History

AAT Kings is a division of the family-owned The Leading Travel Companies, and is renowned and trusted for its outstanding quality, service, value, reliability and financial stability.

The development of AAT Kings to its position today as one of Australia's largest and most diverse touring companies can be traced back to the early 1900's.

Starting out as Pykes Tours, one of the original components of AAT, the company pioneered sightseeing in Sydney with a pre-World War 1 drive yourself car service.
In the 1920's Colonel Pyke extended the business to motor tours of Katoomba and Jenolan Caves using seven seater cars. Coaches were first introduced in 1935 and raised the passenger capacity to 14.

The first ten tourist licences issued by the New South Wales Government Motor Transport Department were registered to the company and are still held and operated today by AAT Kings Tours Pty Ltd.

The first association with the current company name occurred when three early Australian bus companies, Grenda's Bus Service of Dandenong, Pykes Tours and Blue Line coaches of Sydney, were amalgamated and named Australian Accommodated Tours (AAT). AAT was owned by TAA. In fact the name came from someone looking at the TAA reflection on an aeroplane window!

During the 1970's and early 1980's, AAT bought out several smaller companies, each continuing to operate under its own name. They included Bill King's Australian Adventure Tours, Grand Central Tours, Red Centre Tours and CATA (Central Australia Tours Association). Although successful, the company still had a great deal of unrealised potential.

In December 1997, AAT Kings was sold to The Travel Corporation, a large and highly successful international travel group comprising well recognised and regarded names as Trafalgar Tours, Contiki Holidays, Insight Vacations, Busabout Europe, and Creative Holidays. This exciting development has opened new doors for the company and given it the backing of one of the world's largest travel groups.

AAT Kings Tours now offers a diverse product range that is unequalled by other operators providing specialist, premium quality touring holidays. Options include accommodated escorted tours, coach camping tours, 4WD Adventure Safaris, Short Breaks, Small Group Adventures, day tours and charter coaches and specialist itineraries to suit the specific touring needs of clients.