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Paula Adams

I grew up in a very small rural town called, Humpty Doo which is 30 minutes outside of the city of Darwin, in the Northern Territory. I lived the true outback life with wallabies jumping in my backyard, waking up to kookaburra’s laughing, and going hunting for food with my family. I moved to the United States in 1996 and began my travel agent experience working for 2 South Pacific wholesale companies in Los Angeles. I took a long hiatus from travel and decided to focus on being a stay home Mom to my 3 beautiful children. I’m married and have lived in the United States for 28 years.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialize in creating customized itineraries throughout the South Pacific for singles, couples, families, and small groups. I enjoy finding interesting ways for travelers to get to know our destinations by experiencing something different then the norm. So instead of the typical coach city tours, I like to offer something more unique like, a walk with an indigenous guide, a pub crawl through historic pubs, a progressive dinner to the hottest new restaurants or a surfing lesson with a local. My goal is for my clients to make unforgettable memories, romantic moments, family bonding experiences, a chance to meet locals in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, Samoa, Vanuatu, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia. "

How did you get involved in travel?

"I have always enjoyed travel from a very young age. My family would drive across Australia during school holidays. Some of our vacations would be driving from Darwin to Western Australia, Sydney, Melbourne, and South Australia. I enjoyed stopping in the small towns like, Kathrine, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy and seeing the amazing country of Australia. Those fond memories we made started my love for travel. I look forward to creating these kinds of memories for my clients. When I moved to California I was given the opportunity to work for a Wholesale company selling the South Pacific and I have enjoyed it ever since. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"I feel very fortunate to have many unique travel experiences that it’s difficult to just pick one. I’ve kayaked along a beautiful river in Fiji, walked the black sand beach in Auckland, hiked through the Daintree Rainforest, took a helicopter tour of the Great Barrier Reef, climbed the Sydney Harbor bridge, experienced Vivid Sydney, see Tahitian vanilla being harvested on Taha’a, and fed fish from an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora. But my favorite unique experience is swimming with rays, tuna, and sharks in Bora Bora. We started the tour by sailing to the open ocean where our guide threw in ‘bait’ to attract the sharks and rays, you had the option to stay on the boat, or hop in the ocean and swim. Of course, I choose to get the full experience and swim with the ocean life, it was an amazing! Once we were back on the boat, we cruised to the Bora Bora lagoon where we had an amazing lunch, and our tour guide showed us the right way to tie a sarong. He also showed us the intelligences of a tuna fish. Our tour guide would throw bait in the air, and you would see tuna swimming so incredibly fast to catch it as it hit the water. I’ve never seen anything like it before, it was as if they were trained. We then had to opportunity to swim in the Lagoon, or just enjoy the beautiful beach. One of the local ladies showed me how to weave a basket from coconut fronds and I still have it till this day displayed in my home. "

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Recent trip reviews for Paula

Our Memorable South Island New Zealand Adventure
New Zealand | Nov 22 - Nov 29, 2024

S
Scott K.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Feb 15, 2025
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... Read more

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.

Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Feb 16, 2025

G'day Scott,

Thank you so much for your wonderful trip review! I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with me. Your feedback means a lot, and I’m delighted to hear that you had a great time.

If you ever need assistance with future travels, I’d be more than happy to help. Looking forward to planning your next adventure!

Take care and please keep in touch.

Cheers,
Paula

KimKim does it again
Australia | Jan 23 - Feb 4, 2025

Charlie
Charlie K.
Hilo, HI | Reviewed on Feb 11, 2025
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... Read more

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)
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
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
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
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 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
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.

Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Feb 12, 2025

G'day Charlie,

Thank you for sharing your feedback and experiences from your recent vacation to Australia and New Zealand. I am truly grateful. Your feedback is invaluable, and I'm delighted to hear that you had a memorable experience with the exception of missing the Outer Barrier Reef Tour.

It was a pleasure assisting you and Susan in planning your journey, and I appreciate your trust in our services. Should you have any future travel plans, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Take care and please keep in touch.
Cheers,
Paula

Use A Travel Agent!
Australia | Dec 30 - Feb 1, 2025

Sue
Sue K.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Feb 09, 2025
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...
Read more

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
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.
Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Feb 10, 2025
G'day Sue & Paul, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback about your recent trip with us and sharing some amazing pictures. We truly appreciate your kind words and are delighted to hear that you had a wonderful experience. I'm sorry you had to miss out on Port Douglas. We will just have to plan another trip. :) Your review means a lot to me, and it helps us continue to provide exceptional service to valued clients like you. If there's anything else we can do to make... Read more

G'day Sue & Paul,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback about your recent trip with us and sharing some amazing pictures. We truly appreciate your kind words and are delighted to hear that you had a wonderful experience. I'm sorry you had to miss out on Port Douglas. We will just have to plan another trip. :)

Your review means a lot to me, and it helps us continue to provide exceptional service to valued clients like you. If there's anything else we can do to make your future travels even more memorable, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

I look forward to assisting you with your next adventure!

Cheers,
Paula

Paula & kimkim! What a stellar team! Mahalo...
Australia | Jan 23 - Feb 4, 2025

Marcie
Marcie S.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Feb 06, 2025
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...
Read more

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

Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Feb 07, 2025
G'day Marcie, I am deeply touched by your exceptional and extensive review. Providing us with detailed feedback about our service helps us design better itineraries for future clients. So, thank you! It truly makes me happy knowing that your vacation was successful (minus the weather) :) and wonderful memories were made. It was truly a pleasure to assist you and I'm grateful to have been the specialist who responded to your trip request. Thank you again for trusting me in helping you book... Read more

G'day Marcie,

I am deeply touched by your exceptional and extensive review. Providing us with detailed feedback about our service helps us design better itineraries for future clients. So, thank you! It truly makes me happy knowing that your vacation was successful (minus the weather) :) and wonderful memories were made. It was truly a pleasure to assist you and I'm grateful to have been the specialist who responded to your trip request.

Thank you again for trusting me in helping you book your trip. Let me know if you plan on traveling to any other South Pacific destination and I will be more than happy to assist you. Take care and keep in touch!

With deepest gratitude and thanks,
Paula
(951) 264 6300

A wonderful trip to Australia
Australia | Jan 13 - Jan 25, 2025

Bill
Bill M.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Jan 27, 2025
My wife and I just completed a wonderful trip to Australia. It's been a lifelong dream of mine to visit ever since my sixth-grade teacher showed us slides of her trip to the other side of the planet. I worked with Paula to plan our trip. Paula is a superstar! Her expertise in planning our lifelong bucket-list trip to Australia was invaluable. She took the time to determine our capabilities as an active couple in our 60s, as well as our travel preferences, including our preferred level of... Read more

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

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

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

Hotel Reviews
Grand Hyatt
Melbourne

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

Authenticity & Character
Location
The Australian Open is walkable from the hotel.
Staff
Everyone is so very helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable.
Park Hyatt
Sydney

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

Authenticity & Character
Amazing architecture, the building is shaped around the Harbour.
Location
We were able to walk to the world famous Sydney Opera House as well as dozens of restaurants and ferry services.
Staff
Top notch. Everyone treated us with a smile and an offer to help.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Our room was spectacular, the shape and amenities were exceptional. The most interesting and complete room I have ever stayed in.
Sails In The Desert
Yulara

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

Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort & Spa
Port Douglas

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

Activity Reviews
Sunset Camel Ride
Sunset Camel Ride
Uluru

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

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Wildlife Habitat Experience
Private Wildlife Habitat Experience
Port Douglas

We absolutely loved interacting with the Koalas and Kangaroos.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Enric our guide was fabulous!
Uluru Sunrise with Breakfast
Uluru Sunrise with Breakfast
Uluru

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

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Max our guide was amazing. He is from Germany but acted like he was from Australia...A great personality.
Full Day Snorkelling Outer Reef (from Hotel)
Full Day Snorkelling Outer Reef (from Hotel)
Port Douglas

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

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

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

Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Jan 27, 2025
G'day Bill & Pati, Firstly, I want to thank you so much for being such wonderful clients and trusting me in help plan your dream vacation to Australia. I thank you for taking the time to write an exceptional and very extensive review as well as sharing such amazing pictures from your vacation. The camel selfie is my favorite! :) I appreciated your willingness to be so trustful as well as letting me convince you to stay 2 nights in Sydney. :) I really hope you loved the city as much as I do.... Read more

G'day Bill & Pati,

Firstly, I want to thank you so much for being such wonderful clients and trusting me in help plan your dream vacation to Australia. I thank you for taking the time to write an exceptional and very extensive review as well as sharing such amazing pictures from your vacation. The camel selfie is my favorite! :) I appreciated your willingness to be so trustful as well as letting me convince you to stay 2 nights in Sydney. :) I really hope you loved the city as much as I do.
On your next trip Down Under, you will have to visit Western Australia and Tasmania, and I will be more than happy to assist you. Please do keep in touch!

With deepest gratitude & thanks,
Paula
(951) 264 6300

Review of Our Recent Australia & New Zealand ...
Australia | Dec 22 - Jan 19, 2025

Carrie
Carrie C.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jan 26, 2025
Review of Our Recent Australia & New Zealand Trip using KimKim The planning process with our KimKim representative, Paula, was excellent. She was knowledgeable about both Australia and New Zealand. I usually handle trip planning myself, but since this trip was over four weeks long and covered two countries, I felt it was complex enough to need expert help. Paula worked to ensure all our objectives were met and provided some valuable suggestions we wouldn’t have known... Read more

Review of Our Recent Australia & New Zealand Trip using KimKim

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

Australia

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

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

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

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

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

New Zealand

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

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

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

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

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

Would I Use KimKim Again?

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

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Ibis World Square
Sydney

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

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bed and pillows comfy
Oaks Cairns Hotel
Cairns City

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

Authenticity & Character
Fairly vanilla
Location
Not ideal for walking Handicap
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bed, pillows and size of room all great.
Mercure Brisbane King George Square
Brisbane

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

Authenticity & Character
High rise.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The bed and pillows
Ibis Styles Hobart
Hobart

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

Authenticity & Character
High rise
Location
Staff
Limited
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bed and pillow comfy. Nice bathroom.
Little Wren
Coles Bay

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

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Too small and limited bathroom.
Mercure Welcome Melbourne
Melbourne

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

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Leisure Inn Penny Royal
Launceston

A bit quirky and dark.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
A bit too run down and quirky.
Scenic Suites Queenstown
Queenstown

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

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Scenic Hotel Cotswold
Christchurch

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

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beds and pillow comfy
Millennium Rotorua
Rotorua 3040

Very old and run down

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Voco Auckland
Auckland

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

Authenticity & Character
High rise
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Wineglass Bay Cruises Morning Wineglass Bay Cruise - Sky Lounge including Lunch
Wineglass Bay Cruises Morning Wineglass Bay Cruise - Sky Lounge including Lunch
Freycinet
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rough seas cause vomiting
Yarra Valley Food & Wine Day Trip Private
Yarra Valley Food & Wine Day Trip Private
Australia

4 winners are too much. I bit too long.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mitai Cultural Experience & Dinner
Mitai Cultural Experience & Dinner
Rotorua
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Walter Peak Farm and Gourmet Barbecue Lunch
Walter Peak Farm and Gourmet Barbecue Lunch
Australia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Milford Sound Coach/Nature Cruise/Fly (ZQN return)
Full Day Milford Sound Coach/Nature Cruise/Fly (ZQN return)
Queenstown (NZ)
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Essential Queenstown
Half Day Essential Queenstown
Queenstown (NZ)
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Welcome to Rotorua
Welcome to Rotorua
Rotorua

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

Quality of Experience
Private Taste of Sydney Experience
Private Taste of Sydney Experience
Sydney

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

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Sydney Classic Tour - E-Bike
Half Day Sydney Classic Tour - E-Bike
Sydney
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Mount Cook Tour (Queenstown to Christchurch)
Full Day Mount Cook Tour (Queenstown to Christchurch)
Queenstown (NZ)
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Harbor Experience Cruise
Harbor Experience Cruise
Sydney
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Couldn’t hear guide very well on outside decks
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary Night Visit
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary Night Visit
Hobart
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Michaelmas Cay Cruise (from Hotel)
Full Day Michaelmas Cay Cruise (from Hotel)
Australia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Welcome to Brisbane
Welcome to Brisbane
Brisbane
Quality of Experience
Taste of Waiheke Island
Taste of Waiheke Island
Australia

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

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Jan 27, 2025
G'day Carrie & family, Firstly, it was a pleasure working with you in planning your vacation to Australia and New Zealand. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your detailed review about your recent trip. We’re thrilled to hear about your experiences and are delighted that we could play a part in creating memorable moments for you. Your feedback, both the highlights and any areas for improvement, is incredibly important to us. It helps us refine our services to ensure an even... Read more

G'day Carrie & family,

Firstly, it was a pleasure working with you in planning your vacation to Australia and New Zealand. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your detailed review about your recent trip. We’re thrilled to hear about your experiences and are delighted that we could play a part in creating memorable moments for you.

Your feedback, both the highlights and any areas for improvement, is incredibly important to us. It helps us refine our services to ensure an even better experience for future clients. If there’s anything we can do to make your future travels even more special, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Please keep in touch and I look forward to helping you plan your next South Pacific adventure!

Warm regards,
Paula
(951) 264 6300

New Zealand
New Zealand | Dec 26 - Jan 3, 2025

N
Nishtha J.
Boston, MA | Reviewed on Jan 26, 2025

Kimkim arrangements and itinerary for New Zealand was great. Thank you Paula for making the trip super memorable and organized.

Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Jan 27, 2025

G'day Nishtha,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts about your recent trip to New Zealand! We truly appreciate your feedback and are thrilled to hear about your experience. If there’s ever anything we can do to make your next adventure even better, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

We look forward to assisting you with your future travels and hope to plan another unforgettable trip for you soon!

Warm regards,
Paula

Our first time to Australia.
Australia | Dec 27 - Jan 5, 2025

emre
emre c.
Plainview, NY | Reviewed on Jan 22, 2025
Our first time to Australia. We only read in books and as divers, we could not wait until we experienced the Great Barrier Reef. It was great working with our local specialist Paula who helped us sort out a lot of family-fun activities as we were traveling with our 3 kids ages 11, 9 and 7. Planning a kid-friendly trip (especially in another country) can be incredibly time consuming and risky as you can trust a brochure only so much. Not to mention, there are a lot of the logistics like... Read more

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

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

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

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

Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Jan 22, 2025
G'day Emre, Firstly, thank you and Joya for trusting me in help plan your family's vacation to Australia. I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts about your recent trip and it makes me happy to read your feedback about your experience. Your kind words mean the world to us and help us continue creating memorable journeys for our clients. Sydney is also one of my favorite places to visit. It's such a beautiful city. If there’s ever anything we can do to make your next... Read more

G'day Emre,

Firstly, thank you and Joya for trusting me in help plan your family's vacation to Australia. I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts about your recent trip and it makes me happy to read your feedback about your experience. Your kind words mean the world to us and help us continue creating memorable journeys for our clients.

Sydney is also one of my favorite places to visit. It's such a beautiful city. If there’s ever anything we can do to make your next adventure even better, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

We look forward to assisting you with your future travels and hope to plan another unforgettable trip for you soon!

Warm regards,
Paula Adams
Springboard Vacations
(951)264 6300

Blown Away!
New Zealand | Dec 2 - Dec 18, 2024

Sharon
Sharon P.
Spain | Reviewed on Jan 09, 2025
Being at a loss on how to plan a trip to New Zealand, we came across this company through an internet search. Paula became our contact and adviser and she put together a well-tailored holiday for our needs. Everything went off smoothly from landing in Queenstown until handing in our hire car at Auckland airport. We really enjoyed our trip to Milford Sound and our guide Paulie, was brilliant. Another highlight was our Rob Roy Glacier tour at Wanaka. Our guide Thierry was fantastic and made... Read more

Being at a loss on how to plan a trip to New Zealand, we came across this company through an internet search. Paula became our contact and adviser and she put together a well-tailored holiday for our needs. Everything went off smoothly from landing in Queenstown until handing in our hire car at Auckland airport. We really enjoyed our trip to Milford Sound and our guide Paulie, was brilliant. Another highlight was our Rob Roy Glacier tour at Wanaka. Our guide Thierry was fantastic and made the trip so enjoyable despite my throbbing feet. Sadly we couldn’t do our tours at Mount Cook due to poor weather but we made the most of the available walks and were taken aback when Aoraki finally made an appearance from behind the clouds on our last day.

It was then off to Rotorua where we watched our daughter compete at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. The Big Kanu glow worm tour was fascinating, as was the Hells Gate experience. We were a little disappointed with the Kahukiwi experience as it seemed a little disorganised and unstructured although the guide was friendly and extremely helpful.

In summary, a well organised and satisfying first trip to New Zealand. We would have no hesitation in recommending your company to others. Our thanks to Paula for putting all together and putting up with our endless messages.

Thanks!

Hotel Reviews
Scenic Suites Queenstown
Queenstown

Handy apartments for visiting Queenstown. Very comfortable with all the amenities. Only observation was to try to avoid getting a room too close to the road as happened to us. People walking by could look into our apartment and there was traffic noise.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Edgewater Wanaka
Lake Wānaka

This was a beautiful hotel next to the lake in a tranquil setting. Like being in the centre of a golf course. Although the rooms were well equipped, our room seemed antiquated, with a tired bathroom. Maybe up for renovation soon?

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Hermitage Hotel
Mount Cook Village

The place to stay in this area with commanding views of Mount Cook when the clouds clear. Our room although well equipped was on the small side and felt a little cramped. Apart from driving and walking around the beautiful scenery, there isn’t much else to do here. Maybe other activities could be offered when the weather is bad and organised tours get cancelled. All we got was a refund which was fine but perhaps alternatives would be more enjoyable.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Chateau on the Park -
Christchurch

Our favourite hotel during our holiday. Comfortable rooms, great location and even played a game of outdoor chess. Only criticism: our check in was delayed by a couple of hours due to airline staff being given permission to check out late. Took a bit too long with only a drink voucher to make up for it.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Airedale Boutique Suites
Auckland

Well situated hotel in the business district of Auckland. Handy valet parking took the stress out of finding a car park on our own. Modern comfortable rooms with all the amenities we required. Recommended.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise from Queenstown (2 days, 1 night)
Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise from Queenstown (2 days, 1 night)
Queenstown (NZ)

An overnight tour here was the best thing to do to avoid most of the day cooped up in a coach or car. Milford Sound was a brooding and cascading experience that we would recommend. Hats off to Paulie our guide, who provided so much information about New Zealand and the trip whilst driving us effortlessly through the winding roads.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide Paulie was excellent.
Transport
Full Day Gourmet Scenic Wine Tour
Full Day Gourmet Scenic Wine Tour
Queenstown (NZ)

Enjoyed our trip to the vineyards and we were lucky with the weather. Finally know a bit more about NZ wines. The meal was interesting and enjoyable. A good day out.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Rob Roy Glacier ex Wanaka
Full Day Rob Roy Glacier ex Wanaka
Wānaka

We were the only people doing this tour that day. Our guide Thierry was fantastic, from picking us up to guiding us along the walk, sharing his favourite tree with us and sorting us out with lunch. Highly recommended to anyone capable of walking over uneven ground for several hours. You won’t regret it!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Thierry was great!
Transport
Bumpy ride
Big Kanu Starlight Glow Worm Tour
Big Kanu Starlight Glow Worm Tour
Rotorua

Fascinating to see these glow worms in action when night starts creeping in. The guides were quite entertaining too. Recommended!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Redwoods Treewalk day
Redwoods Treewalk day
Rotorua

A comfortable stroll through these amazing trees along walkways and platforms. Nothing. We enjoyed our visit.

Quality of Experience
The Hell's Gate Experience
The Hell's Gate Experience
Rotorua

Fascinating to see these geysers and hot pools bubbling away. Lethal if you fall in! The mud bath experience was also enjoyable. Recommended!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Half Day Kahukiwi Experience
Half Day Kahukiwi Experience
Rotorua

Our Māori guide was a lovely man but the tour lacked structure with just information being thrown at us in a haphazard manner. We did learn about some of the legends but this tour could have been a lot better.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Jan 09, 2025
G'day Sharon & family, Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful review. Your feedback is truly appreciated and helps me continue to craft great itineraries for future clients. It was an absolute pleasure working with you, and I sincerely appreciate your patience throughout the entire process. I’m so glad I could be a part of your travel journey! The pictures you shared are absolutely wonderful, and I’m in awe of Alex’s incredible strength and determination to... Read more

G'day Sharon & family,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful review. Your feedback is truly appreciated and helps me continue to craft great itineraries for future clients.

It was an absolute pleasure working with you, and I sincerely appreciate your patience throughout the entire process. I’m so glad I could be a part of your travel journey!

The pictures you shared are absolutely wonderful, and I’m in awe of Alex’s incredible strength and determination to compete in an Ironman—what an amazing accomplishment!

Thank you again for keeping me updated on your journey. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to explore another part of the South Pacific in the future. It would be a pleasure to assist you again!

Cheers,
Paula

We had a wonderful trip and Paula did a great...
New Zealand | Dec 9 - Dec 22, 2024

S
Sylvia F.
Durham, NC | Reviewed on Jan 07, 2025
We had a wonderful trip and Paula did a great job pulling together such a fun trip given how logistically challenging it was with the IM 70.3 race being in Taupo. The hop on hop off ferry/bus ride to Waiheke Island was perfect for our first day, easy to access the ferry, take our time visiting little shops, do some archery and wine tasting. We loved the MSocial hotel in Auckland with super helpful staff, clean comfortable rooms, perfect views and great location. The rental truck worked... Read more

We had a wonderful trip and Paula did a great job pulling together such a fun trip given how logistically challenging it was with the IM 70.3 race being in Taupo. The hop on hop off ferry/bus ride to Waiheke Island was perfect for our first day, easy to access the ferry, take our time visiting little shops, do some archery and wine tasting. We loved the MSocial hotel in Auckland with super helpful staff, clean comfortable rooms, perfect views and great location. The rental truck worked perfect for all of our luggage and bike case. It would have been helpful to have more detailed instructions about how to navigate the rental return as there are two terminals at Auckland and two rental returns.
Raglan was my daughter's favorite place and we could not get enough of the bakeries and huge black sand beaches. The Coromandel area is absolutely beautiful. On our drive there we stopped at a Lavender Farm to pick blueberries and have some lavender/blueberry icecream. Although Whitianga is a lovely town, we would have preferred to stay in a town either on Hot Water Beach or closer to Cathedral Cove since that is where we spent most of our time and the driving is quite challenging on the very hilly curvy roads there. Also our stay at the Sovereign Pier was not as we hoped since it really was not a 4 star (more just a poorly supplied rental place) and was on a marina not near the beach at all so the description of this place was misleading.
Other than that we had an amazing trip and thankful for KimKim scheduling all our tours which were fantastic.
Thank you so much.

Hotel Reviews
Sovereign Pier on the Waterways
Whitianga

Not as described and would not recommend. Poorly stocked, bottom floor, difficult to access, not walking distance to beach or town. Just a bad weird rental place. Not a hotel at all.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
M Social
Auckland
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Raglan Sunset Motel
Raglan
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Jan 08, 2025
G'day Sylvia, Firstly, congratulations on your Ironman. What an amazing accomplishment.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review. I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your vacation overall. Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us, as it helps us improve and provide even better experiences for future clients. I will make note of the Auckland car rental terminals and let our New Zealand contact know about Sovereign Pier on the Waterways.
It was a pleasure working with you... Read more

G'day Sylvia,

Firstly, congratulations on your Ironman. What an amazing accomplishment.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review. I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your vacation overall. Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us, as it helps us improve and provide even better experiences for future clients. I will make note of the Auckland car rental terminals and let our New Zealand contact know about Sovereign Pier on the Waterways.

It was a pleasure working with you to create your trip. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you plan on traveling in any location in the South Pacific.

Cheers,
Paula