The Scenic Tours Story

In 1987 Scenic Tours Managing Director Glen Moroney started running packaged holidays for Melbourne seniors clubs. The destination was along the Great Ocean Road to 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 Tours" came about after it was discovered that the refurbished motel was not in a prime location to attract passing travellers.

Warrnambool Scenic Coach Tours became remarkably successful and as a result the company and tour range began to expand rapidly. This growth coupled with Expo '88 was the catalyst for the company’s 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 both Australia and New Zealand Tours.

In 1997 Norfolk Island tours commenced and 1998 saw an overseas expansion with the introduction of tours to Southern Africa. 1999 brought with it more tour programs and an expansion into overseas destinations including Canada, Alaska and USA.

The company name was simplified to Scenic Tours, to reflect the international tour programs offered alongside the already established and highly successful Australian and New Zealand tours.

Today Scenic Tours are the leading touring company to Canada and Alaska. Continued overseas expansion has been a focus of Scenic Tours, with itineraries now operating on every continent. Destinations across Europe and Russia, throughout Asia including China, India, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, spanning South America, Central America and Antarctica, and across the Middle East including Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Syria and Dubai have all been added to Scenic Tours expansive international touring programs.

2008 hailed the beginning of a new chapter for Scenic Tours, with the launch of their exclusive Scenic "Space-Ships" for Europe. The Scenic "Space-Ships" unique design, were like no other ships on Europe’s waterways. Reminiscent of the facilities of an Ocean Liner, the ships boasted private balcony suites for more than 80% of their cabins, more space than any other river cruise ships and offered a choice of dining and private butler service. They were also the first river cruise ships in Europe to be 100% owned and operated by an Australian company. In July 2008, the first ships Scenic Sapphire and Scenic Emerald were launched, followed by the Scenic Diamond and Scenic Ruby in 2009 and the Scenic Pearl in 2011.

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 touring programs to many exotic domestic and international destinations.