About McLeod Tours
The McLeod farm in Margaret River has been in the family for more than 100 years, and is where Neil McLeod’s story begins.
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The Story of McLeod Tours, Margaret River
You might even say tourism was in Neil’s blood from the very start – as well as running the farm, Neil’s father Dudley worked as a caves guide at the now-famous Lake and Mammoth Caves, while his mother Bernice worked at the Margaret River Hotel, built by Neil’s Grandfather Bernard McKeown in 1936 and run by the family for 36 years.
Neil’s family headed north in 1967 to Exmouth mostly because it was tough times on the farm, so their Margaret River property was leased. At 15 Neil left school and started working on “Fossil Downs” (a cattle station in the kimberley) and has worked most of his life in the North West.
In 1977 Neil worked with his brother Keith fishing for a living in Exmouth and in August that year he landed the catch of a lifetime when he met Coralie. In 1980 they were married in the Exmouth town hall with over 250 family and friend there to cellebrate the occasion. In 1982 their eldest son Daniel was born, followed by Hayden 1984, Casey in 1986 & the youngest Lincoln in 1990. For over 20 years Neil & Coralie owned and operated Ningaloo Safari Tours out of Exmouth showcasing the incredible North West Cape & Ningaloo reef. Guests from all over globe came to see the rugid cape range, breath taking beaches of the Ningaloo and hear Neils stories. In 2001 Neil won Western Australia’s highest honour for a tour guide “The Facet Golden Guide Award”. As the years went by their sons move away to the city to complete school and start their careers… So in 2005 Neil & Coralie made the decision to move back to the farm Neil grew up on in Margaret River.
McLeod Tours started with half-day scenic and cultural tours of the Margaret River region, but it wasn’t long before tours of the local wineries and breweries made the list that quickly expanded to the broad range of tours on offer today. In 2014 Lincoln the youngest son joined the business, it wasn’t a surprise to the family as Lincoln spent most of his weekends as a young boy on tours with his dad Neil and loved meeting new people and exploring.
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1936
Neil’s grandfather Bernard McKeown builds the Margaret River Hotel; the family runs it for 36 years.
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1967
The McLeods head north to Exmouth and lease the Margaret River farm.
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1980
Neil and Coralie marry in the Exmouth town hall.
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2001
Neil wins the Facet Golden Guide Award, Western Australia’s highest honour for a tour guide.
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2005
Back to the farm Neil grew up on. McLeod Tours begins with half-day tours of the region.
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2014
Lincoln, the youngest son, joins the business.
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Our focus is you
Customer Satisfaction
Nothing makes us happier than seeing you leave Margaret River with everlasting memories and a need to revisit. We want your journey to be the most enjoyable time away.
- Winery and brewery knowledge
- Wildlife and nature experts
- Unbeatable customer service
Award winning
Global Recognition of Tour Services
Recognised by TV programs and special guests around the world.
In 2001 Neil was named the top tour guide in Western Australia, awarded the coveted Facet Golden Guide at the Western Australian Tourism Awards.
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Family owned
The McLeod hospitality
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Local guides
Margaret River experts
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Private charters
Be in comfort at all times
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Great value
Experience a full inclusive tour
Meet the experts
Our Team
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Coralie McLeod
Business Coordinator
Coralie has been at the heart of the McLeod family’s touring businesses for more than 40 years, working alongside Neil as they’ve welcomed visitors to Western Australia from the North West to Margaret River. While Neil has traditionally been the one out on the road, Coralie has kept everything running behind the scenes. She looks after the operational side of McLeod Tours, from bookings and guest enquiries to accommodation, itineraries and all the little details that need to come together before a journey begins. After more than four decades in tourism, Coralie knows a thing or two about looking after people, and there’s a good chance she’ll be one of the friendly voices you speak with before joining us. Outside the office, life is firmly centred around family and the Margaret River lifestyle. Most mornings, year-round, Coralie can be found swimming across the bay at Gnarabup Beach, usually followed by a coffee at the White Elephant overlooking the ocean. In her view, there’s no better way to start the day. And provided Neil isn’t out on tour, she generally makes sure he’s in the water too.
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Neil McLeod
Founder
If you see an Akubra hat and a pair of RM Williams boots coming your way, there’s a fair chance you’ve found Neil McLeod. A bushman, horseman, stockman and natural storyteller, Neil has spent more than 40 years showing visitors around Western Australia. Together with Coralie, his life in tourism has taken him from running safari tours through the rugged landscapes of the North West to sharing the place where his own story began, Margaret River. Neil grew up on the McLeod family farm near Margaret River, where his family’s connection to the land stretches back generations. It’s a connection Neil has always wanted his own family to share. Over the years that has meant getting his sons involved in jobs around the property, and these days he loves passing the same things on to his grandchildren — whether it’s teaching them to ride a horse, having their first go behind the wheel or heading down to the creek to catch a marron. Neil is happiest outdoors, sharing what he knows and giving the next generation the same connection to the land that he grew up with. It’s also a big part of what guests experience when they spend time with him: a knowledge of Western Australia that comes from a lifetime of actually living it.
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Lincoln McLeod
Tour Coordinator
Lincoln joined his parents at McLeod Tours in 2014, bringing a lifelong connection to Western Australia and a genuine love for sharing the Margaret River region with visitors. Over the years, Lincoln has played a major role in shaping McLeod Tours into the small-group touring business it is today. He particularly enjoys introducing guests to the people, places and stories that make Margaret River special, from family-owned wineries and local producers to the coastline, forests and lesser-known corners of the region. A carpenter by trade, Lincoln still enjoys building and working with his hands whenever time allows, although these days life outside of tours is mostly spent with his young family. You’ll often find them at the beach, exploring the region, heading out for a bushwalk or simply making the most of life in Margaret River. For Lincoln, there aren’t too many better places to call home.
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