Fantastic Aussie Tours

Fantastic Aussie Tours is an Australian bus and sightseeing-tour operator associated with the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. Its business developed from Katoomba Scenic Tours, which John Cronshaw acquired in 1974 and subsequently renamed Golden West Tours. During the 1980s, an alliance with Bus Australia led to the adoption of the Fantastic Aussie Tours name and Bus Australia livery. This transition connected the business’s earlier scenic-tour identity with a broader coach-operating and passenger-transport role. The company’s activities have included sightseeing services and scheduled intercity coach operations. On 11 February 1990, Fantastic Aussie Tours began operating a Sydney–Armidale service under contract to CountryLink. The service replaced the Northern Tablelands Express and was run with Denning coaches in a joint venture with Manly Bus Service. This marked a significant expansion beyond local scenic touring into contracted regional passenger transport. In 1992, the operator introduced a double-deck service, adding another operating format to its fleet and service portfolio. In July 2010, Fantastic Aussie Tours commenced operating a City Sightseeing franchise. The franchise extended its sightseeing presence and linked the company with the internationally used City Sightseeing open-top-tour model. The service was initially operated with Leyland Atlanteans and, according to the available reference material, later used former Lothian Buses Alexander Volvo Olympians. The company therefore combines local Australian tourism operations with vehicles and service concepts associated with established sightseeing-bus networks. As of December 2023, the fleet consisted of 13 buses and coaches. Publicly available information identifies the business primarily through its transport operations, its Blue Mountains base, its historic Sydney–Armidale contract, and its City Sightseeing franchise. Detailed information about ownership, financial performance, management, legal structure, and current route schedules is not established in the supplied sources.

Fantastic Aussie Tours traces its operating history to Katoomba Scenic Tours in the Blue Mountains. In 1974, John Cronshaw purchased Katoomba Scenic Tours and renamed the business Golden West Tours. The change established the ownership and operating foundation from which the later Fantastic Aussie Tours brand developed, although the available source does not specify the exact date on which the Fantastic Aussie Tours name was first adopted. During the 1980s, the business formed an alliance with Bus Australia. In connection with that alliance, the company was renamed Fantastic Aussie Tours and adopted Bus Australia’s livery. The rebranding represented a move away from a purely local scenic-tour identity and toward a broader bus-operating presentation. The available account does not provide details of the alliance’s legal structure, ownership arrangements, or duration. A major development occurred on 11 February 1990, when Fantastic Aussie Tours commenced operating a service between Sydney and Armidale under contract to CountryLink. The operation replaced the Northern Tablelands Express. The service used Denning coaches and was conducted as a joint venture with Manly Bus Service. This contract placed the company within the regional intercity passenger-transport network and expanded its activities beyond tourism-oriented services in the Blue Mountains. In 1992, Fantastic Aussie Tours began operating a double-deck service. The introduction of double-deck buses broadened the company’s vehicle types and demonstrated its participation in higher-capacity passenger operations. The available material does not identify the route, duration, or exact vehicles associated with the initial double-deck operation. The company entered a further phase of sightseeing development in July 2010, when it began operating a City Sightseeing franchise. City Sightseeing is associated with open-top sightseeing bus operations, and the franchise gave Fantastic Aussie Tours a recognizable international sightseeing format in addition to its established local business. The service initially used Leyland Atlanteans. It was later operated with former Lothian Buses Alexander Volvo Olympians, linking the Australian operation to buses previously used by the Edinburgh-based operator Lothian Buses. The source does not provide a complete chronology of vehicle changes or the exact locations and schedules served by the franchise. By December 2023, the fleet comprised 13 buses and coaches. This fleet figure indicates that the company continued to operate as a relatively focused regional bus and tour business rather than as a large national transport group. The available reference identifies the Blue Mountains as the company’s base and describes its activities as those of an Australian bus company. It does not establish detailed information about present ownership, executive leadership, revenue, profitability, corporate registration, or the full range of current passenger services. Accordingly, the documented history is strongest for the company’s name changes, contracted intercity work, double-deck operation, City Sightseeing franchise, and fleet development.

• 2023

  Fleet reported at 13 buses and coaches

  [1]Fantastic Aussie Toursen.wikipedia.org

  As of December 2023, the company’s fleet consisted of 13 buses and coaches.

• 2010

  City Sightseeing franchise launched

  [1]Fantastic Aussie Toursen.wikipedia.org

  In July 2010, the company began operating a City Sightseeing franchise. The service initially used Leyland Atlanteans and later used former Lothian Buses Alexander Volvo Olympians.

• 1992

  Double-deck service introduced

  [1]Fantastic Aussie Toursen.wikipedia.org

  Fantastic Aussie Tours commenced operating a double-deck service.

• 1990

  Sydney–Armidale CountryLink service begins

  [1]Fantastic Aussie Toursen.wikipedia.org

  On 11 February 1990, the operator began a Sydney–Armidale service under contract to CountryLink, replacing the Northern Tablelands Express and using Denning coaches in a joint venture with Manly Bus Service.

• 1980

  Fantastic Aussie Tours name adopted

  [1]Fantastic Aussie Toursen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1980s, an alliance with Bus Australia was formed, the business adopted the Fantastic Aussie Tours name, and Bus Australia’s livery was used.

• 1974

  Katoomba Scenic Tours acquired

  [1]Fantastic Aussie Toursen.wikipedia.org

  John Cronshaw purchased Katoomba Scenic Tours in the Blue Mountains and later renamed the business Golden West Tours.

A regional Australian sightseeing and coach operator combining Blue Mountains tourism services with scheduled and contracted bus operations.

• Sightseeing tourism

  Blue Mountains sightseeing tours

  The company’s core identity is tied to sightseeing and tourism transport in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. The available source identifies Fantastic Aussie Tours as a Blue Mountains bus company, but does not provide a complete catalogue of current itineraries, stops, prices, or seasonal schedules.

• Open-top sightseeing bus service · 2010

  City Sightseeing franchise

  Fantastic Aussie Tours began operating a City Sightseeing franchise in July 2010. The service was initially operated with Leyland Atlanteans and later with former Lothian Buses Alexander Volvo Olympians. The supplied reference does not specify the current route network or whether every historical franchise service remains in operation.

• Regional intercity coach service · 1990

  Sydney–Armidale coach service

  From 11 February 1990, Fantastic Aussie Tours operated a Sydney–Armidale service under contract to CountryLink. The service replaced the Northern Tablelands Express and used Denning coaches in a joint venture with Manly Bus Service. The available material does not establish when this operation ended.

• High-capacity bus service · 1992

  Double-deck bus service

  In 1992, the operator commenced a double-deck service. This represented an expansion of its operating formats and added higher-capacity vehicles to the company’s service history, although the source does not identify the route or the complete period of operation.

• 2010

  City Sightseeing franchise operation launchedProduct launch

  Background

  Fantastic Aussie Tours sought to operate a recognized sightseeing-tour format in addition to its existing bus and coach activities.

  Action taken

  In July 2010, it commenced operating a City Sightseeing franchise, initially using Leyland Atlanteans.

  Aftermath

  The franchise broadened the company’s sightseeing offering; later vehicles included former Lothian Buses Alexander Volvo Olympians.

  Source

• 1990

  Entry into contracted intercity serviceStrategy

  Background

  The Northern Tablelands Express was being replaced, creating a requirement for a Sydney–Armidale passenger service.

  Action taken

  Fantastic Aussie Tours began operating the Sydney–Armidale service under contract to CountryLink in a joint venture with Manly Bus Service.

  Aftermath

  The company expanded from its Blue Mountains sightseeing base into contracted regional passenger transport.

  Source

• 1980

  Rebranding following Bus Australia allianceStrategy

  Background

  During the 1980s, the business formerly associated with Katoomba Scenic Tours and Golden West Tours formed an alliance with Bus Australia.

  Action taken

  The business adopted the Fantastic Aussie Tours name and Bus Australia livery.

  Aftermath

  The rebranding established the company identity under which its later regional coach and sightseeing operations were conducted.

  Source

1. 1Fantastic Aussie Toursen.wikipedia.org