The Scenic Tours Story
In 1987 Scenic Tours Managing Director Glen Moroney started running packaged holidays for seniors clubs in Melbourne. The destination was a refurbished motel in the small coastal town of Warrnambool. The area is well known as the "shipwreck coast" and stretches along part of the southern coast of Victoria, Australia.
The idea to start up "Warrnambool Scenic Coaches" came about after it was found the refurbished motel was not in a prime location to attract passing travellers.
Warrnambool Scenic Coach Tours became remarkably successful and as a consequence the company and tour range began to expand rapidly. This growth coupled with Expo '88 was the catalyst for the company name change to Australian Scenic Tours.
Australian Scenic Tours purchased its first coach in 1989 and the continued growth of the company saw a fleet of 5-star Mercedes Benz coaches custom built for Australian Scenic Tours.
In December 1990, a range of tour programs for the 'Phantom of the Opera' were released and Australian Scenic Tours was quickly recognised as Australia's largest coach operator to this musical spectacular. During 1991-92 Australian Scenic Tours also developed a successful program for Australia Tours and New Zealand Tours.
In 1997 Norfolk Island Tours commenced and 1998 saw an overseas expansion with the introduction of Southern Africa Tours. 1999 brought with it more tour programs and an expansion into overseas destinations including Canada Tours, Alaska Tours and USA Tours.
The company name was simplified to Scenic Tours, to reflect the international tour programs offered alongside the already established and highly successful Australian Tours and New Zealand Tours.
Today Scenic Tours are the leading Australian Touring Company to Canada and Alaska. Continued overseas expansion has been a focus of Scenic Tours, now operating Europe Tours, Egypt, Jordan & Dubai Tours and South America Tours, along with tours in other emerging international markets.
Scenic Tours are not only leaders in luxury land tours, 2008 hailed the long anticipated launch of the Scenic "Space-Ships". The Scenic Sapphire and Scenic Emerald were launched in July 2008, with the Scenic Diamond and Scenic Ruby handed over to Scenic Tours in February and March 2009. The Scenic "Space-Ships" were the first river cruisers in Europe to be 100% owned and operated by an Australian company. The Scenic "Space-Ships" are the most spacious on Europe's waterways, the only ships boasting private balcony suites for more than 80% of the cabins and also offering a choice of dining to passengers.
Scenic Tours is still proudly owned by Glen Moroney, employing staff and tour crew world-wide.
Scenic Tours can now certainly claim its place as a truly global tour company. After such a humble beginning Scenic Tours are proud to now operate hundreds of extended tour programs to many exotic domestic and international destinations.