CLIENTS & RESULTS
Sun Sailing Gold Coast
Sun Sailing runs sailing experiences on the Gold Coast Broadwater out of a 38-foot yacht — shared cruises, private charters, proposal and ashes scattering ceremonies, high teas, trivia dinners, and yacht hire for film and TV production. A wide product range with a 10-guest cap on every departure. That is the kind of business where contribution margin per product becomes the question worth answering — and where the busiest tour is not always the one earning its keep.
We are working through the Tourism Profit Program together over twelve weeks. One product, one channel, one decision at a time.
“I am the owner of a small tourism business on the Gold Coast. I engaged Sarah as a business mentor to give me some structure in our business. I didn’t really know what I didn’t know and it’s super hard to grow a business with limited knowledge of the industry. That’s where Sarah came in. I met with her weekly to create structure in my business activities, allowing me to concentrate on the weekly priorities needed to effectively work on us moving forward.
Sarah has such a wide array of knowledge in tourism and is more importantly a kind person. I didn’t feel judged in my lack of knowledge but rather felt supported in moving forward and making super hard decisions about whether our business was even viable. She helped with working through our costings and shared connections that assisted our business.
I can’t recommend Sarah enough for small businesses who don’t even know what they don’t know and need some structure to support their business in creating success. My only regret is not knowing about her sooner.”
Redlands City Council
Destination Redlands Coast
I'm currently working with Redland City Council to lift the commercial capability of tourism operators right across Redlands Coast. It's hands-on work, not a workshop-and-run job. I
'm running a six-month program with a cohort of local operators, sitting down with each of them to look at what's actually holding their business back. And here's what I see over and over again: operators think they need more marketing, when the real blockage is somewhere else entirely. It's how they're priced. It's whether they're set up to be booked. It's whether an agent or wholesaler can actually sell them. So that's where we start.
We work through rates, margins and trade terms, we fix the booking pathways, and we get operators genuinely trade-ready instead of just busy. For me, the goal is simple. Stronger, more profitable operators, product that agents and partners actually want to sell, and a destination that's more competitive because of it. Redlands Coast has good operators. My job is to cut through the noise, find the commercial gaps, and help them build businesses that grow.
“We are pleased to share our strong endorsement of Sarah Colgate from Exceptional Experiences following the successful completion of Phase One of our tourism operator capability program. Throughout this initial stage, Exceptional Experiences demonstrated exceptional professionalism, deep industry expertise, and a genuine commitment to strengthening the capacity of Redlands Coast tourism businesses.
Their structured interview program provided us with an insightful, evidence‑based understanding of operator readiness across the region. The thoroughness of their assessment—spanning trade readiness, business maturity, operational capability, and growth constraints—has given Council an invaluable foundation from which to plan future industry development initiatives.
Exceptional Experiences has proven to be a trusted and knowledgeable partner, and their work has laid a strong platform for the next phase of our program. We look forward to continuing this partnership as we progress into the operator training and trade‑readiness development stage.”
Hot Air Balloon Gold Coast & Brisbane
Experience the ultimate adventure with a hot air balloon ride over stunning landscapes. Drift peacefully as the sun rises, offering breathtaking panoramic views. Whether celebrating a special occasion or seeking a unique way to explore, this serene and exhilarating journey promises unforgettable moments and perfect photo opportunities.
Classic Experience:
Breathtaking flights over the stunning Gold Coast Hinterland.
Premium experience with a gourmet vineyard breakfast at O'Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards.
Meet & walk with alpacas at Mountview Alpaca Farm
Seamless transfers from most Gold Coast hotels.
Free digital photos to capture your unforgettable journey.
Combo packages available with a FREE Experience
Exclusive private flights available for a more intimate adventure.
“Sarah truly understands tourism operators and tailors her strategies to deliver real results.”
Hot Air Balloon Cairns & Port Douglas
Experience the ultimate adventure with a hot air balloon ride over stunning landscapes. Drift peacefully as the sun rises, offering breathtaking panoramic views. Whether celebrating a special occasion or seeking a unique way to explore, this serene and exhilarating journey promises unforgettable moments and perfect photo opportunities, a great example of the kind of memorable experiences discussed in The Secret to Creating Travel Experiences That Guests Never Forget.
Stunning views while you float over the Atherton Tablelands.
Complimentary Premium Digital Photo Package
Celebration Toast your adventure with sparkling wine.
Combo Package available with a FREE experience.
Upgrade to:
Gourmet Breakfast Dine at the renowned Nu Nu Restaurant in Palm Cove.
Exclusive Private Flight Enjoy a balloon ride with your own expert pilot.
Luxury Transfers Sleep in a little longer with private chauffeur service.
Tree Top Challenge
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Offers an exciting adventure with over 100 high-wire challenges and 14 epic ziplines, including Australia’s only zipline over a crocodile enclosure. Located in a lush rainforest near Currumbin Beach, the park features seven courses, from easy to extreme, for adventurers aged 8+ (minimum height 160cm). Climb, jump, and zip through the treetops while spotting wildlife like kangaroos and dingoes. The adventure is fully supervised, self-paced, and designed to push you to new heights!
“Sarah Colgate & Exceptional Experiences has been pivotal to our growth, profitability and long term success. Sarah was instrumental in helping us secure two major funding wins: the Nature-Based Tourism grant and the Tourism Icons Investment Fund grant. The strength of those applications reflected her strategic thinking and her grasp of what funding bodies seek.
But her impact has gone well beyond grants. Sarah has re-built our sales strategy from the ground up, reshaped our ticketing approach in ways that directly improved profitability, and led the trade and distribution strategy that has positioned TreeTop Challenge in new markets we hadn’t previously reached. Just as importantly, she mentored our team in sales strategy, so the capability stays with us rather than walking out the door when the engagement ends.
Sarah has set us up for sustained success — new products, new markets, and a clearer commercial direction. We can’t recommend her highly enough.”
Tree Top Challenge
Tamborine Mountain
TreeTop Challenge Tamborine Mountain, located in the Gold Coast Hinterland, is Australia’s largest high-ropes adventure park. Offering over 140 challenges and 13 thrilling ziplines across 8 courses, it’s perfect for families and adventurers aged 8 and up. Experience the excitement of climbing, ziplining, and tackling obstacles in a stunning rainforest setting, with courses ranging from easy to extreme. The park is fully supervised and self-paced, ensuring a fun, adrenaline-pumping adventure for all fitness levels.
Tree Top Challenge
Sunshine Coast
Treetop Challenge on the Sunshine Coast offers Australia's highest adventure park with over 140 high-wire challenges and 12 massive ziplines up to 140m. Located next to the iconic Big Pineapple, this thrilling park features 6 courses, from easy to extreme, suspended in lush rainforest. Suitable for adventurers aged 8+, with a minimum height of 160cm. The self-paced, fully supervised experience takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours to complete all courses. Get ready for an adrenaline-packed adventure with ziplines, balancing bridges, and climbing through trees! Open daily with sessions at 10am and 1:30pm.
Business Class Transfers
Business Class Transfers is a premier ground transport provider, offering luxury chauffeur-driven transfers across Australia and internationally. Specializing in airport, corporate, event, and private travel, they ensure seamless point-to-point transportation with real-time flight monitoring for stress-free arrivals.
Their global booking service connects travelers with reliable transport worldwide, making it easy to coordinate transfers in major cities. Whether for business, leisure, or special occasions, Business Class Transfers delivers comfort, efficiency, and professionalism in every ride, supporting the kind of seamless visitor journey discussed in Improving your Customer Experience to Boost Future Sales
Australia Wide
Arro Jet Boating
Gold Coast, Australia
Offers thrilling jet boat rides, providing an adrenaline-pumping experience on the water. With high-speed spins, twists, and turns, it’s perfect for adventure seekers looking to enjoy an exciting tour. Combining heart-racing water activities with stunning coastal views, it's a must-try for both tourists and locals.
“Sarah came in at exactly the right time for our business. We needed someone to step in, sort out, and completely restructure our sales activity – and Sarah delivered beyond expectations. She helped us successfully launch our Jetboat sales, putting in place the right systems and strategies that immediately shifted our results.
What sets Sarah apart is her drive and professionalism. She’s intelligent, hardworking, and hustles like no one I’ve ever met. She quickly turned our sales structure and team around, helping us focus on what actually matters, driving sales, rather than getting bogged down in operations.
Sarah’s impact has been game-changing for us. She not only built clarity and focus into our sales approach but also energised our team to perform at their best. I couldn’t recommend her highly enough to any tourism business looking to get serious about growth.”
Hopo Sightseeing Cruises
Gold Coast, Australia
Offers a convenient and scenic way to explore the Gold Coast through hop-on, hop-off sightseeing cruises. Guests can travel along the waterways, stopping at key attractions like theme parks, shopping precincts, and beaches. The cruises provide a relaxed and enjoyable way to experience the city's highlights while taking in stunning views of the coastline and hinterland. Ideal for both tourists and locals, it combines transportation with sightseeing.
See Moreton
Brisbane & Gold Coast, Australia
Specialises in island tours and marine adventures, offering unforgettable experiences around Moreton Island. Guests can enjoy activities like snorkeling, dolphin watching, and exploring pristine beaches. With a focus on showcasing the island’s natural beauty and wildlife, it provides a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation for those looking to discover the wonders of Moreton Island.
Oceania Tours Melbourne
I'm currently working with Sebastian Topet, owner of Oceania Tours in Melbourne. Oceania runs small-group and private day tours along the Great Ocean Road, out to Phillip Island, through Melbourne city and the Mornington Peninsula, with something genuinely rare in this market: live guiding in Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese, delivered by native speakers rather than an audio app clipped to your ear.
My role spans the whole business. We've restructured the P&L to see the real margin on each tour, rethought the OTA strategy across Viator, GetYourGuide and Civitatis, built out a social media calendar that rotates through three languages, and made some honest calls about which products to grow and which to let go.
Sebastian is time-poor, like most tourism owners I work with, so the job is to do the heavy lifting and hand him decisions, not homework.
For me, this is what coaching should look like. Not generic frameworks, but proper hands-on work grounded in one business, its numbers, its guides, and what actually makes it different.
If you own a tourism business and you want that kind of support, call me on 0491 729 043.
Adventure Art Photography
AdventureArt Photography offers creative photography workshops and tours designed
to help photographers explore, learn and capture Australia’s incredible landscapes and wildlife. From the Flinders Ranges to conservation parks and scenic retreats, their experiences combine photography, nature and adventure.
Sea World Cruises
Gold Coast, Australia
Offers scenic and memorable cruises along the coastline, providing guests with a unique way to explore the area's natural beauty. Whether it's a relaxing sightseeing tour, a chance to spot marine wildlife, or a sunset cruise, it offers diverse experiences on the water. Perfect for families, tourists, and locals, the cruises blend stunning views with unforgettable moments on the sea, similar to the experiential tourism trends explored in Transformational Travel Is the New Luxury.
“She helped us successfully launch our Jetboat sales, putting in place the right systems and strategies that immediately shifted our results.”
Dorchester on the Beach
Surfers Paradise, Queensland
A welcoming beachfront escape in the heart of Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. Guests can step straight from the resort onto the sand with no roads to cross. The spacious 3 bedroom self-contained apartments feature stunning ocean views and everything needed to relax and unwind. Spend the day swimming, surfing or strolling to Broadbeach and Cavill Avenue, then enjoy local dining, shopping and entertainment all within walking distance. It is the perfect spot for an unforgettable beachside holiday
Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre
Burleigh Heads, Queensland
Exceptional Experiences consulted with Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre to assist them in building a strong tourism, sales, and trade distribution strategy that connects their rich Indigenous storytelling with broader domestic and international audiences.
Our work with Jellurgal includes optimising their trade-ready tourism products, developing strategic partnerships with inbound tour operators, wholesalers and we looked at how their sales and marketing activities can elevate the centre’s cultural offerings.
By strengthening their presence in the travel trade ecosystem and increasing direct and indirect bookings, we help Jellurgal grow sustainably while staying true to their cultural mission and community impact .
“Sarah from Exceptional Experiences was absolutely incredible. Her clear, insightful, and no-nonsense approach to tourism marketing gave us the answers we had been searching for. Sarah helped us untangle challenges that had been holding us back, allowing us to move forward with confidence. Thanks to her expertise, we now have stronger strategies in place and a renewed focus on business development and marketing. We highly recommend Exceptional Experiences to anyone looking for expert guidance”
Love The Spit
Love the Spit celebrates and protects one of the Gold Coast’s most treasured natural spaces. With beautiful unspoilt beaches, walking and cycling trails, and abundant wildlife, The Spit offers something for everyone. It’s a place to surf, explore, exercise, connect with nature or simply relax beneath the trees.
Go Vertical Stand Up Paddle & Kayak
Go Vertical offers stand-up paddleboard and kayak rentals from its Surfers Paradise location, giving visitors an easy way to explore the Gold Coast from the water. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed paddle or an active outdoor experience, it’s a fun option for enjoying the waterways and surrounding scenery.
Misty View Cottages Apartment
Misty View Cottages offers a peaceful luxury escape in Montville, surrounded by lush rainforest and beautiful views of Lake Baroon. Designed especially for couples, the private self-contained cottages combine cosy interiors, fireplaces and nature for a relaxing romantic getaway. Guests can also enjoy gourmet dining, local experiences and the natural beauty of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
Montville Country Cabins
Montville, Queensland
Offers a peaceful getaway in the heart of nature, located in a tranquil, scenic area. Ideal for a relaxing escape, the cabins provide comfortable, self-contained accommodation surrounded by lush greenery and picturesque landscapes. With a focus on comfort and serenity, it’s a perfect spot for families, couples, or small groups looking to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors while having all the amenities for a cosy stay. The property is well-suited for those seeking a peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle.
The Breakers Apartments
Breakers Apartments offers comfortable, modern living in West Las Vegas, ideally located near Summerlin’s shopping, dining and entertainment. Residents can enjoy stylish homes with premium finishes alongside a sparkling pool, fitness centre, clubhouse and pet-friendly amenities. With Red Rock Canyon and Downtown Summerlin just minutes away, it combines everyday convenience with an active Las Vegas lifestyle.