Kimkim Trip Reviews for Australia

This trip was so smoothly planned. There wasn’t any glitches. Paula did an outstanding job. We experienced so many different adventures that were so new to me. First time snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef - very cool, camel ride, and the bridge climb that I was sure I wouldn’t do. But really glad I did. We had an excellent trip

Hotel Review

Robe House

Robe, SA

This was such a great place to stay at. We really enjoyed our night there. Very quaint and special.

Authenticity & Character

The rooms were clean and charming

Location

The town didn’t have much there but the hotel was worth it

Staff

Nothing to improve on. I didn’t interact with any staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loved the breakfast foods for in the morning. Everything was very clean

Activity Reviews

Afternoon Camel to Sunset

Australia

I wasn’t really sure if I was going to enjoy the camel ride, but it was really fun. A new adventure to add to my travel experience.

Quality of Experience

Something new that I tried and really enjoyed

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff was really amazing and fun and very informative

Transport

Full Day Outer Reef Mackay Coral Cay (from Port Douglas Hotel)

Port Douglas

It was my first time snorkeling. The staff was very accommodating and helpful. They made sure that you were comfortable going out snorkeling and checked on you while you were out there. It was a great adventure.

Quality of Experience

Just how helpful they were with the first time I snorkeled. They didn’t make you feel dumb that you didn’t know what you were doing.

Food

The food was really good. Sometimes you think you’re gonna get crummy food on these trips and this one was amazing.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very helpful, attentive and friendly staff. They made the trip

Transport

From start to finish, we really enjoyed our Australia trip planned and put together by the experts at KimKim…

Every transfer was easy… Our hotels were great… And we had so many wonderful guides to help us enjoy the beautiful country of Australia…

Vickie gave us a detailed tour of The Rocks area of Sydney and was such a lovely person…

Guy took us on a fantastic food tour of the city, including the fish market, spice Alley, and we even had a tiger pie! He was very knowledgeable and made the afternoon really fun…

Karen went out of her way to give us a very special tour of the blue Mountain area… We met a number of Australian animals and birds… We saw beautiful views of the Grand Canyon of Australia… She is very knowledgeable and a lot of fun… Now we want to go back to the blue Mountains!

Our stay at Ayers Rock Resort and our visits to Kata Tjuṯan and Uluru were the highlight of our trip… Graham was both driver and guide for our private sunrise and sunset excursions… Super down to earth with so much knowledge and experience…

Overall, it was a wonderful first taste of Australia… We will definitely return so we can see more of this beautiful country…

Hotel Reviews

Capella Sydney

Sydney

An elegant oasis close to the many activities of Sydney

Authenticity & Character

Elegant facilities and super comfortable room

Location

A couple of blocks from the circular Quay…

Staff

Everyone was helpful from the reception team to the restaurant personnel…

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was absolutely spotless and beautiful… We loved the thick robes and big towels

Sails In The Desert

Yulara

Very friendly and helpful team… Comfortable accommodations with a nice view

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is full of aboriginal, artworks, and design

Location

Very close to the amazing sites

Staff

The staff at the front desk and the restaurants were so helpful and made our visit

Cleanliness & Comfort

We love the bath robes and the tea kettle in our room!

Four Seasons Sydney

Sydney

Super comfortable room… Great view… Extremely helpful staff… Excellent restaurant… Perfect location from which to explore Sydney…

Authenticity & Character

The view from my room of the harbor was spectacular

Location

Very near the circular Quay and many local attractions

Staff

Super friendly team

Cleanliness & Comfort

We love the bathrobes and tea kettle in our room

Activity Reviews

Private Uluru Sunset Experience

Uluru

Although we had spent the morning watching the sunrise at the rock, the sunset was even more amazing

Quality of Experience

Watching the colors of the rock change minute by minute was the experience of a lifetime… A place we have always wanted to visit… Totally worth it…

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Graham is the best… Super knowledgeable… Always prepared… Loves his work…

Transport

Private Uluru Sunrise with Breakfast

Uluru

To watch the sun come up in such an amazing place is something we will never forget… Truly, one of the most unique places in the whole world

Quality of Experience

It was a cool morning, and the light was just perfect…Uluru is an incredible experience

Food

Graham had delicious food prepared… a great place to have a sunrise breakfast

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Graham was the best… Driver and Truf guide all in one! Very knowledgeable… He really enjoys his work and he shares it with everyone…

Transport

Afternoon Kata Tjuta Domes Visit

Uluru

Although it was a very hot day, the area is dramatically beautiful, and the colors were amazing… Almost out of this world…

Quality of Experience

An amazing place… Stunningly, beautiful and dramatic

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Matias was a very knowledgeable guide— very enthusiastic about the beauty of this area

Transport

Private Blue Mountains Day Trip

Sydney

We had a fabulous day on our tour of the blue Mountains… Karen took us to meet Australian animals, then she took us to view the beautiful Grand Canyon of the blue Mountains… Absolutely stunning… It was a misty day, which made it even more magical…

Quality of Experience

We had no idea that such a green and jungle like area existed so close to Sydney! We will plan a future trip to come back to this area and really spend some more time…

Food

We had a delicious lunch at a local restaurant with a beautiful view…

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Karen was both driver and guide… Super knowledgeable… So much fun… she gave us a detailed, personalized tour of the area…

Transport

Private Taste of Sydney Experience

Sydney

From the fish market to the spice Alley to the tiger pie, it was a super fun afternoon… And we were very full!😊

Quality of Experience

We really saw so many different areas of the city… And tasted so many different foods

Food

We enjoyed so many different flavors throughout the afternoon… Quite a variety

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guy was a lot of fun and was very knowledgeable… He’s been in the food and hotel industry for many years and he is an expert on the tastes of Sydney, for sure!

Transport

Guy was driver tour guide… Very safe… We got lots of good parking, too😊

Private Rocks Walking Tour

Sydney

Vickie gave us a very personalized tour… She took extra time to show us the little details and back Allyz of the rocks… She loves the history of the area and it shows! A beautiful person!

Quality of Experience

Vickie really customized the tour for us… she spent extra time giving us lots of unique details of the area

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vickie was the best!

Transport

Hello, my daughter and I spent 10 days in Australia, and with only that amount of time , we got a very good taste of what Australia is all about, so if you are ever uncertain about 10 days being enough time, the answer is absolutely. Vicky, our specialist, is exceptional, and if planning a trip I would highly recommend using her. She put together a trip that was truly some of Australia's highlights. We spent time in Sydney, the outback, particularly Uluru, and the Great Barrier Reef. Each area had something different to offer. The beaches in Sydney were beautiful, with great shopping. We stayed at Ayers Rock Resort, with great tours to Uluru, and again, lots of local shopping. We visited a huge cattle ranch which was very interesting and saw plenty of sunsets with amazing clear nighttime skies. And finally, we went snorkling in the Great Barrier Reef, which I feel was the best part of our entire time. It was truly a wonderful trip.

Activity Reviews

Mackay Coral Cay Great Barrier Reef Sail & Snorkel with Lunch

Port Douglas

The Mackay Coral Cay Great Barrier Reef Sail & Snorkel was the highlight of my trip. The catamaran took us out into the Barrier Reef for a full day of snorkeling. The coral was stunning, and the water was warm. The wet suits provided kept us safe from jellyfish. It was an incredible experience to be out at sea and see such beautiful marine life up close.

Southern Daintree Tour + Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas

Port Douglas

The Southern Daintree Tour and Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas were delightful, especially getting to interact closely with kangaroos, which was a dream come true for me. We also saw a koala, although it was a bit hidden in the trees. The tour felt a little packed as we also did a river cruise for crocodile spotting, which we felt we could have traded for more time in the rainforest. Still, the rainforest landscapes and the wildlife habitat were absolutely beautiful.

Mount Conner 4WD Small Group Tour from Ayers Rock including Dinner

Uluru

The Mount Conner 4WD Small Group Tour was superb. It was fascinating to visit such a vast cattle ranch. We experienced a rare sight of the desert being lush and green thanks to recent rain, which we were told is a once in a lifetime event. Dinner with the local family managing the farm added to the authenticity and warmth of the experience. Seeing the salt lake and learning about the local environment was truly extraordinary.

Uluru Sacred Site & Sunset

Uluru

The Uluru Sacred Site & Sunset was wonderful. We got to see both the sunset and the sunrise, with champagne in the evening and breakfast in the morning, which was such a fun experience. Our guide was excellent, and we really enjoyed the activities despite the flies, which were quite something, but not detrimental to our enjoyment.

Panoramic Sydney with Lunch cruise

Sydney

The Panoramic Sydney with Lunch cruise was a bit disappointing. We felt quite rushed during the bus tour part, and my daughter even got motion sickness from the winding roads. There just wasn't enough time at stops, like Bondi Beach, to fully enjoy the sights and shops. We ended up skipping the lunch cruise and explored Sydney on our own, shopping and enjoying the markets, which turned out to be a much better experience.

5 stars for an Australian vacation amazingly planned by Samantha, Alejandra, and Lea!

Quick back story, our son decided last minute to study abroad in Sydney. As the saying goes, “fruit doesn’t fall from the tree”, so we too decided last minute to visit. I began researching and quickly became overwhelmed. As a referral from a friend, we tried kimkim. I went online, set a budget and filled out a questionnaire. The actual next day, I had a call with Samantha. Soon after, we had an itinerary including airport transports, hotels, activities, flights, rental cars- you name it.

Once we arrived in Sydney, we were randomly selected for customs and were running behind- I had a missed call (had my phone on silent) and message from Alejandra that our driver was waiting for us. Because we went to Australia right after the busy season, a couple tours we had booked were canceled. Alejandra immediately had solutions and took care of the details for us. This service and care is priceless!

We toured Sydney, climbed the harbor bridge and had a delightful sunset cruise. The itinerary had built in time to meet up with our kids and see what life as a student in Sydney looks like.

My husband and I flew to Cairns, transferred to Port Douglas to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef and visit the Daintree rainforest. The tours Samantha and Alejandra set up for us were out of this world and so memorable.

After Cairns, we flew to Brisbane and drove to Byron Bay to meet up with our kids for some much needed beaching (cocktails and wondering too).

If you are on the fence or overwhelmed like I was, reach out to kimkim. They will tailor your trip to you and will handle all of the little glitches that come along with great adventures. 5 stars- absolutely recommend!

Vicky put together a busy and well-tailored two-week tour of Australian places for us. Small-group and private tours were first-rate, and her very detailed itinerary (59 pages!) offered many options for free time and dining.
The guidance we provided about preferences meant that our tour was geared to our interests very well. Any problems were due to miscalculation on our part: there was a LOT of walking on the tour and my husband had greater mobility limitations than we had expected. Generally, guides were extremely helpful in working around this and there was only one scheduled event that we had to cancel. We also tended to look for dining closer to hotels (and these were excellent).
Great guides included Helder in the Blue Mountains, Andy at Uluru, Errol on the Ocean Road from Melbourne and Jennifer in Hobart. Sue Ann at the Sydney Opera House was also wonderful. All the guides and tour companies showed good planning and a lot of expertise about their local areas and their history and wildlife.
Overall, our tour went very well and was extremely enjoyable.

Ruth did a great job planning our trip, meeting all our expectations of excursions, hotels, tours etc. Byron Bay was an eco friendly special place to enjoy the beach, surfers, and the downtown area and the penguin excursion was definitely a favorite. Great job Ruth, thank you again!!!

Things that were amazing:
Hotels and flights were awesome. We appreciate the bump from economy on the flights and the hotels were very good.
The intimate tours of 8 or less on the tours are invaluable. Well done. The Golden Sands stay was exceptionally pleasant. A must for Cairns guests.
We found that 2 days in Ayers Rock (Uluru) would be sufficient. A must see, but with a trade off. The flies can be rather annoying and you can see the majority of what needs to be experienced in 2 days.
The Cableway and Train Ride are a must in Cairns.
Things that were not amazing:
Transfers/Transportation were not to our liking. Honestly as easy and wonderful that Uber/Lift are, I wouldn't put the time in to arrange them. (Unless you have guests unfamiliar or unwilling).
Sheila and I REALLY appreciate your business model and couldn't be happier with the experience.
Feel free to use this correspondence for reviews or advertising.
Ps my Facebook page is attached. You can view my posts and see all of our wonderful memories and adventures.
https://www.facebook.com/share/14fd5ksTU5i/

Hotel Reviews

Golden Sands Beachfront Apartment Resort

Yorkeys Knob

Best stay in Australia. Steps from the beach and the most amazing restaurant on site. Carl and Mandy were very nice and friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Great location

Location

Awesome

Staff

A+

Cleanliness & Comfort

A+

Desert Gardens Hotel

Yulara

One of the nicer places in the resort.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Excellent

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mrs Banks Boutique Hotel

Paddington

Very nice place in Paddington area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wetlands, Waterfalls & Cableway Day Trip

Australia

Must do

Sydney Icons & Hideaways Lunch Cruise

Sydney

Very well done 👏

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sydney Opera House Visit

Sydney

We had a wonderful vacation and all went smoothly. All of the tours and transportation were well planned with no issues.
Day 1 - Arrived in Sydney. Shangri-La Sydney is a wonderful hotel.
Day 2 - Chef Led Hunter Valley Gourmet Food and Wine tour was great. Jimmy owns/operates the tour and prepares food to pair with the wine. Highlight was going to the new Sydney Fish Market where Jimmy picked up fresh fish and oysters for our food later during the wine tour. The wineries and food were great.
Day 3 - Walking tour, Sydney Opera House tour, and Sydney Bridge Climb Summit. Craig led the walking tour and provided a wealth of information on the beginning of Sydney and concentrated on the botanical garden and how Sydney came about and significant events. The Opera house tour was very good and we were able to the wonderful architecture. It was raining during the Sydney Bridge Climb but rain coats were provided. It is not a hard climb and our tour guide, Nico, kept the group motivated for the climb. The guide has a transmitter and we had ear phones to hear him during the hike. We were drenched but enjoyed it.
Day 4 - Blue Mountain tour - It was raining and couldn't see much. Can't do anything about the weather. We did see another couple on our trip that went on the tour and they showed us pictures that looked awesome.
Day 5 - Travel to Cairns/Port Douglas - Ground transportation and flight went great.
Day 6 - ABC Reef Safaris - The snorkeling was wonderful. We spent about 1.5 hours at two different spots and were led in the water by ABC who also have Marine Biologists on the tour. We saw a Manta Ray which is very rare. The food supplied on the boat was great and plentiful.
Day 7 - Daintree Rain Forest and Nocturnal Tour - Another great tour led by our guide Nicki. We went out on a river boat looking for crocodiles and found a few along the shore. We saw a cassowary bird that is only found in Australia. We had dinner in the rain forest and able to try kangaroo. We did a nocturnal walking tour and spotted quite a few different animals/birds/frogs. Nicki was a great guide and loaded with information.
Day 8 - Bump Track Mountain Biking - This was canceled due to so much rain. The guide, Steve, for the bike ride was willing to do a different tour but the road was flooded. Steve was great to deal with and he was trying to give us a memorable tour but had to cancel.
Day 9 - Travel to Uluru/Ayers Rock with 4wd Mount Connor tour - No issue with ground/air transportation. We stayed at Sails in the Desert Resort and it was very nice. Mount Connor tour was very good but the highlight was having dinner with the cattle farm owner, Amy, where she explained the operation of the cattle ranch and growing up on a million acre cattle ranch.
Day 10 - Uluru/Ayers Rock tour - very good tour with history of the area learning the history of the aboriginal people. A net to cover your face is a must with the flies when it is hot out.
Day 11 - Transfer to Melbourne - No issue with ground/air transportation. Had a wonderful dinner at Hopscotch on Riverside Quay.
Day 12 - Yarra Valley Grazing Tour - We got on a bus from Go West Tours and Ashleigh was our guide/driver and was fun and very entertaining. We sampled wine, cheese, gin, and chocolate on the tour. Wonderful day with beautiful scenery.
Day 13 - Laneways of Melbourne - John was our tour guide and did a wonderful job explaining the history of the city and setting up lots and roadways. He was able to show us how the shops moved goods into the warehouses and the wonderful architecture that you would never see if you didn't know where to look for it. The public library was our last stop and a must see.
Day 14 - Great Ocean Road Tour - This was a tour with just the 4 of us in our group. Cory was our guide and did a great job explaining how the GOR was built by WW1 veterans to help them get over shell shock/ptsd. The coast was beautiful and stopped at a the 12 Apostes. (not really 12) We toured a wildlife sanctuary and spotted a couple of Koala Bears in the trees swaying in the breeze.
Day15-16 - travel back to Sydney and home to USA.

Overall, the trip was fantastic. The transportation within Australia was all planned by Vicky and we had no issues. Everything was planned very well and we loved all of the tours. Highly recommend Vicky!

Hotel Reviews

The Hotel Windsor

Melbourne

The Hotel Windsor in Melbourne was nice, but the noise from the nearby rooftop bar due to the Formula One racing during our stay was a bit disruptive. Apart from that, there were no issues.

Sails In The Desert

Yulara

Sails In The Desert was accommodating to our early arrival and offered to hold our bags. They even allowed us to check in early, which was very convenient. Overall, we had a great experience there.

Shangri-La Sydney

The Rocks

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Peninsula Boutique Hotel

Port Douglas

The hotel could use some updating but is in a great location right off the beach. The breakfast was wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right on the beach and within walking distance of downtown restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Had to ask them to clean the floor even after they made up the room.

Activity Reviews

ABC Reef Safaris - Port Douglas Snorkelling max 12 passengers

Australia

ABC Reef Safaris in Port Douglas was an amazing experience. The small group snorkelling was well managed, with guides explaining the marine life in detail. We snorkelled at two different sites, and the guide pointed out fascinating things underwater. Spotting a manta ray was the highlight, and even got footage shared with me!

Chef-Led Hunter Valley Gourmet Food and Wine Day Tour from Sydney

Sydney

The Chef-Led Hunter Valley Gourmet Food and Wine Day Tour from Sydney was really good. We stopped at the Sydney fish market, which was new to us, and enjoyed picking out fresh fish. The wine tours were fantastic, and having different foods prepared by the chef along the way made it a very enjoyable trip.

Mount Conner 4WD Small Group Tour from Ayers Rock including Dinner

Uluru

The Mount Conner 4WD Small Group Tour from Ayers Rock was insightful but a bit long. The highlight was the dinner where the ranch owner's daughter shared her experiences about life there. It was enlightening, but the tour around Mount Conner could have been shorter.

Luxe Bus Great Ocean Road with Wildlife Wonders

Melbourne

The Luxe Bus Great Ocean Road with Wildlife Wonders Tour was spectacular. We had beautiful weather, and the trip was filled with insights into the road's history and its construction. The scenic views were breathtaking and added a lot of value to the tour.

Blue Mountains Deluxe Day Tour

Sydney

The Blue Mountains Deluxe Day Tour was hindered by poor visibility and weather. The guide tried to give us a good experience by stopping at a different waterfall that we could see. Lunch was average, and the restaurant owner was a little rude, which dampened the experience.

Ruth was great answering our questions about the trip and helped us prepare well for the trip.
Your company did a great job planning the trip and we were generally pleased with the accommodations and travel arrangements.

However, our accommodation in Sydney was not as good as the rest of the trip.Also, no travel arrangements were made from the hotel to our activities while in Sydney, either. It could have been better if our hotel had a better location or close to Sydney harbor.

Hotel Reviews

Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane

Brisbane

Great location, beautiful city views.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to market, shopping areas,great views

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Freestyle Resort Port Douglas

Port Douglas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walkable distance, close to amenities.

Staff

Very helpful staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean rooms with adequate supplies.

Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites

Pyrmont

Nice but older property, not close to the harbor or where most activities were.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not close to Sydney harbor, center of the city or other prominent areas of the city.

Staff

Check in staff not helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms and bathroom were old and not well kept.

Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne on Queen

Melbourne

Great location. Close to lot of activities, shopping areas etc.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Proximity to Center of the city.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Newer hotel, clean and comfortable

Activity Reviews

Brisbane Private Transfer Hotel to Airport

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning or Afternoon Best of Brisbane Walking Tour - Private

Brisbane

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Brisbane Private Transfer Airport to Hotel

Brisbane

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Brisbane

Brisbane

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Port Douglas Private Transfer Port Douglas Hotel to Airport

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mossman Gorge Adventure Day

Australia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Outer Reef Mackay Coral Cay (from Port Douglas Hotel)

Port Douglas

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Port Douglas Private Transfer Airport to Port Douglas Hotel

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Port Douglas

Port Douglas

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Private Transfer Hotel to Airport

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Summit by Day, Bridgeclimb

Sydney

Great experience, must do activity in Sydney.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

No transport provided.

Half Day Sydney Classic Tour - E-Bike

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Sydney Harbour Sightseeing Cruise

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Botanic Gardens Indigenous Bush Tucker Walk

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Private Transfer Airport to Hotel

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Melbourne Private Transfer Hotel to Airport

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Yarra Valley Wine & Sparkling Wine

Melbourne

Include fewer wineries so that we have a little bit more time at each location.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Phillip Island Tour with "Penguins Plus" Viewing

Melbourne

Unique experience, must do activity when visiting Melbourne. Wish Great ocean road was also part of the experience while visiting Melbourne. At least it should be offered as a possible suggestion.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide and driver. Very courteous and explained things very well.

Transport

Timely explanations and commentary.

Afternoon Lanes and Arcades Tour

Melbourne

Our guide was amazing,very informed about the city and local cuisine. She made some great recommendations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Melbourne Private Transfer Airport to Hotel

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Brisbane Private Transfer Gold Coast Hotel to Airport

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Brisbane Private Transfer Airport to Gold Coast Hotel

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Clean comfortable car and courteous drivers.

Great overall 15 day Australia itinerary to 5 locations. Logistics went perfectly

Vicky was professional, communicative and accommodated all requests when needed. Prompt whenever we had questions.
As a personal opinion a couple of the tour parts we did, did not live up to expectations. However overall the trip was really enjoyable and we would happily recommend Kim Kim and Vicky as a specialist to support.

Hotel Reviews

Vibe Hotel Sydney

Sydney

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Peninsula Boutique Hotel

Port Douglas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane

Brisbane

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Blue Mountains Wildlife Full-Day Sights and Hiking from Sydney

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Bridge Climb Summit

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panoramic Sydney Sights - Half Day Tour

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Daintree Adventure from Port Douglas

Port Douglas

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

ABC Reef Safaris - Port Douglas Snorkelling max 12 passengers

Australia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tangalooma Snorkel the Wrecks Day Cruise with Bus Transfers from Brisbane

Brisbane

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Brisbane River Cruise

Brisbane

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just returned from our travels in Australia and are still processing all the wonderful activities and experiences. The trip offered us so many memorable moments, and we are grateful for each one.

We wanted to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for all Vicky's help and expertise in planning our trip. Her attention to detail and careful arrangement of every aspect were impressive, allowing us to simply relax, enjoy, and savor every moment. Her assistance made our experience truly memorable and enjoyable.

Thank you Vicky and kimkim!!

Donna

Great trip. Well planned. Enjoyed the animal parks and seeing the different animals. The Opera House tour was one of my highlights. Walking tours in the cities were very informative. Just a fantastic trip!

Hotel Reviews

The Sebel Quay West Suites

The Rocks

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sails In The Desert

Yulara

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Laneways by Ovolo

Melbourne

Authenticity & Character

OP

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane

Brisbane

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sydney City Small Group Walking Tour (Small Group Tour)

Sydney

Had a hard time understanding this leader. Wish he had a speaker and headsets. Was not able to hear him b cause of the traffic and other people around.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wildlife, Waterfalls and Wine (Small Group Tour)

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

SEIT Uluru & BBQ Dinner

Uluru

Quality of Experience

I

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camel to Sunset

Uluru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phillip Island Penguin Parade Small Group Eco Tour

Melbourne

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I

Transport

Foodie Discovery Walking Tour

Melbourne

Quality of Experience

lol

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Brisbane River Cruise

Brisbane

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

First, we can tell you that our overall experience was excellent and the job you did was also great. We would like to break down each category and give you our feedback this way.

Flights: All flights within Australia were fine. There were no problems checking in and they all left and landed on time. Virgin Australia is a very basic airline. We had to ask for water on our flight from Cairns to Melbourne.

Accommodations:
The nicest place we stayed in was the Maq01 in Hobart. The room was spacious and very comfortable. Breakfast was excellent and the location was perfect. Our second best was the hotel we chose in Brisbane, the Treasury. That room was also spacious and we liked the old world charm. Location was ideal there too. The Floriana in Cairns was ok. It was north of town and we should have chosen the alternative that Siena mentioned in our video conference. However, everything worked out ok. The two hotels in Melbourne were inadequate. The rooms were small, especially the Standard X. There was barely enough room to open our suitcases and the locations were not great. 13 years ago, we stayed close to the river within walking distance of the tennis center and that was much better.

Transportation:
That was excellent. All of the pickups at airports and hotels were great and on time. There was water in the vehicles for us and the cars were all comfortable. The one exception was a confusion in Cairns on the 12th, the day we did the Michaelmas Cay Cruise. The instructions for pickup were confusing because it said hotel, then on the next line, 181 Esplanade. Our interpretation was that the pickup point was at our hotel because its address is 181 Esplanade but what it really meant was that the pickup was at the Hotel 181 Esplanade which was on the next street. We didn't know that that hotel even existed. We got it sorted out with a telephone call and we got to the boat on time. It was just a bit nerve wracking. There was no reason that the pickup couldn't have been in front of our hotel.

Tours and guides:
Overall, we felt that our private tours were far superior to the group tours. In Brisbane, our first tour was up to the Sunshine coast with Rashid. That was excellent and very enjoyable. Rashid was very pleasant and we interacted with him very well. The second tour was the Daintree Adventure from Cairns. It was a group tour and our guide was James Unfortunately, that was not as good. First, it was a large van not a 4wd vehicle, There were about 10 of us and James talked the whole way there and back, was hard to understand because of the speaker system on the van, and he repeated himself several times. The walk we did on the walkway to see Cassowaries (we didn't see any) was a bit disappointing. We felt that it was difficult to interact with the guide to appreciate the beauty of the sites.. The third tour to the Great Barrier reef was ok. We expected a lot of people on the boat so that was no surprise but the boat was overcrowded. They took us to an atoll where we started our snorkeling. The site was crowded with other boats and we had to swim out to the reefs which were about 100 meters from shore. The corals were beautiful but the fish viewing was disappointing. 13 years ago, we went on a ship and snorkeled from the ship not from shore and that was much better. The fish diversity then was also much better- the difference was probably the places they took us to. You should consider another boat option. The following private tour with Sean in Melbourne was good. We did a hike in Dandenong and went to the Yarra valley to do some wine tastings. It was a beautiful day and very enjoyable. In Hobart, we did three tours. The first to Freycinet and Wineglass bay with Alex was just ok. The walks we did there were very crowded and we hardly saw any wildlife. We felt that we were taken to all the sites that tourists are taken to and so it was far from ideal. The next tour on the boat for the gourmet seafood lunch cruise was outstanding. It was literally a seafood orgy and extremely enjoyable. The two guys on the boat (Jordy and Lawrence) were great. The food was exquisite and we loved it. The final day, we were picked up by Dave who took us to the Tasmanian wilderness where we did a 4 mile hike and saw three waterfalls. He then took us to an animal sanctuary where we saw Roos, devils, echidnas, an emu and other animals. We had a great time there as well. Finally, we should mention the Q train experience even though it was not part of the package with you. We first took a ferry across the bay and then boarded the Q train for a leisurely 3 hour ride and lunch. We enjoyed that as well and you should consider including it in your packages.

Thank you for organizing this wonderful trip.
Sue and Dan Simmons

Sailing with Dave in Sydney Harbour was a highlight. Blue Mountain tour/hike with Larry and kayaking to Goat Island also fun.

Hotel Reviews

A by Adina

Sydney

Nice facility. Great location. Only issue is that vehicle access to the hotel is blocked by ongoing construction activity.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heal House

New Farm, Brisbane

Perfect location, facilities. Great hosts.

Activity Reviews

Highlights of Sydney Guided Walk

Sydney

The Highlights of Sydney Guided Walk was really fun, and our guide Steven was excellent. We got to see a lot of the city, but there was a bit of confusion about visiting the opera house. While we got a great tour of Sydney, the opera house was only pointed out and not toured as part of this activity. We ended up visiting it on our own afterwards. Make sure to clarify this if you plan to visit the opera house.

Kayaking Sydney Harbour & Goat Island

Sydney

The Kayaking Sydney Harbour & Goat Island tour was a lot of fun. We had a wonderful morning paddling under the Harbour Bridge and exploring the Island. It was a unique way to see Sydney, and we got a great photo of my wife with a kayak under the bridge! Overall, it was an enjoyable experience.

Sydney Harbour Afternoon Sailing

Sydney

Our Sydney Harbour Afternoon Sailing was magnificent. It was just the two of us with the captain, Dave, who was fantastic. We had perfect winds, and Dave let me sail a bit, which was a highlight. The boat ride took us all the way to the harbor entrance and provided great insights into local neighborhoods. The day was beautifully complemented by a tremendous lunch on board. Highly recommend this experience!

Blue Mountains Day Trip with Hike

Sydney

The Blue Mountains Day Trip with Hike was absolutely fantastic. Our guide, Larry, made the experience memorable with his insightful guidance during the hike. We were lucky with the weather and enjoyed stunning views from the mountains. It was a great way to explore the natural beauty of the area, and everything ran smoothly. I highly recommend it!

Despite the 42° temperature, the 12 km hike around Uluru was great. From the guide, we learned about the aboriginal legends associated with Uluru.
Had great day sailing out to the Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas.
In Sydney, we enjoyed a tour of the Opera House where we peeked in on a rehersal for the ballet, Sleeping Beauty. On a tip from the guide, we were able to get tickets to the afternoon performance and got a discount by showing the tickets for the guided tour.

In Sydney, we had a couple of lovely meals at Love.Fish and Fish at the Rocks. On our last day, we really enjoyed our walking tour of Sydney. Just the two of us and our guide.

Hotel Reviews

Peninsula Boutique Hotel

Port Douglas

Small boutique hotel. Comfortable room which included a fridge, dishwasher, and microwave. Quiet location with views of the beach. Nice breakfast in the morning. During our visit, the restaurant was undergoing a change in management so they were only serving the included breakfast but there are lots of places to eat out or you can buy food at the supermarket.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the main street with lots of eateries and a supermarket.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sails In The Desert

Yulara

Authenticity & Character

Very modern decor with a large patio and swimming pool

Location

Located in a complex only a few minutes from the airport. Close by to a coffee shop and restaurant as well as a small grocery store. A few gift shops to pick up gifts and souvenirs.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shangri-La Sydney

The Rocks

Great Service, good locationand quick check in process. Amazing buffet breakfast but can be busy on the weekend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful. Took care of our luggage while we were away for a few days

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Daintree Rainforest,Cape Tribulation,Mossman Gorge Small-Group from Port Douglas

Port Douglas

Guide was veryknowledgeable about the native plants and animals in Australia

Quality of Experience

Food

Had fresh barramundi fish for lunch at a restaurant deep in the forest.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wildlife, Waterfalls and Wine (Small Group Tour)

Sydney

The first stop was at a wildlife park where we were able enter before the official opening. Got to spend time up close to the koalas, petthem and get a picture. Lots of kangaroos hopping about. Caught a glimse of a Tasmanian devil in its enclosure. Passed by the Sea Cliff Bridge and then stopped by Bulli Beach for a very filling lunch. There was an opportunity to go for a quick swim in the ocean if you wanted to. After lunch we headed inland to the mountains to the Yarunga Gorge for a short hike to Fitzroy Falls Lookoff. The final stop of the day was a wine tasting with a flight of 5 different wines as well as breads, cheeeses and finger food. Then a long drive back to Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mackay Coral Cay Great Barrier Reef Sail & Snorkel with Lunch

Port Douglas

Enjoyed the 2 hour sail to and from the reef. Those who took part in the snorkling at the reef saw lots of coral and sea creatures. All the swimmers were provided with wetsuits to protect against possible jelly fish stings. Spent a couple of hours or more at the reef and had a ride in a tender to a small sand spit.

Quality of Experience

Food

For the price, we thought that drinks should have been included with lunch. Only coffee or tea was included.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney City Small Group Walking Tour (Small Group Tour)

Sydney

Interesting and informative walking tour with our guide who was very knowledgeable and humourous. We were the only couple on the tour so we had a great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

SEIT Kata Tjuta (Sunrise)

Uluru

The tour starts at a viewing platform to watch the sunrise over Uluru, then a drive to the base of Kata Tjuta. The guide explained the geological process that created both Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Then we hiked up the trail to a canyon between two of the largest outcroppings

Field of Light Star Pass (Sunset)

Australia

The bus takes you to a plateau overlooking the plain below with a view of the Field of Lights with Uluru in the background. We were servered canapes and finger food with choice of beer or wine. As the sun set, the led lights began to glow. When darkness fell, we followed the lighted path to walk among the sea lights. The seating was on a narrow bench so we had to balance our food and drink on our laps. Would be better to have a picnic table to sit around. There is a more expensive version of this tour that features a more extensive choice of foods and drink but I don't think it's worth the extra cost. Read mixed reviews of the meal experience. It was very windy on the night we went so hang onto your hats. Even my backpack wad blown away.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

SEIT Uluru Trek

Uluru

Up at 4:45 a.m. so as to arrive at Uluru before sunrise to avoid the heat.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Learned a lot about stories and legends of the aboriginal people from a very knowledgeable guide

Classic Kuranda - Ex Port Douglas

Port Douglas

Unfortunately, the company that was supposed to pick us up that morning failed to show up because they made an error in the date. However, it was probably for the better as the area was hit by torrential rains and strong winds. We learned later that the cable car ride and train ride were cancelled that day because of the inclement weather. After a quick Whatsapp message to Vicky, everything was sorted and a refund was issued.

Outback Sky Journeys - Astro Tour

Uluru

Unfortunately, the tour was cancelled due to cloudy skies but the costs were reimbursed quickly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

Learned a lot about the history of the construction of the opera house and the unique material and engineering that was used.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vicky did an outstanding job planning and executing our Itinerary!!

Activity Review

Uluru Sacred Site & Sunset

Uluru

Tourist trap.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall we had an amazing Honeymoon with Kimkim. All of our needs were met and there weren't too many speed bumps which made the trip feel personalized.

Hotel Reviews

Little National Hotel Sydney

Sydney

Great location and staff. The room was small since it was in a city but exactly what we needed!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palm Bungalows

Whitsundays, Queensland

It was nice having our own little bungalow but we were right next to a busy street and there were a few bugs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

bugs!

Coral Sea Resort

Airlie Beach

The view of the water was absolutely breathtaking to walk into!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane

Spring Hill

The hotel was bit far from the city and on top of a hill so it was difficult to get to but it helped us get our steps in!

Authenticity & Character

Location

location was at the top of a hill

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

Sydney

Really cool birds eye view of the city but it is a bit of a longer experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked there!

Wildlife, Waterfalls & Wine Day Trip

Sydney

Great trip but bring your bathing suits!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A lot of driving on windy roads!

Heart Reef & Whitehaven Beach Helicopter Flight

Hamilton Island

Worth every penny! The view, the private beach, everything was perfect.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Skydive Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach

What better way to cross off a bucket list item other than doing it with a beautiful scenery!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Highlights

Brisbane

An absolutely incredible experience! We got to feed the kangaroos before the park even opened with a private guide. Can't recommend this enough!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We took an uber to this activity

Vicky helped us plan an awesome trip in Australia, matching our interests with amazing tours and fun, knowledgeable guides. All travel arrangements were booked and timely as well as comfortable and convenient accommodations. I highly recommend KimKim for your trip.

Hotel Review

Pullman Cairns International

Cairns

Beautiful hotel in convenient location in Cairns. Modern, clean rooms with great breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Colonial facade with beautiful marble and wood paneled lobby

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Premium Daintree & Cape Tribulation Day Tour

Australia

Jam packed full day trip from Cairns. Great way to see Mossman Gorge, Daintree Rain Forest and Cape Tribulation. Our guide Adrian H. was amazing and shared many stories to keep us entertained.

Quality of Experience

Food

Food stops tasty and plentiful food. No need for dinner .

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Some bumpy roads

Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island Full Day Tour

Cairns

Great way to see the Great Barrier Reef, especially if you want to snorkel in safe surroundings. Fun boat ride, great staff.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Uluru Sacred Sites, Sunset, BBQ and Star Talk

Uluru

Learned so much about Aboriginal culture and life, was an amazing tour. Don’t miss Uluru at sunset, truly magical.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Blue Mountains Small Group Tour

Sydney

An amazing experience! The Blue Mountains are beautiful, our guide Mark was knowledgeable and his love of the country was evident.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

Great tour of the Opera House, our guide was very knowledgeable about the history land construction.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Panoramic Sydney Sights - Half Day Tour

Sydney

Toured different neighborhoods in Sutter would never have visited on our own. Fun stop at Bondi Beach.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paula planned our entire trip, and we followed her itinerary to the letter. We told her we wanted to hit the highlights of Australia and New Zealand, and she planned an three-week plan that met all our needs. Plus, she’s from Australia, so she knows what she’s talking about! We had a wonderful time and never had to worry about the details. All our drivers were fantastic, and all our guides were knowledgeable and interesting.