Should You Do A Group Tour As A Couple?

Backpacking around Australia as a couple is an experience like no other. If that’s you, congratulations! Sharing spectacular sunrises, dreamy ocean dips and once-in-a-lifetime adventures with the person you love? - it doesn’t get better than that. Although travelling as a couple is often seen as a two-person journey, along the way, it's not unusual for backpacking couples to wonder: Should we join a group tour?

There are so many benefits to joining a group tour, whether you're travelling solo, with mates, or as a couple. If you're in a relationship, you might feel a little hesitant at first, wondering whether it will enhance or disrupt your romantic adventure. But the truth is, joining a group tour - even just for part of your trip - could be one of the best things you and your partner do!

Should you do a group tour as a couple?

We say yes! Joining a group trip can enrich your backpacking trip as a couple. Whether you're travelling long-term or just for a few weeks, group tours in Australia take the stress out of planning, especially for popular spots like K’gari (Fraser Island) and the Whitsundays. Here are some of the key benefits to joining a group tour as a couple.

For more information on group travel, check out our guide to the pros and cons of guided vs semi-guided trips.

Less planning, more relaxing

Backpacking is heaps of fun, but it can be hard work! Booking accommodation, organising transport, and choosing the right tours and destinations involves a lot of brain power and can sometimes even raise tensions. Touring around Australia is should be a fun, care-free experience, so why not leave all the planning to someone else for a few days so you can focus on having fun and relaxing with your partner?

On group tours, the transport, accommodation, itinerary, and sometimes even food, is organised for you by seasoned travel experts who know exactly what visitors want to experience when they visit.

Meet like-minded people...

One of the biggest perks of joining a group tour is the chance to meet like-minded people and make new friends. While you can absolutely spend most of the tour with your partner if that's your vibe, branching out a little can be a refreshing change - especially if you're a couple who are travelling long-term! 

And let’s be honest - making new travel buddies also comes with a major bonus: finally getting some decent photos together! Say goodbye to awkward selfies and rushed 10-second timers, and say hello to cute, stress-free couple shots you’ll actually want to send home.

...But enjoy plenty of free time

A good group tour will strike the right balance between social time and personal space, so you can still enjoy that one-on-one time with your partner. Just because you're joining a group tour doesn't mean you have to be social 24/7. In fact, most tours build free time into the itinerary, so there are plenty of chances to enjoy one-on-one moments with your partner. 

Use the downtime during the day or the evenings to break away from the group and do your own thing. Many of the best group tours will also offer private sleeping arrangements for couples and friends, so you'll still have your own space to relax at night.

Why choose a group tour?

Enjoy the best bucket list experiences!

Group tours are excellent for ensuring travellers get the very best out of a destination. Whether it's snorkelling or diving on the Great Barrier Reef, exploring the wild island of K'gari, or driving along the famous Great Ocean Road, group tours ensure you're not missing out on anything.

These tours are designed by local experts who know what travellers want to experience, meaning your tour itinerary will be packed with must-do experiences, bucket list moments, and hidden gems that you might not have discovered on your own.

Save money

Taking part in a group tour is also a great opportunity to save money whilst backpacking. Since everything on a group tour is booked in bulk (think transport, accommodation, activities, and even meals), tour companies can pass those savings on to you. That means more value for money, especially compared to planning everything on your own. Keep those savings to splash out elsewhere on your holiday!

Avoid sneaky surprises

Taking part in a group tour means you’ll avoid sneaky expenses like paying last-minute costs, paying extra for transport, or getting hit with surprise national park fees or permits. Group tours often cover these extra costs to take any hard work out of your dream Aussie tour!

Take a look through our tour destinations to get started on choosing your perfect group tour!

Not sure which experiences are right for you and your partner? Get in touch with our team of travel experts, who can help you select the right tour!