Our trip to Australia can be described in one word, exceptional!
Australia
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Apr 25 - May 18, 2024
Our trip to Australia can be described in one word, exceptional! We have traveled with many companies like Tauck, Gate1, Viking, Oceania, Arctic Adventures, etc. This trip and its format is my favorite to date. It starts with the best travel agent or as Kim Kim calls it, Local Specialist we have ever had in 30 plus years of booking trips. Not only was she organized and communicative, she also very helpful and caring. She developed the perfect itinerary for us and our desires. Everything from Wine tours in the Barossa Valley and Ybarra to dinner under the stars in Uluru. We participated in feeding nocturnal animals at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and then received an extra gift of seeing the Aurora Australis!!! We took fast rib boats around the tallest sea walls in the southern hemisphere and snorkeled out on the Great Barrier Reef. Simply amazing. Being the shoulder season, the majority of our small group tours ended up being private tours which was an added bonus. Our accommodations on the trip were fun eclectic places that were all perfectly situated to be within convenient walking distance to everything you would want to see including a perfect view of Sydney Opera House from our hotel window, amazing. Speaking of amazing, we planned our trip 7 months in advance and everything went off perfectly from the drivers picking us up and dropping us off at the airport to all our tours, there was never a hiccup and everyone was on time, truly mindboggling!! Without a doubt, Paula will be my first call when I head back to the Southern Hemesphere because even with 23 days in country it was only a taste and I want more!!
Hotel Reviews
Our stay at the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge was fantastic. The location was beautiful, especially being right down on the water. The natural beauty of the surroundings really added to the charm of the place. It was a memorable part of our trip, and the lodge itself was very comfortable and welcoming.
I stayed at the Adabco Boutique Hotel in Adelaide for a total of four nights, split over two stays. The hotel was perfectly situated, making it really convenient for exploring the city. The accommodations were top-notch, exactly what we asked for in terms of comfort and amenities. Everything was clean and well-maintained, and we felt very comfortable during our stay. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend it.
We absolutely loved our stay at Laneways by Ovolo in Melbourne. The hotel was super hip and had a really cool vibe. Plus, it was right in the middle of Chinatown, so there was so much to explore right at our doorstep. The location was perfect for immersing ourselves in the local culture and enjoying all the vibrant activities around. This place really stood out as a highlight of our trip.
Our stay at the Port Douglas Peninsula Boutique Hotel was amazing. The hotel was beautiful and it really felt like a luxurious retreat. The location was ideal, close to the beach and other attractions. The accommodations exceeded our expectations and contributed to making this part of the trip truly special.
Our stay at Freycinet Lodge was spectacular. The lodge was beautiful and the surroundings were stunning. It was a perfect place to relax and take in the natural beauty of Tasmania. This was definitely one of the standout accommodations of our trip, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there.
The Adina Apartment Hotel in Brisbane was more of a standard hotel, but it was very nice and comfortable. What made it exceptional was its location. It was perfectly situated for easy access to the main highways, which was very convenient as I was driving in Brisbane. The ease of getting around from the hotel made it a great choice for our stay.
We stayed at the Lenna of Hobart for a few nights, and it was perfectly located. It was literally around the corner from the huge Saturday market and lots of restaurants and things to do, all within very easy walking distance. The convenience and comfort of this hotel made our stay in Hobart very enjoyable.
Our stay at the Harbour Rocks Hotel in Sydney was incredible, especially because we could see the Opera House from our window. The location was excellent, making it really easy to walk around and see everything the city has to offer. The convenience and the view made our stay in Sydney truly memorable.
Activity Reviews
Tom our guide was super friendly and informative and took us to the smaller boutique wineries in the area which we prefer. We also had one of the best meals of our entire trip at Vino Lokal, wow!
Very professional company and guides. Modern ship and great food. Definitely a must if you are in Port Douglas
How often does one get to feed a Tasmanian Devil and see the oldest Cockatoo in the world at 109 years old? In addition we got to pet a Wombat and feed many other nocturnal animals. An added bonus we got to see the Aurora Australis!
Absolutely magical experience under the stars in Uluru. Great food and lecture about the southern night sky. Incredible art installation in the middle of nowhere.
Absolutely spectacular scenery and plus it was exhilarating on fast rib boats.
So much fun and delicious too! Went into places I may have passed by and was given absolutely amazing food.
Incredible and humbling to see the vastness of the outback on a 1.25 million acre cattle station. Fascinating to hear how it all started and how the manage cattle out here.
