Accessibility & Inclusive Experiences at Experiential Tasmania

At Experiential Tasmania we believe travel should feel welcoming.

Our experiences are about connecting people with Tasmania’s landscapes, stories and communities. Many of the places we explore are wild, natural environments, so not every experience can be accessible in the traditional sense. That said, we do everything we reasonably can to make our tours welcoming and inclusive.

Accessibility and inclusion aren’t just policies for us. They’re part of how we host people.

Because we run small group experiences, with thoughtful guiding and a bit of flexibility, we’re often able to support guests with a wide range of needs and abilities.

We also think honest information matters. This guide is here to help guests understand how our tours work, what to expect, and how we might be able to help if you have accessibility needs.

Our Approach to Inclusive Experiences

Experiential Tasmania was built around the idea that travel should feel personal. Our tours are small, guided and fairly flexible. That naturally helps us support guests with different needs, abilities and interests.

A few things about how we operate make this easier:

Small group sizes- Most of our tours run with a maximum of eight guests. Smaller groups mean guides can adjust pace, help where needed, and generally make the day feel comfortable for everyone.

Personal guiding- Our guides are used to working with different people, different abilities, different interests. The

pace of the walk, interpretation and how the day unfolds can usually shift a little depending on the group.

Flexible experiences- Where possible we try to adapt things to suit guests. In some cases private or bespoke tours give us even more flexibility.

Thoughtful hospitality- Food is part of our experiences and we regularly cater for dietary requirements. We want guests to feel looked after and relaxed during the day.

Communication before the tour- A lot of accessibility needs can be supported if we know about them ahead of time. We encourage guests to get in touch before booking so we can talk things through.

Planning Your Experience

If you have accessibility requirements, the best thing to do is contact us before booking. We’re always happy to chat about things like:

• the physical nature of a tour

• terrain and walking distance

• the pace of the day

• dietary requirements

• whether adjustments might be possible

You can contact us by phone, email or via the website. Having that conversation early helps us plan and helps guests decide if the experience is right for them.

Nature-Based Experiences

A lot of our tours take place in Tasmania’s national parks and coastal areas. They’re beautiful places, but they’re also natural environments. Infrastructure is limited and conditions can change.

Guests should generally expect:

• uneven walking tracks

• stairs and inclines

• sections of beach walking

• weather changes

• remote areas with limited facilities

Because of this, some experiences won’t suit all mobility levels. We always try to explain this clearly so guests can make an informed decision.

Example - Freycinet Walking Tour

Our Freycinet Walking Tour is a guided experience through Freycinet National Park. Some key things to know:

• approx. 10km of walking

• forest tracks, stairs and beach walking

• small group guided experience

• morning tea and a picnic lunch

• boat return (weather permitting)

The walk is designed as an introductory wilderness experience, but it’s still a moderate walk with uneven terrain. Our guides are very used to supporting guests with different walking paces. We provide walking poles and lightweight packs to help make things easier. Where possible we can adjust parts of the day depending on conditions and the group.

How We Support Guests

Even though our tours are outdoors in natural areas, there are a few ways we try to make the experience easier and more comfortable.

Walking support- Walking poles are available for all guests. They help with stability on uneven ground.

Lightweight equipment- We provide day packs and rain jackets so guests don’t need to carry too much.

Flexible pacing- Small groups mean we can adjust the pace to suit the group.

Experienced guides- Our guides are outdoor professionals and keep a close eye on how guests are going during the day.

Dietary requirements- We regularly accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy-related diets.

Bespoke experiences- Private tours or customised itineraries sometimes allow us to adapt things further for guests.

Accessibility Considerations

Everyone’s needs are different. The information below is general guidance to help guests decide whether our experiences might suit them.

Mobility- Our tours involve walking on natural tracks and uneven surfaces. Walking poles are available and guides can help with pacing where possible. Guests should generally feel comfortable walking several kilometres outdoors.

Hearing- Tours run in small groups and guides speak clearly throughout the day. Guests with hearing impairments are very welcome to discuss their needs with us in advance.

Vision- Guides provide lots of verbal interpretation about the landscape, wildlife and local stories. Guests with low vision may want to discuss terrain and walking conditions with us before booking.

Cognitive or sensory needs- Small groups and clear communication often work well for guests with cognitive or sensory needs. We’re happy to talk through individual situations.

Children and families- Our tours are generally suited to guests aged 10 and older. Families travelling with younger children may prefer a private or alternative experience, which we’re happy to discuss.

Safety and Duty of Care

Working in remote natural environments means safety always comes first. Our guides are constantly assessing conditions, terrain and how the group is travelling. In some cases adjustments might not be possible if they would compromise safety, either for an individual guest or the group.

Our job is to make sure everyone enjoys the experience safely.

Continuous Improvement

Accessibility is something we keep working on.

We try to improve how we communicate and deliver inclusive experiences over time. That includes:

• reviewing accessibility information

• listening to guest feedback

• improving how we explain the physical requirements of tours

• continuing guide training and awareness

We’re always looking for ways to remove barriers where possible.

Contact Us

Every guest is different, so we’re always happy to have a conversation.

If you’d like to talk about accessibility or discuss your needs before booking, please get in touch.

We’ll do our best to help work out whether an experience might be suitable.

We’d love to welcome you to Tasmania.

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