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Creator of tactile and sensory adventures in Australia. We deliver fun small group tours with enriched enjoyment for blind, low vision and sighted guests.
Reviews 106
Marian
Sep 16,2024There are not enough superlatives to express how thrillingly unforgettable was the Crocosaurus Cove Cage of Death. Then on our Kakadu road trip seeing and hearing crocodiles hunting in their natural environment was richer as a result. We touched on living history at the Cyclone Tracy exhibition, WW2 storage tunnels snd The Royal Flying Doctor Base, shopped and dined at local sunset markets and sampled other highlights of vibrant city life past and present - even high tea/sausage sizzle at a Government House Open Day. Cocky Guides put it all together and made it happen. Being a small group specialising in travel for blind/vision & sensory impaired travellers ensures everyone has the opportunity to fully enjoy diverse experiences. Very highly organised, problem solving and fun loving travel guides. Looking forward to the next adventure.
customersam N
Jun 30,2024i recently had a lovely relaxing girls’ weekend away in Orange, where we attended two regional wine tastings, had a fancy lunch and visitted local shops for a good leisurely browse. i love this company for the fact that this was a small, privately curated trip for myself and some close friends, with fantastic personal touches, such as a beautiful house to stay in, door pickup and drop off, and tasteful cosy meals prepared by the trip leaders. i have never met a Cocky Guides tip leader I couldn’t gel with, or felt unsafe with. i think it’s a combination of the careful planning out of itineraries, constant attentiveness and authentic personalities of the staff of Cocky guides that keeps me coming back, whenever I can.
Margaret B
Jun 30,2024Great weekend away in Orange Nsw. Well organized, amazing accommodation and excellent variety of activates. Love the way Cocky Guides presented a getaway in this beautiful part of New South Wales. Kelly and Buck you are the best
Samuel Y
May 29,2024This review is based on my experiences over many past cocky guides trips not just one. Pros: Cocky Guides is a excellent Australian based touring company for the blind and low vision community. They go that extra step that regular touring company's don't do to make tours as accessible as possible for all travellers with many places to explore and things to do within Australia. Some trips are repeated but that's not a deal breaker in my mind. I think that's just because some trips are more popular than others so they need to make more dates or they just know that area is easy to get around and do things. But cocky guides is actively working towards new destinations every year and maybe one day in the future international trips. Cons: Nothing too serious but something that cocky guides definately need to polish up on a bit that's why this review is 4 out of 5. 1st of all organisation before and during trips. The world population is continuously growing meaning public places that cocky guides takes us to are going to be busy and just keep getting busy over time. Now this doesn't effect things that we do that just require general entry but it does effect things that have a limited amount of spots available per day so things can't be left until the last possible second especially when other things are planned throughout the day and when we only have a limited amount of days in 1 spot before we either move to a new location or fly/travel home. Now I'm not saying arrange things months in advance but to be mindful of what the group wants to do then take steps to organising it within a timely manner especially when there's a limited amount of spots available. I think this could also help lower trip leader stress if things where more organised as then it's sorted and done just have to get to a place by a certain time without the thought of if there's spots or not on arrival. 2nd arrange days more effectiently and avoid cramming a lot of things into one day. Try to spread things out over multiple days or multiple trips if possible because I've noticed that even a relaxed classes trip can still be packed full of stuff with not a lot of relaxing and rushed. If everything is rushed and jam packed full of things to do in 1 day then travellers could get burnt out and tired then there goes all the enjoyment for the remainder of the trip. This especially applys on fly out days when you need to catch a early morning flight to get to the trip then that day is full of things to do and your already tired from a early start to the day and flight. 3rd Facebook posts. I'm not sure entirely who's in charge of posting trips to the cocky guides Facebook but I have noticed in the past and present that not much of trip leader Dutchys trips get uploaded to cocky guides it is mostly Sydney based trip leaders. I'm not saying they're bad trip leaders but I have noticed easily 90% of the Facebook posts are run by the Sydney trip leaders. Which isn't the best as it's not showing all the possible locations cocky guides goes to or could go to to the cocky guides community around Australia. And finally 4th jokes and banter on trips. I'm not saying to complete get rid of jokes and banter and a good bit of jokes and banter can be good to keep the enjoyment going but sometimes people can overstep the line and that's when it gets to much and can sometimes ruin the rest of your day or trip. Overall cocky guides is still a great tour company and I look forward to many more trips.
Nathaniel Schmidt
May 14,2024Informative travel guides, providing accessible touring for those with vision impairments.
James S
Apr 18,2024All started at Central Station, were greeted by Kellie and Ashley and the fun began. Our day adventure was on the Cockatoo Run to Robertson on the 3801 vintage train. What a great day we all had. Thanks Cocky Guides.
Andrew
Apr 18,2024Over 3 day's I was able to taste the local produce at the Harvest market. Enjoyed all things raspberry at a raspberry farm. We learnt all about Launceston & the local area on the Tarmer River & Gorge boat cruise, including a wine tasting. The highlight was the Red Hot Summer Concert. We saw such acts as Birds of Tokyo, Kasey Chambers & Jimmy Barnes. Knowing that I only had to ask for assistance really let me be in the momnet for all my expeeriances. Thanks Cocky Guides.
Victor Tsaran
Mar 26,2024It is difficult to describe sensory tours verbally, but the company really gives their best to ensure that travelers with disabilities have the most rememberable experience possible. We worked with Buck in particular and he went far and beyond to ensure we felt special and attended to. To underscore my point I will say that, I think, he enjoys these trips as much as the people that he works with. It is this passion and personal engagement that made it so special for us.
Linda
Mar 23,2024Cocky Guides teamed up with taste Cultural Food Tours and as a group we had a first hand experience of the best of Ramadan in Lakemba. It was a real insight into the custom and street food being offered by the locals. It was the first for a camel burger!
Wendy C
Mar 12,2024Experience the new sensory things by feeling and touching you things in different environments travelling in the great Ocean Road to Melbourne, which was a great experience to do, especially my dog Daisy, which was great adventure. It’s great to have a company like Buck and he’s other workers to be able to sport low vision and blind travellers to take me and Daisy, my guide dog out on trips to experiences new activities that we wouldn’t actually be able to do on our own travel to Tasmania and Melbourne on a road tripexperience the new sensory things by feeling and touching you things in different environments travelling in the great Ocean Road to Melbourne, which was a great experience to do, especially with Daisy, which was great adventure
VLADIMIR PROKES
Feb 17,2024Cocky Guides is helping people with Low Vision to be more worthy and participate in social and community activities. Tours are well organized. They don't discriminate and have multicultural members. Buck (the organizer) is very experienced and friendly/funny guy. We used Cocky Guides for local travel and outings as well as holidays getaway. Highly recommended. Get people out about from the isolation and meeting new friends . Thank you "Cocky Guides"for your great job and see u soon on another adventure.
Vincent
Nov 20,2023We just returned from east coast Tasmania and had the best time ever with Dutchy (Ben). We went to Hobart and Launceston just to name a few places. We went to port Arthur which was nice and nature world (again to just name a few). On the last day before we went to the airport to go home after breakfast. Dutchy took us to a park in Launceston as he said he’s got some friends he wanted us to meet (who also happens to bucks relatives as well). So we went there and walk to a bridge and there wasn’t anyone there waiting for us. Dutchy just showed/ told us about monkeys. If you haven’t met Dutchy (Ben) yet he is really funny and has a lot of jokes to tell (this was one of the best jokes he told during the trip). Dutchy, you the funniest trip leader out of other trip leaders. This was one of the best jokes that Dutchy told us which I thought I should include in my review.
customer
Sep 20,2023It would be good if guidos and participants could wear li gh light cored clothes so they can be seen in dim places.
Murray Stone
Aug 20,2023Was a great experience, good value and a very informative tour of St Helena Island. Would recommend this experience to all.
Terri Mottram
Aug 02,2023Keep going and I enjoy the trips and more please send more email of what you are doing please
Sherrie
Jul 13,2023What a fabulous day, learning more skills, tactile skills, and learning new environments andcunders of how to get to new places. So much fun with other travellers haven't seen in a while. Always great fun and very supportive thanks Nuck
Lawd James Nelson.`
Jul 12,2023Great time. Good tour guides.
Leanne
Jul 07,2023Great organisation and friendliness.
customer
Jun 15,2023The tour guides did a wonderful job. Everything ran smoothly. The train journey was very enjoyable with delicious food, lovely wine and good company. It was a wonderful experience. I have not done anything like this before. My experience was on 21/05/2023
Allan Hall
Sep 16,2024Apart from Uluru, I had not previously visited the top end of the Northern Territory. This Cocky Guides trip was an excellent introduction to this fascinating area of Australia. We had a variety of interesting experiences and stayed in several different locations. Up close and personal with crocodiles, swimming in isolated pools in the bush, learning about indigenous culture and practices; all while accompanied by knowledgeable and engaging guides. Food was good, accommodation varied from city motel to country hotel to bush campsite, travel included coach and boat. All round, an excellent and enjoyable time spent with new friends and leaving lsting memories.