2016 Top 100 Agents Award
Travel 2’s ‘Top 100 Agents’ awarded to Southern Cross Travel
We are an independent travel agency, specializing in tailor-made holidays to longhaul destinations. We create excellent bespoke holidays for our discerning customers. With over 30 years in the business, we offer varied and unique holidays to suit each individual customer. We provide a personal, friendly and expert service, ensuring your holiday experience is enjoyable from the initial planning stages to your arrival home.
Southern Cross Travel was established in 1984 by Penny and Trevor Bones, who have a long involvement with travel to, and within Australia, New Zealand and the Far East.
Our staff members are experts in selling bespoke itineraries to all long-haul destinations. Southern Cross Travel is a member of the Travel Trust Association (TTA) which gives our clients total financial protection. We strive to create excellent individual holidays for discerning customers.
Learn about our team
Penny Bones
Proprietor / Tailor-made Travel Specialist
Penny has been in travel since 1974, when she acted as a courier for Eurasia Overland Tours, on their London to Sydney overland route. This morphed into organizing connecting flights for the travellers on these trips, and finally into setting up Southern Cross Travel, when the overland route was affected by recurring tensions in Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan.
She has a strong love of Australia, and is acknowledged as one of the top ‘Premier Aussie Specialists’ due to her many trips Down Under, as well as her training with Tourism Australia over the past 30 years. She has now visited all States and Territories. Penny is also a qualified ‘100% New Zealand Specialist’ as well as a ‘Certified South African Specialist’.
Favourite places you’ve visited so far?
I have a special love for Sydney, and the Outback.
Top of the ‘Must See Next’ list?
Driving the Gibb River Road - Northern Territory, Australia
Top Travelling Tip
Pack lightly – it’ll leave room for all those souvenirs.
Trevor Bones
Proprietor / Tailor-made Travel Specialist
Trevor had travelled across Europe, including the Eastern European countries and parts of Scandinavia, before he was 21. He has driven overland to Australia, via Europe the Middle East and Asia numerous times, resulting in the birth of Eurasia Overland Tours in 1974. Trevor fell in love with Australia and New Zealand on these visits, as well as developing a passion for Africa over the last 20 years. He loves long-distance driving trips, and in 2014 drove from Kilimanjaro to Pretoria in a 4x4 over 3 weeks…always one for an adventure!
Favourite places you’ve visited so far?
Manly, in Sydney – an ocean beach, a harbour beach, and a wonderful atmosphere within 30 minutes of stunning Sydney Harbour.
Top of the ‘Must See Next’ list?
Another self-drive drive adventure in Africa, as well as a larger journey from South America to Canada.
Top Travelling Tip
Always have a plan and someone to call if anything goes wrong.
Anneka Desrosiers
Tailor-made Travel Specialist
Anneka’s love for travel was fueled by back-packing Round the World in 2010. She has now worked as a tailor-made travel consultant at Southern Cross Travel for almost 14 years. Anneka is passionate about all long-haul travel, and loves tailor-making complex itineraries, especially to Australia, New Zealand, North America and Round the World.
Anneka is a certified ‘Elite Canada Specialist’, and in 2016 was asked to film the social media campaign for British Columbia. We like to call her ‘The Face of Canada!’ She is also a qualified ‘Aussie Specialist’ and has travelled extensively across Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and the United States.
Favourite places you’ve visited so far?
Yukon Territory, Canada – absolute wilderness, fascinating Gold Rush history, wonderful locals and the Northern Lights…spectacular!
Moorea, Tahiti – a beautiful, colourful, exotic landscape with crystal blue waters and incredible beaches.
Top of the ‘Must See Next’ list?
Sri Lanka.
Top Travelling Tip
Always carry a bottle of water and a cereal bar!
Penny Bones voted ‘Aussie Specialist of the Year 2008′
Every year, Tourism Australia celebrates the excellence and achievements of the tourism industry in selling and promoting Australia through its OZCARs awards.
The 2008 UK Ozcars event saw around 160 industry professionals join Tourism Australia for a night of recognition and celebration.
The team at Southern Cross Travel, based in The Mint, Rye and The Old Library, Wadhurst were delighted to have Penny Bones voted ‘Aussie Specialist of the Year 2008′. She continues to be a highly regarded Australia expert in the world of Premier Aussie Specialists!
2015 Runner Up
Travel 2’s ‘Tailor-made Agent of the Year’ and ‘South East Agent of the Year’
2015 ‘Agent of the Month’
Voted ‘South East Agent of the Month’ by Travel 2
2014/15 ‘30 Under 30’
Anneka is named as one by the Travel Trade Gazette as one of the highest fliers in travel in 2014/2015, under the age of 30!
2012 Finalist
Travel 2’s ‘Tailor-made Agent of the Year’ and ‘South East Agent of the Year’
2011
JTA’S South East Agent of the Month
2011
JTA’S South East Agent of the Month
2010 Finalist
Travel 2’s ‘Top UK Travel Agent’
2008
Penny Bones awarded ‘Aussie Specialist of the Year’
2006
Malaysian Tourism Independent Agent of the Year
Tailor Made Holiday Specialists
Southern Cross Travel was established in 1984 by Penny and Trevor Bones, who have a long involvement with travel to, and within Australia, New Zealand and the Far East.
