About Us
Outback Encounter has an enviable list of past travellers and has been recognized by the 2008 Australian Gourmet Traveller Magazine Awards as the 'Best Tourism Innovator' and as one of the 'The top 50 travel experts you need to know worldwide' by the prestigious Conde Nast Traveller UK. The company has been featured in many other leading international publications such as Travel & Leisure USA, Elite Traveler USA and Vogue.
As our name implies, Outback Encounter is dedicated to 'off the beaten path' travel, but with a distinctly luxurious edge. Outback Encounter is a full service travel company, we join all the pieces of the puzzle together including coordinating transfers, accommodations, guides, charter flights and act as your private travel concierge to arrange anything from dinner reservations and opera tickets to golf lessons. We also offer our guests a 24 hour telephone contact during their travels.
Why choose OE?
* Our experience and knowledge is your biggest asset!
Beginning operation in 1998 Outback Encounter has more than 10 years of know-how in designing Australian '5 star experiences'. Over this time we have built an unrivalled knowledge base. The fact that we only create Australian holidays, clearly demonstrates our commitment to excellence and personalised service within this travel region.
How is OE different?
* Our Travel Designers take time to really understand the type of holiday that you are looking for, even when you don't necessarily know what you are seeking. By conversing with you we narrow down and suggest an itinerary to suit your needs. We will keep refining your journey until you are happy with the final layout.
* At Outback Encounter we are constantly pushing the boundaries in experiential travel. We continue to travel the length and breadth of Australia in order to present you with a selection of our favourite and newest Australian experiences.
* We have formed wonderful relationships with our portfolio of experiences. They have come to understand the level of service that our travellers seek and are constantly going above and beyond to exceed your expectations.
* Having been in operation for more than 10 years, we have established an amazing network of experiences that are just not accessible to regular travellers or travel agents. Through working with Outback Encounter you will have an entree to our black book of 'OE Connections'. You will be able to access some of the most exclusive beach houses, city villas, private jets, specialist guides, sporting and entertainment stars and other unique experiences. These are closely guarded secrets and don't appear on our website - they are only available to our travellers.
What makes a truly great Australian holiday?
* Outback Encounter journeys are truly 'people to people' experiences. Rather than visiting large lodges filled with tourists, conversations are with hosts, specialist guides and the local Australians who have inhabited the land for generations. Many travellers return home with new and often lifetime friends.
* Experiencing these destinations provides a stylish way to discover untouched Australia and to meet great characters that are passionate about their operations and intimately involved with every aspect of them.
* Our team of expert Travel Designers keeps this important ingredient of 'people to people' experiences in mind, when creating your Australian holiday.
Why should I use OE instead of booking it myself on the internet?
* If you choose to book via the internet, you are really just a booking number and a credit card transaction, but to us you are our special guest.
Our team of dedicated and creative travel designers pride themselves on the ability to provide our clients with an unrivalled personal service. Outback Encounter will advise the best option and create an amazing tailored experience to the finest detail. Our expertise and connections ensure the most intricate travel arrangements can be organised anywhere in Australia.
* If you choose to book via the internet and you need to make changes for any reason, you will have to do this yourself. It is hard to know who to contact to make these amendments when you are travelling in a different country.
At Outback Encounter we offer our travellers a 24 hour emergency contact phone number, so that means you can call us day or night and there will be someone on the end of the phone that cares and wants to lend you a helping hand!
* If you choose to book via the internet you don't really know if what you see on your screen will be what you are really going to experience.
With over 10 years of experience in Australian luxury experiential travel, our expert Travel Designers at Outback Encounter will tell you honestly what we think is a truly great experience.
* If you choose to book via the internet, you can never guarantee the experience is what you were really seeking, but at Outback Encounter our Travel Designers make sure we are always one step ahead.
Over the last 10 years we have formed wonderful relationships with our favourite properties, guides and travel providers - they know what our travellers expect and try to surprise with you those unanticipated special touches!
For more information about Outback Encounter please read the Meet the Team and OE Testimonials section of our website.
Drew Kluska
Life before Outback Encounter
Managing Wilderness Trails Lodge at Lewa Downs Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya.
Personal Passion
Learning more about Australia, particularly the history of the country through talking to locals, and hearing their personal stories and why they love their piece of Australia.
Favorite Food
My mum’s Roast Lamb.
Favorite Activity
There is nothing better than being in an incredible destination like Faraway Bay and doing a spot of fishing!
Favorite Australian Destination
The Kimberley's - one of the last true wildernesses left on earth.
OE TESTIMONIALS
Drew,
I just wanted to drop you a note to tell you how outstanding Kylie Pedler has been. In the couple weeks since you and I spoke by phone, Kylie collected all our information, assessed what we were looking for, provided us with several excellent alternatives and finalized and booked our trip. The fact that she was so responsive - despite the fact that we were on the other side of the world and 14 hours off time schedule - is truly amazing. You should be pleased to have someone with such a combination of knowledge, efficiency and client orientation on your team.
Carl (USA)
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We wanted to let you know that we had a blast on our trip. We haven't completed your evaluation yet, but we want you to know that your firm did a fantastic job in everything. The trip was well thought out and the arrangements were excellent. We're now thinking about next year.
Matthew (USA)
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Dear Kirsty:
I wanted to write to tell you that you and your company did an absolutely amazing job on our recent trip to Australia in July. Our Outback Encounter was truly unforgettable for me and my family, and we know that we have had a once in a lifetime experience.
We were amazed at the organization, of both the events and transportation. We were never without a bus or a restroom, or food and drinks when we needed them. Everything was presented in the most professional and interesting way and the uniqueness and quality of the events was what made the trip so amazing.
Our guides were exceptional. Not only were they friendly and helpful, but they were also very knowledgeable and a great source of information about everything we saw and did, and about Australia in general. You should be very proud of the staff that you have working for you in the Outback. We were very impressed with their professionalism.
We loved everything, but have to say that our afternoon with the local indigenous people, along with our lunch of crocodile, camel, kangaroo, emu and grubs was a real high point. Our dinner under the stars with an on-site astronomer, no less, was another favorite of our family. All, from events to accommodations, was just stellar and we wanted to say a special thank you to you and your staff.
I hope that we meet again and know that you provide an amazing experience for we tourists who count on you to make our memories!!!
Sincerely,
Shirley (USA)
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Dear Renae, Dear whole team at Outback Encounter,
Back home we want to thank you for the marvellous selection of places for our holidays, the perfect organisation and all the assistance and help we got from you. We found it particularly nice that you, Renae, sacrificed a free Saturday to pick up (and later "redeliver") our excess suitcase?..
The last hotel your booked for us, in Brisbane, was a nice end of wonderful holidays.
It may be that we will have to travel in October 2008?? If these plans materialize, we will definitely get in touch with you again.
Best regards
Stefanie & Dieter (Germany)
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Dear Kylie,
Thanks so much for the update. We truly appreciate your extraordinary high level of personal service. It is one of the best we encounter anywhere in the world!!
Cheers,
Jim (USA Agent)
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Brendan,
Absolutely the trip of a lifetime. Just an incredible trip that rates at the top of our list and we have been to quite a few places. No one we know will go to Australia and not be reffered to your company by us! You did a fabulous job, the Burrawang Station stop was probably a once in a lifetime experience that will never be outdone. It was also great having all your contact numbers for my family, friends and business contacts, I felt I wasn't really on the other side of the world. I will be happy to write a whole detailed account in a few days as we just got back 12 hours ago.
Thanks for checking up on us during our stay, that too was a nice added touch!
Lorraine & Martin (USA)
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A long overdue note to thank you again for arranging a fantastic trip for our family. Everything, and I mean everything, was first class. Please feel free to use us as a reference any time. You run a first rate operation.
Ted (USA)
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CARBON NEUTRAL
At Outback Encounter we are currently in the process of working towards making our office Carbon Neutral and more importantly offering our travellers the opportunity to offset their journey.
Once our audit and implemtation plan is complete, we will be in touch with more details about our Carbon Netural program.
