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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 30 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 (twice), experienced Vivid Sydney, self-drove Tasmania and hike to the Wineglass Bay Lookout, 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

Australia trip review
Australia | Sep 14 - Oct 2, 2026

Tracie
Tracie M.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Oct 05, 2026

For the most part, it was great as far as planning and coordination with tour operators. They did a good job really matching excursions with what I wanted and really nice (conveniently located) lodging. However, while in Australia, the communication was poor with the local tour contact company, Southern World Tours, which created issues.

Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Oct 06, 2026
G'day Tracie,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback. I’m very happy to hear that you enjoyed the planning process. It was a pleasure working with you.
I’m sorry to hear that the communication with the local tour contact company, Southern World Tours, was not what you expected and that this created some issues during your time in Australia. I am in contact with them and will sort everything out for you. :) I truly appreciate your feedback, and I will take it into... Read more

G'day Tracie,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback. I’m very happy to hear that you enjoyed the planning process. It was a pleasure working with you.

I’m sorry to hear that the communication with the local tour contact company, Southern World Tours, was not what you expected and that this created some issues during your time in Australia. I am in contact with them and will sort everything out for you. :)

I truly appreciate your feedback, and I will take it into consideration as I continue to work with my local partners to provide the best possible experience for my clients. I hope you returned home with many wonderful memories!

Cheers,
Paula

Our trip was amazing. NZ/Australia are both s...
Fiji | Sep 3 - Sep 22, 2026

C
Carol N.
Middleborough, MA | Reviewed on Sep 29, 2026
Our trip was amazing. NZ/Australia are both so beautiful with wonderful people. We had many drivers and guides that were great. I hope I can remember the all. Antony, Zeph, and Ze. Bar help at MSocial, Brayden and Max. Kai on Waiheke. Loved the island and the wine and olive oil tastings. So any beautiful vineyards and the tile work at Casita Miro is stunning.Our driver in Queenstown, Chris, was wonderful. Very friendly and engaging. We loved the Rees. So comfortable with beautiful views. The... Read more

Our trip was amazing. NZ/Australia are both so beautiful with wonderful people. We had many drivers and guides that were great. I hope I can remember the all. Antony, Zeph, and Ze. Bar help at MSocial, Brayden and Max. Kai on Waiheke. Loved the island and the wine and olive oil tastings. So any beautiful vineyards and the tile work at Casita Miro is stunning.Our driver in Queenstown, Chris, was wonderful. Very friendly and engaging. We loved the Rees. So comfortable with beautiful views. The gondola ride is something I feared but did it anyway and so glad I did. Stunning views and the buffet at Stratosfare was over the top. We had hoped to do the stargazing but evidently it was a separate ticket. It was cloudy and drizzly so we didn't miss much. The full day funyak /jetboat was a blast. Phil, Jimmy, Alex, Dave and Ross were so fun and very competent. We really enjoyed the day with them. There are not enough words to describe Doubtful sound. Breathtaking for sure. We were fortunate enough to have been blessed with clear, cold weather. Captain Dave was available and inviting. After conquering all the stairs at Onsen, the soak was very relaxing. We got a little mixed up at the airport going from Queenstown to Sydney but eventually got to the correct terminal and got to Sydney on time. Cindy mey us there. She had little welcome bags for us with a cool cloth and some mints. Very sweet. She was full of information and very welcoming. We had to shuffle our itinerary due to bad weather and all involved were more than helpful and accommodating. We were so glad we had followed your advice and added the extra day in Port Douglas. If we hadn't the Great Barrier Reef day would have been missed.. Mia was our guide for the Daintree, day and night. More beauty. She clearly loved sharing her passion for this area with us. Our start in Sydney was a bit confusing trying to get on the correct boat for our dinner cruise. Several people in the area tried to help us find the tall ship. Once we did we were a bit disappointed. The tall ship was smaller than expected, and dinner was only so-so. It seems like the company switched out the boats. One of our party couldn't eat any of the food due to tomato allergy and everything had tomatoes (other than potato salad). That said, the views and sunset were magnificent. If I remember correctly the name of the boat was the Coral Trekker. Our Sydney tour was good. John was great. We loved the Opera House tour and My Fair Lady was spectacular. We had John again for our full day in the Blue Mountains. We loved it. Lots of information, lots of stunning overlook stops. We stopped for lunch at Boiler House. The food was great but staff not very friendly. Kangaroo Island was as beautiful as I remember it. The Sea Dragon was very nice and the staff was great, Makenzie, Lucky, Tomas and others. We were under the impression that we would pick our own activities but upon arrival were were given an itinerary which didn't include any of the things we had picked to do. We worked it out with Makenzie and had a great time. Tasmania was our last stop. Not sure of the drivers name who picked us up at the airport as he never introduced himself. He loaded our bags into the van and drove us to the hotel without saying much of anything. Much unlike all the other drivers we had. We loved the day on Bruny Island with Ben and our time at MONA. We had the same driver back to the airport at the end of our stay. Spoke a bit more but was a bit hassled because of an earlier airport pick up that ran into problems. All in all our trip was amazing. There were a few issues with the app and what was in the app not matching what was in the printed material. All the stays were great except the apartment in Port Douglas. Seemed older and not very clean.
Thank you for everything

Hotel Review
Bay Villas Resort
Port Douglas

Not very clean

Authenticity & Character
Needs to be updated and cleaned
Location
Staff
No info given on contact info after hours
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Sydney Opera House Tour
Sydney Opera House Tour
Sydney
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Kangaroo Island - 2 night experience  at Sea Dragon Lodge - first day
Kangaroo Island - 2 night experience at Sea Dragon Lodge - first day
Kangaroo Island
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Skyline Gondola Ride
Skyline Gondola Ride
Queenstown
Quality of Experience
Welcome to Port Douglas
Welcome to Port Douglas
Port Douglas
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Navigator Overnight Cruise to Doubtful Sound - Private Cabin
Navigator Overnight Cruise to Doubtful Sound - Private Cabin
Queenstown
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kangaroo Island - 2 night experience  at Sea Dragon Lodge - second day
Kangaroo Island - 2 night experience at Sea Dragon Lodge - second day
Kangaroo Island
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Twilight Dinner Cruise - Tall Ship
Twilight Dinner Cruise - Tall Ship
Sydney
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Morning Panoramic Sydney Sights
Morning Panoramic Sydney Sights
Sydney
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Afternoon/Evening Private Daintree and Nocturnal Tour
Afternoon/Evening Private Daintree and Nocturnal Tour
Port Douglas
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Garden Onsen Outdoor Soak - 1 hour
Garden Onsen Outdoor Soak - 1 hour
Queenstown
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Full-Day Jet-Boat Adventure & Funyak River Safari
Full-Day Jet-Boat Adventure & Funyak River Safari
Queenstown
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Taste of Waiheke Island
Taste of Waiheke Island
Fiji
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Bruny Island Traveler Tour (Shared Tour)
Full Day Bruny Island Traveler Tour (Shared Tour)
Hobart
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Blue Mountains Deluxe Day
Full Day Blue Mountains Deluxe Day
Sydney
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Hobbiton Plus Rotorua (Auckland Return)
Full Day Hobbiton Plus Rotorua (Auckland Return)
Fiji
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Sep 29, 2026
G'day Carol,
Thank you so much for your detailed review. I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with me!
Your feedback is so valuable and helps us continue to improve the service we provide to our future clients. I’m so happy to hear that you had a wonderful vacation overall and enjoyed your time in Australia and New Zealand.
It was certainly a busy itinerary, filled with so many wonderful experiences, and I’m glad you were able to enjoy it all!
Thank you again for...
Read more

G'day Carol,
Thank you so much for your detailed review. I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with me!
Your feedback is so valuable and helps us continue to improve the service we provide to our future clients. I’m so happy to hear that you had a wonderful vacation overall and enjoyed your time in Australia and New Zealand.
It was certainly a busy itinerary, filled with so many wonderful experiences, and I’m glad you were able to enjoy it all!
Thank you again for your thoughtful review. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you ever plan on traveling to the South Pacific again. I’d love to help with your future travels!

Cheers,
Paula

A most memorable, well organized trip
Fiji | Sep 3 - Sep 22, 2026

K
Kathy C.
Boston, MA | Reviewed on Sep 29, 2026
All of our guides were extremely knowledgeable, pleasant, and friendly. They picked us up promptly and always introduce themselves. Read more

All of our guides were extremely knowledgeable, pleasant, and friendly. They picked us up promptly and always introduce themselves.

Hotel Review
The Rees Hotel
Queenstown

Immaculately clean, spacious, beautiful views, and a fabulous breakfast

Authenticity & Character
Location
Beautiful views of the water and mountains
Staff
Very friendly and professional. Packed us a magnificent breakfast when we had to leave at 4: 30 a.m.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Sep 29, 2026

G'day Kathy,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback with us. I’ll be sure to pass both your review and Tony’s review along to Liz, and I know she will be very pleased to hear your kind words.
Thank you for allowing me to step in and help with the small details and last-minute arrangements before your trip. It was a pleasure assisting you all!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you ever plan to travel to the South Pacific or Africa again. I’d love to help with your future travels.
Cheers,
Paula
[email protected]

Another great trip with Kimkim
Fiji | Sep 3 - Sep 22, 2026

Tony
Tony F.
Concord, MO | Reviewed on Sep 23, 2026
Liz and Paula are both so accommodating and built amazing trips to our specific requests. We saw everything we wanted and more. All of our guides were helpful, knowledgeable and fun. The hotels and restaurants were world class. This is our 8th or 9th trip with Kimkim and we are already planning our next. Read more

Liz and Paula are both so accommodating and built amazing trips to our specific requests. We saw everything we wanted and more. All of our guides were helpful, knowledgeable and fun. The hotels and restaurants were world class. This is our 8th or 9th trip with Kimkim and we are already planning our next.

Hotel Reviews
M Social
Auckland

The M Social hotel in Auckland was really good. It was very nicely located and made it really easy to get around from there. We were very happy with the accommodation and the overall experience at this hotel.

Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart
Hobart

The Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart was another excellent hotel. It was nicely located with very good service.

PARKROYAL Darling Harbour
Sydney

The PARKROYAL Darling Harbour in Sydney was great. The location was excellent and the service was very good.

Bay Villas Resort
Port Douglas

The Bay Villas Resort in Port Douglas was disappointing. The property was dated and run down compared to other hotels we stayed at. There was no one on-site after 4 PM, which was inconvenient and not communicated properly. The rooms had issues like worn-off stove numbers, making it hard to use. The hotel is mostly timeshares and lacked the level of service we expected.

Sea Dragon Kangaroo Island
Willoughby

Seadragon is an idyllic location that is perfectly located in Kangaroo Island. The staff are friendly and accommodating. World class across the board.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Rees Hotel
Queenstown

Beautiful and centrally located. Excellent service and value

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Skyline Gondola Ride
Skyline Gondola Ride
Queenstown

The Skyline Gondola Ride in Queenstown was fantastic. It was a memorable experience and highly recommended.

Kangaroo Island - 2 night experience  at Sea Dragon Lodge - first day
Kangaroo Island - 2 night experience at Sea Dragon Lodge - first day
Kangaroo Island

The experience at Sea Dragon Lodge was very good. However, the experiences offered were pre-planned and not selectable upon arrival, which was a bit disappointing. Some activities we wanted, like sheep herding and morning yoga, were seasonal and not available during our stay. The staff were accommodating and allowed us to do alternative activities.

Full Day Blue Mountains Deluxe Day
Full Day Blue Mountains Deluxe Day
Sydney

The Full Day Blue Mountains Deluxe Day tour was beautiful with a really good tour guide. It was a great day and a highlight of our Sydney visit.

Sydney Opera House Tour
Sydney Opera House Tour
Sydney

The Sydney Opera House Tour was amazing, and seeing a performance there was highly recommended. It was a memorable cultural experience.

Twilight Dinner Cruise - Tall Ship
Twilight Dinner Cruise - Tall Ship
Sydney

The Twilight Dinner Cruise on a Tall Ship in Sydney was a good experience, but there was confusion about the operator and the boat was changed last minute to a smaller one. Also, my dietary restrictions were not communicated, which limited my meal options.

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

The Full Day Outer Reef Mackay Coral Cay trip from Port Douglas was excellent. Even though our original trip was canceled due to bad weather, the team was very helpful in rescheduling it for us.

Garden Onsen Outdoor Soak - 1 hour
Garden Onsen Outdoor Soak - 1 hour
Queenstown

The Garden Onsen Outdoor Soak was a nice experience. We had an hour soak, but the spa was huge and gorgeous, so we wished we had more time there.

Navigator Overnight Cruise to Doubtful Sound - Private Cabin
Navigator Overnight Cruise to Doubtful Sound - Private Cabin
Queenstown

The cruise to Doubtful Sound was awesome. The cruise was beautiful. Highly recommend the Doubtful Sound to anyone visiting New Zealand!

Taste of Waiheke Island
Taste of Waiheke Island
New Zealand

The Taste of Waiheke Island tour was very good. The ferry ride was simple and nice, and the tour itself was enjoyable and well organized.

Full Day Hobbiton Plus Rotorua (Auckland Return)
Full Day Hobbiton Plus Rotorua (Auckland Return)
New Zealand

The Full Day Hobbiton Plus Rotorua tour from Auckland was really good. It was a great experience and one of the highlights of our New Zealand portion of the trip.

Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Oct 05, 2026

G'day Tony,

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It has been such a pleasure to step in for Liz and help with the finishing touches of your travels, and I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed every aspect of your trip.

Knowing that you were able to see everything you hoped for and more, while enjoying your guides, hotels, and restaurants, truly means so much to us.

If you plan on traveling to the South Pacific again, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. Thank you again for allowing us to be part of your travels!

Cheers,
Paula
[email protected]

Great trip down under.
Australia | Aug 2 - Aug 23, 2026

Alex
Alex F.
| Reviewed on Aug 30, 2026

The trip was a long one and had a lot of moving parts, with travel to many parts of Australia. Paula handled it like a champ. The trip was amazing and as always, Kimkim made it easy. The only minor oversight was that we had to purchase the national pass for Uluru twice, as one of the tours included the pass, but was later in the trip than our first trip into the park.

Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Aug 31, 2026
G'day Alex & Darby, After working together for almost a year, I'm so happy to hear that you had an exciting and adventure-filled trip across Australia. Thank you so much for your wonderful review! With so many moving parts and destinations, I’m so happy to hear that everything came together and that you had an amazing time. I really appreciate you pointing out the Uluru National Park pass issue. I’m sorry for the inconvenience of having to purchase the pass twice. I will look into this... Read more

G'day Alex & Darby,

After working together for almost a year, I'm so happy to hear that you had an exciting and adventure-filled trip across Australia. Thank you so much for your wonderful review!

With so many moving parts and destinations, I’m so happy to hear that everything came together and that you had an amazing time.

I really appreciate you pointing out the Uluru National Park pass issue. I’m sorry for the inconvenience of having to purchase the pass twice. I will look into this for you as it shouldn't have happened. Sorry again for the inconvenience.

Thank you again for trusting me with such a special trip. It was a pleasure working with you, and I hope Australia left you with many wonderful memories!

Cheers,
Paula

Adventures to adore
New Zealand | Jun 24 - Jul 7, 2026

Amanda
Amanda O.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 08, 2026
This was a bucket-list trip for me, and I am so thankful to Paula for arranging such a diverse menu of experiences for my friends and me! I came for Hobbiton and LOTR nostalgia, but I fell in love with so many other sides of New Zealand—the misty mountains, the clear rivers (with such pure, sweet water), the delicious pies, the kindness of people. I faced challenges I would not have tackled on my own, such as the adventurous hike on Mt. Tarawera in Rotorua, where the encouraging enthusiasm of... Read more

This was a bucket-list trip for me, and I am so thankful to Paula for arranging such a diverse menu of experiences for my friends and me! I came for Hobbiton and LOTR nostalgia, but I fell in love with so many other sides of New Zealand—the misty mountains, the clear rivers (with such pure, sweet water), the delicious pies, the kindness of people. I faced challenges I would not have tackled on my own, such as the adventurous hike on Mt. Tarawera in Rotorua, where the encouraging enthusiasm of our guides kept us going! We loved getting to learn more about Maori stories and history, and we still talk about meeting that cheeky kea during the Kapiti Coast tour in Wellington. My friend particularly adored her spa experience at Wai Ariki. I would also like to mention that we appreciated how exceptional our tour guides were. They all had such personality and warmth, and we were so grateful for the intimacy of the tours. We were also pleasantly surprised by having spots reserved for us during the ride to the Walter Peaks farm dinner! Thank you so much for arranging all the details of our trip; this made our time here so relaxing, and we felt that we were in good hands. Overall, we made so many memories during our time here in New Zealand!

Hotel Review
M Social
Auckland

This was a beautiful hotel, and its location meant that we could get a quick start to our all-day visit to Waiheke Island! The breakfast spread was incredible. Very comfortable and clean space!

Authenticity & Character
Gorgeous and fun decor!
Location
Perfect walking distance to amazing bakeries and restaurants.
Staff
They gave us extra blankets when needed!
Cleanliness & Comfort
So clean and very generous with amenities.
Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Jul 08, 2026
G'day Amanda, Welcome back! Thank you so much for your incredibly thoughtful review! It truly means so much to hear that your bucket-list trip exceeded your expectations and you fell in love with New Zealand as much as I did. It was an absolute pleasure helping you, Petrina and Zee plan this special New Zealand adventure. I love that you came for Hobbiton and your love of The Lord of the Rings but discovered so many other incredible experiences along the way—from the breathtaking... Read more

G'day Amanda,

Welcome back! Thank you so much for your incredibly thoughtful review! It truly means so much to hear that your bucket-list trip exceeded your expectations and you fell in love with New Zealand as much as I did.

It was an absolute pleasure helping you, Petrina and Zee plan this special New Zealand adventure. I love that you came for Hobbiton and your love of The Lord of the Rings but discovered so many other incredible experiences along the way—from the breathtaking landscapes and Māori culture to the amazing local food and warm Kiwi hospitality.

I'm especially happy to hear you enjoyed the Mt. Tarawera hike, Wai Ariki, the Kapiti Coast tour, and the Walter Peak Farm experience. It's so wonderful to know they made such a lasting impression and helped create unforgettable memories.

Thank you again for trusting me to plan your journey. It was a pleasure being part of your adventure, and I hope New Zealand welcomes you back again someday!

If you plan on traveling again to the South Pacific, you know who to call. :)

Cheers,
Paula
[email protected]

Mom & Son Adventures in Australia
Australia | Apr 12 - Apr 25, 2026

Celeste
Celeste H.
Tustin, CA | Reviewed on May 07, 2026
We just got back from an amazing Australia trip, definitely one of our favorite trips together! My 10-year-old son and I try to do a special trip together every year because it’s such great quality time, and this one was really unforgettable. Paula did an incredible job planning everything — super responsive, organized, thoughtful, and easy to work with throughout the whole process. The trip had such a fun mix of experiences packed into a relatively short amount of time: Bondi Beach... Read more

We just got back from an amazing Australia trip, definitely one of our favorite trips together! My 10-year-old son and I try to do a special trip together every year because it’s such great quality time, and this one was really unforgettable. Paula did an incredible job planning everything — super responsive, organized, thoughtful, and easy to work with throughout the whole process.

The trip had such a fun mix of experiences packed into a relatively short amount of time: Bondi Beach mornings, Taronga Zoo, the Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden, Darling Quarter, rainforest adventures in Cairns, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, the Cairns Lagoon, Uluru sunrise, and the Great Ocean Road. We had epic weather the entire trip and it was so cool getting to see all of the animals — kangaroos, koalas, capybaras, penguins, cassowaries, and even wildlife out in nature during some of the tours.

One thing that surprised us was how amazing the food and coffee culture is in Australia — it honestly felt a bit like Europe in the best way!

Overall, everything ran smoothly and we made such special memories together. So grateful to Paula and KimKim for helping make it happen!

Hotel Reviews
1 Hotel Melbourne
Melbourne

This hotel was incredible! Really trendy design to the room, great view of the city! Pool, jacuzzi, steam and sauna area so relaxing feels like you’re at a spa even with kids. The location to walk everywhere for food key sites. Staff exceptional service.

Sails In The Desert
Yulara

We loved this place. It was so tranquil calming. The food was really delicious. And it was easy to get to the central part of town and go on all the tours.

Crystalbrook Flynn
Cairns

Great location everything you need. Staff is really nice. The breakfast buffet was a little chaotic with big bus to our groups. Something about the acoustics makes it not a relaxing way to start your day. But if you go early, you can avoid the crowds!

QT Bondi
Bondi Beach

Excellent location really easy access to good coffee, healthy food options the beach excellent service, clean room.

Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Great Ocean Road Tour with Lunch
Full Day Great Ocean Road Tour with Lunch
Melbourne

This was an epic day. The guide was so good! And we had a fun small group. There’s lots of different stops so you literally see everything. So many animals, beautiful scenery a mix of all the different types of landscape and the apostles are just incredible!

Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner
Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner
Uluru

I enjoyed this as an adult, but it wasn’t very fun for my son. He’s kind of a picky eater so I knew he wouldn’t eat much of the picnic box, but it was cool as an adult to try all the different local foods and watch the light show. My son found the light show in music a little but scary in the dark.

Evening Field of Light Pass
Evening Field of Light Pass
Uluru

Really enjoyed seeing this. It’s so unique and special!

Morning Uluru Sunrise & Kata Tjuta
Morning Uluru Sunrise & Kata Tjuta
Uluru

Epic sunrise adventure! The tour as well organized so you get to see a few different spots and get back in time to still have a large portion of the data to do other activities.

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

Long day with a kid but really engaging you see a lot and it’s structured well. The guide was really knowledgeable, and kind. This is someone called plants animals. The lunch is nice, and you’re well taken care of in a small group.

Full-Day  Outer Great Barrier Reef (from Hotel)
Full-Day Outer Great Barrier Reef (from Hotel)
Cairns

This was a really fun day. It’s well organized. It’s a long day and a long boat ride, but it’s comfortable. There’s lots of snacks and tea, coffee and different areas. You can sit if you wanna be just more relaxed or active in the water doing activities.

Sydney Opera House Tour
Sydney Opera House Tour
Sydney

This was short and sweet. I actually thought it might be boring with my 10-year-old, but it was really cool to see the architecture inside and learn the history of the structure you’re moving around a lot so it’s quite engaging, and it’s a powerful experience, energetically such incredible design!

Taronga Zoo - Morning Aussie Backyard Adventure Tour
Taronga Zoo - Morning Aussie Backyard Adventure Tour
Sydney

The guys were really nice and knowledgeable, but the pace was a bit slow for us! With a 10-year-old with a more limited attention span we ended up doing our own thing. I’d say you could just skip this and do the zoo on your own.

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on May 07, 2026
G'day Celeste, Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share a wonderful and detailed review! It truly means so much to me. I absolutely loved helping plan this special trip for you and Kaylan, and I’m so happy to hear it became one of your favorite adventures together. Australia really does offer such an incredible mix of experiences, and it sounds like you made the most of every moment. I especially love hearing about all the wildlife encounters and the memories... Read more

G'day Celeste,

Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share a wonderful and detailed review! It truly means so much to me.

I absolutely loved helping plan this special trip for you and Kaylan, and I’m so happy to hear it became one of your favorite adventures together. Australia really does offer such an incredible mix of experiences, and it sounds like you made the most of every moment. I especially love hearing about all the wildlife encounters and the memories you created together along the way.

I always tell my clients how amazing Australia’s coffee and food scene is.

Thank you again for trusting me with your journey. It was a pleasure working with you, and I hope to help you plan another unforgettable adventure in the South Pacific!

Cheers,
Paula

Paula was incredible and made planning seamless
New Zealand | Mar 28 - Apr 12, 2026

sadia
sadia h.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Apr 27, 2026
Paula was absolutely wonderful! She was very responsive, helpful, and informative in planning everything for this trip where we could be completely at ease during our trip. Her dedication to working with us from months prior all the way to during the trip itself was incredibly helpful. We would not have been able to have the same experience without her help making the planning process so much easier along with making the trip itself stress free. Not needing to worry about booking tours,... Read more

Paula was absolutely wonderful! She was very responsive, helpful, and informative in planning everything for this trip where we could be completely at ease during our trip. Her dedication to working with us from months prior all the way to during the trip itself was incredibly helpful. We would not have been able to have the same experience without her help making the planning process so much easier along with making the trip itself stress free. Not needing to worry about booking tours, hotels, flights, and especially transportation to and from everywhere allowed us to completely enjoy our trip rather than worry. We would definitely recommend booking with kimkim and Paula!

Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Apr 28, 2026
G'day Sadia, Thank you so much for your kind words. It truly means a lot! It was such a pleasure working with you to plan your trip, and I’m so happy to hear that you were able to relax and fully enjoy the experience. That’s always my goal—making the process seamless from start to finish so you can focus on the fun part. I really appreciate your trust throughout the planning process and during your travels. It was wonderful being a part of your journey, and I’d love to help you plan your... Read more

G'day Sadia,

Thank you so much for your kind words. It truly means a lot!

It was such a pleasure working with you to plan your trip, and I’m so happy to hear that you were able to relax and fully enjoy the experience. That’s always my goal—making the process seamless from start to finish so you can focus on the fun part.

I really appreciate your trust throughout the planning process and during your travels. It was wonderful being a part of your journey, and I’d love to help you plan your next adventure to the South Pacific whenever you’re ready!

Thank you again for your recommendation—it means the world. Please keep in touch!

Cheers,
Paula
[email protected]

Allow Someone Else to Plan the Details
Australia | Mar 19 - Apr 12, 2026

Dan
Dan J.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Apr 14, 2026
We were extremely pleased with Paula and Kim Kim. The hotels and tours she set for us were first class. The drivers that took us to and from each airport were excellent, on time, and had nice, roomy vehicles. I would encourage others to consider Kim Kim if they are looking for a detailed trip abroad. They supplied all the information we needed to make our trip hitch free. Paula was always prompt in responding to the many questions we asked when planning a trip nearly a month... Read more

We were extremely pleased with Paula and Kim Kim. The hotels and tours she set for us were first class. The drivers that took us to and from each airport were excellent, on time, and had nice, roomy vehicles.

I would encourage others to consider Kim Kim if they are looking for a detailed trip abroad. They supplied all the information we needed to make our trip hitch free.

Paula was always prompt in responding to the many questions we asked when planning a trip nearly a month long.

Thank you, Paula!

Hotel Reviews
Novotel Christchurch Airport
Christchurch

Just steps away from the airport. Very nice breakfast buffet. Rooms were clean, comfortable, and roomy.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Oval Hotel at Adelaide Oval
North Adelaide

Thos hotel is over the top! It is connected to the sports stadium which is unique. The rooms are almost futuristic with lighting and amenities. Great location in downtown.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Very helpful and friendly.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Hermitage Hotel
Mount Cook Village

Nice views of the mountains from most rooms. Nice buffet for meals and an ala carte Cafe as well. Since the hotel is in the natio al park there are no other restaurant options other than those at the hotel. Staff was exceptional.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Laneways by Ovolo
Melbourne

Old building remodeled into a nice boutique hotel. Rooms were very nice. Bedroom was smallish but there was a nice sitting room as well. Very close to restaurants and the city.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Desert Gardens Hotel
Yulara

Not too many hotels to choose from, but this one is nice. A little older, but you wouldn't know that by looking at the nicely appointed rooms.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
M Social
Auckland

Very nice hotel right on the wharf. Close to many restaurants and shopping. Rooms were immaculate.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Rees Hotel
Queenstown

Hotel is built on a hill. Very awkward routes to get to rooms including two elevator rides and a walk though the parking garage. There is a shuttle to town that is very responsive to requests, but personally I would have preferred staying closer to town.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Robe House
Robe, SA

Older hotel. Absolutely no human interaction as keys were left in the doors with a sign directing us to our rooms. Breakfast was just ingredients left in refrigerator for us to make our own breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
What staff?
Cleanliness & Comfort
Drift House
Port Fairy

What a find. One of our favorite stays on our trip. Staff was super friendly. Rooms are unique and very well appointed.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Port Fairy is a cute small town.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Peninsula Boutique Hotel
Port Douglas

Very nice small hotel close to town. The breakfast was great and the staff super friendly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to town. Short walks to restaurants and shops.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
PARKROYAL Darling Harbour
Sydney

Outstanding breakfast! Nice, clean rooms near downtown Sydney.

Authenticity & Character
Nice boutique style hotel.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day City to Country Experience - Mornington Peninsula
Full Day City to Country Experience - Mornington Peninsula
Melbourne

Raphael was our favorite guide of our entire month long trip! He was fun, knowledgeable, and willing to modify our time to suit our interests!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Afternoon Camel to Sunset
Afternoon Camel to Sunset
Australia

You gotta do this! So unique with great guides!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discover - Sydney and Bondi Beach (24 Hour Ticket)
Discover - Sydney and Bondi Beach (24 Hour Ticket)
Australia

One of the slowest running hop on hop offs I've ever experienced.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Apr 27, 2026
G'day Dan, Thank you so much for your kind words! It truly means a lot to hear that you were pleased with the hotels, tours, and transfers throughout your trip. I’m especially glad everything ran smoothly and that the information provided helped make your month-long journey stress-free and enjoyable. It was a pleasure working with you and assisting with your travel plans. Thank you as well for your thoughtful questions along the way, they always help ensure the trip is just right. I really... Read more

G'day Dan,

Thank you so much for your kind words! It truly means a lot to hear that you were pleased with the hotels, tours, and transfers throughout your trip. I’m especially glad everything ran smoothly and that the information provided helped make your month-long journey stress-free and enjoyable.

It was a pleasure working with you and assisting with your travel plans. Thank you as well for your thoughtful questions along the way, they always help ensure the trip is just right.

I really appreciate your recommendation and hope to help you plan another adventure in the future! Please keep in touch!

Cheers,
Paula
[email protected]
(951) 264 6300

Australia 2026 Amazing
Australia | Jan 14 - Feb 3, 2026

E
Elaine D.
Columbus, OH | Reviewed on Mar 28, 2026
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 Read more

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
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)
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
Local specialist: Paula Adams
Paula
Paula Adams
Local specialist in California and Australia | Replied on Mar 28, 2026

G’day Elaine,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed and kind review about my service. I’m so happy to hear that you loved your vacation and had such an amazing experiences.

I also love the BridgeClimb and have done it twice myself — the views are absolutely stunning, aren’t they?

If you ever plan on traveling to the South Pacific or Africa, I would be more than happy to help you again. Please keep in touch and thank you once more for the wonderful review — it is very much appreciated.

With sincere thanks,
Paula
[email protected]
(951) 264 6300