A Calling to Travel

From its inception in 1927, APT has been shaped by generations of the McGeary family, united by a passion for travel, innovation and guest satisfaction.

APT founder Bill McGeary was driven to succeed. When Melbourne’s trams went on strike in 1927, he transformed a truck into a makeshift bus, launching a small transport business that would grow into one of Australia’s most respected travel companies.

APT founder Bill McGeary was driven to succeed. No doubt about it. When trams went on strike in Melbourne in 1927, he transformed a truck into a means of public transport, starting a bus business that would go on to become one of the country’s most successful travel companies.

Although Geoff McGeary wasn’t yet born when those first passengers climbed aboard, his connection to the business began early. At just 19 years of age, Geoff inherited a fleet of five vehicles when Bill’s health declined. With determination well beyond his years, he secured an underage bus licence and took the reins of the family business.

Geoff soon took to the road, driving guests to country picnics and working from the back of the bus, with maps and magazines spread before him. It was there that new itineraries were imagined and the foundations of APT’s touring philosophy were formed.

When Anne entered his life, she shared both his ambition and his love of travel. Together, they shaped the business with care, creativity and an unwavering focus on guest experience.

Innovation became a hallmark of the company. Geoff introduced higher-standard vehicles, including one of the first touring coaches with an onboard restroom, promoted at the time as an exclusive feature. Air-conditioning followed, opening up Australia’s remote regions to more comfortable exploration.

Food was reimagined too, with meals enjoyed in local restaurants rather than roadside stops. Family stories of the road have become part of APT folklore, including a memorable visit to the Birdsville pub advertising a “seven-course meal” that turned out to be a six-pack and a pie.

For Geoff’s children, Rob and Lou, travel was simply part of everyday life. “Dinner conversation was never about football,” Rob recalls. “It was always about a new destination being explored or a coach that had become bogged somewhere.”

Those early journeys weren’t without challenge. With many roads unsealed, detours and delays were common. On one occasion, when roads were closed in both directions, supplies had to be flown in by helicopter, a reminder of the resilience and resourcefulness that shaped the business.

By the 1980s, Australian Pacific Tours had expanded beyond Australia, first to New Zealand, then Canada and Alaska. Under the APT name, the business continued to evolve, later embracing river cruising and small-ship journeys, reflecting a commitment to innovation and immersive travel.

As the years passed, the McGeary family grew alongside the company. Geoff and Anne became proud grandparents, and the values that defined APT, curiosity, care and a sense of discovery, were passed down. “That curiosity about the world was fostered in us from a young age,” Lou says. “It’s something I love sharing with my own children.”

Geoff McGeary OAM remained closely connected to APT until his passing in June 2025, continuing to inspire innovation across the business, from new European river ships to the enhancement of APT’s exclusive wilderness lodges.

In January 2026, after more than four decades with the company, Rob McGeary retired, marking the close of a significant chapter in APT’s family leadership. Today, Lou Tandy (née McGeary), as company owner and family director, carries the McGeary legacy forward, guided by the same principles that have shaped APT since 1927.

Vale Geoff McGeary OAM

With deep admiration and respect, APT honours the life and legacy of Geoff McGeary OAM. A visionary leader, devoted family man and pioneer of Australian travel, Geoff’s influence will continue to shape APT for generations to come.