Guided Walking Holidays in Stunning Destinations

I thoroughly enjoyed the Iconic Queensland tour. The variety of walks was excellent and suited my fitness level perfectly, with beautiful scenery throughout. The accommodation was also excellent, with the eco huts being a particular highlight. We experienced some wonderful dining, and I really enjoyed the overall balance of the tour, with a great mix of walking, nature, local experiences and time to relax. Our guide’s knowledge of the natural environment added greatly to the experience and gave me a deeper appreciation of the places we visited. It was a very enjoyable and well-organised tour.

A wonderful ten days with new friends. A mix of interesting people, walking in varied mountain and coastal landscapes, some walks being more of a stroll while others more challenging but all in interesting natural landscapes - mountains, coastal treasures and coral reef. Meals and individual accommodation were all first class while our guide Luke was very knowledgeable, organized and caring. Throw in a few local activities, history and talks all making for a great, stress free and wonderful break, surpassing prior expectation.

Wow, what an awesome introduction to Japan! Hokkaido – the second largest and northernmost island of Japan. We joined the Spirit of Spring Tour and savoured every minute of it. This was a first for us in many ways: our first trip to Japan and our first group tour, and we're so glad we chose Park Tours. The coach was spacious and luxurious (literally three seats per person!), our driver was exceptional, Yuichi was a knowledgeable and engaging local guide, and Luke was an outstanding Park Tours leader who engaged us with his colourful storytelling of past travel experiences and gave us thoughtful (but fun!) challenges during the longer bus rides between destinations. The itinerary was packed with a wide variety of activities and attractions across the island. We wandered through stunning fields of pink phlox and tulips in every imaginable colour, learnt about and experienced Ainu culture, and visited the Drift Ice Museum, where several large chunks of drift ice from the most recent winter had been transported and preserved in a walk-through cold-room exhibition. Oh, and don't leave without trying the Drift Ice Soft Serve ice cream—it was delicious... and blue! 😊 We walked through misty, snow-laden tracks to volcanic crater rims and lakes, and cruised around the spectacular Shiretoko Peninsula hoping to encounter whales, dolphins and orcas. We felt as though we'd hit the jackpot. Not only did the weather cooperate, allowing the cruises to go ahead, but we were treated to three orcas making gentle appearances through the mist in incredibly calm conditions. We also spotted three brown bears wandering the shoreline and rocky cliffs from the safety of the boat. Other unexpected wildlife highlights included red-crowned cranes standing in a farmer's paddy field (they'd apparently missed their migration call!), a raccoon dog, wild foxes and an impressive variety of birds. One of my favourite parts of the tour was the hands-on cultural experiences. We made soba noodles in a local community hall and kitchen, then watched and participated in traditional mochi making at a local farm using an usu (a deep wooden mortar) and kine (a large wooden mallet). Timing is definitely everything during this process! Best of all, on both occasions we got to enjoy the fruits of our labour—yum! The accommodation was varied, with both traditional Japanese and Western-style options. Wherever possible, we chose traditional Japanese rooms to complete the experience. Most of the hotels provided yukatas (light cotton robes) for guests to wear to breakfast, dinner and the onsens. Ahhh... the onsens! I very quickly became a fan of this wonderful Japanese tradition. Soaking in steaming hot pools, both indoors and outdoors, many designed as natural rock pools nestled within beautiful gardens, was incredibly relaxing. Some even had private outdoor baths where you could simply sit, listen to the trees swaying in the breeze and gaze up at the star-filled night sky. It was magical. There's so much more I could say about this trip, but one comment from Yuichi has stayed with me. He said that once you've experienced one season in Hokkaido—as we did with spring—you'll inevitably want to return to experience the others, because each season has its own unique character and beauty. I can honestly say he was right. I'm already planning my next adventure. Thanks, Luke, for a wonderful experience. And if I can offer one piece of advice to anyone considering a Park Tour—anywhere—don't think about it... JUST DO IT!!

We have recently returned from a 14-day 'Japan, Spirit of Spring - A Journey in Hokkaido's Landscapes, Wildlife and Culture 2026’ walking holiday with Park Tours. We absolutely loved the trip! We were attracted to this tour by the opportunities to experience the local cultures, including that of the indigenous Ainu people, and to get off the beaten tourist track and explore National Parks, World Heritage areas and Ramsar Wetlands with a small group of like-minded people. As first time travellers to Hokkaido, we were pleasantly surprised at the wide variety of landscapes, from volcanic peaks with the last of the winter snows, to steaming fumeroles and bubbling hot mud and springs, to fresh green birch forests, wide open seascapes, and rich farmlands. There were many highlights, not the least being walking up close to these fumeroles and sulphur deposits on extinct volcanoes, walking among old forests next to crater lakes, learning about the Ainu culture and experiencing some of their folk dances and music, the local foods and learning how to make some of our own, and seeing wild bears and orcas. We stayed in a range of accommodation styles, almost all with onsens so we could soak in the warm waters at the end of the day. And wearing kimonos, supplied by our accommodation, to breakfast and dinner was a great touch. Our experiences were enhanced by our Japanese tour leader, Yuichi, and Park Tours' owner, Luke. We learned so much more than we would have as independent travellers, with Yuichi's enthusiasm for all things Hokkaido and explanations of culture, food and wildlife, and Luke's love of the outdoors and experiences in natural and unspoilt environments.

My husband and I went on a private guided hike with Luke when we were on holiday visiting the Gold Coast from Melbourne. We run our own business, so we wanted an experience where we could "switch off" from the daily grind and didn't have to do any of the thinking! Luke was warm, friendly and we immediately felt like we had known him for ages! He was really knowledgeable about the local area and nature and took us on an awesome hike around the Lamington National Park. He even had a coffee for us and some homemade treats for the halfway stop off. I would highly recommend Park Tours to anyone who wants a personalised experience, someone who knows the area inside out and someone who is just a genuinely good bloke!

I had a wonderful time in Hokkaido with guides Luke and Yuichi our local Hokkaido tour guide, both of whom had good senses of humour which is very important on a trip. Hokkaido is truly beautiful and as a dairy farmer’s daughter I loved the dairy farms, the crops and the forests’ brilliant green spring leaves.  Then there were the lakes and fascinating Sea of Okhotsk, the museums, and the varied hikes. Thrills like the sulphur pools, walks in the snow and rafting (both novelties). The sight of bears from the safety of a boat, orcas, a snake, cranes, and unexpected fumeroles. The tulip farm and pink moss phlox were curiosities. I must say that Japanese food is not my favourite but the variety ensured that there was enjoyment to be found. Ice cream and beer were winners. Attempts to concoct noodles, sushi and mochi were a bit of a nightmare. Our hotels were varied and wearing a kimono to dinner was a great idea because it saved dressing up. All in all, I had a fantastic time and wouldn’t have missed it for quids.

I had a fabulous trip and really enjoyed the opportunity to discover the wilder side of Japan in Hokkaido. Highlights were the cruises to see bears and orca, unexpectedly walking in the snow on the mountaintop (with steaming volcanic vents as a backdrop), and learning about the Ainu culture and the winter landscapes with sea ice in northern Hokkaido. It was also wonderful to stay in onsen resorts and enjoy donning a kimono and soaking in the hot springs most days - my knees have never felt better! Our Hokkaido guide Yuichi and ParkTours leader Luke were fantastic and enthusiastic guides, and shared my interest in the appreciation and understanding of wild places and biodiversity.

I have nothing but praise for this tour.  The guides, Luke and Phil were professional, in that they were knowledgeable, enthusiastic, caring and helpful. There was a good variation of walks, and Autumn is a lovely time to be out along the tracks. The accommodation was good and set in ideal locations.  The meals were delicious too and I certainly did not go hungry! Overall, this tour was of good value as most meals and even National Park entry fees were included in the cost of the tour.  My favourite walk was to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko.  The weather was perfect and there was still some snow around from a big snowfall a few days earlier.  It certainly made for some pretty pictures. My other favourites were the Munyunga Waraga Dhugan loop walk (Booderee NP), along the shoreline of the Mallacoota Inlet and the Yankee Hat Rock Art (Canberra). My favourite accommodation was in the Snowy Mountains. It was lovely watching the birdlife and there were beautiful reflections in the lake. The accommodation at the old guest house in Mallacoota was special too.  It was in a lovely setting overlooking the bay.

Thank you for putting together a delightful holiday. This most interesting and well-rounded itinerary certainly ticked all the boxes for me. Regardless of age, personal interests and walking ability for each group member, the tour itinerary certainly satisfied the needs on every level for myself and everyone else in our group.  It was very obvious that much thought had gone into the carefully researched itinerary for this tour. It was guided by Luke with passion, good knowledge, care and thoughtful consideration for each group member. All walks were pleasant without being too challenging.  Launceston with its stock of listed Georgian and Victorian buildings lining its streets to the ocean wilderness of the Southern Tarkine one never tires from the diversity of the vegetation range of the remote and diverse region of the West Coast region in particular. Exploring with insights of the vanished communities from past mining days I could not help but be inspired  by the extraordinary unique character of this environment. I found this mystical place particularly at the Pieman River area with all it’s shapes and moods, a great place to reconnect. Walking Cradle Mountain & Lake St Clair National Parks as we bush walked deep into these forests to the button grass mountain top views and into unexpected midsummer valleys of most colorful wildflowers  to exploring along the jagged coastline of Tasmania’s Southern coastline.  I certainly experienced, rediscovered and reconnected. Thanks for a most relaxing trip.  Just what I needed.

Our Flinders Island walking tour was wonderful! John and I loved the walks, David and Kathleen were great guides, the lodgings were great and chef Mel is superb! We had good weather, windy with a little rain, but we loved that as that is what an Island in Bass Strait is all about. The walks were varied and were of good distances for us. As each day passed, I felt fitter and stronger. We were certainly fed well for breakfast, lunch and dinner by Mel. We appreciated the visit to Wybalenna to learn the story of the aboriginals who were taken there. So sad. It was a great week in a wonderful part of Australia. Highly recommend.

The trip was fabulous. The scenery was beautiful and I felt it was a privilege to be there. Thanks to you all for organising such a great trip, us travellers don’t always appreciate the effort it takes to bring it to fruition.  A special thanks to Luke, a fantastic kind guide who was a great encourager. I hope I get to travel with Park Tours again.

I recently went with Park Tours on their Alcheringa Escape in Lamington National Park. For me the 5 days was a perfect combination of walking and relaxation. Wa walked through magnificent rainforest with diverse habitats and wildlife. Luke’s knowledge and enthusiasm for the area is boundless - from the smallest insects and fungi to the huge and often ancient trees along the way. Some of the highlights for me were to see a satin bower bird, the moss covered beech trees, even a koala high up in a gum tree and the beautiful twin falls. Walks were geared to our abilities. The accommodation was of a very high standard in one of two luxury houses at Binna Burra. There was plenty of time to relax and enjoy the comfort and spectacular views. Luke was our guide and chef. It was lovely to have home cooked meals prepared and served and enjoyed in the company of other guests. Many lively conversations were had with glass of wine in hand.