- Leading Australasian adventure company Experience Co (EXP) has purchased Wild Bush Luxury and The Maria Island Walk for $5.3 million
- The new purchases will form the beginning of a new Premium Adventure category for Experience Co
- The new category is expected to benefit from the continued uncertainty surrounding the return of international tourism to pre-pandemic levels
- Experience Co is expecting the purchase to be completed by June 2021
- On the market this afternoon, Experience Co is up 5.66 per cent and is trading at 28 cents per share
Experience Co (EXP) has purchased Wild Bush Luxury and The Maria Island Walk for $5.3 million.
The new category is expected to benefit from the continued uncertainty surrounding the return of international tourism to pre-pandemic levels.
Wild Bush Luxury includes the Arkaba Walk and Homestead in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia and Bamurru Plains in the Kakadu region of the Northern Territory.
Notably, Wild Bush’s founder Charles Carlow will be joining the Experience Co team.
The Maria Island Walk is located on Tasmania’s historically significant Maria Island. The business is being purchased from its founder Ian Johnstone, who has led the business since 2003 and built a highly respected wilderness walk experience.
The adventure company is expecting the purchase to be completed by June 2021.
Experience Co CEO John O’Sullivan said during his time as Managing Director of Tourism Australia he witnessed first-hand the increased demand by Australians and international visitors for our country’s premium tourism experiences.
“On a personal note, I am delighted to welcome Charles Carlow to Experience Co and acknowledge the success of both Charles and Ian in building these experiences into the great businesses they are today,” he said.
“I’d also like to acknowledge the contribution that Ian Johnstone has made to the tourism industry in Australia. He has led from the front in creating a gold standard premium adventure product on Maria Island and being a key driver in opening up Tasmania to the world. We are looking forward to building on his wonderful legacy,” he added.
On the market this afternoon, Experience Co is up 5.66 per cent and is trading at 28 cents per share at 3:18pm AEST.