COVID CRAZINESS CAUSES CANNING CONFUSION BUT CREATES NEW RUDALL TOUR!

We had two back-to-back "Mini-CSR" tours planned, both fully booked, but we couldn't confirm either one because nobody was sure if permits would be issued! So we bit the bullet! We made the decision to can the Canning - instead we're offering an awesome last minute alternative - an exciting expedition to one of our favourite destinations - Rudall River National Park (Karlamilyi), and it's the same dates & the same price as the CSR Mini-Tour #1.

Thank you to all our loyal gypsies for your patience & understanding as we wrestled with this curly problem - we are delighted that most of you have decided to join us on our fabulous Rudall adventure! For anyone who was blissfully unaware of all the back-room shenanigans, if you're keen to join us on this 'surprise' outback tour, there are still a couple of places available & we'd love to have you along!

For more info, plant your pinky here & book your spot today. First in best un-stressed!

HOLY HERITAGE & HOMESTEADS TOUR, BATMAN!!!

As you read this, we'll be packing our cobweb-laced suitcases for our first gypsy tour in what seems like ages! In mid-May we'll be heading for the WA Goldfields leading a fully-booked Heritage & Homesteads Tour designed for happy campers with caravans, motorhomes or tents.

COVID has seen thousands of West Australians discovering their own backyards & there really is some fascinating history & beautiful scenery out there, particularly in the regions. We'll include a trip report in the next issue, but as a sneak preview, just some of the unusual faraway places we'll be visiting & learning about are a majestic 100-year old Victorian-style theatre; railway, military & agricultural museums; country pubs; a ghost town; a remote & picturesque national park; one of the biggest open cut mine sites in Australia; & some of the weirdest outdoor sculptures you'll ever see! Stay tuned to read all about it!

BRAND NEW 'ARTY-PARTY TOUR'!

We are so impressed with the fantastic array of public art that's being commissioned in regional WA in recent times that we want to run an "Art in the Outback Tour"! It will happen over 10 days in November 2021, be self-drive & self-catering & be suitable for 4WD's, motorhomes, camper-trailers, Conestoga wagons, ox carts, gophers etc.

There won't be any challenging 4WD'ing on this chilled-out tour, just lots of eye-popping artwork to feast your beadies on. You can even book yourself into optional cabins or motels most nights if you prefer (when available & at own cost). We'll provide Welcome & Farewell Dinners, campsites each night, carefully planned itinerary, a range of interesting activities & lots of fun.

Oh! And bring your champagne flutes just in case there's a party! If you'd like to join us on this festive culture-vulture experience, add your name to the "Yes, I'm terribly keen, dahling!" list today.

SECOND MICKEY MOUSE MECHANICS COURSE!!

We got such positive feedback from students who attended our inaugural one-day basic mechanics course for four-wheel-drivers & caravan-owners that we're holding a second one! Block out your diaries now for Saturday, June 12, 2021 & join us at our next Wander Out Yonder/Mickey Mouse Basic Mechanics Course!

Ideal for beginners or those who want to brush up their skills before they embark on the "Big Trip", this short & sweet training course will again be run in conjunction with our friends at the Caravan Industry Association at their spacious premises in Cockburn Central.

It will be delivered by Global Gypsies Director, Jeremy Perks, who amongst his many other talents, is a qualified mechanic (diesel & petrol); accomplished outback traveller & tour leader; former Tour Guide of the Year; and an experienced towing & 4WD instructor who holds a Cert IV in Training & Assessment.

Course fee of $350 per person (or $600 per couple) includes lectures, discussions, demonstrations (on facilitator's vehicle), mechanical equipment, hands-on practice, course notes, Certificate of Completion & morning/afternoon tea. Please BYO lunch. For bookings click here or call Global Gypsies on 9341-6727 or 0417-913-071.

TOUR GUIDE TRAINING BOOK UPDATED & REPRINTED!

We originally published "How to Be an Award-Winning Tour Guide "in 2015. Since then the book has sold hundreds of copies & earned lots of good reviews. But now it needs updating - particularly with COVID throwing the tourism industry into turmoil! So we've revised & reprinted it & new soft-cover & electronic copies will be available soon. Order your copy (or buy one as a gift!) online from Amazon or from us here

TEA PARTY HELPS FEED CRITTERS IN CRISIS!

When we couldn't run tours over the past few months we have to admit that we started feeling a little sorry for ourselves. But then we realized that while we might have been doing it tough, lots of other tourism-related businesses were doing it even tougher!

For example, Caversham Wildlife Park is primarily dependent on international visitors for its income, much of which is used to feed over 2000 of their cute, furry, feathered little friends. With no overseas flights coming in, the park's visitor numbers had dropped from 1000 a day to less than 100 - but the critters still needed feeding! So Debbie Thorne-Morley, Caversham's Manager, & the Global Gypsies crew joined paws to host a fund-raising "Madhatter's Critter Crisis Tea Party"!

It sold out faster than a croc chasing a chook & everyone had a top time scoffing salmon sambos & sweet treats & enjoying private guided wildlife tours & displays. AND the event raised over $2500 in ticket sales & donations!

The tea party was so successful that we'll be holding another one later this year & YOU'RE invited! Please come along, tell your friends & help us feed the cuddly Caversham critters! Details are:

Madhatter's Critter Crisis Tea Party #2
When: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, Thursday, September 2, 2021
Where: Caversham Wildlife Park (next to Whiteman Park)
Cost: $40 per person. Proceeds to Caversham.
Numbers are limited & bookings are essential.
Contact Global Gypsies today for your personal invitation!

WANDERINGS & PONDERINGS

• Most folks are happy to press the pause button on their overseas travel plans but if you're itching to get away once international borders open, check out this article from Conde Nast Traveller. It lists places which will welcome you with open arms IF you've had your jab such as Belize, Croatia Galapagos, Ecuador, Georgia, Guatemala, Iceland, Montenegro & Seychelles. What an eclectic collection but then we are in kinda strange times! Read the full article here but keep in mind that the list probably changes daily.
  
  
• "But what about travel insurance now?", I hear you say. Good thinking, Dr Watson! The following article is certainly food for thought & might lead you down some useful rabbit holes if & when you dust off your passport. And if you come across any ripper insurance deals, particularly for mature-age travellers, please let us know! https://www.flightcentre.com.au/travel-news/travel-tips/how-does-travel-insurance-protect-you-in-a-post-pandemic-world.
  
  
• Happy Royal Flying Doctor Day! The wonderful folks at RFDS have helped us & our clients out more than once, now it's time to return the favour! They'll be celebrating 93 years of service on May 17 & you can do your bit by making a donation! Click here for details
  
  
• The Book Nook - We've been curled up with two memorable literary goodies recently - "Dark Emu" by Bruce Pascoe & "American Dirt" by Jeanine Cummins. Both are riveting stories about people trying to overcome challenges not of their own making. The first examines Aussie history from an Aboriginal perspective & turns on its head the theory that first peoples had no agrarian culture. The second documents a courageous mother's escape with her young son from the corrupt & violent drug cartel culture in Mexico across the border into the USA & follows her transformation from an upstanding citizen into a fearless illegal immigrant. Each is fascinating & disturbing in equal measure & definitely worth a read.

HOLLAND TRACK 4WD EXPEDITION

We're going back, going back, along the Holland Track! It's been ages since we ran this super, self-drive, self-catering, outback mini-tour & we're chuffed to have it on the calendar again!

With all the newbie 4WD & camper-trailer owners out there wanting a relatively short bush experience with a few challenges, it's the perfect destination not far from Perth to practice your 4x4 skills & get back to nature under the supervision of one of the State's best tour guides & 4WD & towing instructors!

Hands up who knows anything about the historic Holland Track! First prize if you said it's over a century old & was cut through the bush so prospectors could trek from the port city of Albany to the goldfields to seek their fortunes. There's so much to learn on this track & your tour leader, Jeremy Perks, is a walking encyclopedia about the place.

Spend four fabulous days with us traveling leisurely from Hyden to Coolgardie & smelling the sandalwood as we enjoy this popular Global Gypsies 4WD adventure. It's happening from October 21 - 25, 2021 & costs just $850 per vehicle (1 - 2 people) including a Welcome Dinner. Convoy numbers are limited -express your interest today!

WE'RE LOVING TOUR GUIDE TRAINING!

We're having the best time with our Tour Guide Training courses & are meeting such lovely people - how can work be so much fun?

Over the last few months we've run tour guide training sessions in Walpole, Carnarvon, Northam & Perth & have more courses planned for Katanning, Albany & Wiluna over the next few months. It is SO rewarding to see such enthusiasm & passion for tourism in these aspiring & inspiring guides; we can only imagine the wonderful experiences they'll deliver to visitors to our State in the future. Congratulations to all our graduates - you continuously put smiles on our dials!

KIMBERLEY EXPLORER TOUR 2022

Here's a no-brainer! Stay in wet windy Perth next winter or join us on a fabulous 4WD tag-along-tour through the magnificent Kimberley!

From July 20 - August 6, 2022 beginning & ending in in Broome. we'll take in all the highlights including Middle Lagoon, Kooljaman (Cape Leveque), Bells & Manning Gorges, Gibb River Road, Home Valley, Kununurra, Lake Argyle, Bungle Bungles (Purnululu), Geikie & Windjana Gorges, Tunnel Creek & more

It's the perfect opportunity to discover the wild & wonderful Kimberley - independent but not alone! For more info click here.