Kimkim Trip Reviews for Australia

Gary was fantastic . He put together the perfect trip according to my suggestions. The hotels were great. The excursions were wonderful.
I loved everything. I am a travel agent in Arizona, USA. I will definitely recommend Kim Kim Travel.

Gary was incredibly helpful and planned an absolutely wonderful trip for me and my family. Everything from the transportation, hotel reservations, and excursion was exceptional. We had some last minute travel issues that he helped us with immediately. I gave 5 stars but Gary deserves 10. Thank you, Gary!!

Hotel Reviews

Shangri-La Sydney

The Rocks, Sydney

This was the best hotel we stayed at. Incredible view and impressive service.

Authenticity & Character

It was beautiful and unique

Location

Walkable to everything and great views from our window.

Staff

Very helpful staff. They took care of my kids who arrived before I did.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Cairns

Cairns

This hotel worked great for us and our short stay but didn't compare to the other hotel stays. It was a bit of a Bahamian vibe.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff was lovely.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel

Mascot, Sydney, NSW

Perfect stay for an early departure.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Day trip to the Great Barrier Reef

Australia

Unfortunately I was sea sick most of the time. Regardless, this excursion was one for the books. The captain took good care of me and the kids and I had a blast.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was absolutely amazing! Liz did a fantastic job of coordinating our travel plans, even when there were some last minute changes. I am thankful for her willingness to go above and beyond to help us with those changes. All of our flights, hotels, pick ups/drop offs, and tours went smoothly and as planned. Visiting Sydney during Vivid and doing the Vivid BridgeClimb was absolutely breathtaking! We also thoroughly enjoyed the nocturnal tour with Wait a While Tours in Cairns with Paul. During the tour we were able to to see two platypus in the wild...a dream come true! And, of course, you can't beat snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. Last of all, my favorite place was Kangaroo Island. Seeing koalas, kangaroos, and sea lions in the wild was incredible. And, Admiral's Arch is a must see for anyone visiting KI. Thank you, Liz, for all that you have done for us! It was a trip of a lifetime!

Hotel Reviews

PARKROYAL Darling Harbour

Sydney

The hotel was nice and well-located.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide

Adelaide

The hotel was downtown, but Adelaide was a bit congested and not as pretty as other locations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge

American River

The hotel was secluded and peaceful. Loved walking along the lagoon in the morning. However, there are limited dining options.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Climb the Harbor Bridge

Sydney

The bridge climb during Vivid Night was amazing, even for someone who is scared of heights. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Marine World Outer Great Barrier Reef - to pontoon

Australia

The pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef had an all-you-can-eat buffet, submersible, and underwater window view. The snorkeling experience was enjoyable, even for someone who doesn't swim or snorkel much.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ultimate Kangaroo Island Tour (Day 1)

Australia

Kangaroo Island was beautiful, especially Admiral's Arch. Highly recommend doing the two-day tour!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ultimate Kangaroo Island Tour (Day 2)

Australia

Remarkable Rocks was another highlight on Kangaroo Island. The island was remote and full of wildlife.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rainforest Adventure & Nocturnal Wildlife Tour

Australia

The Wait Awhile tour in Cairns with Paul was great. He was very knowledgeable, and we saw two platypuses in the wild as well as other wildlife.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gary was absolutely AMAZING. There wasn't a glitch. Gary covered every angle from airline and car transportation, hotels to excursions.

We had drivers waiting for us everywhere they were courteous and punctual. The excursion to The Great Barrier Reef was a highlight that we would have most likely missed if Gary had not recommended we see this when we traveled to Australia. Kim Kim Tours and Gary are OUTSTANDING and I would highly recommend them if you are considering a trip.

Thank you

Liz was great in setting up the itinerary with suggestions, modifications, and final bookings. Final day on Green Island could have been better. Mostly the contractor providing the trip was into upselling higher priced scuba and outer reef experiences. Normally the trip could have been shortened to fewer hours than the full day, but THEY decided against running additional mid-day boats.

We really enjoyed our trip greatly. The planning and execution were very good overall. We enjoyed many of the places we stayed at, especially Amora Jamison in Sydney and Mandalay apartments in Port Douglas.

Hotel Reviews

Clarion Suites Gateway

Melbourne

The location and overall experience were great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Southern Ocean Villas

Port Campbell

The location of the hotel was great and it was very spacious for our family of 5.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We did not interact with any staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quality Hotel Melbourne Airport

Tullamarine

Overall the hotel was OK but did have a restaurant next door.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments

Port Douglas

Excellent all around!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adabco Boutique Hotel

Adelaide

This was a good hotel in a central location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge

American River

Nice hotel in a good location on Kangaroo Island.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney

Sydney

Very nice and posh hotel in a great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Phillip Island Private Tour

Melbourne

We very much loved this experience and our guide took excellent care of us. He was a wealth of information.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise

Australia

This was a great experience that was enjoyed by our whole family.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Classic Kuranda Tour

Australia

We truly enjoyed this experience. The skyrail and train were great! The experience at Kurranda was wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We purchased a costumed designed independent trip to Australia with Springboard Vacations, and we ended up having great vacations on April 2023. We have to thank their trip specialist, Connie, with whom we started communicating in late Dec. 2022. Connie worked with us for over three months prior and during our trip, clearly understood our priorities and wants, and ensured that our two weeks filled with activity and tours-cations in Melbourne, Uluru, Cairns and Sydney would be unforgettable. Overall, I will work with Connie again if we plan other trips to destinations covered in her portfolio. Springboard Vacations, can certainly create good travel packages to please any traveler, and at good price.

Overall experience with tours included in our itnerary per our requests and interests: Very satisfied 5/5
Also, all of our tour guides were knowledgeable and courteous. We were glad that with a customed designed trip option, we went to the specific locations and attractions that we were interested in, joining different small groups and being more independent.

Melbourne:
• Great Ocean Road Day Trip- great full day tour with multiple stops including various National Parks)
• Adventure Philip Island & Penguin Parade Excursion - First stop was at the Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park where we enjoyed seeing koalas, and feeding/petting wallabies and kangaroos, and the last stop was the super amazing treat by over 1400 small penguins that got out of the sea and paraded in front of us on their way to their burrows; I really recommend this tour and an upgrade to the Penguins Plus option seating.
• Morning Lanes and Arcades Tour - 3 hour tour was very educational and enjoyable.
• Note: We had 1.5 free days in Melbourne to visit museums, gardens and other points of interest. We highly recommend some free time for these activities.

Uluru:
• Kata Tjuta & Sunset Over Uluru tour- a few hours tour to enjoy very pretty views of the big rock
• Sunrise Over Uluru Culture and Sightseeing tour - very enjoyable sunrise with colorful views, and a good hike that brought us close to the huge rock formations.
• Sunrise Field of Light Tour is a good exhibit with good natural backgrounds (sunset option is available)

Cairns:
• Full-Day Marine World Outer Great Barrier Reef – this was priceless to us, as we spent approx. 2 hours each in the morning and afternoon snorkeling in two different coral reef areas with very abundant sea life. On board, we purchased the bio-snorkeling 30 min tour that led us to about ½ dozen spots where we saw (otherwise have probably missed), and learned about clams and some fish and coral species.
• Note: On our free day we enjoyed a morning on the boardwalk area, and the afternoon was awesome too, as one of us went to the Botanical Gardens and Tanks Art Exhibit, and the other one went white water rafting.
• We wished that we would have spent a third day in Cairns to spent another outer Great Barrier Reef snorkeling.

Sydney
• Sydney Opera House 1 hour tour was very informative, and at the end we bought tickets for a night performance which was worthy.
• Morning Panoramic Sydney Sights tour (informative 3 hours drive around the city and to Bondi Beach)
• Afternoon ferry ride that took us to the Taronga Zoo – excellent with a wide variety of local birds, koalas kangaroos, dingo dogs and many more interesting/exotic animals.
• Full Day Blue Mountains Deluxe Day – we first stopped at a farm for about 1.5 hrs to pet a koala, watch many kangaroos, wallabies and emus, and then we arrived at the National Park where we enjoyed the views at different stop points, a 2 mile hike, and its garden.
• Note: We had free time in Sydney to walk on the bridge across the Harbour, go for the Saturday Night fireworks on Darling Harbour, do a little shopping, and eating at various restaurants of choice. We wished that we had a free full day to visit museums and gardens around Sydney.

Transportation from/to all airports: Very satisfied
Transportation was consistently excellent: On time, top notch and vehicles, and the drivers were friendly and respectful.

Hotels: Very satisfied.
Mantra on Russell, Melbourne: Good option because location of hotel was convenient, e.g., close to free light rail, to lots of stores and good restaurants in the predominately chinese area. The room appeared to have been recently remodeled, it was well appointed, super clean and with all desired ammenities (including a kitchenette). I enjoyed the swimming pool too. Good service. 

Desert Garden Hotel, Uluru: Great option
It was super close to the "town square" of the hotel, there is a small but well appointed grocery store, free laundry facilities (dryer/washer), many stores and restaurants (very good food), and opportunity for various presentations and for walking around hotel between tours to the National Parks. All tour companies covering the area have representatives in an office in the "town square", so if necessary, we could ask detailed questions about tours in our itinerary. Good service. 

Holiday Inn Cairns Harbourside: Very satisfied with this hotel
Very good location with access to boardwalk and restaurants. Pretty lobby, gardens and restaurants and the large room was clean. Breakfast was good too. Good service.

Mantra, Sydney: Excellent a 6 out of 5 if possible to rate it that way.
Location is to die for, with the light rail station being in front of the hotel. Hotel is surrounded by malls, stores, grocery stores, many restaurants and within walking distance of key tourist locations as you described in our itinerary. The hotel was very clean, the suites are very well appointed, and it was great to have a washer/dryer in our suite. Very good service with friendly and helpful personnel. On two out of the three mornings during our stay in the hotel, we had to leave prior to their small restaurant being opened for breakfast at 7:00 AM; the chef prepared us to go breakfast boxes with delicious/good content on the first day with less than 30 minutes of my request when he had just arrived, and appeared to have a semi-ready to go box on the second day, as he handed them to us at his official start time of 6:30 AM.

One of the best things we ever could have done was worked with Liz to organize our trip to Australia and New Zealand. The process of organizing our trip (hotels, transfers, events) was so much easier working through Liz as it narrowed down the millions of options and she kept us within a reasonable amount of our budget. What really stood out was when our flight to Australia was completely canceled. Between Liz and Leslie in Australia, they helped reorganize our trip, working with the tour companies to ensure our trip was still amazing. They were both so helpful and we would have been so much more stressed without them during that time. Also, Liz was able to coordinate our tours so that all but maybe two tours picked us up at our hotel, eliminating the need for a rental car everywhere we went.

A couple highlights for others planning to go to Australia and New Zealand who love the outdoors:
Sydney
- Explore the Gardens
- Do a harbor cruise at night, the views are worth it!
- Full Day Blue Mountains Tour -> One of the top things we did, the most amazing day and most amazing guide
Cairns
- Great Barrier Reef is a must, Passions of Paradise was the company we took and the experience and what we learned was amazing!
- Wait-a-while Evening Rainforest Tour was amazing! The guide was so knowledgable and friendly!
Brisbane
- We rented a car and did the Australia Zoo ourselves which was perfect because we got there right when it opened and left just as is was closing. You need a whole day!
Auckland
- Afternoon Wilderness Experience
- We did a shared tour to Hobbiton that dropped us off in Rotorua, cutting down on travel time which was great!
Rotorua
- Mitai Maori Village Cultural Experience was a must to learn about the culture and the history of New Zealand
- Loved the Regent of Rotorua Boutique Hotel, it was central and near tons of places to grab a bite to eat!
Queenstown
- The Rydges Lakeland Resort was stunning and made it easy to walk to places in Queenstown
- Full Day Routeburn Hike --> Absolutely stunning!
- Milford Sound
- Full Day Funyak Safari Trip --> So much fun! JJ led our group as we kayacked down the Dart River and was just so much fun to chat with and explore!

We loved our trip to Australia and Connie was very patient and helped to plan the perfect trip for us. She responded immediately to any questions I had . We had wanted a trip to see more " nature " and she suggested Tasmania. She advised that we rent a car ( which we were hesitant to do ) . But, it was perfect and fun going out of our comfort range. The driving turned out to be so laid back and easy , and such beautiful scenery ! We visited Cradle mountain first and then on to Hobart. Thanks Connie !

Hotel Reviews

The Grace Hotel

Sydney, NSW

Location

Walking distance to Barangaroo/ The rocks - Perfect !

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cradle Mountain Hotel

Cradle Mountain

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ibis Styles Hobart

Hobart

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location. Within walking distance to many attractions

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Afternoon Taste of Sydney Private Tour

Sydney

Loved this tour ! It was perfect for us especially since we had only 1 day in Sydney. We started at a nearby hotel within walking distance. Our guide was very informative and fun and we were able to experience foods that we probably would not have if we were on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Exceptional guide. Very fun and knowledgeable. He seemed to genuinely love what he was doing.

Devils @ Cradle After Dark Feeding Tour

Cradle Mountain National Park

Great experience if you love animals . Not only do you get to see Tasmanian devils, but Quolls which are endangered species as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Bruny Island Tour

Hobart

So much fun and the food tastings were fantastic ! Cheeses, honey, beer and lunch !

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My 17 year old son and I went to Australia for a belated Birthday trip. We only planned the trip 8 weeks prior to going and Gary was very thorough and helped guide our short trip. We did a half day Sydney tour, a full day tour out to the Blue Mountains (with a hike and botanical gardens stop) flew to Carins and did a full day Great Barrier Reef snorkeling trip and a few days there and ended with a day at Cogee and a day at Bondi Beach. All of the tours and our transportation to and from the hotels and airports went perfectly, our rental car on Carins also was also easy to rent and return. The hotels Gary booked were fine, especially Mantra Amphora in Palm Cove. (highly recommend) Our final hotel in Cogee, Adina Apartments, was very small and had canceled our reservation at check in. We had to call Gary and he answered immediately and took care of the problem which was not his fault, and he made sure Adina checked us in and gave us our room as originally planned. We were very pleased with Gary and his prompt response to all of our questions. If I could give any future travelers advice I would say be very specific about what you want to do, the type of accommodations you expect and the bed sizes and if you prefer large or small group tours. The more specific you are the more tailored your adventure will be. The cost was reasonable for all that we did. We will us Kikiman again!

Hotel Reviews

Mantra Amphora

Palm Cove

Great hotel complete with separate bedroom, spacious bathroom, balcony and living/kitchen area. Very clean and lovely grounds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near the beach

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adina Apartment Hotel Coogee

Coogee

Authenticity & Character

No character

Location

Staff

Weren't very friendly at check in

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean but cramped

Furama Darling Harbour

Haymarket

The hotel is clean and the room is a normal size for a city. We had a terrible view of an alley and brick wall and couldn't take advantage of the free breakfast because we were scheduled for tours before the restaurant opened.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sunlover Reef Cruises Pontoon - Moore Reef

Australia

The staff were great but it was very crowded and the lunch not very good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Panoramic Sydney Sights

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pick up your rental car at Cairns for your trip to Undara

Canberra

Quality of Experience

L

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Blue Mountains Hike the World Heritage

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thank you Liz for our recent adventure in Australia. The Sydney Harbor Bridge walk was phenomenal. Very intimidating when viewed from afar, but quite achievable and exciting when being done. Once in a lifetime experience. The Sydney City tour with Graham was awesome, very knowledgeable. The Blue Mountain tour was excellent with many beautiful views. The Sydney Opera House tour was unforgettable. Our side trip to Cairns with the snorkeling trip to the Great Barrier Reef as the highlight was exceptional. Floating and hiking the Daintree River and Rainforest was the ultimate experience. The raucous birds and traveling bats were like nothing we had ever seen. Again, thank you for helping us to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience in Australia.

Activity Review

Climb the Harbor Bridge

Sydney

Although intimidating at first sight, the bridge walk is a must do for anyone traveling to Sydney. Once on the bridge, the views are breathtaking and with all the safety gear and excellent guides, we never felt unsafe. We were accompanied by a 90 year old woman celebrating her birthday with her daughter and she MOTORED through it. Put the rest of us to shame. Easily the highlight of our entire trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gary was awesome helping us out. He went above & beyond our expectations. We were very pleased with the flight, car service & hotel he organized for us while visiting Australia from the States. He was able to also give us some insight on the areas we planned to see. Would definitely recommend him & the KimKim team, thank you all!

Activity Reviews

Pick up your rental car at Cairns for your trip to Undara

Canberra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Beach & Dune Tour with Sandboarding

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drop Off Your Rental Car at the Airport

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Terry was my initial guide) but Liz Neal replaced her. I liked the set up financing for the payment for 5 monthly payments. Liz gets all the compliments as Terry could not take care of that billing. Liz gets all the credit.

All suggested tours were accepted as Liz was the specialist and I had little to know or what to Expect.
Liz did an amazing job and treated me superbly. Melbourne we loved the breakfast at Batman's Hill on Collins 3.5 star. for the hotel though small rooms. Best breakfast bar none. Vegemite, rasch bacon, many fruits oatmeal. Delicious. Phillip Island was a 5 star tour for us. Those Blue Penguins were so cute and the dinner included was good for a tourist venue. On the way to the island we visited a reserve for injured wildlife and saw our first up close Kangaroo, Wallabys, Koalas and Sooty Owls.
Monday Day 4 we picked up the AVIS rental and I got a Toyota Corolla Hybrid the we enjoyed. I drive a Prius so it was a good fit. We stopped At Warragul on the way. Tuesday Day 4-5 stayed at Bellevue on the Lakes at Lakes Entrance. A nice motel but the breakfast was closed for something private. We discovered Woolworths that day. Woolworths was a 5 and Dime when I was a kid. Shocking to see a nice grocery store. We ate at Nicks restaurant and Sodafish locally. Sodafish would be a 4 star and Nicks was very busy Asia food. 5 star for Nicks. Day 6 Gipsey Point Lakeside which is
spacious and had a functioning kitchen. Amazing views for sunset, birds, Rainbow Lorikeets, Parrotts, Wallabys, Kangaroos as the owner feeds the birds and allows the others to eat his grass. Appreciated the beauty around and the animals. The owner got us a reservation for the Gipsey Point Lodge dinner. the dinner was great 4 star. Day 7 Central Tilba ate at the Sweetwater bar and grill. One of the best hamburger for the whole trip. Slices of BBQ brisket with cole slaw. Delicious & 4 star. Visisted the Tilba Creamer tried different cheeses so delightful. that night at Tilba Tilba lake House. Beautiful grounds. 4 star. Was missing hand towels or paper towels to wash dishes. We had dish soap but no way to dry the dished easily so we gave up a clean hand towel. Sunset walk outside was beatiful. 4 Star accomodation. Day 9-10 Paperbark camp two nights 5 star glamping. Shower, toilet and comfy bed. "sugar glider unit". Best part was Gunyah the restaurant. Zinzi and Loreen were working there and very nice girls from Netherlands. Best salads ever and great food 5 Star for Gunyah and the restaurant. Gunyah would be a 6 Star if there was such a rating. We hit Nelson Beach and it was great. Huskisson as highly interesting. My spouse got Mango gelato. She was happy. Good time had by all. Breakfast was good as well and we got a packed lunch. Our Daily schedule said Pepperbark Camp but they have Paperbark trees there so it is Paperbark Camp. Day 10,11,12 & 13 we stayed at Ibis Central Sydney. this Ibis would be a 4 Star as we enjoyed the central position and we could do our laundry with $2 Aussie coins as they had laundromat huge Washier and Dryers. Chin Chin Asian across the street from Ibis is a 5 star food restaurant. We were seated at the bar watching all the action as the cooks worked so quickly and everything was perfect. AEA Tour was 4 star by Paul was fun. He did the south Harbor area. He had been a guide a long time. Sydney Opera House 5 Star was fascinating. I knew the opera house had been around a while but since 1973. Heartbreaking to hear the Architect Utson did not get to finish the project. AEA Dain 5 star tour for the blue mountains. So beautiful. Fog stole a chance to see the 3 sisters but natures does her own thing. Dain was so knowledgeable. Wed 15th was the maritime Museum (Australian National) which is a 5 star. Met Emily(oceanographer) who is from Twisp, Washington the county next to where I grew up and met curator Agatha the conservationist. We had no idea we had a private behind the scenes tour. We spent 10AM through 4pm at the museum and we left when they closed the door. It was fabulous. So much to enjoy. LIZ you did a good thing with that tour. We appreciate it. That night we walked back toward the Ibis and were tired and hungry. Stopped at Amarro a 4.5 star Italian restaurant. It was great. Near Hyde park on Elizabeth. Day 14 we flew Cairns Virgin Australia. Royal is a good Limo service. No problems what so ever. We gave $50 tips usually for them. Day 14-15 Bay Villa Resort Port Douglas 4 Star. Huge rooms with good kitchen and a pool. On the go both days but we slept fine and made our own breakfast (Coles food). Tour Full Day outer Reed Mackay coral Cay and Sand Cay by Sailaway 5 star easy. Nice catamaran and friendly crew and the sun was shining. I snorkled and my spouse Jan more than once with the glass bottom boat. Some of the best snorkeling along with Grand Cayman, Anse Cochon of St Lucia and Shoal Bay of British Anguilla. appreciate the rash guard suit. Beautiful fish and coral. A dream come true 5 Star. Next day was the Karanda Railway and Sky Rail. A 4.5 star venue. the old rails are shake worthy but they go slowly. We got seats going backyards but it was beautiful with Barron Falls and the tropical rainforest. Our only issue was the driver who picked us up said we were supposed to be at another pick up point but have shared that with Liz and Liz was correct as it turns out. the drive was incorrect. Day 17 Jetstar whom I do not recommend but I picked it. The charges for luggage were scandalous. Carry on luggage was higher priced than for 7 kg than the main 20kg bags. John from Royal picked us up and was very nice. 5 star. BMW has such soft big seats. My cell phone fell out of my pocket leaning back. John got it back to me within an hour. Great Service out of Royal Limo all the way around. Day 17, 18, 19 at Mantra Sun City, Surfers Paradise Beach near Southport. 5 star. they only missed on paper towels. the breakfast was not worth $20 for an American but the room was huge and had washing and dryer and kitchen. Discovered Dilmah Berry Ceylon tea there.
We did a lot of walking. March 21st Day 19 we met Christine from Eco Safaris Queensland who is a free lance guide who picked us up. We were treated to the most knowledgeable guide. She had us walking and we saw many beaches and she took us near to the New South Wales and a look back to Surfers Paradise. We had tea at the Viking by Elephant rock and after 4 hours of great information she dropped us off for lunch at the Southport Restaurant (a life saving restaurant). Christine 5 star plus -was this amazing guide and she had been born in Britain and raised in New Zealand and lived other places. She knew so much history about Australia and I was amazed. Day 20 march 22 Royale again picked us up as we traveled back to Sidney from OOL Coolangatta Virgin Australia. Spent the night resting at the Rydges Sydney Airport hotel. 4 star for us. A bit small but access to the airport. Breakfast there would have been $60 each. Nice hotel and good position for leaving the country. Day 21 we got on Fiji airways flight 910 and started the trek back.
Fiji was reliable but at LAX Alaska Air changed our direction. I was at the kiosk and my flight said Spokane from LAX and Jan's flight said Anchorage, Alaska from LAX. Neither could get us home that night March 23rd. The 737 was broken and needed fixing and as were in the air over the Pacific everyone else had changed their flights to Seattle.
We ended up both in Spokane and home at 2AM after we borrowed Jan's brother Mustang.

LIZ, this was a memorable trip and Christine's tour was a good surprise and the Maritime Museum in Sydney. Royal Limousines never let us down. The follow up on the Corolla turned in on the Sunday where all the Avis's in downtown Sidney were closed helped a lot. So many extra touches that you added to our trip. You are simply wonderful. If rating was 1 to 20 you would get a 20 star with us. Dan and Jan Slagle 3/25/23

Hotel Reviews

Pepperbark Camp

Paperbark Camp

We have the name wrong on this Glamping site. https://paperbarkcamp.com.au/ It is full of paperbark trees so really it is Paperbark camp not "Pepperbark " The restaurant Gunyah which in the Aboriginal language means a safe place to wait out a big or serious storm. the food is gourmet and different. this is glamping at its best. Graveled trails and soft bed and the canvas tent is from Africa. there are toilets and showers and a tub. LED lighting is an added benefit. Sam is the lady in charge and she is agreeable(Samantha). Loreen and zinsi are from Netherlands and delightful. Everything is so organized and one does not need bug repellent as they provide it for you. You can have tea anytime you wish pretty much. We enjoyed our two days there very much 5 Star Near Jervis Bay, Nelson Beach and Huskisson. Should be on every one's radar.

Authenticity & Character

African tent on stilts

Location

Food & ambiance of glamping

Staff

Every employee is pleasant and the food is to die for

Cleanliness & Comfort

A clean bed in a tent seems an oxymoron but they have clean sheets and service daily if you wish it.

Mantra Sun City

Surfers Paradise

this hotel is one of many Mantras. The way it it is layed out with lot's of space reminds us of a timeshare with a Washer and dryer and full kitchen. We were on the 9th floor and saw window cleaners coming down all 39 floors. Good position to Surfers Paradise Beach. I do not recommend the $20 breakfast but the rooms have so much storage. Great views. Easy walk to many restaurants. Many tea options from Dilmah.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Friendly but not all were knowledgeable

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean all over and with a kitchen

Batman's Hill On Collins

Melbourne, VIC

Not a huge room but has a great breakfast even with Vegemite. Central location for many things.

Authenticity & Character

Nice 5th floor room that has an incredible view

Location

Good location for South Bank & North Bank if the Yarro River

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ibis Styles Sydney Central

Sydney

4.5 star. Breakfast was expensive and we had a minimum size kitchen so ate there after visiting Coles for food. Central location and there a washer/dryer on the premises that needs $2 gold colored coins. 2 for wash and 2 for dry. Bathroom was really odd. The door hits the toilet and the shower sticks out and one hits the corner ( small bathroom).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Few dishes

Activity Reviews

Morning Private Hidden Gems & Historic Artefacts - Australian National Maritime Museum

Sydney

Got to see many things with a High End tour with Emily and Agatha behind the scenes. that was really appreciated. Was in the Museum from 10 AM to 4PM. More to see about Australian history than I could have done in one day. Fascinating and original. Stories of immigration and circumnavigation by Sailboats. Bombing of Darwin WWII Onboard a real Destroyer the Vampire. Exhibits of old sailing ships on the water. too much information but interesting

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Phillip Island + Penguin Plus with Dinner

Melbourne

Where else does one get to see Koalas and Kangaroos and Wallabys and Sooty Owls and Dingos and Eagles along with a penguin parade? the Penguin parade is worth the trip and yet one gets the animal shelter for survivors of the 2019 fires. We even fed young Wallabys as $3 donation gets them some of their favorite foods. Penguins are a major thing in North America it would never be seen. OZ all is possible!

Quality of Experience

Penguins in parade is impossible for an American to see

Food

Tourism restaurant was good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

alex was great

Blue Mountains Deluxe Day

Sydney

Much forest beauty and saw 3 kangaroos hopping and running in the wild. Many wonderful lookouts to see great distances. Dain was a master with information and details.

Quality of Experience

Food

Hydro Majestic food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Port Douglas

Port Douglas

Best coral and colored differently fish. Sand Cay visited also + a glass bottom boat. Sea plants were amazing. One wears a "rash guard" to prevent stings with jelly fish. Also friendly crew with an expert on board

Quality of Experience

Variety and warm coloful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Expert on the catamaran

Transport

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

Beautiful and huge and lots of history. 1 hour tour is not long enough but it is a working Opera house and houses more than Opera.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Kuranda Rail & Skyrail - Gold Class

Australia

Skyrail above the rainforest with great views & Barron Falls. Kuranda Railway back. We had a gold ticket which is car 8 with almonds, cheese & crackers and wine and beer and juices. One stop for photos. Make sure one faces forward to get best photos on the railroad.

Quality of Experience

Unique venue

Guides, Drivers and Staff

1 issue with driver

Transport

Beauty of it all

Full Day Outer Reef Mackay Coral Cay

Port Douglas

We traveled by Catamaran out to the reef. We were within 300 meters from the reefs edge. One knows the reef is there as big waves come in and are minimized by the reef. Coral of many colors and a plethora of fish.

Quality of Experience

Food

Good lunch

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Long time out and back

Welcome to the Gold Coast

Gold Coast

Much knowledge given. Life saving club with teenagers that move up the ranks. Waves are big at Surfers Paradise. Can swell to 2 million people on a holiday

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Much traffic let the experts drive

Vickie was very kind, patient, helpful and responsive. She catered to our requests regarding accommodations and physical activity levels during excursions very well. Other members of the agency were responsive and helpful when Vickie was unavailable. During our trip we had an activity cancelled that caused disruption with our hotel accommodation and Vickie corrected it quickly within 24 hours.
The New Zealand Touring app was a helpful tool but sometimes contained typos, omissions, or conflicting information that led to confusion. Not sure how information is entered into app but should be proofread a little more closely before being published to clients.
Overall very satisfied and would recommend Vickie to friends or family looking to travel to Australia or New Zealand.

Hotel Reviews

Mercure Brisbane Spring Hill (was Pacific Hotel Brisbane)

Spring Hill

Clean, really good breakfast included, great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Patient and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Park Regis Sydney

Older building with smaller rooms but had lots of charm and can't beat the central location. The staff were very friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Proximity to popular downtown neighborhoods and public transit.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sails In The Desert

Yulara

Clean, spacious, modern. Beautiful rooms with lots of amenities.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sydney Harbour, The Rocks Walking Tour and Bondi Beach

Sydney

Rocks walking tour was very informative and enjoyable. Easy pace, tour quide was fun and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mirimar - Koala Cruise (Return River Cruise & entry to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary)

Brisbane

Both the cruise and the sanctuary were fun and informative. Animals were well cared for. Seeing the neighborhoods of the city from the river was very fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day beach cruise to Moreton Island

Brisbane

Tangalooma Island was great fun. So many activities to choose from, you need more than one day to experience them. Resort and restaurants were high quality. Beach was beautiful. Snorkeling and feeding wild dolphins were experiences not soon to be forgotten.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Heart reef and Whitehaven Flight

Airlie Beach

Took helicopter flight tour around the islands, was very thrilling with stunning views. Guide/pilot gave brief but informative blurbs of the major islands and answered our questions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Not terribly talkative but answered all our questions

Transport

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway + Kuranda Scenic Railway

Cairns

An absolute must-do. Both the train ride and the skyrail had views to die for. Both felt very safe and were clean. Kuranda had a lot of cool shops and activities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef Cruise

Australia

Possibly best experience of the whole trip. Scuba diving is a must do. The reef and fish are stunning and breathtaking. Saw sharks, sea turtles, rays and many others. Wish stay at pontoon was longer to squeeze in more activities and snorkeling time. Memories for a lifetime.

Quality of Experience

Food

Lots of options and they'll save you a plate for later upon request!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Spirit of Cairns - Dinner Cruise

Cairns

Delicious food but cruise aspect left a bit to be desired. Just slowly ran up and down same side of harbor 2 or 3 times. Saving grace was the night sky when the stars came out and the lit up harbor skyline, especially the ferris wheel.

Quality of Experience

Food

Pasta was 10/10

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Daintree, Cape Trib & Bloomfield Day Tour

Cairns

Full day experience. Lots of hours being jostled in 4wd tour bus but views and locals were worth it. Especially enjoyed seeing rare insects in their native habitats and swimming in the river. Provided lunch was tasty. Tour guides were jovial and knowledgeable. Saw lots of wildlife despite being off season according to guides.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Camel Ride

Uluru

Fun and educational experience. Camels were friendly and tame, loved head scratches. Beautiful views. Only move at a slow walk, very easy ride. Guides were clearly very passionate about the plight of the feral camels in Australia and educated us on the topic. Snacks after tour were tasty. Recommend mesh fly mask. Transport to and from resorts/experiences always provided, very convenient.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

French female guide was hilarious and passionate, loved chatting with her throughout tour

Transport

Kings Canyon & Outback Panoramas

Uluru

Kings Canyon rim hike is intense, almost grueling, but well worth the views and sense of achievement. Guides were fun and informative and also very serious about our safety. Lots of stairs, elevation changes, loose/rocky terrain. Trail clearly marked and included a few shaded stopping points for brief breaks. Views were stunning. There was an easier/shorter hike for those not physically able to do rim walk.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

AAT Kings Day Tours Aus - Uluru Aboriginal Art & Cultural Experience

Uluru

It felt very meaningful and special to have an anangu guide show us around the sacred sites of Uluru. She also was an artist and showed us traditional painting symbols and we all got to make small canvases alongside her as she made a large one. Cultural center was very informative and educational. Be respectful of when and where to take photographs, the guides will let you know when it's ok.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Uluru Sacred Sights and Sunsets Tour with BBQ Dinner

Uluru

The sunset views of Uluru and the stars/astronomy discussion were lovely. However, they did run out of almost all the food with 2-3 tables still left to serve. We were second to last table and had only about 2 dishes left to choose from.

Quality of Experience

Ran out of food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Astronomy discussion was great

Transport

Our trip coordinator, Liz Neal (Springboard Vacations), who we connected to through the KimKim website is OUTSTANDING!!!
- spent considerable time with us planning the trip, making changes, and building an itinerary just for us
- very perceptive and creative in suggesting activities that dovetailed with the family's interests
- excellent ideas and recommendations, both on and off the beaten path
- very knowledgeable
- great communication, very responsive
- very easy to work with
- during the trip, easily reachable and available for needed re-jigging due to weather, closures etc.
- great support team in the country to help us navigate changes and accommodate unexpected requests
- always felt like we were in excellent hands – reducing the stress of the trip immeasurably
- a thoughtful, interesting and caring individual
- went above and beyond to ensure the trip went smoothly

Australia favorites
Philip Island and the Penguin Parade
Exhibition at Adelaide Library on Aussie Rules Football : )
Melbourne
Sydney Opera House
Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
Great Barrier Reef (Seeing Hammerhead Shark!)
Kangaroo Island special shout-out to Dan (!!!), Exceptional Kangaroo Island
Mossman Gorge and River Drift Snorkeling Tour

NZ favorites
Southern Alps – Flight!
Mount Cook, hiking to glaciers
Queenstown & Rees Hotel
Driving through the Southern Island
Zorbing
Zip Lining
Auckland Central

I don't really know where to start! We had an amazing time, thanks to Ruth. Our accommodation was always in the best locations for activities and tours that had been booked for us. It was always interesting and elegant with wonderful staff. We were treated like royalty everywhere we stayed.
We thought that we had the perfect balance between activity and leisure. The tours were fun and only as active as you wanted to make them,the tour guides were passionate about their work and were keen on sharing their environments.
We honestly couldn't choose a highlight of the trip but visiting Bonorong wildlife sanctuary and holding a baby wombat would definitely have to be one of them.

Hotel Reviews

The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins

Melbourne

Wow! Elegant and stylish, absolutely beautiful!

Authenticity & Character

This place is stunning,the interior looks as though it belongs in a much more refined time. Definitely not a place for children

Location

Great location for the railway and free trams. Easy walking to the riverfront and ferries

Staff

The staff are definitely some of the friendliest and such an asset to this hotel. From the housemaid to the receptionists to the bar staff in the lounge, everyone was just wonderful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The huge comfortable bed, the spacious room and gorgeous bathroom. And the housemaid do a wonderful job of keeping the whole place spotless.

Laneways by Ovolo

Melbourne

A quirky and fun style hotel

Authenticity & Character

Quirky with fun art and interesting light filled bedrooms

Location

A great location for around the lanes of upper Little Bourke Street

Staff

Always friendly and helpful with local recommendations for dining

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless and very comfortable rooms

MACq 01 Hotel

Hobart

Fabulous in everyway

Authenticity & Character

Loved everything in this hotel. Would absolutely recommend it

Location

Easy walking around the waterfront and into town

Staff

Always friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless and so very comfortable

Brickendon Estate

Longford

A very interesting place to stay. Although the cottage felt old and very in keeping with the estate it was only 26 years old.

Authenticity & Character

I loved that the accommodation was inkeeping with the rest of the estate. Internally and not just the exterior was lovingly created

Location

Loved that it's set in the country with beautiful views but still only a few minutes drive to the nearest village for dining or supplies

Staff

We meet Louise, who with her family owns the estate, took some time to chat to us about the place. We found her very down to earth and just lovely. And the dogs are so very friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

I cannot think of a single thing that I would change or add.

Curringa Farm

Hamilton

What a stunning place to stay! I'm so glad that we had the opportunity to stay here

Authenticity & Character

the elegance and style, can't think of anything that I would change

Location

Loved the views and it's only a short drive to the closest village if you need supplies

Staff

Jane and Tim are wonderful hosts, they make everyone feel as though they are really special

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable bed, amazing bathroom and absolutely spotless

Activity Reviews

Morning Cafe Culture Walk

Melbourne

Lynn was a friendly and knowledgeable tour guide. A great way to get to know some of the lanes and area around the top end of Bourke street. The finish of lunch in the little Italian Cafe was a really nice end to a fun morning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Great Ocean Road Day Tour (Shared Tour)

Melbourne

A long day but worthwhile doing. Stopped at lots of interesting beaches and historic little towns.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kevin was a knowledgeable and humorous driver and guide. He had stories and information about the places we stopped in. He picked us up on time and even at the end of a very long day he was still helpful

Transport

The bus clean and comfortable

Full Day Bruny Island Traveller Tour (Shared Tour)

Hobart

Thoroughly enjoyed this trip and can recommend it if you are interested in seeing bruny Island and sampling some of the islands treats.

Quality of Experience

Lots of little extras like oysters, honey, fudge and spiced apple mead samples to take home. Could be quite active if you want to walk a bit but if you don't you can take it easy.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alan would have to be one of the best guides we met on our holiday. He was informative and funny, included everyone effortlessly and was an all round good guy.

Transport

Bus was a good size, clean and comfortable

Evening Old Hobart Pub Tour

Hobart

We really enjoyed this tour of old Hobart. Tales of convicts and dirty deeds, settlers and soldiers all told with passion by our guide. A fun way to spend an early evening before dinner.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Farm Tour and Lunch at Curringa Farm

Hamilton

Jane and Tim are delightful, down to earth hosts of this farm. The food is BBQ and salad and plenty of it. The tour lasts about an hour or so and is really informative and interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Tour of the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary & Tasmanian Devils

Hobart

A wonderful opportunity to visit this sanctuary and I'm glad that we did. We arrived too early but we were allowed to roam the park by ourselves until everyone else had turned up. It was really good being the only people there so that you could see the animals in their enclosures without a lot of people around. Our guide Nikki was bubbly and very passionate about the sanctuary and the role it plays in saving wildlife. One of the highlights was being able to cuddle a baby wombat and feed the Tasmanian devils, albeit with a grasping aid and not fingers, we still wanted those!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Depart Australia

Australia

Departing from Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne is easy. It seems well laid out, so it's easy to navigate your way around. Staff are helpful and courteous. We spent most of our time in the Air New Zealand lounge and enjoyed the facilities there.

Quality of Experience

Liz Neal at Springboard Vacations worked closely with us over several months to help us select the schedule, locations and tours we preferred. She promised that everything would be of the best quality and on time. That is exactly what we got. Over a twenty-eight day trip we had about thirty-five different pre-arranged events (flights, tours, hotels, etc). Every one was right on time and as described.

Gary did an amazing job planning and organizing our trip!!!
We got where we wanted to go, we saw what we wanted to see, logistics were perfect- actually amazingly so, locations of accommodations were unbeatable, and the timing sequencing of our itinerary was excellent!!!!

Hotel Reviews

Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens

Pokolbin

A little tired! Very cool grounds, bar and restaurant. Staff were great except for receptionist

Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney

Sydney

Desert Palms Resort

Alice Springs

Discovery Kings Canyon Resort

Petermann

Dining is limited and the food sucked

Desert Gardens Hotel

Yulara

Cleanliness & Comfort

Waves Port Campbell

Port Campbell

Incredible room, amenities and staff!

Clarion Suites Gateway

Melbourne

Limited staff, no food or coffee available. Very tired, old hotel but excellent location!

Quality Hotel Melbourne Airport

Tullamarine

Small room, but great staff, bar, and restaurant

Byron Bay Hotel & Apartments

Byron Bay

Very cool spot, great location!

Sails Port Macquarie - By Rydges

Port Macquarie, NSW

Excellent ambiance!

Hyatt Regency Sydney

Sydney

Great staff, room and location!

Activity Reviews

Pick up your rental car at Cairns for your trip to Undara

Canberra

Uluru Astro Tour

Uluru

Did not go, to late after a long day!

Sounds of Silence Dinner

Australia

Did not go, Wind storm created what we thought would be a miserable experience

Drop Off Your Rental Car at the Airport

Australia

Easy, no problem

Melbourne Lanes and Arcades Tour

Melbourne

Highest kudos to the guide and experience! One of the highlights of our trip.

Uncork the Hunter Full Day Tour

Australia

Too long, got tired of ta s ting the same wine and hearing the same story. Driver and host at Two Fat Blokes was great, excellent guide!

Explore the Blue Mountains - Scenic World

Australia

Total bust! Directions were unclear! Still.no idea what we were supposed to do.

Drop Off Your Rental Car in the City

Australia

Challenging to find the drop off spot/parking space.

The Rocks Walking Tours

Sydney

Clearview Glassboat Cruises Dinner Cruise

Sydney

We skipped this event . It was supposed to be a 3-hour dinner cruise but was actually a one- hour sunset cruise that was scheduled to get back well before sunset. Boat also looked crowded and uninviting!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I really appreciated Gary because he listened to what I was asking for in terms of hotels to stay and the types of experiences that I was interested. in””His work was somewhat stressful because I only had a few weeks before departure to plan the trip and the planning time included Christmas in between those weeks so I really appreciate his stepping up to the plate so quickly. I also learned myself that when I use Kim Kim in the future, I need to really look in detail at the options that they are offering me and really explore them in depth to be sure that I’m asking clearly for the things that I want. I only had one real issue, and that was not being able to go on a scuba diving tour because of a physical limitation, and Gary was very helpful trying to address that at the last. Minute. It was also great to have someone I knew I could call in-country and a similar time zone if I needed assistance - that really helped.

Gary put together a fantastic itinerary that allowed us to see a lot of things in very little time. Having someone figure out transportation, accommodations, and activities was extremely helpful and saved us a lot of hassle.

Activity Reviews

Classic Kuranda Tour

Australia

Everything from the Gold Class train ride to the park to the views from the sky train was amazing. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Punctual, friendly, with clear instructions.

Food

Food at the park was sorta meh.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable and friendly guides.

Transport

I mean, whaddya expect from a bus? It was a nice bus, though. USB ports included.

Sounds of Silence Dinner

Australia

The food was phenomenal, the view was spectacular, and the setting was intimate. I enjoyed the astronomy lesson, but I wish the digeradoo player hung out longer (maybe for the duration of the dinner!).

Sunrise Tour of Uluru (Ayers Rock) & Kata Tjuta Hike

Uluru

Hot and tiring, but the guide made it a good experience. The fanny packs with snacks and water were great. The toilets at the rest stops are ---- ummmmm..... an experience. I'm not sure if that could be upgraded since it's a government run thing. I would like to have had a more meditative experience of just "taking it in" when it was still cool first thing in the morning.

Day trip to the Great Barrier Reef

Australia

Well organized, food was great, equipment was excellent quality, supervision was top-notch, and the views were spectacular.

Small-Group Uluru Sunset Tour

Australia

I was expecting better food. Otherwise it was a nice view.