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Fast Facts

Rating:	based on 1 review
Full name:	Simon Bernardi
Destinations:	New Zealand, Australia
Lives in:	Sydney
Experience:	30 years
Company:	Australia and Beyond Holidays
Specialties:	Diving, Touring ,Groups

I have been in the travel Industry for over 30 years and have traveled extensively both within and outside Australia. Our business was established to provide tailormade experiences for travelers wanting a unique experience. We enjoy curating experiences that provide local insights for our travelers. Australia is a unique destination with diverse communities and natural beauty.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialize in Australia in particular Queensland, Tasmania, and New South Wales and have traveled in the outback as well as many coastal regions. Having lived in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane I have extensive knowledge of all of these cities. As a keen Scuba diver I have also dived in many places in Australia as well as the South Pacific."

How did you get involved in travel?

"I initially entered the travel industry with a love of Aviation and joined Qantas Airways where I spent most of my career. My roles included running their holiday arm Qantas Holidays for many years. Since then I have led a number of holiday companies and have a passion for showing international visitors our home Australia."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"A unique travel experience I have had was traveling in Far Nth QLD where we traveled to the Lockhart River and went on charter boats and remote Islands for seven days Heli-fishing and Scuba diving. This trip was fantastic where we were helicoptered from fishing spot to fishing spot. We caught Barramundi in the coastal rivers whilst avoiding the Sharks and Saltwater Crocs that were also lurking below. For lunch, we would Barbecue and enjoy a great lunch before helicoptering back to our Island or charter boat. This is an expensive trip but purely a once in a lifetime experience. This is a truly unique part of Australia very sparsely populated where there may be no other people near you for thousands of kilometers."

Simon is part of the following groups: New Zealand Travel Agents, Australia Travel Agents

Simon's favorite itineraries and travel advice

Top itineraries and travel advice

Best of Eastern Australia: Sydney, Cairns, Gold Coast & Melbourne - 10 Days
On this 10-day adventure through Australia, discover four cities, along with several scenic day trips. Begin in Sydney to tour landmarks and areas like The Rocks, Sydney...

Australia Grand Tour: Sydney, Melbourne, Uluru & Great Barrier Reef - 15 Days
Australia is an enormous country, and when trying to work out an itinerary, it can be difficult to choose between its lively cities, beautiful beaches, or unique wildlife. With...

Best of Australia: Melbourne to Sydney - 11 Days
This trip to Australia starts in Melbourne with city exploration, a scenic drive along Great Ocean Road, and a visit to the penguins of Phillip Island. Head to the center of the...

Recent trip reviews for Simon

Amazing adventure in Australia
Australia | Nov 12 - Nov 27, 2019

Laurie L.

Pittsfield, MA | Reviewed on Dec 02, 2019

I had an amazing adventure in Australia. The in-country agents that kimkim set me up with were overall very good. Initially, I had to review everything quite closely and we made changes to a number of things on the itinerary, such as choice of hotels or upgrades to the hotel rooms. If I hadn't been so engaged I don't think the trip would have been quite as fun and satisfying as it was. Peggy was very responsive to my requests and added a few nice touches, like private limo airport... Read more

Peggy was very responsive to my requests and added a few nice touches, like private limo airport transfers, which I really appreciated.

All my stops were incredibly satisfying. Sydney was terrific. I did the Bridge Climb (pay the premium for the twilight option as you get afternoon light, sunset and night views) which was really fun. Swissotel was a fine choice — very central and make sure you choose the Executive Lounge option (thanks Peggy!).

Really enjoyed Adelaide and the Mayfair Hotel. About as central to city center as it gets. Wine tour of Barossa Valley was excellent. My two days of touring on Kangaroo Island was wonderful. Kangaroos, wallabees, koalas, sea lions, seals, dolphins, and more! My Inn, Wanderer's Rest, was a little downscale from my other hotels, but the owners and food were lovely. Next time I might splurge on Southern Ocean Lodge.

Cairns was really fun. Peggy suggested the Riley Hotel, which was an excellent choice. Great view of the sea and right on the promenade. Day of snorkeling the reef and the Sky Rail to and train from Kuranda were real highlights. Make sure to do the Gold Service on the train. Well worth the few extra bucks.

Ended my trip with three days at Uluru. I broke the bank staying at Longitude 131, which is the safari-inspired hotel with magnificent views (the only hotel with good views) of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Food, room, everything was amazing. If you can afford to splurge when you visit Uluru, Longitude 131 is the only option, trust me.

In terms of negatives, I was concerned that when I called kimkim customer service about an issue, not only did no one pick up but there was no answering maching. Please upgrade!

Overall, I must give it a big thumbs up, as I had a truly wonderful trip. Having all of Peggy's logistical help was incredibly helpful.

Local specialist: Simon Bernardi

Simon Bernardi

Local specialist in Sydney | Replied on Jan 16, 2020

Hi Laurie,
Happy New Year !
Thank you for your kind feedback and areas where we can improve also. Im glad you had a great trip , it was a pleasure to work with you on the trip. If you come back to Australia we would love to assist you again.
Also unfortunately Southern Ocean Lodge burnt down in the recent fires, hopefully will be all rebuilt for your next trip.
Best
Simon