Kimkim Trip Reviews for Australia

We engaged KimKim to put together an itineray for my husband and I for Australia. We had used the online travel agency last year for a trip and really liked their selections of hotels and execursions.

After a month long cruise, we were debarking in Sydney and planned to spend nearly two weeks there. Paula, our travel consultant, was very responsive in helping us plan our time there and finding places to stay. Overall, we are very pleased with how the trip went in Australia. There were two hotels that just okay. One had water damage and the chef didn't show up for breakfast on a morning we had an early excursion and had to scramble to find a quick breakfast.

That said, I would recommend using KimKim to my friends and family. The team does a fantastic job in helping travelers get around in countries that they have not traveled before. I like that we receive an itineray with all of our day to day activities that includes key contacts and addresses.

Hotel Reviews

Mercure Cairns

Cairns

Tbere was water damage in the lobby of the hotel. The chef didn't show up for work on a morning we had an early execursion. The first morning we went to breakfast, the coffee machine wasn't working. The second morning, we had to scramble to find a quick breakfast before we were picked up as the chef didn't show up for breakfast. They didn't offer to help us pay for that. While the room was nice, it was very hot and humid and the room's AC had a hard time keeping up.

Authenticity & Character

Overall the hotel seems a bit shabby.

Location

Very good location to restaurants and shopping.

Staff

The staff at the front desk were very nice.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Again, while clean, except for the waer falling from the ceiling tiles, the hotel seemed shaby.

Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets, an IHG Hotel

Adelaide

Really enjoyed staying at this hotel. It seemed new and was very well appointed.

Authenticity & Character

It had a great vibe.

Location

While across the public market, it was a bit of a hike to the CBD, restaurants and shopping.

Staff

Everyone at the front desk was extremely helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Yes.

Mercure Welcome Melbourne

Melbourne

The hotel is located in the middle of Chinatown and on a busy street. It lacked any character and the breakfast was inedible. The rooms were small and lacked storage space for suitcases, etc. Plus the rooms were very warm, again it was hot and humid and the AC couldn't keep up.

Authenticity & Character

The entire hotel seemed bland and uninviting.

Location

There were other hotels not right in the center of everything and on a street (alley really) that had busy traffic.

Staff

While the staff was friendly, the front desk seemed to be busy.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was small and we just didn't want housekeeping to come in. I'm not even sure the cleaners even tried to come in every day. Overall, the place didn't seem super clean.

Activity Reviews

Dolphin Sanctuary Guided Kayaking

Adelaide

The place was not inviting and the operator didn't open the doors until the time the tour started. There was no place to wait and we had to find our own tranportation there and back. They seemed a bit short staffed and disorganized until the last minute. Even though we did see dolphins, I wouldn't recommend this tour to anyone.

Quality of Experience

There were two groups but at the end it was one big, unruly group. At one point, all the kayays ended up to a narrow point going into a mangrove, those of us in the front were pushed into trees and had a hard time getting through the narrow point.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

When we did have a chance to chat with our guide, he seemed knowledgable. But once the two groups merged, it was hard to follow instructions.

Transport

Transportation was not included and it the location seemed a bit out of the way. We had to pay for an Uber both ways.

Private Dinner, Tales & Cocktails Experience

Melbourne

This was an amazing experience. Our guide, Raff, took us to three unique places we never would have found on our own. Plus he was a great conversationalist and shared information about the arts scene in the city. Very impressive.

Quality of Experience

Our guide was very knowledgeable and personable. He took us to some great restaurants and had lots to share about the surrounding locations. The entire experience was incredible.

Food

All of the food was so good. We ate house made tqcos at a rooftop restaurant, enjoyed wine with cheese and crackers and ended with a drink at a unique speakeasy.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See above.

Transport

Daintree Rainforest Full Day Adventure by 4WD

Australia

Overall this was a good tour, just really long. Rown, our guide, was very knowledgeable and engaging. He did a great job with the group and well-versed about Daintree and the rainforest and its history. Great storyteller. The only drawback was the cruise we took on the river. I don't think that added anything to the experience. We probably gotten home a bit sooner if we skipped that.

Quality of Experience

Our guide did a fantastic job. Plus we were seeing so many beautiful locations.

Food

The food at the restaurant was good but not great. Knowing there aren't a lot of options it worked. The restaurant offered a great backdrop to the forest. Plus many in our group were able to go for a swim in the river next to the restaurant.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rowan is really good at what he does!

Transport

The vehicle was clean and comfortable.

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

This was an amazing tour. I'm so glad we were able to do this. The story of the construction and updates just fascinating.

Quality of Experience

We got to see nd listen to the orchestra practice playing in the large hall.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was knowledgeable but came across a bit snooty.

Transport

We walked there ourselves after lunch and took an Uber to the hotel

Discover Melbourne by Bike

Melbourne

I did not participate as we had a long tour the day before on a tour we booked on our own. However Glen went and enjoyed seeing the city by bicycle. The guide, Pat, asked the group if they minded if the tour went on a bit longer to cover more ground. Everyone agreed and had a good time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowlegeable about the city and bicycling.

Transport

Wildlife, Waterfalls & Wine Day Trip

Sydney

While this was a long day, it was enjoyable. Steve was a great guide who was very knowledgable.

Quality of Experience

Was very excited to pet a koala bear and feed kangaroos and wallabyes.

Food

We stopped at a restaurant on the beach. There were great options to choose from and the food was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was very knowledgeable about the places we visited and the surrounding area. He was also very personable. too.

Transport

Clean and comfortable.

Morning Panoramic Sydney Sights

Sydney

It was great to drive around and have someone point out points and places of interest. However, we saw some great architecture and didn't really stop in the city, probably due to traffic. Our guide took us out of the city center to nearby neighborhoods where we did stop a few times. I probably would have preferred a walking tour of the city.

Quality of Experience

Overall it was nice and the guide was knowledgable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was very knowledgble.

Transport

Clean and comfortable.

Michaelmas Cay Cruise

Australia

Overall, the tour to see the Great Barrier Reef was great. That said, the weather brought high winds making the sea choppy the cruiand the cruise a bit uncomfortable for several people. But the staff did a great job in offering ginger to help those struggling with seasickness. tThey also had two marine biologist to provide educational components on the way to the reef and back.

Quality of Experience

The staff did a great job getting people ready to visit the island and snorkel if they wanted.

Food

They had a variety of food that provided those with diet restrictions with options. The food was well marked and tasty!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The ship was rocky, but that's not the fault of the tour operator. The ship was very nice and comfortable overall.

Paula did a great job getting our trip planned, hotel, flights and excursions booked, pick ups to and from the various airports and cities we visited and put together a great itinerary for my son and I to enjoy and get a real feel for what Australia has to offer. Oh yeah - planned and booked our trip in less than 3 weeks. Surfing in Bondi, white water rafting excursion and snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, the shark cage dive in Port Lincoln and Ayer’s Rock were absolutely fabulous!! - It truly was an amazing trip for us. Thank you so much for helping us schedule this very memorable vacation in the land down under!! Good day!!

Paula was absolutely amazing! She listened to understand my likes and to identify the activities that I would most enjoy.

Her knowledge and experience helped me plan an amazing trip.

Hi Vicky

Once again thank you so much for all your assistance in planning my Sydney visit .

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL CITY .....

My guide Steve was amazing and the guide that took us to the mountains wow such a young man but so knowledgeable about Australian history and everything actually

thumps up 2 both

See you next year again Australia

Perth and outback

take care Vicky

Regards

Hotel Review

Own Accommodations Arranged

Authenticity & Character

Location

Shangri-la Sydney

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sydney City Small Group Walking Tour (Small Group Tour)

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sydney Bridge Climb Summit

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Blue Mountains Wildlife Full-Day Sights and Hiking from Sydney

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Food

Transport

Bondi-Bronte Culture & Coast Small Group Walking Tour

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I have nothing but praise for Kim-Kim and the arrangements that they made for our trip. So many fantastic tours and delightful places to stay! I particularly enjoyed the in-person encounters with the wildlife like petting koalas, kangaroos and wallabies and feeding tropical birds. It was the trip of a lifetime.

Hotel Reviews

Peppers Beacon Queenstown

Queenstown

I particularly liked the place we stayed in Queenstown. It was a nice apartment with lots of room and very convenient with a washer and dryer. It felt very spacious and contributed to a pleasant experience in Queenstown.

Vibe Hotel Sydney

Sydney

Our stay at the Vibe Hotel in Sydney had some drawbacks. The hotel's computer system went down, so we couldn't get a key and had to be escorted to our room every time. Although the room I got was a bit bigger and fine, my sister and brother-in-law were cramped in their regular-sized room. Additionally, the street the hotel was on seemed a bit rundown compared to most of Australia and New Zealand, which surprised me. Nevertheless, the location was convenient for visiting Chinatown.

Activity Review

Oceania Tours and Safaris - Phillip Island and Moonlit Sanctuary Tour + Penguins Plus Viewing

Melbourne

The Phillip Island and Moonlit Sanctuary Tour, including the Penguins Plus Viewing, was a standout experience for me. The penguins were so cute and it was a truly memorable experience. Despite not being able to take pictures, it left a lasting impression on me.

This was our first time using Vicky from KimKim Travel, and we were pleased at her attention t detail, follow up and availability by text and phone on our trip to Tasmania , Carins and Sidney Australia. Travel arrangements for air ,ground and all excursions went smoothly and without a hitch. Vickey made it an uncomplicated pleasant experience, for a packed full day by day travel vacation. The interactive chat KimKim site is excellent for communications ,and last minute changes
As so often happen on vacations. We will definitely use the Agency and Vicky. For Referal and advise on our next adventure.
Anthony and Denise DeCarolis

Hotel Reviews

Mövenpick Hobart

Hobart

Good hotel mice location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Harbour Rocks Hotel

The Rocks, Sydney NSW

Great location,for Rocks tours and site seeing, historic site quaint hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location and Morning breakfast were special

Location

Great location for walking and getting around Rocks area

Staff

Responsive to all needs ,

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel is a renovation of old hospital and warehouse , Rooms are small and not a lot of space for luggage for two travelers on a longer trip. Bathrooms are adequate but cramped, older fixtures,and appointments.

Crystalbrook Flynn

Cairns

Great hotel great location near the Esplanade,good rooms great service

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location

Pools are great Esplanade right outside you hotel

Staff

Staff was efficient in meeting all requests

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cairns Lagoon

Cairns

This was a a surprise only 3/4 years old a real special place clean inviting pool to spend a long day of sun and relaxation.

Quality of Experience

Size

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All driver were prompt vehicles were high end and comfortable

Transport

On time and exact good communication prior to pick up as where and when

Ocean Freedom - Cruise to Outer Edge of Upolu Reef and Upolu Cay Reef (Departs from Cairns)

Australia

Definitely bong miss this one a family owned Great Barrier Reef excursion done right. Great Staff Well trained and safe guides Great Lunch After dive snacks And cake and fruit all day Great long snorkel and Dive time on the reef

Quality of Experience

Small group untrusted experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Young energies staff of family owned business , experienced and safety aware

Transport

Quick and easy

We spend a week and a half in Australia (Sydney, Port Douglas, and Melbourne) and everything was great. Our local specialist Vicky did a fantastic job. Our hotels were excellent. In one case, she reached out to us to let us know that the hotel we had originally booked was undergoing some construction and she suggested that we move. Her proactive work was much appreciated. Vicky also arranged city tours, a barrier reef excursion, a tour of the rainforest, and wine and nature tours for us. The vendors she chose were all great. Basically, everything went seamlessly and we had a great time. I would highly recommend Vicky for planning an Australia trip.

Activity Reviews

Wildlife Habitat - YOUR Wildlife Habitat Tour (Private)

Port Douglas

What a tremendous experience. We learned a lot, and the direct encounters with the animals exceeded our expectations. Importantly, these interactions were managed in a way that put the animals health and safety first.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Enrique did a great job

Daintree Rainforest,Cape Tribulation,Mossman Gorge -PRIVATE TOUR from Port Douglas

Port Douglas

Terrific trip with great guide. The nature beauty of the landscape was amazing. And our guide Chris did a fantastic job.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Great Barrier Reef & Coral Cays Boat Tour

Port Douglas

The reef speaks for itself, but the crew on the boat was amazing. They really looked out for everyone and made the trip special. One of the best snorkeling experiences we've had.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Phillip Island Private Experience

Melbourne

We saw the penguin parade, as well as the Koala habitat and pyramid rock. Our guide, Adam, did a great job taking us to the right places and spotting the local wildlife.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Yarra Valley Winery Private Car Tour

Melbourne

We visited four wineries. We also asked to visit a dairy farm and the tour company made that happen (it was nice to have a cheese break from the wine). We finished with a visit to the chocolate factory. It was a great trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Lunch at the Rochon winery was excellent

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Russell, our guide, was terrific, and as noted, he added the dairy farm visit at our request.

Transport

Blue Mountains Full Day - Private Tour

Sydney

We had a nice drive out to the blue mountains. There are some amazing views, but I am not sure that they were worth the time it took to get out there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was very nice, but she did not provide a lot of information. We had much better luck on that front on our other tours in Australia.

Transport

Sunset and Sparkle Sydney Harbour Cruise

Sydney

This was a nice way to see the city from the water. Very relaxing on a nice night. It is not a must do, but it was a cool way to see the city and the harbor.

Quality of Experience

Wow what a trip. This has been on the bucket list for some time, and we are so glad that we found Paula and KimKim.

We explained to Paula what we'd ideally wanted to see in the time we had (2 weeks prior to a New Zealand cruise), and boy did she deliver. The hotels, transfers, trips and guides were all first class and aligned exactly with the type of things we explained we wanted to see.

Highlights were Blue Mountains (long day!), Ocean Road trip with Fred (what a character), and Uluru (Ayers rock). We also did Cairns but the weather at the time of year was Ugh but we did know that before we went.

All of the flights and transfers went like clockwork, and the hotels were spot on. Clean and in great locations. Thank you again Paula. Your communication and attention to detail is refreshing and we wont hesitate to reach out again.

Hotel Reviews

The Grace Hotel

Sydney, NSW

Great hotel in a superb spot in the heart of the city. 15 min walk to Syd Opera House, 10 Min walk to darling quay. Small coffee shop on site and an italian next door

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hotel Britomart

Auckland

Really nice hotel with a great onsite restaurant and in the middle of the city. Clean rooms and attentive staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Voco Melbourne Central, IHG Hotel

Melbourne

Lovely hotel and in a great spot. A bit difficult to find at times when out and about so take a map! Roms were very comfortable and modern, and staff were very friendly and helpful

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Desert Gardens Hotel

Yulara

Quite a basic hotel (more like a Motel) but I dont think in this location you'll be spoiled for choice. In any case it was spotless and the whole point of being here is to experince the outback and be outside. Nice restaurant on site and there is a small 'town square' with a few shops and Cafes. We loved Uluru.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Crystalbrook Flynn

Cairns

Great hotel in the middle of the action. I imagine this hotel and location will be jumping at the right time in the season. Really helpful staff, and a lot of bars and restaurants nearby.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day Trip on the Great Ocean Road

Melbourne

We had Fred as our guide. Really interesting and funny guy who helped pass the time as this is a long drive, but the scenery and locations are stunning. You must do this this trip in this location.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Night at Field of Light

Uluru

A real one off. Dinner, drinks all included and a talk by an astronomer. As there is very little light polution, the skies are magical, and the desert is qo quiet. We'd go back tomorrow if we could. An exceptional visit to an exceptional location.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Blue Mountains Deluxe Day

Sydney

This is a full day and its a long one, but its really worth doing as the scale and sights are breathtaking.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private City & Mornington Peninsula Day Trip

Melbourne

Long day but to get a feel for the location, you have to push on a bit. We were pretty tired afterwards but it was a great day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Uluru Sunset

Uluru

You cant get too close to Uluru nowadays but this is as good as you'll get. A nice photo op of an iconic and significant landmark.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Daintree Rainforest Full Day Adventure by 4WD

Australia

Like going back in time. Jurassic Park and king Kong rolled into one trip. We were incredibly lucky and saw the ultra-rare cassowary, plus all sorts of spiders (as big as my hand), wild birds, crocodiles, etc. A fantastic insight, in the oldest rainforest in the world (180m years old).

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling Day Trip

Australia

Poured with rain when we were there which kinda limited visibility but we could still snorkel the reef and see fish, giant clams etc. Was a really good day out to an amazing place.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vicky was wonderful.. there when we needed her to help and to update ..truly made our trip much more enjoyable
The places we stayed and the overall itinerary was a great experience!
We would highly recommend Vicky and KimKim to anyone that wants a wonderful experience with less stress..all the particulars taken care of and a resource on the ground that is there when you need it!
Kudos to Vicky and your company! Already planning our next trip with you and have recommended you to a number of our friends!
Thank you

Activity Review

Easy Bike Tour - Mt Wellington Summit Descent & Rainforest Ride

Hobart

What a wonderful experience. Our guide was amazing! The vistas were spectacular

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable

Transport

Bikes were comfortable and safe

Transport

Bikes were comfortable and safe

Our Australian specialist Vicky Steinhardt was great. We worked with Vicky for several months creating a perfect itinerary for both Australia and New Zealand. Vicky was always responsive and provided several options for both cities to visit and tours to take. Further, Vicky was able to modify our itinerary while we were traveling. She and KimKim provided an excellent travel experience that was seamless with no problems. I highly recommend both Vicky Steinhardt and KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

InterContinental Sydney

Sydney

Excellent accommodations and great location

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is a renovated old office building that retains it’s original charm but is modern in all other aspects.

Location

Easy walk to the Sydney Opera House, Botanical gardens and many great restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Peppers Beach Club

Port Douglas

Room was pretty small. Restaurant was very limited except for breakfast. Not great views. Staff was not very knowledgeable but friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy walk to town and restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Langham

Southbank

Great location, exceptional staff and great restaurant on site. But rooms are dated and need to be updated.

Authenticity & Character

Old world building but the rooms are in dire need of an update. Furniture and decor was very dated. But still comfortable.

Location

Easy walk to town center for sites and restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima

Christchurch

Relatively new hotel near town center but still a pretty long walk. Rooms were small

Authenticity & Character

New hotel with little character.

Location

Near city center but still a pretty far walk. A few restaurants in close proximity but not many.

Staff

Staff was very accommodating and knowledgeable

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel St. Moritz

Queenstown

Room was spacious. Well located and an easy walk to town center. Staff was excellent. Great breakfast buffet. Bar and restaurant overlooks the lake.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very easy walk to town center.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Blue Mountains Full Day - Private Tour

Sydney

Great stops along the way and well worth a full day trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

Guide was very knowledgeable and was able to show us the important features and history in an hour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sydney City Small Group Walking Tour (Small Group Tour)

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sydney Harbour Gold Penfolds Dinner Cruise

Sydney

Food was good. Not the highest level Penfolds wines but still good. Excellent way to experience the Sydney Harbour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Private Daintree Wanderer Tour

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Laneways of Melbourne

Melbourne

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Foodie Discovery Walking Tour

Melbourne

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Milford Sound – Coach Cruise Fly

Queenstown (NZ)

This is a really long day of about 10+ hours. Milford sound is great and a must see if you are in Queenstown. But it’s primarily seeing waterfalls while cruising the fjord..

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great Ocean Road Full Day Private Experience

Melbourne

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Akaroa Private Day Tour from Christchurch

Christchurch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vickie steinhardt was terrific. She planned a great trip and when we had a small logistic issue it was immediately addressed, perfectly. She always quickly responded to questions. Can’t say enough. Use Vickie and KimKim if you can for all your trips in this part of the world.

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.

Hotel Reviews

Cairns Colonial Club Resort

Cairns

The Cairns Colonial Club Resort was a wonderful place to stay. They even upgraded us, providing a nice view and lots of room space. Having laundry facilities was a great plus, especially for a long trip.

City Life Auckland

Auckland

The hotel in Auckland was great. It had a fantastic location, and we enjoyed walking around and exploring the area. The hotel added to the whole Auckland experience.

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to the Blue Mountains

Sydney

The day trip to the Blue Mountains was incredibly nice. We got to see some amazing wildlife and the natural beauty of the area was breathtaking. It's a must-do activity if you're in Sydney.

Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef Cruise

Australia

The Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef Cruise was absolutely fantastic. It was a very safe and well-planned tour that was both educational and visually stunning. I highly recommend this if you're visiting Cairns.

Great Ocean Road Adventure

Melbourne

The Great Ocean Road Adventure had a bit of a hiccup due to our guide, who was not very friendly and even got a speeding ticket during the tour. It was not as enjoyable as we had hoped.

The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour

New Zealand

The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour was fantastic. We really enjoyed the tour and the wine experience. It was a wonderful way to spend the day and a highlight of the trip.

Auckland City & Waitakere Ranges

Auckland

The Auckland City & Waitakere Ranges tour was fantastic! The rainforest, the bush, and the beach were beautiful. Our guide was wonderful and made the experience really special.

Wellington Food Tour

Wellington

The Wellington Food Tour was fantastic. It ended up being a private tour as we were the only participants, and the guide was very passionate and added his personal touch, making it a memorable experience.

Skyline Queenstown - Gondola and Buffet Dinner

Queenstown (NZ)

The Skyline Queenstown Gondola and Buffet Dinner was a highlight of our trip. The food was high-quality and abundant, far exceeding our expectations for a buffet. The views from the gondola were simply stunning.

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!