Celebrating 30 years on tour
Australian country singer Geoff Mack wrote the song “I’ve Been Everywhere”, but it might as well have been Dennis Bunnik – joint CEO of Bunnik Tours, and Chairman of the Council of Australian Tour Operators.
For 30 years, this family-owned SA business has won multiple awards and arranged travel and tours for thousands of happy clients. We sat down with Dennis to hear more about Bunnik Tours.
sa move: What’s the story behind Bunnik Tours?
Dennis Bunnik: My mother Marion has always been an avid traveller, so I think it was my brother’s and my destiny. When Mum opened a travel agency 30 years ago, my brother and I left our jobs in the travel industry to join her. In the early 2000s, we saw a gap in the market for tours specifically designed for Australian travellers, so we started Bunnik Tours. Since then, we’ve grown and grown and in 2019 we won the AFTA Best Tour Operator International. Since borders reopened post-Covid, business is booming. Everyone wants to travel, especially in smaller groups, and we arrange tours for people across Australia. Thirty years is a big milestone and we’re proud to be a South Aussie success story.
sa move: What’s the most surprising destination you’ve visited?
Dennis: One that blew me away was the tour of five ‘stans’ – Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. There’s so much stunning scenery and beautiful mountain ranges. The populations of these countries are relatively sparse, but the people are incredibly friendly. Many still have nomadic lifestyles, living in yurts in the countryside – almost like real-life cowboys. It may surprise people what a magical part of the world it is.
sa move: What are some of your favourite travel destinations?
Dennis: It’s so hard to pick a favourite. For instance, I could go to Europe every year because there’s so much diversity and it has such a great feel. Another favourite would have to be the Serengeti – being immersed in its natural beauty is hard to compare. I particularly love walking out to Iguazú Falls on the border of Brazil and Argentina. The sheer power of the water and the volume coming through is spectacular.
sa move: What are your tips for beating jetlag?
Dennis: When you arrive at a destination, don’t have a nap, especially if it’s the morning. Check into your hotel room and go for a walk. Being out in the daylight will help your body adjust to the new time zone and your excitement and natural curiosity will help overcome your tiredness. Staying hydrated is important too. You’re on holiday, so celebrate with a glass of bubbly, but drink plenty of water to compensate.
sa move: What do you enjoy most about taking guests on tour?
Dennis: I love watching people’s physical and emotional reactions to seeing something they’ve long wanted to see. An example is a lady on one of our tours to Egypt who’d always dreamed of seeing Tutankhamun’s treasures. We walked into the museum, and I asked her to follow me and keep her eyes closed. Eventually, she was a metre away from the mask of Tutankhamun, with her back to it. I asked her to turn around and open her eyes. When she did and saw the beautiful, solid-gold mask she burst into tears. She waited 60 years to see it and we made it happen. These are the special moments. We have the best job in the world because we make people’s dreams come true.
