Larapinta Trail tour guide named NT’s best
The NT’s top tour guide has revealed the profound effect Central Australia’s rugged outback has had on her as she prepares to take on Australia’s best.
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Exploring the Larapinta Trails has enriched Anna Dakin’s life in a way she could not have anticipated.
Her role as a freelance tour guide through Central Australia has combined her love and experience of the Red Centre and her studies at London’s Royal College of Art.
And that unique blend has inspired her to develop her own touring business, Art Tours of Australia, and be crowned the Northern Territory’s 2022 Top Tour Guide.
Ms Dakin has worked with a number of tourism businesses in Central Australia and now leads the World Expeditions ‘Six Day Larapinta Trek in Comfort’, which has been recognised as one of the Great Walks of Australia.
“Hiking the Larapinta Trail has had the most profound effect on me,” she said.
“It’s the part of Central Australia that I am most passionate about sharing with others.
“I am working on getting my own tourism business up and running and in doing so, have developed a deeper appreciation of the wider World Expeditions team, who have been very supportive, recognising my work and encouraging me to design my own trips for World Expeditions.”
Top End based tour guide Jack Tanner has been announced as the runner up of the Northern Territory’s 2022 Top Tour Guide.
Guide and co-owner of Cyaround Australia Tours, Mr Tanner offers tours throughout the Top End mainly between Litchfield, Kakadu and Nitmiluk National Parks.
“At Cyaround Australia Tours myself and partner Storm focus on providing guests with an intimate tour that implements sustainable practices, as the environment is something we both are passionate about,” he said.
We pride ourselves on our passion for customer service and again strive to make sure that every experience our guests have with us is a smooth and memorable one.”
Tourism Minister Nicole Manison congratulated the pair.
“Anna and Jack are fantastic ambassadors for the Territory’s tourism industry, with Anna sharing our inspiring Red Centre outback landscapes and Jack delivering remarkable Top End adventures, both ensuring visitors to the Northern Territory have an amazing time offering quality tourism offerings and experiences to visitors,” she said.
“Along with the rest of the Territory, we wish Anna all the best at the upcoming Australian Tourism Awards and have no doubt she has every chance of being awarded Australia’s Top Tour Guide.”
The Top Tour Guide category recognises the significant contribution quality tour guides make in providing memorable experiences to visitors, through interpretation of the natural and cultural environments in a responsible manner.
It is designed to encourage individual tour guides to create and deliver innovative, accurate, authentic and inspiring tours that enhance tourism and enrich the visitor experience.
Ms Dakin will represent the NT at the 2022 Australian Top Tourism Awards in Canberra on September 13.
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