A YEAR after initiating a review of its diverse business interests Adelaide-based Kelsian Group has sold what it defines as its Tourism Portfolio to ‘experiential travel’ specialist Journey Beyond for $161 million.
The sale includes well-known ferry/cruise operations including SeaLink in NSW, Queensland, WA, Tasmania, Northern Territory, and Captain Cook Cruises, Murray Princess and more. However, Kelsian has retained the Kangaroo Island ferry service, Brisbane’s CityCats and Moreton Bay and Stradbroke services.
Kelsian – an anagram of SeaLink, renamed in 2021 – will now concentrate on its expanding commuter transport activities, located in Australia, the UK, the Channel Islands, USA and Singapore, and paying down debt.
Journey Beyond, best known for The Ghan and Indian Pacific passenger rail services, owns and operates 19 brands across Australia and New Zealand, across rail expeditions, touring, cruises, camps and lodges, and attractions. Earlier this year it bought Ayers Rock Resort at Yulara in Central Australia and Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre in Far North Queensland. Journey Beyond was founded in 2016 and acquired by the US Hornblower Group in 2022 for $600 million; it is now owned by US private equity firm Crestview Partners.
Kelsian Group CEO, Graeme Legh said: “We are delighted to have reached this agreement with Journey Beyond who are a well-known Australian experiential tourism group. I would like to acknowledge, in particular, our Marine & Tourism teams and thank them for the professionalism and dedication shown since we announced the intention to divest the Tourism Portfolio in April 2025.
“On completion of the transaction, Kelsian will emerge as a leading global transport business delivering contracted marine, bus and motorcoach operations,” he said.
The transaction is subject to approval by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Foreign Investment Review Board, change of control consents for key contracts and authorisations, as well as other customary conditions for a transaction of this nature. Subject to the satisfaction of all conditions precedent, completion is expected to occur in the first half of FY2027.
The full list of the divested businesses can be found here.