Kimkim Trip Reviews for Australia

Great trip!! It was our first time in Australia and New Zealand and both countries were spectacular! Spending 5 days in Sydney was just perfect. We went on a bike tour (on our own) with Bonzo Bike Tours, located in the Rocks area. It was 5 hours of seeing all the best sights and absolutely perfect! I would also recommend seeing the opera at the Sydney Opera house, which we organized on our own. The only negative experience was the Blue Mountains Day tour. While the sights were beautiful and scenic, our guide/driver was constantly speeding and ended up getting a ticket. At times, we felt rushed and unsafe. He tried arguing with the police officer and spoke very negatively about police, construction workers, and others. After the ticket, he was not in a good mood and begged for a positive google review. The Outer Barrier Reef Cruise with Quicksilver was fantastic and we are so glad we added that to our plans. The best experience was the Milford Sound Fly, Cruise, Fly tour. Absolutely breathtaking reviews and the tour company was so professional and experienced in taking care of us. I would delete the stop in Dunedin, if I had do to do the trip again, the wildlife tour there was not much different than we already experienced and the town of Dunedin was not as vibrant as Queenstown.
The only other tour I would change was the 12 hour rail trip on the Northern Explorer Scenic Train from Wellington to Auckland. I would just get a flight to Auckland. We absolutely loved the food tour in Wellington, our guide was awesome and the Waiheke Wine tour was beautiful and fun for our last full day in New Zealand.

The Riley hotel was great; the snorkeling was beyond my wildest expectations (too bad it was raining and cloudy). I have been a diving for almost 50 years and I have never seen corals that beautiful. The trips into the rainforest were also fantastic and I would highly recommend a night rainforest visit. Well done!!

Hotel Review

Crystalbrook Riley

Cairns

The pool was great and the access to great places to eat was fantastic. Very relaxing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near the Great Barrier Reef; east access to excursions; good restaurants

Staff

Front desk staff were very friendly and extremely helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Dreamtime Cruise (From Hotel) - Snorkel Great Barrier Reef

Australia

Be prepared for a long trip to and from the reef. However, the experience once there was GREAT! You have no idea how colorful and varied the sealife is on the reef. It is something you will never forget. The staff were extremely friendly and informative. And talented.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Grand Kuranda Rainforest Day Trip

Australia

Unfortunately, rain put a damper on the excursion as we had the boomerang and spear exhibition abbreviated and the cable car ride cancelled. But, overall, a great experience. The best part of the trip had to be the Duck boat tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon/Evening Adventure & Nocturnal Wildlife Tour

Australia

I loved trekking, but especially at night as it was a far different experience that any of the daytime walks. Guide (Paul) was friendly and fun. Got to see a platypus!!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, we had an amazing trip! Jon did a great job planning it but was not still with the company when we actually left for the trip. Along those lines, there were a few issues with the vendors not having our contact information. This caused problems a few times as they needed to get in touch with us in a timely manner and were trying to reach Jon who was no longer with the company. So that could have been handled better. Almost all the tours were great! We did not enjoy the Daintree Rainforest tour at all. It was a very long 11 hour day and about 9 of those hours were on a bus. Do not recommend. We ended up forfeiting our $600 rental car as we did not bring our drivers licenses. This was definitely largely on us but we had just travelled through ireland for 9 days and picking up our car there with a passport so it didn’t really cross our minds. Definitely need to let clients know this ahead of time. I appreciate that the team was able to get us on buses instead and honestly, I wish we had just done buses all along and not bothered with trying to drive ourselves. The hotels were great and our itinerary definitely included the highlights of each location which was wonderful! For a 6 week trip it was pretty amazing how smoothly it went!

Through no fault of our planner, Paula, planning with three tavlers can be unweildly at times and arduous at best. She did well to manage the circus but spotty miscommunication had its challenges on both sides.

Once arriving at each location, mind you we had 5 intracontinental flights, pick up for hotel transport was easy, flawless, classy and often filled with city tips and history by our drivers.

Hotels were all amazing. 4.5-5 star. Great views of lakes, oceans or harbours, and amazing included breakfast buffets. Locales allowed for dining and shopping ease.

The itinerary was chalk full of each locations showcased must sees.

All our guides were professional, articulate and experts at their craft. Their delivery, authentic and genuine. A couple, also validated our next activities, going forward, saying that they were choice selections.

We found enough spare time to chill or create our own town, cultural or shopping experience.

The Intercontinental Sydney provided stunning views of the Harbour Bridge (whuch I climbed),and Opera House, ( which we attended La Traviata). Both were personally pre arranged by us.

The trip was so amazing and super memorable. A couple of things were weather deterred, cancelled or unviewable
but it did not dampen our efforts to see, alter or be flexible to a shift or just enjoy the moments and places we were visiting.

Each city,... not a bad meal or glass of wine.
Thank Paula, Mahalo for the great guidance and high level of activies. We appreciate the private transport, small group activities and the activities that were of high quality.

Hotel Reviews

M Social

Auckland

Great location and view. Very modern

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to ferry and restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

Little quirky layout. One area for 4 elevators and long walk to our room

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Could do laundry. That was a plus

InterContinental Sydney

Sydney

Amazing 5 star hotel. You felt it in every aspect. Service, view food and rooms. I'd stay there again fir sure.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to opera house, botanical garden and Harbour Bridge.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Crystalbrook Flynn

Cairns

Ocean view. Great rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Afternoon Flavours of Our City (Shared Small Group Walking Tour)

Auckland

Our guide was authentic and entertaining. The foods were perfect. We enjoyed ourselves. Great set up.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Skyline Gondola Ride

Queenstown (NZ)

Great vistas but we had to buy three luge tickets minumum when only I wanted to do it in my group. We ended up not doing the luge

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Milford Sound Glass Roof Van/CruiseVan

Queenstown (NZ)

Epic. Our bus driver was flawless. Beautiful country. We opted, on our own, to fly back to Queenstown. Best choice. The experience in the 10 seater cessna was priceless.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Wilderness Safari - Jetboat

Queenstown (NZ)

Exhilarating. Great joyride with outstanding views. Should not be missed

Quality of Experience

9th

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The ride out and back let's you see more of the lake and countryside

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

So educational and worth an easy hour of your time. Behind the scenes of the structure and it's history

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Silverswift Cruise - Snorkel Great Barrier Reef From Terminal

Australia

Unfortunately it was cancelled due to weather. The 1 start rating is in no way indicative of the experience. We had none, but we were refunded. All good. We went to the Aquarium, lunch and shopped instead.

The best and greatest tour guide is Vicky of VIO and KImKim.
Vicky was always quick to provide assistance when we needed it.
We were happy with Vicky's selection of Hotels and Activities.
Please let her know how we feel about her services,
Sincerely,
Karey Hobbs and the Travel Crew

Hotel Reviews

The Reef House Adults Retreat

Palm Cove

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street

Melbourne

The best part of our stay was the Daily Buffet Breakfast. Thank you!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

SKYE Suites Sydney

Sydney

QT Auckland

Auckland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Great Ocean Road Scenic Tour Private Car

Melbourne

The Drive was very long and therefore, very tiring, however, we really liked our driver and guide. The vehicle was small and uncomfortable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We wish to thank Paula Adams for all her assistance and guidance to make our trip to Australia and New Zealand so memorable.
To make our trip easy, we wanted to elicit the help of a travel agent. Neither of us had used one before. I literally found KimKim on the internet. They connected us with Australian native and expert, Paula Adams. We quickly lowered our guard as her credibility shined through. She answered every question. Conversed via email and always on the phone when we wanted. She listened to us and tailored our trip to what we wanted to experience. She also advised us against visiting an area that would have been too hot and humid with monsoon rains. That was good to know! We found all her hotel and excursion selections to be just what we wanted in the area we wanted. She arranged all the transfers for us too so we didn’t have to drive on the wrong side of the road! We loved the Penguin Parade (albeit crowded), the Great Ocean Road, and the entire city of Melbourne. New Zealand didn’t disappoint either! We like a more natural experience and loved the ferry from Wellington to Picton and the coastal train between Picton and Christchurch. Such amazing views. Zealandia was a great experience for us and we saw a kiwi bird!
Utilizing a travel agent does cost a little more money, but for us, it was so worth it. Paula advised us, suggested things we never knew about, and found proven accommodations and professional excursions. Additionally, while in Australia, I got sick. We needed to rearrange our schedule and cancel one of our segments. Paula took care of everything! It was so worth it to us to have her in our back pocket. I completely recommend her services! Thank you Paula!

Hotel Reviews

Mercure Welcome Melbourne

Melbourne

Hotel was right in the middle of the Central Business District of Melbourne. Great location! Pretty basic room.

Authenticity & Character

Pretty basic hotel and furnishings. Room was a little small.

Location

Right in the heart of Melbourne’s Central Business District. Close to shopping and excellent and varied cuisine.

Staff

Very helpful and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We could get extra towels, Kleenex whenever asked. Rooms were clean and neat.

Picton Yacht Club Hotel

Picton

Nice hotel with balcony overlooking their pool and the Sound.

Authenticity & Character

Room was nice. Not over the top.

Location

Very close to their downtown area. About two blocks walking.

Staff

Friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and neat.

Activity Review

Great Ocean Road Day Trip

Melbourne

Oceania and Nick provided our 8 person van with a memorable trip. He took us off road to a golf course so we could see kangaroos in the wild. He also took off the main road to a grove of eucalyptus trees and we spotted 6 koalas in the wild. A treat for me! The 12 Apostles rock formations and Arch were breathtaking. It was a perfect excursion. The right amount of informative narrative.

Quality of Experience

I enjoyed our Oceania driver and guide, Nick. He was informative and really provided us with a great experience.

Food

Food options were undesirable so we we got scallop pies nearby that were awesome.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A bit bumpy in the back! Good amount of bathroom breaks.

Paula & kimkim! What a stellar team! Mahalo so much to Paula for her patience in coordinating our remarkable trip to New Zealand (Auckland & Queenstown) and Australia (Sydney & Cairns).
Paula's knowledge of both of these amazing destinations truly helped us enjoy our trip to its fullest!
Why choose kimkim:
1. The personal attention that we got from Paula not only allowed us to embark on a trip of a lifetime, but we gained a new friend - Paula!
2. From confirming hotels, booking flights, to arranging airport transfers, tours and so much more - this was by far, the best way to travel - peace of mind and worry free! Our hotel, M Social was very modern and perfectly located to all activities. The daily breakfast buffet started our days with delicious and healthy options!
3. Our guide Jono for the Auckland Food/Drink City tour was so engaging and very informative as we walked through downtown Auckland and stopped at several eating and drinking establishments! We made new friends along the way and Jono kept us informed and full of joy! The tour and food/drinks and desserts is a must do!
4. Our next stop was Queenstown! My new fave place to visit in the future! Our hotel here was the Millenium - another awesome choice - walking distance to the hub of the town and other activities.
5. Paula arranged for us to take a tour to Milford Sound via coach (Mercedes glass top) and this did not disappoint at all. Our driver was very informative and shared so much about the area and culture along the way, He stopped at some points of interest and the views were absolutely spectacular! We even stood in the field where they filmed the Orcs running through in the movie Lord of the Rings! Arriving at the Sound and journeying on the ferry was surreal. The sound is stunning and we saw dolphins, seals and sea birds. We opted to fly our of Milford Sound at the last minute and THAT was AWESOME! I highly recommend that you do this! The pilot flew us close to the mountain range seeing the glacier tops and lakes too! It was thrilling beyond belief!
6. Our next adventure that Paula booked was the Jet Boat Ride! OK, as a 70 year old, I was a bit weary of this one. However, it was SO MUCH fun and exhilarating - I am ready to go again! Our guide, Dane was Maori and gifted us with his knowledge of the area and its cultural significance. This is another must do....not matter how old you are!
7. We allowed for some free time at our destinations in order to do some spontaneous things and discover things on our own. We rode the Gondola in Queenstown and hung out downtown. The food did not let us down. EVERYTHING was delicious!
8. Next we were off to Sydney where Paula booked us into the Intercontinental. My fave hotel now in Sydney! Breakfast buffet included - clearly the best we have had - ever. Here we did our own things - visiting the Opera House, taking in La Traviata at the Opera House one nite, walking through the Royal Botanical Garden and simply going on adventures in Sydney on our own.
9. Our next stop was Cairns! Flights were all arranged by Paula! We go there, and it was storming. Our snorkel cruise was cancelled due to the weather. As this was pre-paid, the vendor provided a letter for us to receive a refund from our booking agent - kimkim. Upon our return, Paula quickly worked on this and we will receive refunds within a week!
Although our cruise was cancelled, we still found fun things to do while in Cairns. Our hotel, Flynn Crystalbrook booked by Paula, was another winner - centrally located with morning buffet breakfast included.
Paula worked her magic to allow us to have a stress-free, beyond comfortable vacation. Balancing "must see & do" experiences along with free time was perfect. We had SO much fun and learned a lot about the area, the culture and the people.
For all of this Paula, mahalo palena 'ole - with deepest gratitude. Marcie

Vicky did a superb job of booking accomodations and activities that fit us perfectly. Her attention to detail was spot on. Every transfer, flight, check
In and excursion were perfectly executed. I would 100% recommend Vicky and Kim Kim for any travel needs. Well done!

The guides and taxi drivers were very friendly and very concerned about being everywhere on time and there to help us.

We especially liked the QT hotel in Auckland, very exotic and very interesting,!!

Would probably pass on the 10 Hour Dr. up to coast to see the 12 apostles, next time we come,

The Australian open was exquisite, and we love to see the Australian people party and enjoy the event,

One of my favorite activities is going to the crocodile park, just north of reef house, very unique and very simple to get to!! Plus we learned a lot, and it was very hands-on,!

Thank you, Vickie, appreciate all your efforts!

Connie from KimKim helped organize an amazing trip to Australia for my family this past summer. We had a lot of special requests and specific activities we wanted to make sure to include in our 4-state trip. Connie was very patient with us, gave us lots of suggestions and worked closely with us to ensure that every detail was planned perfectly. Me, my husband and two adult children had the time of our lives. This was an amazing, stress-free trip thanks in a large part to our KimKim travel rep.

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Australia. Kim-Kim's local travel agent, Vicky Steinhardt, did a great job working with us and our traveling companions, over an extended period, to plan our trip. I love planning travel but in the cases that we have used Kim-Kim they did a far better job than I could have done on my own. In this case Vicky had good suggestions which we would not have thought about. We were traveling with a second couple who participated in the trip planning. From our perspective the itinerary came together fairly easily. The hotels that Vicky selected were all well located and were ones that I would consider staying at in the future. I liked getting private car service from and to each airport. I was pleasantly surprised at how seamless that worked out.

Our Melbourne hotel was well located for walking to Victoria Market, the Australian Open, a laundromat, and restaurants. We had two small group tour daytrips while we were in Melbourne. One was a drive along the Great Ocean Road to see the beaches and the 12 Apostles. It was a very long day and while the scenery is spectacular it similar to what we have in California. The second tour to Phillips Island, to see the penguins march ashore, was more fun.

Aside from seeing the Australian Open, snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, was the other major highlight of our trip. The Crystalbook Flynn Hotel was great and really close to the Cairns marina. The Seastar dive boat was also really good. There are only about 45 passengers and the crew is very attentive and personable. The underwater scenery is, of course, great. We also took a worthwhile small van daytrip to Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rain Forest.

Our Sydney hotel was conveniently located next to Chinatown and Darling Harbor. There are a lot of restaurants, and a shopping mall nearby and it's close to a tram stop. We enjoyed our full day daytrip to the Blue Mountains and Leura. We were skeptical of touring the Sydney Opera House but it turned out to be a good call by Vicky. Our wives also enjoyed shopping at the weekend market at the Rocks. I'm also glad we got a half day tour of the highlights of Sydney.

The only travel problems that we had were pretty trivial. We had gone through multiple itineraries before arriving at the final one. Before we arrived in Sydney, Vicky caught the fact that our itinerary listed the wrong hotel. One of our domestic flights was on Jetstar. I would try to avoid them if I was traveling within Australia. Their maximum luggage weight limit is less than that of the international carrier and their check-in and boarding are chaotic if you're flying with them for the first time. We were dinged with a $120 hit for having overweight bags, however their gate agents were so disorganized and harried that they let us fly without collecting it. We had breakfast included at each of our hotels. This worked out well in Melbourne and Cairns but not so well in the Sydney Darling Harbor Vibe Hotel. To catch our tours we had to be out the door before 7:30 AM but they don't open their dining area until 7 AM and they only serve prepared meals and not a buffet.

Overall a very good trip and we expect to use KimKim in the future.

Vicky put together a 33 day trip to Australia and Tasmania for us that went beyond our expectations. During the planning, she made time for 2 calls with us, and through a back and forth, created the ideal custom itinerary. The lodging included boutique hotels (we aren’t as fond of resort hotels), glamping, cottages and apartments. The activities were spaced enough that we could rest (we are an older couple), but each tour guide had grown up in the place we were touring, so the tours all felt very personal to each guide and helped get an authentic feel for the places. Vicky gave us many restaurant recommendations at our request, so we were able to make reservations early at some really great places. Apart from her skill in trip planning, Vicky was so easy with communication; prompt with her replies and clear with her recommendations (including the pros and cons of activities, etc.). We can’t recommend Vicky highly enough. She outdid herself with our trip. Thank you Vicky!

Hotel Reviews

Falls Mountain Retreat

Wentworth Falls

The location of Falls Mountain Retreat was convenient as we could walk to nearby trails in the Blue Mountains, which was great. However, our accommodation was quite disappointing. The apartment felt shabby, the carpet was dirty, and the bed was not comfortable. The kitchen was poorly stocked, making it difficult for us to prepare meals as we had hoped. Overall, the stay at this place did not meet our expectations.

The Henry Jones Art Hotel

Hobart

The Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart was an intriguing place with a rich history that was evident in its architecture, which we absolutely loved. However, the layout of our room with the bedroom upstairs and bathroom downstairs was a bit challenging for us in terms of accessibility.

Activity Reviews

Tasmanian Seafood Seduction

Hobart

The Tasmanian Seafood Seduction tour in Hobart was absolutely amazing! The guide dove into the water to collect fresh sea urchins and abalone, which were then prepared into a meal. It was an incredible experience having seafood that fresh, and it made for an unforgettable day.

Melbourne Highlights & Foodie Tour

Melbourne

The Melbourne Highlights & Foodie Tour was fantastic. Marty and Rob showed us the vibrant street art and introduced us to the city's highlights. They were personable and took us to a superb restaurant for lunch. This tour really helped us appreciate Melbourne's charm beyond its big-city feel.

Luxe Bus Great Ocean Road with Wildlife Wonders

Melbourne

The Great Ocean Road Luxe Bus tour was outstanding. The Twelve Apostles were a breathtaking sight, and the tour group was small, which made the experience much more personal and enjoyable. I can't imagine visiting Melbourne without taking this amazing tour.

Kayak Turtle Tour from Palm Cove

Palm Cove

The Kayak Turtle Tour from Palm Cove was enjoyable and well organized. Although we didn't see many turtles, the guide handled the group well and made the experience pleasant. It was nice that we could walk from our hotel to the meetup location. It was a lovely way to spend time out on the water.

Helen with ultimate Sydney was wonderful. Very knowledgeable and such a fun city food activity. The Sydney fish market was fascinating and all food stops were enjoyable. Charlie with aea luxury was also fantastic. Very personable and accommodating. Our time at thala beach was unique but a bit too isolated. Interesting, but would likely not return or recommend. Too far from any activities and not enough offerings on site. The calypso reef tour and the wildlife habitat tour were both spectacular. Absolutely loved both!! The sail away evening tour was quite average. No info, basically sailed out and slow return. Advertised as drinks and snacks. Snacks were limited and only the first drink was included and then they started a tab. Boring and overcrowded. Seating was uncomfortable and limited. We were happy to return to the wharf.

Hotel Reviews

Four Seasons Sydney

Sydney

Fantastic!!! Beautiful with top notch service. Well located for activities.

Authenticity & Character

Clean, classy, beautiful!!

Location

So close to everything!!

Staff

Derek was the best! Everyone was helpful And accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable, clean rooms. Beds were so inviting after our long travel day.

Thala Beach Nature Reserve

Oak Beach

Interesting and unique, but far too isolated with not enough activity at the resort. Only one restaurant and food was average. Wait times long for meals and quite overpriced for what is offered. Couldn’t even get a cup of coffee without someone asking for our room number. Pool area and beach felt unkempt and zero activity or anything of interest. Transportation to port Douglas was late - we almost missed our planned tour - and very limited. We lucked out by grabbing an uber back from town one evening. Staff was helpful and tried their best, but perhaps a bit understaffed or maybe it was the time of year??

Authenticity & Character

Very interesting location. Plenty of nature. Many frogs, toads, and can hear much wildlife st night from your tree house/jungle hut. Walking at night, not for the feint of heart. Golf cart shuttles are available but allow for extra time.

Location

Too far from everything. Nothing offered on property.

Staff

Helpful, tried their best. Seemed a bit understaffed maybe???

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was mostly clean. Pool area and beach both needed some attention/love.

Sydney Harbour Hotel

The Rocks

Yuck just yuck. Old, musty, offers nothing - would not recommend unless a brief stay to be close to harbor and decent walk around area. Staff was bored, uninterested and overall unhelpful. We lucked into the roof top area with Australia Day fireworks but, sorry, would not ever stay here again or recommend. Room felt moist and muggy. We felt as if we got ill staying there.

Authenticity & Character

Everything. It’s old and it shows. It had an old holiday inn or Howard Johnson’s feel. Overpriced.

Location

Nice location, but please chose a different hotel.

Staff

Personality, helpfulness, attitude, outlook. They seemed bothered we were even there.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Again, everything needs improvement. Grimy, dusty, musty, dank. Uncomfortable and also loud.

Activity Reviews

Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling Excursion

Port Douglas

Beautiful trip!! We had perfect weather. 3 perfect stops. Fascinating views and snorkeling. Thank you for an amazing adventure. Bucket list item!!!

Quality of Experience

Boat was clean, crew was organized and professional. Well informed. A lot of fun!!!

Food

Food was great! Make sure to get in line early as everyone is hungry. Fresh air and swimming help work up an appetite!!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

everyone was helpful. Make sure to do a guided snorkel with one of the crew.

Transport

Pick up at our hotel was on time. Return trip left right after outing. Perfect!!

Private Taste of Sydney Experience

Sydney

Helen was incredible. So knowledgeable and willing to share info. A fun day of learning and traveling around Sydney. We learned a lot, tried a lot and thoroughly enjoyed our day.

Quality of Experience

Just a great assortment of food and parts of the city coupled with a fantastic knowledge of the Sydney area and history!!

Food

So fun to try a nice variety of food items.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Helen felt like a family member from the start. Her knowledge and willingness to share history with us was very appreciated.

Transport

Comfortable, large, great visibility.

Sunset Sailing Cruise on the Coral Sea

Port Douglas

Just a very average trip. We went out, made a turn and did a very slow return. Boring. No info. No music. No conversation or engagement. Advertised as food and drink - average and limited light snacks and one drink per person before they offer “to start a tab”. Limited and uncomfortable seating. Wanted this to be great - it wasn’t.

Quality of Experience

Ship was pretty. Everything else was lacking.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Zero interaction with anyone from the company or crew. Boring.

Transport

We were already on port Douglas so no transport was needed.

Private Wildlife Habitat Experience

Port Douglas

This was a fantastic experience. Our guide Enrique was personable and knowledgeable. The interaction with wildlife was spectacular. Very much enjoyed this day.

Quality of Experience

Up close and personal with birds, kangaroos and koalas. Learned so much!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Enrique was wonderful. Answered all of our questions and was very knowledgeable about Australian wildlife.

Transport

Our transportation was over an hour late. This was booked through our hotel, so no fault of the travel agent.

Private Blue Mountains Day Trip

Sydney

We learned a lot about the blue mountain region. Several great stops. The botanical gardens and lunch at boiler house were also great. Charlie with aea luxury was wonderful and accommodated a drop off at Manly Beach.

Quality of Experience

The views were incredible.

Food

Lunch at boiler house was delicious. Charlie provided champagne for one of our stops.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Charlie was warm, knowledgeable and incredibly accommodating.

Transport

Comfortable vehicle, on time pick up

My wife and I just completed a wonderful trip to Australia. It's been a lifelong dream of mine to visit ever since my sixth-grade teacher showed us slides of her trip to the other side of the planet.

I worked with Paula to plan our trip. Paula is a superstar! Her expertise in planning our lifelong bucket-list trip to Australia was invaluable. She took the time to determine our capabilities as an active couple in our 60s, as well as our travel preferences, including our preferred level of hotel accommodations and general interests. The information she gathered led to a perfectly paced trip. Long daily excursions were interspersed with shorter ones, and a day off around the middle of the trip was greatly appreciated. The accommodations Paula booked were wonderful, ranging from very nice to luxurious. Breakfast was included at several of the nicest hotels, providing an incredible start to our day. To be honest, some of the best food we had was found at these hotels. Another area where Paula exceeded our expectations was transportation. Throughout our entire trip, our transportation was expertly planned. Buses, air travel, and personal car service went flawlessly; not having to rent a car and drive on unfamiliar roads was a huge stress reliever.

Highlights of our trip included riding camels, interacting with kangaroos, snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, and viewing sunrise and sunset at Ayers Rock/Uluru. Most importantly, we learned more about Australia, its people, and its history. We found the people of Australia to be, in general, more polite and at ease than what we are used to experiencing. Our trip preceded Australia Day by one day, so we saw some of the preparations for their annual day of national celebration. The theme this year was "Reflect, Respect, Celebrate" – we found these three words very refreshing. Our trip, thanks to Paula, has led to a deep fondness for Australia and its people.

Hotel Reviews

Grand Hyatt

Melbourne

Great Hotel with an unbelievable breakfast buffet. We were there for the Australian Open and the venue is walkable from the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The Australian Open is walkable from the hotel.

Staff

Everyone is so very helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable.

Park Hyatt

Sydney

This is my all time favorite hotel. The location, style and service was some of the best I've experienced in my 66 years.

Authenticity & Character

Amazing architecture, the building is shaped around the Harbour.

Location

We were able to walk to the world famous Sydney Opera House as well as dozens of restaurants and ferry services.

Staff

Top notch. Everyone treated us with a smile and an offer to help.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was spectacular, the shape and amenities were exceptional. The most interesting and complete room I have ever stayed in.

Sails In The Desert

Yulara

Sails in the Desert was a nice stay. The outdoor area was beautiful, and I appreciated the complimentary breakfast. However, it didn't wow us like the Hyatt hotels did, but that might be due to the desert setting. The hotel had some minor issues with the doors not fully sealing shut, but we've experienced that in desert hotels before, so it wasn't a big deal for us.

Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort & Spa

Port Douglas

The Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort & Spa is a gorgeous place with lots of potential. We loved the plunge pool in our room and the main pool area was fantastic, but the resort was terribly short staffed during our stay. Staff were eager to help, but there were issues like a broken safe, non-working phone, and bugs on the counter. The food quality was exceptional, though there were only two servers who struggled with the demand. I believe they are hiring and will improve as they sort staffing issues out.

Activity Reviews

Sunset Camel Ride

Uluru

I highly recommend this activity. The camel ride at dusk is spectacular. You also have time to interact with the camel you rode after the excursion.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Wildlife Habitat Experience

Port Douglas

We absolutely loved interacting with the Koalas and Kangaroos.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Enric our guide was fabulous!

Uluru Sunrise with Breakfast

Uluru

Well worth having to get up very early. The quiet and peacefulness was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Max our guide was amazing. He is from Germany but acted like he was from Australia...A great personality.

Full Day Snorkelling Outer Reef (from Hotel)

Port Douglas

We very much enjoyed our time on the boat as well as in the water. The company did an amazing job taking care of all our needs.

Full Day Daintree Cape Tribulation (was & 4WD Bloomfield)

Australia

The Full Day Daintree Cape Tribulation tour was very nice despite some road delays due to a cyclone that had hit the area previously. Our guide was friendly, and we had some engaging conversations. It was a peaceful way to explore the rainforest, though waiting in one-lane traffic was a bit tedious.

Review of Our Recent Australia & New Zealand Trip using KimKim

The planning process with our KimKim representative, Paula, was excellent. She was knowledgeable about both Australia and New Zealand. I usually handle trip planning myself, but since this trip was over four weeks long and covered two countries, I felt it was complex enough to need expert help. Paula worked to ensure all our objectives were met and provided some valuable suggestions we wouldn’t have known otherwise.

Australia

Sydney
If I were to optimize our time in Sydney, I wouldn’t have scheduled the harbor cruise, e-bike tour, and food tour all within three days. The history and sights were somewhat repetitive. I would recommend only the harbor cruise and the bike tour, spread over two days. Spending two days at the beaches of Manly and Bondi over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was enjoyable, but I wouldn’t have stayed a fifth day in Sydney.

Cairns
Cairns was beautiful. Visiting the Great Barrier Reef and snorkeling is a must-do. However, the reef wasn’t as colorful as I expected, so it’s important to set realistic expectations to avoid disappointment. I recommend spending a couple of days here and visiting one of the islands to explore different parts of the reef. Instead of our second day in the rainforest—which required a long drive and wasn’t particularly interesting—I would have preferred an additional day on the reef. Perhaps a guided tour would have made the rainforest visit more engaging, but we rented a car and explored on our own.

Brisbane
Brisbane was one of our favorite cities, with its beautiful winding river serving as a key mode of transportation. We spent New Year’s Eve there, and it was the perfect size for the occasion. Our twenty-something daughter also enjoyed the nightlife. The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary was a good experience, though it was disappointing that you can no longer hold the koalas. We spent close to $1,000 on the extra koala and platypus experiences, which were not worth the money. On our second day, we drove to a national park in the Gold Coast hinterland, which was fantastic—we even swam in a waterfall. The Gold Coast itself, however, was underwhelming—very commercialized, similar to Fort Lauderdale, FL, with hotels lining the beach.

Tasmania
Tasmania was one of our favorite places in Australia. While Hobart itself isn’t particularly special, the nearby animal sanctuary was a highlight, especially the nighttime tour. Driving around the island at our own pace was great. Due to limited hotel availability in the Freycinet area, we stayed in a house called Little Wren, but I wouldn’t recommend it for just two nights—we missed the convenience and comfort of a hotel. The Wineglass Bay boat tour was great, though if you’re prone to seasickness, you might want to skip it. In hindsight, we should have cut one day from Tasmania—there was no need to stay an extra day in Launceston.

Melbourne
Melbourne was good, though our experience was affected by one member of our group coming down with a cold/flu, which lowered our energy levels. We missed the penguin experience and instead spent time in urgent care. We took a four-hour e-bike tour of the city, which was enjoyable, and an eight- to nine-hour wine tour of the Yarra Valley, which was also good but felt a bit long, especially after three weeks of travel.

New Zealand

After Melbourne, my husband and I continued to New Zealand while our children returned to college. New Zealand was even more beautiful than Australia.

South Island (Queenstown & Beyond)
Queenstown was our favorite destination of the entire trip—you could easily spend five days here. The town and lake were stunning, and highlights included Milford Sound, Mount Cook, the Shotover Jet speedboat ride, and four-wheel driving along historic gold-mining roads. I recommend spending a night in the mountains, possibly in Arthur’s Pass. Christchurch, on the other hand, was just okay—nothing particularly notable.

North Island (Rotorua & Auckland)
Rotorua itself was just okay, but the mountain biking in the Redwood Forest and the whitewater rafting over a waterfall were incredible adrenaline rushes. The Mitai Maori dinner was worth experiencing, though it felt a bit cheesy at times.

Auckland was a good city with a nice harbor, though it lacked a strong identity. Our day trip to Waiheke Island was a highlight. We stayed at the beach after the tour and had dinner on the island before returning to Auckland.

Overall Reflections & Learnings
1. Trip Length – Four to five weeks was too long. Three to four weeks would have been ideal, as we could have covered all the highlights with less downtime and wasted travel time.
2. Hotel Quality – The moderately priced hotels were lower-end than we would have preferred, especially in the cities. In major cities, we often ended up in Chinatown, on a steep hill, in tiny rooms, or in hotels with limited services (e.g., no gym) and slightly outside the main areas. Next time, I would upgrade to a higher-tier hotel in the big cities for better comfort and convenience.
3. Flight Scheduling – Since the local travel agent booked our flights, I assumed the flight times would align with our agreed itinerary, but in some cases, the flights left much later than expected. This led to some destinations feeling too long, others too short, and significant shifts in planned activities. I would pay closer attention to flight schedules next time.
4. Local Travel Agent Support – The local travel agent in Australia was not very responsive, especially on weekends and holidays, which was frustrating at times.

Would I Use KimKim Again?

Probably—especially for a more complex trip, a destination outside of my usual experience, or a trip longer than 10 days involving multiple countries.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Ibis World Square

Sydney

Neighborhood not great, very small rooms, overall a bit worn. Not concierge so little guidance on navigating the city or restaurants etc. Four block walk to major transit which is fine unless you have a person in your group with disabilities related to walking.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed and pillows comfy

Oaks Cairns Hotel

Cairns City

Updated and close to GBR attractions. Due to handicap would have preferred uogeade to hotels right at docks to avoid walking again 3-5 blocks. No valet or parking of rental. Street packing was not ideal. Breakfast included was good but not sure what we paid for it so value unknown.

Authenticity & Character

Fairly vanilla

Location

Not ideal for walking Handicap

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed, pillows and size of room all great.

Mercure Brisbane King George Square

Brisbane

Good overall. Valet was on and off. Self parking city not ideal. The hotel and rooms were a bit worn. Roomy enough in size. Breakfast was included and very good. Again unclear on cost so not sure if value.

Authenticity & Character

High rise.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed and pillows

Ibis Styles Hobart

Hobart

No food available after 8pm. Not much service. Gym and pool were nice. Breakfast included was good again not sure on value.

Authenticity & Character

High rise

Location

Staff

Limited

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed and pillow comfy. Nice bathroom.

Little Wren

Coles Bay

As shown but very small. One small bathroom on different floor than bedrooms not ideal with handicap. Shower broke and fixed but late for dinner because of it. No extended checkout was a bummer.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Too small and limited bathroom.

Mercure Welcome Melbourne

Melbourne

Location in Chinatown not great. No valet or Parking which was super challenging. Small rooms, limited services, breakfast included was good but not sure if a good value.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Leisure Inn Penny Royal

Launceston

A bit quirky and dark.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

A bit too run down and quirky.

Scenic Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

Hotel hallways were uphill and a bit of a maze. Room was big and good shower. Bed and pillows comfy. Nice balcony overlooking mountains and lake. On the top of a massive hill which wasn’t convenient to restaurant and bars and tours as a handicap person. Lots of Ubers to go 3 blocks. Downtown would have been better.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Hotel Cotswold

Christchurch

Quirky and awkward. With the trolley being the main source of transit it would have been better to be closer. We were far out of central town. Big room a bit run down.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds and pillow comfy

Millennium Rotorua

Rotorua 3040

Very old and run down

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Voco Auckland

Auckland

Best room overall. Again on top of mountain very down on the harbor which was tough for a handicapp walker. Limited just going out down the street to an uber ride. Confusion on check in and parking of car expensive.

Authenticity & Character

High rise

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wineglass Bay Cruises Morning Wineglass Bay Cruise - Sky Lounge including Lunch

Freycinet

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rough seas cause vomiting

Yarra Valley Food & Wine Day Trip Private

Australia

4 winners are too much. I bit too long.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mitai Cultural Experience & Dinner

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walter Peak Farm and Gourmet Barbecue Lunch

Australia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Milford Sound Coach/Nature Cruise/Fly (ZQN return)

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Essential Queenstown

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Rotorua

Rotorua

The town is run down. The geysers were sort of commercialized and cheesy compared to something like Yellowstone, Wyoming USA. The redwood Forest was amazing and we ended up renting mountain bikes riding through them, which was great. We also took a white water rafting trip over a waterfall, which was a great, adrenaline rush and super fun and safe.

Quality of Experience

Private Taste of Sydney Experience

Sydney

No driver promised, too much walking, not very knowledgeable, had already heard it all in harbor cruise so repetitive. Food not that interesting.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Sydney Classic Tour - E-Bike

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mount Cook Tour (Queenstown to Christchurch)

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Harbor Experience Cruise

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Couldn’t hear guide very well on outside decks

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary Night Visit

Hobart

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Michaelmas Cay Cruise (from Hotel)

Australia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Brisbane

Brisbane

Quality of Experience

Taste of Waiheke Island

Australia

Great day however this trip didn’t go to brewery and subbed in another winery which was a bummer. They said your info was a year old.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was a dream trip and Vicky helped make everything so seamless. We reached out to her about possible itineraries, and she worked with us to make a perfect 10 days. She was always available for any questions and was helpful throughout the journey. There was some flooding in Prosperine, so we had to pivot, and she was helpful in making changes and arrangements for us in Cairns. Our flights, transfers and tours were all planned out and we had no issues.
The accommodations she choose for us were clean and comfortable. We stayed at The Riley and Visions apartments in Cairns and both were excellent. Upon returning to Sydney, she booked us at The Vibe Hotel in Darling Harbour. It was a smaller hotel and had everything we needed including breakfast. The location was great as it was about 10 minutes away from great shopping.
While we were in Cairns, we had 3 tours booked and they were all fabulous. There was the Classic Kuranda tour where we went up in the train and spent the day touring around. We enjoyed the views and took in some time at the wildlife habitat before heading down in the gondola. The second tour was on the Ocean Freedom where we went out to the reef and did some scuba diving and snorkeling. This tour was so much better than the others we booked on our own and really made me appreciate Vicky that much more for her knowledge on what the tours offered. This was a smaller group and the staff was absolutely amazing and so knowledgeable. Our last tour was of the Daintree Forest and Cape Tribulation. Our guide kept us entertained with lots of stories and we enjoyed a dip in some falls, lunch, a boat ride down the Daintree River and a visit to Cape Tribulation. All the tours she booked for us were excellent.
I travel a lot but am new to Australia and I feel that Vicky really took the time to find out what we were looking for in our travels and did the perfect job on finding us the best accommodations suited to our needs, clean and punctual transfers, amazing tours and flights that worked with our schedules. It was great have the peace of mind knowing we were looked after in an unfamiliar country.

Thank you Vicky for an amazing holiday,

Shauna and Elisha

Our first time to Australia. We only read in books and as divers, we could not wait until we experienced the Great Barrier Reef. It was great working with our local specialist Paula who helped us sort out a lot of family-fun activities as we were traveling with our 3 kids ages 11, 9 and 7.

Planning a kid-friendly trip (especially in another country) can be incredibly time consuming and risky as you can trust a brochure only so much. Not to mention, there are a lot of the logistics like car travel that are often overlooked and you end up late or over paying. Working with KimKim and Paula helped alleviate all of these concerns and we even received a nice welcome packet on our arrival.

As a family, we really enjoyed Sydney, although we warned on traveling near New Years as that seems like a particularly high tourist season, so lines everywhere. Uluru, is magical and gorgeous but be ready to be hot and plan your water accordingly. Cairns and Great Barrier Reef was my personal favorite but I think as a family, Sydney was the best.

I would recommend any working family living outside Australia, took book through a local expert. You do end up saving a lot of time, money and anxiety.

Great time down under. Vicky, our travel agent was very knowledgeable and accommodating to our requests and situations. She is prompt with returning our messages. She provided excellent tour packages, hotels and airport services. The airport transportation was top notch, both the vehicles and drivers. They were all punctual and can be easily reached. we couldn’t ask for a better hotel location and caliber. Our rooms were very comfortable and from where we were, we could walk wherever we wanted to go.

Hotel Reviews

Rydges Melbourne Hotel

Melbourne

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the sights and restaurants

Staff

everyone was nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Sebel Quay West Suites

The Rocks

Authenticity & Character

Location

walkable to the sights and restaurants in the city

Staff

everyone was nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sydney Bridge Climb Summit

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

staff were friendly and accommodating. They were ready for all weather to keep is comfortable during the climb.

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Great Ocean Road Small Group Eco tour

Melbourne

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panoramic Sydney Sights - Half Day Tour

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

friendly and knowledgeable

Transport

Blue Mountains Wildlife Full-Day Sights and Hiking from Sydney

Sydney

The weather was topsy turvy during out trip but our guide Andy made sure that we hit the sights while avoiding the bad weather. The champagne after the hike was a nice touch

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everything was on brief! We really enjoyed our trip to Australia and New Zealand! The hotels, tours, communications with contacts, flights was perfect! Vicky was the best Specialist! Always in contact and answering every question! We will be happy to do other trip with kimkim!

Hotel Review

Fable Auckland

Auckland

The room was without windows and the next door was a storage room, very noisy. The gym was a mini mini gym too…. Not to comfortable / nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Laneways of Melbourne

Melbourne

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was ooutstandinggg! She knows every single córner!!

Organizing this trip was very easy. Vicky responded quick when we had questions or wanted to adjust the itinerary.
We loved the Great Barrier reef tour and spending New Year's eve in Sydney.
Brisbane has a nice relaxed vibe which we loved, whereas Sydney is energizing and vibrant.

Hotel Reviews

Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane

Brisbane

Lovely hotel, perfect for family with a nice view. Close to South bank. The room has a cozy feel and a nice, playful layout.

Authenticity & Character

Loads of character and cozy rooms

Location

Close to Southbank

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was cleaned daily

Alamanda at Palm Cove by Lancemore

Palm Cove

Big rooms, suitable for family, be aware that there are only stairs going to higher level. You need to carry your own suitcases up. Reception seems not to be always attended. Rooms spacious, but not very cozy.

Authenticity & Character

Rooms are not very cozy. It's like getting an apartment and then it's up to you (reception unattended)

Location

Close to the beach

Staff

Handing over keys but that's it

Cleanliness & Comfort

No daily cleaning or making beds

Activity Reviews

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Brisbane River Cruise

Brisbane

Lovely place to go and see koala's and feed kangaroos.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide on the boat had lots of stories

Transport

We went by boat

Dolphin Feeding Day Cruise to Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island

Brisbane

This trip didn't meet our expectations. The snorkeling around the wrecks was nice. But there is not sufficient time on the island to do other activities (like atv, sand tobogganing etc). And then there was no dolphin feeding at all, while that's in the title of this cruise.

Sunlover Reef Cruises Cairns Great Barrier Reef Experience (departs Cairns)

Australia

Wow! Definitely worth doing this cruise. Clear waters, loads of activities, also for people who don't want to go snorkeling. Food was okay. We just loved it!! Highlight of our trip!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Classic Kuranda

Palm Cove

We loved the sky way!!! Very impressive! Wish we had taken the sky way both ways!! Train is fun, but less view.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Premium Daintree & Cape Tribulation Day Tour

Australia

We were a bit disappointed only seeing 1 crocodile on the Daintree river cruise and we expected to see more about the indigenous people in Cape Tribulation. Be aware this trip involves a lot of traveling by van. We loved the place where we had lunch, very good food and lovely place.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Blue Mountains Full Day - Private Tour

Sydney

Impressive to see the nature reserve and especially if you go on a trail to Wentworth waterfall.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport