define the magic of this awesome land? A land of inimitable beauty where we are invited to celebrate the world’s oldest surviving culture.

Our small, intimate escorted touring group will experience its own version of this awesome magic. This truly is a rare opportunity to discover and share in a magical adventure of the remote northern reaches of our continent.

Throughout this journey, I am of course including some special highlights that I love to arrange for guests on all of our The Compass Society journeys.

Together we will embrace the wonder that is Arnhem Land for five days. Through exclusive negotiation with a boutique operator and the traditional owners, The Compass Society has been able to secure access to parts of this phenomenal land that aren’t often accessible.

We will then embark on a fourteen day private excursion across the Gulf of Carpentaria to Cape Tribulation. We will travel in a convoy of 4WD vehicles before boarding two of the most remote rail journeys in the world: the iconic Gulflander and epic Savannahlander.

The final stage of our journey finds us with time to relax in Palm Cove. This stunning beach area is just north of Cairns and a perfect base to
reflect on our amazing adventure. Together we will travel to our far outback country normally only crossed in dreams.

Highlights:

Darwin – understand both the history and culture of this remote city
North East Arnhem Land – become immersed in this ancient land and tribal custom
Become the intrepid traveller as you leave Darwin to transverse the Gulf of Carpentaria
Kakadu National Park
Katherine Gorge
The ‘Southern Lost City’
World Heritage Riversleigh Fossil Fields
Lawn Hill (Boodjamulla) National Park
Limmen National Park
Cooktown, Cape Tribulation and the Daintree
Relax and unwind at Palm Cove for five nights of indulgence.

2021

The King Island Experience - Tasmania at its Finest

11 Days | Exclusive Escorted Bespoke Backyard Journey
Departs Tuesday 16th March 2021

Andrew Jones Travel has been synonymous with world travel and adventure for over 20 years. We’re a business with deep Tasmanian roots, and it’s a privilege to turn our global perspective inwards to focus on the unexplored wonders of our own backyard.

Despite the significant challenges of the past year and all that has been thrown at us, I know that we have a marvellous opportunity to again delve into the brilliance of Tasmania.

We are very proud to present the next part of our King Island symphony. Through experience, we have learned that an extended stay on the Island provides a better opportunity to fully appreciate the nuances and delights of this remarkable place. Although there are similarities between this adventure and the previous visit, at every turn the experience has been sculpted and amplified to offer something new.

This tour has created a set of its own challenges in its creation due to the remoteness of the areas we will be visiting.

Andrew Jones Travel would like to take this opportunity to thank the accommodations, the coach company, the museums, the restaurants, and the attractions for joining us to showcase the very best of what they do. It truly is a pleasure to come together with such dedicated Tasmanians.

Tour Highlights include:

King Island is known for its rugged landscape – you will have the time to feel sand between your toes!
Learn of the ship wrecks and the light houses
Dine on delicious cuisine as we discover “the Grazing Trail of King Island”
Participate in a cooking class at Wild Harvest Kitchen
Ride a golf buggy around Cape Wickham Golf Links — the location will take your breath away
Relax and unwind whilst supporting local businesses throughout our State

Tantalising Tamar Valley Tour - Tasmania at its Finest

4 Days | Exclusive Escorted Bespoke Backyard Journey
Departs Friday 23rd April 2021

It is with great excitement that I welcome you to the Tantalising Tamar Valley Tour.

Together we will delve a little deeper into why our island home has earned the appellation of being the gastronomic heart of Australia.

By special invitation we will meet with some of the state’s best regarded producers, and as always The Compass Society™ key will open doors to many exclusive experiences.

Sit back and watch the world go by as we’re taken from destination to destination in comfort, and enjoy tastings safe in the knowledge that the driving is taken care of.

Recharge each evening at Rosevears Hotel, watching the Tamar run past from our private balconies.

Join us as you’re escorted on this journey of discovery through our own back garden, and into one of the world’s fastest emerging cool-climate wine regions.

Includes:

3 nights accommodation
Continental breakfast daily in your room
Lunch daily — not your average lunch…
Four special tastings
Optional ANZAC Day dawn service at Exeter
A couple of unexpected experiences

The Great Unknown - South Australia

20 Days | Premium Escorted Tour & River Cruise
Departs Tuesday 19th October 2021

Despite the significant challenges of the past year and all that has been thrown at us, we now have a marvellous opportunity to delve into the brilliance of South Australia.

We are very proud to present The Great Unknown of South Australia. Through experience, we have learned that an extended stay in any one area provides a better opportunity to fully appreciate the nuances and delights of a remarkable destination.

At every turn you will have a sculptured and amplified experience in a very unique area of Australia.

This tour has created a set of its own challenges in its creation due to the remoteness of the areas we will be visiting.

Far from an average coach tour – this journey is hallmarked with a number of establishments and flagship businesses, all of whom are united in their desire to provide us with unforgettable experiences.

Includes: