What a specialist actually does
This is a planning and accountability role rather than a call centre. A specialist holds the whole trip in their head, which is only possible because they are not juggling hundreds of bookings at once.
Scope
A conversation about what you actually want — pace, interests, how much driving you will tolerate, who you are travelling with, what a good day looks like to you. Usually more useful than a form.
Propose
A written itinerary with real operators, real timings and a real price. For a tailored trip this takes a few rounds over two to four weeks. Revisions are expected, not grudging.
Book
The same specialist confirms every element and sends your documents. Nothing is handed to a separate operations team, so nothing is lost in the handover.
Stay reachable
If a connection moves or plans change mid-trip, you are contacting the person who built the thing — someone who already knows why each choice was made.
Three regional desks
Nobody knows everywhere well. We split the work by region so the person planning your trip has actually spent time on that ground and keeps up with what has changed there.
Australia
Our home ground, and the desk with the deepest bench. Queensland especially — we have been running these roads out of Brisbane since 1974.
- Queensland day trips and touring holidays
- The Red Centre, the Top End and outback rail
- Tasmania, the south-west, and the east coast run
Aotearoa New Zealand
Close enough to know properly, and far enough that the logistics reward experience. Ferry timings, weather windows, and the difference a season makes.
- North Island and South Island touring
- Combined Australia and New Zealand itineraries
- Walking, scenic rail and small-ship coastal trips
The World
Everything beyond the Tasman, planned with operators we know on the ground rather than sold off a wholesaler's shelf.
- Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas
- River and expedition cruising
- Long-haul trips built around one fixed event or date
Specialist or guide?
Two different jobs, and people often expect one when they mean the other. The short version: a specialist gets the trip right before you leave, and a guide gets the day right while you are there.
Your specialist
- Based at our Brisbane office
- Scopes, prices and books the itinerary
- Handles changes, access requirements and paperwork
- Your contact before you go and while you are away
- Often the only Cooee person you deal with on a tailored trip
Your guide or driver
- On the road with you, day to day
- Runs the itinerary, the commentary and the timing
- Makes the on-the-spot calls when weather or traffic intervene
- The person who knows where the good coffee stop is
- Meet our guides and drivers
Looking for the wider crew — leadership, office staff, guides and drivers? That is on our team page. This page is specifically about the people who plan and book trips.
Common questions
Is a specialist the same as my tour guide?
No. A specialist plans and books your trip from our Brisbane office and is your point of contact before you travel and while you are away. A guide or driver is the person who runs the day on the road. On a small-group departure you will deal with both; on a tailored trip your specialist may be the only Cooee person you speak to until you arrive.
Do I get the same person from start to finish?
That is the intent, and it is the reason we work this way. The person who scopes and quotes your trip is the person who books it and who answers the phone if something changes en route. You are not handed from a sales desk to an operations desk.
How long does planning a tailored trip take?
For a tailored itinerary, expect a few rounds of proposals over two to four weeks. Complex multi-country trips and peak-season travel take longer, mostly because availability has to be held and confirmed at each step. A scheduled small-group departure is much faster, often a single conversation.
What does it cost to speak to a specialist?
Nothing. Scoping, proposals and revisions are part of how we sell a trip, not a separate service. You are not charged a planning fee and there is no obligation to book at the end of it.
Can I contact my specialist while I am travelling?
Yes. You will have a direct contact before you leave. Time zones mean a reply is not always instant on international trips, but there is always someone reachable, and for anything urgent on the road your guide or driver is right there.
Which specialist will I be assigned?
It depends on where you are going. We run three regional desks — Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the rest of the world — and your enquiry goes to whichever knows that ground best. If a trip spans regions, one specialist takes the lead and brings in the others.