Oz Magic the Web-Site
Frequently Asked Questions
(Click on questions and click on Top to return to the top of the page)
This web site is not like other sites how do I navigate to find things?
Oz Magic was designed to be different. On the main linking pages for each region you will see a large picture that has smaller pictures embedded in the large picture. Simply point at small pictures and a text box will drop down to tell you if you can click for more information or a picture of what you are pointing at. Most small pictures are actually links to something larger. If in doubt just point and click.
By emailing us we are able to email you links directly to what you want. If you are not in the mood to wait for the pages to load just email us and we will send you direct links.
I can't find what I want on the Oz Magic site, can you still help me?
Oz Magic is a huge project, we are working on a 5 year plan and many of our network operators are not yet shown on the site, we are able to deal with most Australian tourism businesses but we do not simply put them on the site. Oz Magic will obtain reports from people who have used the service and if they felt the tour was exceptional we will then do a layout for the operator on the Oz Magic site.
Oz Magic is a pictorial web site so if an operator cannot supply us with a good range of photographs to represent them we cannot put them on the site. Other online booking web sites show you one photo. It is our policy to give you an online virtual tour.
If an operator cannot demonstrate their services by way of photographs then we cannot show you what you are paying for.
Why can't I just click on what I want and book it why do I have to email you?
Oz Magic takes pride in placing our clients on the tour that is correct for them. If you are not a certified scuba diver it is no use for you to book a dive trip online only to find out when you arrive you have to be a certified diver to participate. Equally if you are slightly more mature it is no use arriving to find out your tour includes climbing mountains and cliffs if you do not have a degree of fitness.
We take the time to find out a little about you so we can recommend an activity you are going to thoroughly enjoy. We have many tours going to the same destination that are different in what they offer the client. If you want loads of climbing, swimming and walking or if you want to relax and be waited upon we can cater for you. In order to give you the correct tours to choose from we need to know your age, your preferences and your state of health.
How do I know Oz Magic is a registered reputable Australian business?
Oz Magic is a registered Australian business with a ABN (Australian Business Number) issued by the Australian Tax Department. Oz Magic is listed by the Queensland State Library on the Qld Web (search engine).
How do I know Oz Magic is not charging me extra for the tours and accommodation?
Oz Magic does not charge our clients anything for our service. It is a condition that our network members allow us to offer their services at exactly the same price as they themselves would normally charge. We cannot and will not deal with businesses that ask Oz Magic to charge our clients an "extra fee".
When your booking is finalized all contact details for each business is supplied to you.
Can I get a discount on tours and accommodation?
In many cases we are able to recommend ways for you to obtain a discount. e.g. if you are traveling to many different regions we may be able to book your tours as a package with one national tour operator who will give us a discounted rate for you.
Many tour operators (not all) will offer a discount for YHA or VIP card holders so if you have either of these cards you must tell us when you first email us.
How do I know the tours and accommodation will be good value?
All tour operators and accommodation that Oz Magic recommends to you are hand picked by previous travelers. Oz Magic conducted research with over 500 travelers over 2 years for their thoughts on tours they had been on. Operators that consistently came to our attention were approached to participate in the Oz Magic network.
Note: This is not to say that any operator or business not appearing on the Oz Magic site is not a good business.
Oz Magic keeps records of any complaints from our clients, in 3 years we have had 3 minor complaints and in all cases the companies concerned had already rectified the difficulty to our clients satisfaction without any intervention from Oz Magic.
The majority of our tour operators are winners of awards from Australian Tourism organizations including government tourism departments. All operators are passionate about the areas they deal with and excel in the areas of customer service.
What happens once my bookings have been confirmed and my deposits have been paid?
When Oz Magic has confirmed availability and you have faxed your personal details to us we will confirm all aspects of your holiday or single tour booking. The necessary deposits will be deducted from your credit card and a tax invoice will be raised reflecting payments made by you and all contact details of the operator(s) you have booked.
If booking more than one tour your itinerary will be finalised and both your itinerary and your tax invoice will be emailed to you. You must print both and present your tax invoice when checking in for your tours and accommodation. Your tax invoice will contain your booking numbers or important information and you must bring it with you.
What makes Oz Magic different from other online booking sites?
Oz Magic is a dedicated Internet booking service by communicating with you by email everything is in writing so it is hard for us to make any mistakes. To date all of our clients itineraries have gone according to plan.
With over 30 years experience we know what we are talking about, you will not be dealing with an employee who has never been to the places you want to know about.
Oz Magic covers many different regions allowing you to put your own package together to suit yourself. We will communicate with you by email in detail. We do not simply take your booking and say goodbye. You can contact us at any time maximum response time for emails is 12 hours.
We will work with you by email building your itinerary, step by step and region by region offering you links to choices for each place you want to visit. Your itinerary will slowly take shape as you make your choices. You are also able to make just a single booking with us if you wish.
If you are traveling by car we will give you travel distances and estimated travel times. We will also warn you of anything you should know about such as what time of day you are likely to have a kangaroo jump in front of your car as you cruise our highways.
If we don't book certain services (such as airline flights) we will give you the necessary links to book your flights within Australia.
Oz Magic does not just focus on selling you tours and accommodation. If you are having a rest day we can tell you of things to do that do not require a tour operator to get you there. In Sydney attractions can be reached by different types public transport this can save you money and allow you to travel when and where you want to.
You can email Oz Magic at any time during your trip for help or advice.
The person you are dealing with has lived and worked in all of the regions represented on the Oz Magic site for over 30 years, it is rare we don't have the answer but if we don't our network members are only too happy to provide the information you want to know.
Does Oz Magic have tour and accommodation packages?
Yes. Many of our network operators have packages available. However if you wish we can put a package together for you.
Does Oz Magic have a network of hostel accommodation?
Oz Magic no longer recommends hostel accommodation due to the poor quality of many hostels. There are exceptions in some regions. As an alternative to hostel accommodation Oz Magic recommends and books self contained cabins in caravan parks as a viable cost effective alternative to hostel accommodation. These self contained cabins offer a much better quality for around the same price as a hostel and usually in much nicer surroundings.
Are Oz Magic tours suitable for children?
Many tours offered on the Oz Magic site are not suitable for small children. Oz Magic does have operators in each region that cater for families with children. Contact us for family friendly tours.
Does Oz Magic book flights and bus travel?
No. Oz Magic will send you links to available airlines and bus services for you to make your travel arrangements.
Does Oz Magic offer vehicle or campervan rentals?
No but we can send you a link to a good range of Australian car rental companies.
Where are the secure facilities for payment on the site?
There is a link on most pages of Oz Magic that will take you to our secure payment web page. Our secure Web Form is 128 bit SSL page encryption ensuring the privacy of the information you send to us. Oz Magic does not keep a record of your information on our computers this information is kept in a manual file and destroyed once you have taken the arrangements you have made through Oz Magic.
Why do some Oz Magic pages take so long to load?
Oz Magic is a pictorial web site. Other web sites show you only one photo of a boat or tour and expect you to make a decision based on this alone. Oz Magic has sacrificed loading speed for quality information. Large graphics and pictorial virtual tours make the loading of pages much slower than other sites that do not show you anything in the way of what you are going to experience.
Broadband connections will not experience this and pages will load smoothly on a fast connection. We are hoping you are more interested in planning your holiday well rather than taking a risk on one photo offered by fast loading web sites.
Why is Oz Magic a sub domain?
The sheer size of this project makes it cost effective to have it hosted on a sub domain. Oz Magic is currently 185 web pages and 185 megabytes in size and will triple in size over the coming years (most large web sites are around 45 megabytes in size). There are over 2,000 photos on the Oz Magic site and when nearing completion over 6,000 photos will be on the site.
Why is Oz Magic hosted in America?
Our web host is Homestead Technologies. Homestead offers us the best service and software to make our job a lot easier. Oz Magic has found Homestead to be supportive of our project and very helpful and prompt when we need advice and help. The Homestead software allows us to get on with other important jobs such as finding great tours for you.
Can I download Oz Magic photos and use them?
Yes. It was originally intended that students and teachers could use our photos for school projects or personal use. You may not use Oz Magic photos for any commercial venture. Oz Magic photos are the property of Oz Magic, our network members and contributors. All photos are subject to copyright laws.
If you are a student or a teacher and have a non-commercial use for our photos you may download them. To download a photo click on a thumbnail and right click on the large photo that opens in its own window. You can then save the photo. A condition for use of our photos is that the text must be left on the photo when you use it.
Photos and collages on web pages are not available for use without prior consent from Oz Magic. Only the large images that open in their own windows are available.
Cancellation Policy
Oz Magic's cancellation policy is as follows
Outside 30 days loss of deposit
Inside 30 days loss of full fare
Because we deal with so many different operators the cancellation policy of the operator varies from operator to operator. Oz Magic tries to negotiate the best possible result for you in regards to the monies the operator has taken in the event of a cancellation, however sometimes cancellations close to departure dates attract a full loss of fare and we are unable to recover your money. In all cases your deposit is forfeit. Oz Magic advises you not to make a booking unless you are sure you are going to turn up and take the tour. We strongly recommend you take out your own travel insurance.
Book Now
If you are booking more than 30 Days in advance click here access our secure page to book now
Oz Magic the Web Site
P.O. Box 5696 Torquay Queensland Australia 4655
Phone International: +61 7 4128 9359 - Phone Australia: 07 4128 9359 - Fax: +61 7 4128 9359
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