Premium adv purchases

ADVENTURE tourism business Experience Co has completed two major acquisitions this week, bringing Wild Bush Luxury and Tasmania’s The Maria Island Walk into its tourism portfolio for an undisclosed price.

The double purchase effectively propels Experience Co into the premium adventure segment for the first time, augmenting its existing core operations in the Great Barrier Reef and its various skydiving operations across Australia and New Zealand.

The Wild Bush Luxury brand offers a range of premium walks from Arkaba Homestead in the Flinders Ranges, as well as wildlife and fishing safaris from Bamurru Plains Safari Lodge on the Mary River Wetlands in the Top End, all with a focus on conservation.

Meanwhile, newly purchased Maria Island Walk provides multiday walking experiences of the Tassie destination, offering expert guidance on the island’s unique flora and fauna.

“These acquisitions allow us to extend our company’s geographic reach into SA, NT and Tasmania and grow our customer base into the 50-plus age group,” Experience Co’s Chief Executive Officer John O’Sullivan said.

“We are also excited by the opportunity to learn from what has been done by these two companies in the conservation arena and build on the opportunity to connect our guests with the natural environment as we are currently doing with our research and education work on the Great Barrier Reef,” he added.

The purchases will see Wild Bush Luxury’s founder Charles Cralow remain with the business to develop new product with Experience Co, while Maria Island Walk founder Ian Johnstone will depart the business.