Liz Franklyn and Tim Massey, both experienced English teachers, began Talkabout Tours Australia in 1999 after Liz had spent two years in Japan teaching English as a second language.

While abroad, it was evident that Perth and Western Australia remain primarily undiscovered especially to non-English speakers. Even the students who had come out to Perth to improve their English had not seen the best of what Western Australia had to offer.

We thought “Wouldn’t it be better to combine learning and touring?” The concept worked! For 20 years we have been building a client base, hundreds of great homestay families, finding the best schools and developing curriculums and itineraries to suit the range of groups and individual wishing to come to Perth. We have a great team of professionals who pride themselves on making every student’s stay a memorable one.

Talkabout Tours mantra is “Leave no footprint” and we are committed to giving hope to future generations through our eco-friendly tours and the encouragement we give to students and Host families to implement green practices in the home.

In early 2020 student international travel to Australia ceased, upending any industries reliant on international travel.  The tourism and international education sectors have been struggling to keep afloat ever since and we are not expecting any  return to normal until mid-2022.  This does not mean that we unable to cater to international guests in the meantime. We are now offering homestay and tour experiences in a virtual capacity. Live online meetings between students and host families is proving successful and gives students a reason to choose Perth as a destination when borders re-open.  We understand how much our host families miss the interaction with international students and how much international students miss the interaction with Aussie families. The virtual Homestay program offers a myriad of benefits to both host families and students and showcases our wonderful, safe city.

Expect an unforgettable experience and a tour you can talk about for years to come.

See what others have said

Kengo

‘I really enjoyed studying English in Perth, and have enjoyed studying now. My classes of university have already started. So I have to study not only English but also other subject. English is so interesting. Because you gave me hospitality, I got beautiful memory of Australia. This is motivation for me. Now studying English is so enjoyable. Thank you for everything. Have a good day!’

K

Maki

I think they are the best host family ever. They were very kind for me, for example, Sheila took me to the nearest station every weekend. They gladly accepted my all requests. Thanks to my host family, I really enjoyed the Australian life, so I appreciate them. Not only I learned English,but also got communication with them,and knew the culture.

M

Linda

Kind, lovely and warm. I learned a lot not only about English but also about other things like science, animals and many things

 

L

Anran

I love my Homestay Family and experiencing the real Australian kind of life with children of my age

A

Ben

I was shocked when hearing that Mr. Dall swims every morning in the sea during the winter. Besides, I think Mrs.Dall is very kind to work as a volunteer after retirement. They are both energetic and optimistic, which I did not expect. I really thank them for the meals, the laundry and other services. I am very grateful for being treated like a family member.

B