Creator Guide

Testing Before You Publish

How to test your QuokkaGuide tour in the app and on the road — GPS triggers, audio timing, offline mode, and what to listen for.

A tour can read perfectly on screen and still feel wrong on the road. The audio triggers on GPS, so the only way to know it works is to experience it the way a traveller will. Test before you publish — it's the difference between five stars and a refund request.

Preview in the app

Open your tour in the QuokkaGuide app from your creator account and play it through. Check that:

  • The welcome/intro audio plays at the start and sets the tone.
  • Each stop's Start Navigation Audio plays as you head toward it.
  • Each stop's Arriving Stop Audio plays as you approach — not too early, not too late.
  • Highlights play as you pass them.
  • Audio pieces don't talk over each other awkwardly.

Do a real-world run

Whenever you can, actually drive or walk the route. This is the single best test.

  • Confirm audio triggers at the right place along the road, not before you can see the thing it's describing.
  • Check the timing of arrival audio — it should give travellers the story before they arrive, while there's still road ahead.
  • Make sure highlights still play if you go slightly off-route and come back.
  • Listen for pacing — does it feel natural at real travel speed, or rushed/dragging?

What to listen for

  • Dead air — long silent stretches between points. Add or adjust highlights.
  • Overlap — two pieces competing. Tighten lengths or spacing.
  • Wrong place — audio about something you've already passed. Re-check the stop location.
  • Robotic pacing — if it sounds like a machine reading, revisit the script and voice style in Choosing Voice & Theme.

Test offline too

QuokkaGuide tours are built to work without signal. Download your tour and run part of it in aeroplane mode to confirm the audio and map work fully offline — that's a core part of the experience travellers expect.

Pre-publish checklist

  • Played through end to end in the app
  • Walked or drove the route at least once
  • Audio triggers at the right places and times
  • No dead air or awkward overlaps
  • Pacing feels natural at real speed
  • Works offline (tested in aeroplane mode)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to physically drive the route to test my tour?
Yes, whenever you can. A real-world run is the single best test — it confirms GPS triggers, audio timing, pacing at real speed, and that highlights play even if you go slightly off-route.
How do I test offline mode?
Download your tour in the app, then run part of it in aeroplane mode to confirm the audio and map work fully offline.
What are the most common testing issues?
Dead air (long silent stretches), overlap (two pieces competing), wrong-place audio (about something already passed), and robotic pacing.