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Australia

G'day Mate


City vibes and sunny escapes

From Melbourne’s eclectic laneways buzzing with street art and hidden cafes to Sydney’s sun-soaked beaches, you’ll find so many amazing experiences on offer in every city.

Head to a rooftop bar in Brisbane, or get a taste of the country’s multi-cultural influences at Adelaide’s Central Market. If nature and wildlife is more your style, take a stroll through Kings Park in Perth. Queensland has a piece of paradise to suit everyone – it is truly like no other place on earth. From seemingly endless coastlines to the great expanses of the outback, the world famous Great Barrier Reef and an array of luscious rainforests.

Travel to the tropical north for wonders of the world and natural serenity, or head south to the state’s capital hub where you can embrace city life and surf on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast – definitely the makings of the perfect sunshine holiday.

And don’t forget to discover the four states that are filled with diverse and iconic Australian experiences that are renowned the world over: South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Whether you’ve got two weeks to see the sights or six months to cover these vast states in a campervan, here you’ll find everything you need to know about the places to go and things to do.

Our fave customer holiday pics in Aussie

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Our Aussie specialists

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Laura Cook

Laura Cook

House of Travel Whanganui

Hey there!

I’m Laura, the smiley face you’ll spot as soon as you walk through our office door. With a serious case of wanderlust, I’ve done it all —lived abroad, cruised the seas, island-hopped, and even cruised around South Africa on the back of a motorbike. But let me tell you about my ultimate love affair Africa!

For three incredible years, I bounced between Australia and South Africa, exploring every corner of the country, often on the back of a motorbike. I’ve sat with elephants for hours, watched big cats hunting, and slept under the stars in the middle of a game reserve. My heart belongs to the wild, and if you’re an animal lover like me, trust me, Africa will capture yours too.

Nothing lights me up more than helping people experience this magic. The more I learn, the more excited I get about sharing these adventures with you! Whether it’s a dream safari, a relaxing cruise, or an off-the-beaten-path escape, I’m here to bring your travel dreams to life.

Let’s make your adventure happen!

Laura

Vicky Baker

Vicky Baker

House of Travel High Street Lanes, Christchurch CBD

I can’t wait to meet you and help turn your travel dreams into reality! Originally from South Africa I have over 20 years experience working in New Zealand, South Africa and the UK, I genuinely love arranging holidays. I have a particular passion for Asia as a destination and extensive knowledge of family-friendly travel options. Let’s create an unforgettable journey together!

Vicky 
Vikas Sarin

Vikas Sarin

House of Travel Milford

Why Choose Me? Because Travel is Personal — and So Am I.

I’m not just here to book your flights and hotels — I’m here to help you create memories that you’ll talk about for years to come.

What sets me apart? It’s the little things. I listen. I care. I take the time to understand not just "where" you want to go, but "why" — whether it’s ticking off a dream destination, reconnecting with loved ones, or simply taking a break that truly feels like a break. I believe travel should feel as seamless as it is exciting, and I’m passionate about making that happen for every single client.

My own travels — from watching snow monkeys bathe in the steaming hot springs of Nagano, to sipping cocktails at sunset in Fiji, to reluctantly (but joyfully!) zipping through Tokyo in a Mario Kart costume — have taught me that the best experiences often come from the unexpected. I’ve wandered through the vibrant chaos and calm of India, floated in the warm, peaceful waters of Samoa, soaked up the buzzing beach energy of the Gold Coast and Sydney, and fallen for Melbourne’s cool charm and hidden laneways. And then there was sailing away on a Disney Cruise — a perfect mix of childhood nostalgia and grown-up luxury, complete with fireworks over the ocean. I bring that same curiosity and energy to planning every trip, with insider tips, honest advice, and a commitment to making your version of a perfect getaway come to life.

People often tell me I have a calming presence, a knack for making complex trips feel simple, and a sharp eye for the details others miss. I see myself as your advocate, your sounding board, and sometimes even your travel therapist. And I love that.

At the end of the day, people buy people — and when you choose to work with me, you’re not just getting a consultant. You’re getting a partner who’s just as invested in your travel dreams as you are.


Vikas

Melissa Topp

Melissa Topp

House of Travel Christchurch City

Travel really is my passion and I perhaps love organising it just as much as the actual travelling. Being able to open up options for people they had no idea they could accomplish is truly exciting. I love the scope of what we can accomplish as a travel agent; our systems, knowledge and relationships with the right people all add up to being able to organise a truly memorable trip. I’ve done it all from tours, safaris, ocean and river cruises, adventure travel, self-drives, rail journeys, family travel specialising in all things Disney and I love to share my knowledge to help you achieve the trip of your lifetime.

Outside of the office I like to spend my time skiing, horse riding, tramping, scuba diving, getting outside on our lifestyle block with my two little girls or enjoying a glass of pinot with a side order of chocolate mousse.


Years in the Industry: over 20

No. of countries visited: 50+

Favourite place to visit: Niue, no wait Cuba, hmm no maybe it’s Egypt….. Or Italy….

Next place on the list to visit: Disneyworld

·       “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Augustine of Hippo


Why I love travel?

Travel gives us our greatest stories, our most cherished memories and countless irreplaceable learnings that we can choose to pay forward to others. It teaches us about ourselves and each other, it broadens our horizons and, just like a reset button, it forces us to refocus on what really matters.


My travel tips:

  • Pack your patient pants; Don’t sweat the stuff you can’t control. Your trip is much too short to stress. Did you miss your bus? No worries, there will be another one.. ATM out of money? Great! Take an unplanned road trip over to the next town and explore. I know it can be hard sometimes, but just take a deep breath and remind yourself that it could be worse.
  • Focus on value over deals. It’s so easy to not look past the initial $ signs when organising your trip but how much extra will there be in added costs once you are at your destination, lost time or enjoyment is that initial saving really going to cost you once you are there.
  • Wake Up Early To Avoid Crowds. Rise before sunrise to have the best attractions all to yourself while avoiding large tourist crowds. It’s also a magical time for photos due to the softer light and often providing great opportunities to interact with locals getting ready for their day. Sketchy areas are less dangerous in the morning too. Honest hardworking people wake up early; scammers and criminals sleep in…


My top 5 favourite destinations:

  • Rio De Janeiro – Such an incredibly vibrant city. Imagine, having dinner in a local favela, no other tourists in sight and locals from ages 1-99 all together, laughing, dancing to the live music, everyone talking to everyone. A local group of young people came down the street performing the traditional capoeira martial art/dance and everyone heads outside to watch and cheer them on. It is always the people that make the place and Brazil’s people are very bit as colourful as this amazing city.
  • Europe River cruise – A true holiday. Pull up each day in a different location, right in the heart of things, wander off the boat and go for it. Return when you feel like it to every luxury you could want, top class food and drink and every room has a front row view. No crowds, most ships have under 200 passengers and a great option for both first time travellers and more experienced as you tend to visit many of the smaller and often less visited towns.
  • Rocky Mountaineer train journey – Starting in Banff, which really feels like the Queenstown of Canada and ending in Vancouver, a stunning city just a few minutes’ drive and from the beautiful redwood forests this train journey is must do travel experience. Seeing the spectacular scenery of the Rockies from the comfort of your warmed up spacious leather seat, the mountains are not just to either side but also above you through the glass roof of the train.
  • Borneo – Here you can combine stunningly beautiful beach resorts with a visit to the jungle; see the Proboscis monkeys, baby turtles being released into the ocean and one of the only places in the world to see Orangutans in their native habitat. One of the least explored areas on the planet with many adventures to be had but you don’t need to skimp on luxury.
  • East Africa Safari – It is a strangely exciting experience to be told not to wander too far from your tent at night because wild animals are really all around you. From elephants wandering through our camp one evening, to hearing bison grazing in the grass around us while sleeping, Africa really is as wild as you hope it will be. So many travel experiences these days are replicas – shows put together for your enjoyment. Africa definitely is not; it could not get much more real. Seeing orphaned baby elephants playing football with each other, wandering over to you reaching out their trunk so smell you as you stand behind only a rope fence watching their antics is just one of the incredible experiences on offer in this amazing location.

What’s in my suitcase?

  • A dog bed. I kid you not. These days I’m travelling with two little ones in tow and as strange as this sounds it’s a life saver on long haul flights-pair it with one of those big inflatable pillows that go where your legs usually do and you have a comfortable bed for the little ones to curl up in.
  • A dirty laundry bag. One easy spot to place all the worn things and easy to take to the laundry with you while travelling or dump in the machine when home.
  • Earplugs. I need a good nights sleep be ready to do everything I have planned for the next day on my holiday and you just never know what noises you might want to shut out while travelling.


Melissa 

Best. Holidays. Ever!

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