Intrepid Travel has acquired the Wild Bush Luxury business from Experience Co, bringing a range of guided walking tours and premium accommodation experiences under its ownership. The transaction was announced in December 2025 and is expected to be finalised by February 2026.
Under the terms of the acquisition, Intrepid Travel will take ownership of Wild Bush Luxury’s portfolio, which includes guided walks and wilderness lodges such as the Arkaba Walk and Homestead in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges, The Maria Island Walk in Tasmania, and Bamurru Plains in the Northern Territory. These offerings are known for multi-day walking itineraries and lodge-based experiences in remote natural environments.
Intrepid Travel is a Melbourne-based adventure tourism company with operations in numerous countries. The company has stated the purchase is part of a strategy to expand its domestic walking and accommodation offerings in Australia. Once integrated, the Wild Bush Luxury properties and tours will become part of Intrepid’s portfolio alongside its existing travel products.
Experience Co, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), sold Wild Bush Luxury as part of a strategic review of its business. The review identified a focus on other core segments of its operations, such as marine tourism, skydiving and adventure experiences, as priorities for future growth. Experience Co chief executive John O’Sullivan said the company made the decision to divest the Wild Bush Luxury division to concentrate on areas where it sees greater operational scalability.
Intrepid Travel’s acquisition will make it one of the larger operators in the Australian walking tour market. The company has said the addition of Wild Bush Luxury experiences aligns with its climate and sustainability goals, including low-impact travel. The inclusion of premium guided walks and lodges is also expected to broaden Intrepid’s range of nature-based tourism products in Australia.
Wild Bush Luxury’s portfolio features several recognised tourism experiences. The Arkaba Walk and Homestead combine guided trekking with accommodation in a private wildlife conservancy in South Australia. The Maria Island Walk is a multi-day trail along Tasmania’s east coast, and Bamurru Plains offers lodge-based wildlife and landscape viewing in the Northern Territory. These offerings were previously managed and marketed under the Wild Bush Luxury brand prior to the acquisition.
The acquisition is scheduled for completion in early 2026, with Wild Bush Luxury properties and tours transitioning to Intrepid Travel’s operations by February. Industry observers note that the move consolidates Intrepid’s presence in the nature-based tourism sector and could impact competitive dynamics in the domestic market for premium walking and lodge experiences.
Experience Co’s decision to sell follows a period of portfolio reshaping, during which it focused on higher-return and scalable parts of its business. The sale price reported by some industry sources is approximately $5.1 million, although the companies have not publicly confirmed financial terms. Intrepid Travel has framed the acquisition as consistent with its broader strategy to develop nature-oriented tourism products and support regional tourism growth.
The integration process will include transferring operational oversight, staff coordination and ongoing guest bookings to Intrepid Travel. Both companies have indicated they will work to ensure continuity for current and future customers throughout the transition period.
Main image: Maria Island
This article is based on publicly available information and official statements from the organisations involved.
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