For first-time visitors to Australia, planning a trip Down Under can seem like a daunting task: how to plan it so you can see all the sights you want to see? How to find out about what to see and do that you might not know about, but would make your trip rewarding? How to get the most value for your money?

For repeat travelers, there is also the desire to really get into the heart of the country. You've seen the highlights, but now you really want to experience the country, see the little ins and outs you may have sped right by before.

Obviously there are resources out there that can help, and you'll find many an article and website encouraging you to go online and do all the research yourself. I'm certainly not arguing against that - it's quite likely that such a desire to figure out what to see and do in Australia brought you here in the first place. And I am definitely one of those people who love to learn and read and plan all of my trips.

That said, of course, there is a lot of information out there - how to sift through it all to find what you want? How many of us truly have the time to devotes weeks of online research?

That's where the Premier Aussie Specialists come in.

If you've never used a true Travel Professional to plan your vacation, you'll soon find that a travel agent who knows their stuff will not only save you time, aggravation, and money, they will help you plan a trip that is an experience to remember. And more importantly, the experience you want - not just one a website or brochure is telling you that you should have.

Tourism Australia realized that travel agents who are trained in selling Australia travel are much better able to help clients plan trips, and so began the Aussie Specialist program near a decade ago. Travel Professionals undergo a rigorous training program to learn all that Australia has to offer, so that they in turn can assist travelers with their Australia vacation plans. To date, there are some 3000 Aussie Specialists certified in North America.

Among those Aussie Specialists, there are approximately 144 Travel Professionals who have been designated as Premier Aussie Specialists by Tourism Australia. These agents are the best of the best when it comes to planning travel to Australia. Not only have they undergone the rigorous training to become Aussie Specialists, they have also undergone rigorous training by each of the states within Australia to be certified as experts in those regions. All Premier Aussie Specialists regularly visit Australia - it is, in fact, a requirement of remaining a Premier. Each Premier Aussie Specialist must undergo re-certification every year; this requires ongoing training, annual exams, visits to Australia, recommendations from suppliers and travelers, and more.

In addition, every year Tourism Australia honors the top Aussie Specialists with the coveted Opal Award. You can be assured that a Premier Aussie Specialist who has won an Opal Award is a travel agent who knows Australia, and who will help you plan the trip of your dreams.

Most importantly, for you as the traveler, Premier Aussie Specialists have the contacts and the insights in the destination. They've been to the destinations first-hand. They can get you off the main roads and into the heart of the country. They will be in touch with the hotel managers, the tour operators, and the suppliers to let them know that their important client - you - are there. For those who desire peace of mind, your Premier Aussie Specialist will be there for you if you need them. So in the event that something does go wrong, you have someone on your side to help put it to right.

Tourism Australia has a travel specialist finder on their website that will allow you to find the Premier Aussie Specialist nearest to you:
http://www.australia.com/planning/find_travel_agent.aspx
Most Premiers work with clients all over the country, by phone, email, and in some cases Skype and other means of online voice or video chat, so even if there isn't a Premier near you - or you find a Specialist you enjoy working with who lives far away - you can be assured that they will keep in close contact and help you plan your Australian vacation.

So what are you waiting for? Contact a Premier Aussie Specialist today - it's the first step in enjoying that trip Down Under.