About Us

Outback Travel Shop was established in Alice Springs Australia in March 1997 by Irma Versluijs, a Dutch backpacker exploring the world.

During her travels, whenever Irma felt that her enthusiasm and strong work ethics were useful, Irma would volunteer and work and help out. For example did she help to set up an Orphanage in Guatemala, and she took on the care of the children of Indian mothers setting up a corporation in Mexico. She helped fishermen in Thailand to create more income by extending their businesses to also work with tourist, and she helped out in a backpackers hostel in Australia in Alice Springs.

Whilst in Alice Springs, Irma recognised the potential of businesses catering for the backpacker and independent travellers market, and Irma decided to share her own travel experiences with fellow travellers. Irma took on a lease for a shop in the centre of Alice Springs and started Outback Travel Shop. This shop became quite a buzzing place where independent travellers would hang out, have a cup of coffee, and book their travel to the next destination or beyond.

After a period of 2 years, the idea arose of a second shop in Perth and this was the start of Outback Travel Shop locations opening in different places around Australia, like for example on King William Steet in Adelaide and George Street in Sydney.

The company run very successfully until Irma realised that instead of visiting shops, more and more customers contacted Outback Travel Shop by phone or e-mail for their further bookings. Due to this being a less costly process, Irma was able to offer better prices to her customers and Outback Travel Shop quickly earned the reputation of offering good service and substantial savings on travel bookings throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Irma waited for the right moments to not inconvenience any staff or product providers, and started selling the different shops locations. Doing this over a period of about 2 years, the idea arose of taking Outback Travel Shop from retail to online. And that was the start of this website allias bookings engine, that you are currently visiting. Together with Xebidy in Queenstown New Zealand, we build this website, to allow Outback Travel Shop to continue helping independent travellers to create their Australian and New Zealand travel experiences of a life time. And to allow travel agents from all over the world, to use this bookings engine to create good priced bookings for their customers.

Outback Travel Shop's extend experience in actively selling Australian and New Zealand travel since 1997, provides the product knowledge and the people knowledge needed to find the best travel, totally suited to the traveller. It also allows providing the best possible travel for the best possible price. Irma is a world of knowledge and will always find what you are looking for. And if she can not find it, it probably means that it does not exist, However Irma will help you find the closest thing to your wish. Outback Travel Shop is all about creating happy and satisfied customers.

The strong longstanding relationships with product providers, allowed Outback Travel Shop & Irma to build a reputation of fairness and honestly and good solid business ethics. And therefore we have been able to pick and choose the product providers presented on our website. Irma & Outback Travel Shop are very proud of their association with many reputable travel companies.

Check out our website and find the tours and travel products you are looking for. And if you can not find what you are looking for, just know that we are only an e-mail or a skype call away to help you with your search and your bookings. We are always available via e-mail or skype to organise and plan the Australian and New Zealand travel experience you will never forget!

We look forward to hear from you and look forward to help you plan your adventures.

Outback Travel Shop & Irma wish you Safe and Happy Travels!