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My Experience Doing a Whitsundays Segway Tour
Recently, I decided to do a spontaneous trip to the Whitsundays, Queensland.
It was my birthday, so I felt it appropriate to jet off on a solo trip to Airlie Beach for some TLC (tender, love and care). The perfect gift to myself…
Whilst at Airlie beach, I discovered tour company that would allow me to zip through the rainforest on a unique motorised scooter – Whitsundays Segway Tours!
Until this point, I had never ridden a segway, so I was pretty excited to be sinking my teeth into this new adventure experience.
But before I share my experience doing a segway tour in the Whitsundays and how you can give it a go too, let’s first explore what a Segway is.
What is a Segway and How Do You Ride It?
In simple terms, a Segway is a motorised personal vehicle (kind of like a scooter) that consists of:
- two wheels mounted side by side
- a platform that the rider stands on
- and handlebars that the rider can hold onto
The Segway is controlled by the way the rider distributes their weight, for example:
- Leaning forwards will prompt the Segway to move forwards
- Leaning back will prompt the Segway to go into reverse
- Tilting the handlebars from side-to-side acts as the Segway’s steering, allowing you to turn left and right
My Experience Doing a Segway Tour in the Whitsundays
The only company that runs Segway tours at Airlie Beach and surrounds is Whitsunday Segway Tours.
As part of the Rainforest Segway Tour in the Whitsundays, you’ll get to ride on your own Segway through 9kms of spectacular Conway National Park Rainforest.
It is the perfect way to enjoy all the sights and sounds of this stunning tropical rainforest.
Morning Pickup
What I liked about Whitsunday Segway Tours was that they included pickup and drop off to your accommodation in Airlie Beach.
It’s extremely convenient and allows you to have a little sleep in before the pickup time of around 9:15am.
The Tour
As you zip your way along the walking track, you will be surrounded by lush rainforest, chirping wildlife and flowing streams.
Although the segways are motorised, they’re not that noisy. This allows you to take in and appreciate all the sights and sounds of this stunning Whitsundays tropical rainforest.
Your guide will point out and explain interesting things throughout the journey, including the local flora, fauna and points of interest within the national park.
I was fascinated by the Gympie Gympie Tree (Aka. Suicide Plant) which has some of the most painful sting in the world.
The stinging nettles on its leaves are so powerful that anyone who touches them will experience an intense burning / stinging pain, vomiting and in some cases, death.
Some describe the sensation alike being burned by hot acid and electrocuted at the same time.
One guy accidentally used a leaf from the Gympie Gympie tree and actually ended up shooting himself because of the pain.
If that doesn’t give you enough incentive to stay away from the plant, then you have some problems, my friend!
Morning Tea
You will also stop for a light morning tea at the halfway point whilst relaxing by the clear crystal waters of Impulse Creek.
Many of the products in the lunch box provided were baked by the guide’s partner (who happened to be a brilliant chef!). The afternoon tea mostly consisted of some fruit, nuts, and baked goods.
One thing to keep in mind is that THERE ARE NO TOILETS once inside the Conway National Park Rainforest. Therefore, it is a very good idea to clear everything out of your system before you go.
If, like me, you have a very small bladder, you will be able to go to the toilet during the morning tea break, however, it will be of the “natural” variety.
Drop Off
Once you’ve finished the tour and made it back to the van, you will be returned back to your accommodation, arriving just after lunch.
The Verdict
Overall, I had a fantastic experience with Whitsunday Segway Tours. Riding a segway was really fun and was easier to pick up than what I had thought it would be.
Given I was the only one on my tour who’d never ridden a segway before, I really appreciated being given time to practice before entering the National Park trail.
It allowed me to get comfortable riding the segway before having to worry about any tricky bumps and turns.
Although it rained for half of our tour, the guides had ponchos on hand which helped us to stay dry and warm throughout the experience.
If you’d like to fun and adventurous want to explore the Conway National Park Rainforest, this is an opportunity not to be missed!
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What Does the Tour Include?
If you do the rainforest discovery Segway tour, the following will be included in your tour:
- Your own segway (for the duration of the tour)
- Accommodation pickup and return
- Freshly packed morning tea and coffee
- Safety helmet
- Segway introduction and training
- Rest stops and guided commentary
- A poncho incase it rains
- And finally, big smiles all round!
What Doesn’t the Tour Include?
Outside of the tour inclusions, there are a few things that you will need to bring along yourself.
For example, it can be a good idea to pack a:
- Camera / Phone for taking photos
- Warm jacket / Raincoat
- Comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty (incase you fall off)
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- A water bottle
Each segway has its own front pack that you can use to keep your things safe, and dry.
Are There Any Age or Weight Restrictions?
Yes. In order to ride a segway you must be over the age of 12, and also weigh between 45 kg – 117 kg.
How Much Does a Segway Tour Cost?
The Whitsunday segway tours cost between $110-$140 per person. The price of the tour varies depending on the tour you choose. The rainforest tour is slightly more expensive.
How to Book a Segway Tour at the Whitsundays
If you’ve never done a Segway tour before, I can highly recommend Whitsunday Segway Tours.
They were really patient and good with beginners, and also provided educational guidance on the local flora and fauna throughout the tour.
If you’re interested in learning more about their different segway tours they offer from Airlie Beach (the Rainforest Discovery Tour or the Sunset & Boardwalk Tour) you can click here.
No matter your experience riding a segway, I am sure that your tour guide will make your Segway experience one to remember.
In Summary…
I had a lot of fun learning how to drive a segway, and what greater setting to learn than within the Conway National Park Rainforest in the Whitsundays.
Riding a segway through the rainforest definitely added a lot more excitement and adventure to the journey compared to just simply walking along the track.
I also believe that it is an easy enough skill for most people to pick up. So, you don’t have to worry about whether you’ll look out of place because you’re too “old”, “young”, “tall”, “short” or “tech-savvy”.
If you’ve done a segway tour before, I’d love to hear about your experience!
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