Paula Adams

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.

I had spent a few years researching New Zealand and had gathered a lot of information. Early last year I began gleaning through it all in an effort to create an itinerary that included hikes/fishing/golf, sites we'd enjoy, and cultural experiences that would fit into about 3 weeks. Suffice it to say I got over-whelmed and it all got into a log-jam. I'd gone to Kimkim for help with an Iceland and Faroe Islands trip, so I reached out to them again. This was exactly what I needed to fix the jam-up! Our primary rep was Paula. She reviewed all I'd come up with, and then worked along side me to pull together what worked best to accomplish our trip. When all was finalized, we were sent a complete trip folder, and were advised of our New Zealand in-country contact. Everything we needed was there - very reassuring. The trip went well, and when we had a specific question about one of the rental cars, our in-country person was very helpful. Very pleased with the service Kimkim provided, once again. Greatly appreciated Paula!

Activity Review

Half Day Kahukiwi Experience

Rotorua

Spent half a day with the son of one of the Maori tribes chief. He shared many aspects of his culture, including historical information as well as current information. This included taking us to one of his tribe's Wharenui and then teaching us what this for. We had many questions, and he took time to answer each. Near the end of our time together, he made a "tea time" for us at a small tea house he had built on his family's land - it was on top of a hill, and the view was beautiful. When I explained to Paula what type of cultural experience we wanted, she suggested this, and it was perfect.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

My wife was organizing a trip for my 17 year old and I (her husband). My wife reached out to Paula for help and she responded quickly. Paul provided great insight and enthusiasm to our request for a father son trip to New Zealand. When we asked for special consideration for our teenage son in terms of adventure, Paula delivered. Any changes or requests were acted on and the trip was developed with high co-operation and great care. When we asked for a change due to budget, this was thoughtfully undertaken with grace and positivity. There were also parts that we wanted to organize ourselves and those were integrated into the Kim Kim itinerary. Paula was just an amazing planner and we loved working with her to creates these travel memories.

My trip to New Zealand was magical and everything I dreamed of! My local specialist Paula, and the others at Southern World, were helpful, professional, gave lots of attention to detail, and went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of. I appreciated not only all the support, but the suggestions for itinerary and activities since it was my first time visiting New Zealand and I was traveling solo. Paula was also helpful in figuring out ways to stay within my budget. Overall a positive experience and I would definitely recommend Paula and/or Southern World to help with a trip to New Zealand or Australia.

KimKim and our agent, Paula, provided a truly exceptional 5-star experience planning our South Island New Zealand adventure. Our trip was on the short side, 7 days, and we didn't know how to get started or what was best to pack into our stay. From the initial inquiry, Paula's communication was prompt, friendly, and professional. She patiently listened to our vague ideas, given we knew nothing about New Zealand and expertly crafted a personalized itinerary that perfectly matched our interests and budget. Paula's knowledge of New Zealand was evident; she offered insightful recommendations for hidden gems and must-see attractions, enhancing our trip beyond the typical tourist experience. The entire planning process was seamless, with Paula handling all the details, from accommodations to activities and transportation, along with some last minute changes along the way. Her responsiveness throughout, even during our trip when we had a minor query, was remarkable. Thanks to Paula and KimKim, our New Zealand vacation was unforgettable.

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.