Book custom-made trips to create lifelong memories

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Fast Facts

Rating:	based on 39 reviews
Full name:	Ruth Grau
Destinations:	New Zealand, Fiji, Australia, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia
Lives in:	Adelaide, Australia, & Palm Springs, USA
Experience:	30 years
Company:	Springboard Vacations
Specialties:	Luxury, Adventure, Family, Couples, Singles, Unique & Authentic, LGBTQ Travel

I grew up in small outback towns in South Australia before starting in the travel industry in Adelaide. After working many years in Sales & Marketing with tour companies, wholesalers and airlines, I headed off to the United States in 1994 for a ‘brief stint’. I started the US operation of an Australian tour company, and was Vice President of a South Pacific wholesaler for 7 years. I am married to and working with co-owner Warren Grau, a mother of 2 and am both a US and Australian citizen. We started Springboard Vacations in 2001.

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 like to find unique and interesting ways for travelers to get to know our destinations. So instead of a coach city sights tour, I like to offer a guided bike riding tour, or 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. We like to include 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 was an exchange student in Germany when I was 15 years old. It changed my life and set me on a path to travel the world. When I started working as a professional photographer, I traveled as often as I could. By age 22 I had moved into the travel industry and started exploring the globe seriously. As the song says... no matter how far I roam, I still call Australia home! I am passionate and excited about discovering new and interesting experiences within the South Pacific and creating unique and authentic experiences for my clients."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"I was in New Zealand traveling through the north east of the country. It had been a long day and I had not eaten much so I was hungry and in a pretty bad mood. I just wanted to eat and go to bed but I had committed to doing a night kayaking trip. As I get kitted out and organized with my co-kayaker I was not in a good place and the thought of paddling upstream in the growing dark was not improving my mood. We struggled to coordinate our paddling and wound up in frustrating circles. Eventually we got it together and headed up stream. It has hard work and the night grew dark. Then it came time to paddle into a cave grotto. It was pitch dark and you could not see your hand in front of your face. Our group of kayakers were all silently entered the small cave and sat in the pitch dark. The guide then turned on a red right which caused thousands and thousands of glow worms to... well glow! It was magical! It felt like we were inside Christmas! It was truly awesome to sit in the blackness and be surrounded by the sparkle of these tiny creatures. Mother Nature is so awesome and unpredictable. It was so incredibly captivating and unexpected. No-one uttered a sound but it was an emotional and spiritual experience. As we left the cave some time later to head back, the moon had risen and cast an ethereal silver light across the water as we floated downstream and back home. In the silence we absorbed the display that nature had provided. It was truly an amazing and humbling experience, in a little known area of New Zealand that almost no-one visits. I will never forget it.
Its these life changing moments that I love to find for my clients. "

Ruth is part of the following groups: New Zealand Travel Agents, Fiji Travel Agents, Australia Travel Agents, Papua New Guinea Travel Agents, French Polynesia Travel Agents, Australia Family Travel Agents

Ruth's favorite itineraries and travel advice

Recent trip reviews for Ruth

What a Beautiful Trip!
Australia | Jun 11 - Jun 21, 2026

Vicki R.

San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Jun 28, 2026

Many great memories came out of this trip. Tasmania was a great choice but we wanted to stay longer. Everything went smoothly on our trip and Ruth was a great help to us. I told her what we wanted to get out of the trip and she made the magic happen. The only regret I have is that I didn’t let Kimkim make the travel arrangements. One thing I especially enjoyed was having car services pick us up at the airport and deliver us to our hotel. That was such a luxury not having to deal... Read more

One thing I especially enjoyed was having car services pick us up at the airport and deliver us to our hotel. That was such a luxury not having to deal with cabs and Uber and such. We also had a wonderful guide in Tasmania who I would not have been able to book for myself because she was booked through the car service company. All in all, Ruth helped us have a successful and magical trip.

Hotel Reviews

Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall

Sydney

The staff was so accommodating. The apartment was very nice. It lacked any basic food ingredients though. Not even salt was provided, so bring everything you need for using the kitchen. The ultramodern stove was difficult for me also. It was in a great location. Lots of shopping close by. The pool was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We found it easy to walk from the apartment to restaurants and to Darling Harbor.

Staff

We arrived way before checkin time and they allowed us to hang out in the pool area and were great about letting us access our bags.

Cleanliness & Comfort

DoubleTree by Hilton Hobart

Hobart

We loved this hotel. They give you a chocolate chip cookie when you check in. I especially liked the bathroom. It had a very nice shelf that allowed you to have all your toiletries handy. The food was okay, but not great. I wouldn’t advise eating dinner there, but breakfast was fine. It was not in a great location for getting fast food. Not much nearby.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very near the Visitor Center and the wharf. We were able to get the Hop on Hop Off bus at the Visitor Cemter.

Staff

They were very patient about giving us replacement keys. We had a very early departure and they made us breakfast boxes. D

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean.

Reef View Hotel

Whitsunday Islands, Queensland

We had a nice large room and a smaller adjoining one. This hotel is not luxurious but it had its charm. The cockatoos visited us faithfully and the kids were delighted by them. There was really only one restaurant that was kid friendly, but we also enjoyed the pizza place. Everything costs extra. Very little is included other than your room. We enjoyed the buggies for one day but didn’t find it necessary for the more than a day. There’s a grocery store down by the wharf which was nice.

Authenticity & Character

Very beachy. Good showers, lots of towels provided.

Location

It was a typical resort. Beach was very close and it had a heated pool.

Staff

They were very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hard not to bring sand in, but the beds were comfy.

Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane

Brisbane

The rooms were super nice. We had our best night’s sleep there. Wonderful to have the washer and dryer there because everything was dirty by the end of our trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Loved being able to walk to the Pancake Manor! Lots of shopping nearby.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Private Tasmania's Wilderness & Wildlife

Hobart

We had the best guide ever. Rosie was very friendly and great with the kids. They loved the mushroom experience at the National Park. We had a wonderful lunch at a local cafe and Rosie had us singing the Kookaburra song and we kept singing it for the entire rest of our trip. The kids loved Bonorong so much and Rosie knew all of the information that the guides there had to offer. The kids even got to pet a wombat! It was great.

Quality of Experience

This was the best tour of our entire trip

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rosie was amazing. We fell in love with her.

Transport

Comfortable and provided for all our needs.

Full Day Desert Safari Day Cruise

Brisbane

The Full Day Desert Safari Day Cruise was a bit misleading as it wasn't quite a 'safari'. It mainly involved bus rides, but was still enjoyable. My grandson particularly loved sliding down the sand hills, which made it a memorable experience. Transportation back was a bit tricky as it was hard to secure an Uber. Renting a car might have been a better choice for this tour.

Local specialist: Ruth Grau

Show 60 more photos

Ruth Grau

Local specialist in Adelaide, Australia, & Palm Springs, USA | Replied on Jun 30, 2026

Vicki it was a pleasure working with you and designing a trip that your grandchildren and you will remember forever! Such a special trip! It's a pity the airlines caused you grief and yes next time I will gladly book your air for you as well to save you the hassle!!!
Ruth

Read all Australia reviews

Our specialist was Ruth Grau. She did a very ...
New Zealand | Feb 18 - Mar 13, 2026

Ilana E.

Kansas City, MO | Reviewed on Mar 21, 2026

Our specialist was Ruth Grau. She did a very good job in suggesting locations and activities for our trip. Ruth was very communicative in the beginning until she became ill. At some point about two weeks before the trip she did not respond to our inquiries for several days. We then received an email, saying that she was very ill and it will take a few days until she’ll get back with us. We were a little stressed that we won’t be able to be booked in hotels because of the high demand during the high season. Why were our inquiries not delegated to someone else at this point?
We also asked several time for the breakdown of the costs of hotels and activities. We were told by Ruth that Kimkim does not provide this information. Why doesn’t Kimkim provide this information? It would be very useful in making decisions.
During the process of making changes to our itinerary one night lodging was left out at Te Anau. We contacted Tayla and she made other arrangements at a much reduced quality for what we paid at the Distinction Luxmore Hotel. We greatly appreciated Tayla’s prompt response and her covering the cost of that night’s lodging.

We enjoyed all the planned activities very much. Most of the accommodations were good.

Hotel Reviews

Sudima Auckland City

Auckland

Heritage Dunedin Leisure Lodge

Dunedin

Distinction Luxmore Hotel

Te Anau

Mercure Queenstown Resort

Queenstown

Heart Hotel Fox Glacier

Fox Glacier

BreakFree on Cashel

Christchurch

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Access to bed on both sides. Bed was against one wall and could only accessed from one side.

Ibis Budget Auckland Airport

Auckland Airport

Activity Reviews

Auckland Shuttle Transfer Hotel to International Airport

New Zealand

Auckland Shuttle Transfer Domestic Airport to Hotel

New Zealand

Full Day Hike (self guided) and Guided Kayak

New Zealand

Wildlife Cruise

Dunedin

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruises

New Zealand

Full Day Milford Track Giant Gate Guided Walk

New Zealand

Te Anau Glowworm Caves - ex Te Anau

New Zealand

Welcome to Te Anau

Te Anau

Half Day Wilderness Safari - Jetboat

Queenstown (NZ)

Boutique Wine Tour - Half Day

Queenstown (NZ)

Franz Joseph 4 hour Kayak and Walk

New Zealand

Local specialist: Ruth Grau

Ruth Grau

Local specialist in Adelaide, Australia, & Palm Springs, USA | Replied on Apr 04, 2026

Hi Ilana

I am so glad that you enjoyed New Zealand all the tours you did! I enjoyed planning your trip!

Ruth

Australia - Worth the Journey
Australia | Feb 28 - Mar 10, 2026

Doreen A.

Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Mar 17, 2026

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!!!

Local specialist: Ruth Grau

Ruth Grau

Local specialist in Adelaide, Australia, & Palm Springs, USA | Replied on Mar 17, 2026

My pleasure Doreen! I really enjoyed workingw ith you to put your trip together!

Ruth

Ruth was great answering our questions about ...
Australia | Jan 18 - Jan 30, 2026

Dinesh A.

Fort Wayne, IN, USA | Reviewed on Mar 09, 2026

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. Read more

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.

Local specialist: Ruth Grau

Show 72 more photos

Ruth Grau

Local specialist in Adelaide, Australia, & Palm Springs, USA | Replied on Mar 10, 2026

Hi Dinesh
I am so glad you enjoyed your trip. Its wonderful to get this feedback! I'm afraid we don't have a lot of apartment choices in this level of accommodations or I would have presented you with more options to choose between. Attractions such as the Bridgeclimb in Sydney do not include transfers as they are not tours and of course are right in the heart of the city. It's great to see you all in the photos! Thanks for posting them!
Ruth

New Zealand Adventure of a Lifetime.
New Zealand | Jan 30 - Feb 25, 2026

Iain W.

Boston, MA | Reviewed on Mar 04, 2026

Our four week trip to NZ was customized after an iterative process of inquiry and response, including by phone with Ruth. She listened well and offered incredibly helpful insights. We followed her advice in most cases, and she offered various options for us to consider by way of guided tours, etc., as electives beyond the basis itinerary. We selected some of those to be included. The entire trip from arrival to departure including hotels, car rental and ferry booking was organized and communicated really well. All worked out perfectly. It turned out that a medical emergency intruded in the final week of our trip and the local agents were wonderfully supportive to manage and adjust the itinerary and give a sense of local expertise in the local time zone. My wife and I cannot speak more highly of our experience and plan to use kim kim again in our future travel plans.

Hotel Reviews

Scenic Hotel Cotswold

Christchurch

I was pleasantly surprised by the Scenic Hotel Cotswold in Christchurch. Despite my initial expectation that it would be lackluster, it turned out to be great.

Heartland Hotel Glacier Country

Fox Glacier

The Heartland Hotel Glacier Country in Fox Glacier was quite disappointing, but we were advised that accommodations in that area wouldn't be top-notch. It was basic at best, although the local hospitality was undeniably welcoming.

Pear Orchard Lodge

Nelson

The Pear Orchard Lodge was a delightful surprise. The lodge offers a beautiful setting outside of Nelson. It featured a well-equipped common kitchen, perfect for those who enjoy cooking, and it was shared only between a few rooms. Additionally, having access to a washing machine for a small fee was incredibly helpful during our travels.

Activity Reviews

Full-Day Jet-Boat Adventure & Funyak River Safari

Queenstown (NZ)

The Full-Day Jet-Boat Adventure and Funyak River Safari in Queenstown was enjoyable, but I felt the description didn't match the experience. While the initial jet-boat ride was exciting, the later sections with kayaking were slower, as the guides needed to accommodate everyone. Next time, I'd probably just opt for the shorter, more thrilling jet-boat trip.

Half Day Mt Tarawera Crater Walk Experience Morning

Rotorua

The Half Day Mt Tarawera Crater Walk Experience was quite intense, perhaps not suitable for the faint-hearted. Some aspects were slightly oversold, like the description implying a four-wheel-drive adventure when it was just a regular van. Overall, it was a good, challenging experience.

Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton Self Drive

Auckland

The Hobbiton Shared Tour was a highlight of our trip. While we're not the biggest Lord of the Rings fans, the tour was exceptionally well-done, offering fascinating insights into the making of the films. It's very well organized and worth the visit.

Local specialist: Ruth Grau

Ruth Grau

Local specialist in Adelaide, Australia, & Palm Springs, USA | Replied on Mar 08, 2026

Iain and Liz were wonderful to work with. They had been planning and looking forward to visiting New Zealand for some time so I was delighted to assist them in designing the trip they always wanted. I am so sorry they got to experience the New Zealand medical system but was glad we could assist with getting things back on track once they were ready! Life has a way of taking us on interesting detours!

Blenheim / Christchurch / Lake Tekapo / Queen...
New Zealand | Dec 7 - Dec 13, 2025

Lorin W.

Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Dec 15, 2025

Blenheim / Christchurch / Lake Tekapo / Queenstown Trip We had an unforgettable trip from start to finish - we kicked things off in Picton, where we did a combo tour of the Marlborough wine region and seafood cruise in the Marlborough Sounds. Both expereinces saw a great balance of stunning views, calm waters (on the cruise), and nonstop photo opportunities. Christchurch surprised us with its charm, walkability, and mix of historic and modern vibes. We did a self-guided walk of the... Read more

Blenheim / Christchurch / Lake Tekapo / Queenstown Trip

We had an unforgettable trip from start to finish - we kicked things off in Picton, where we did a combo tour of the Marlborough wine region and seafood cruise in the Marlborough Sounds. Both expereinces saw a great balance of stunning views, calm waters (on the cruise), and nonstop photo opportunities.

Christchurch surprised us with its charm, walkability, and mix of historic and modern vibes. We did a self-guided walk of the town, including a stop at The Church Pub for food and drinks.. It made a great transition point before driving deeper into the South Islands natural beauty.

Lake Tekapo featured unreal turquoise water, open skies, and peaceful atmosphere. It may have been one of the most photogeneic places we visited on this leg of the trip.

Wanaka was a wonderful lake town, where it featured one of the most photographed trees in the world. I wish we could have spent another day here to experience the town more.

we wrapped up our trip in Queenstown, where you could easily spend a week there and not do everything. While there though we did get a chance to do a number of excursions, including a plane ride, horse-back ride, jet-boat ride, and river funyak excurions, where we were able to see the snow-capped mountain ranges known famously in many Hollywood blockbusters, including Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and Misson Impossible!

Between the scenery, activities, and unforgettable moments captured, our NZ trip exceeded expectations, it is purely a magical country, and the itinerary provided by KimKim was the perfect way to experience it.

Hotel Reviews

Browns Boutique Hotel

Queenstown

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Edgewater Wanaka

Lake Wānaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Peppers Bluewater Resort

Lake Tekapo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The Mayfair

Christchurch

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Escape to Picton

Picton

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Local specialist: Ruth Grau

Ruth Grau

Local specialist in Adelaide, Australia, & Palm Springs, USA | Replied on Dec 16, 2025

Hi Lorin
How wonderful to hear your feedback! Thanks so much for taking the time and I am so glad you loved New Zealand!
Ruth

Everything was first class except the very la...
New Zealand | Nov 17 - Nov 26, 2025

Ron Z.

Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Dec 03, 2025

Everything was first class except the very last night. I know John Mattarella was a little kind in his words, but I won’t mix the words that was way beneath what you guys should’ve gave us. Everything was excellent until that moment it was like going to a hostile quite honestly is bullshit but everything else was great except exceptionally great except that last moment, which then the last moment is what you remember I hope for your future guests you get rid of that location cause that was a... Read more

Local specialist: Ruth Grau

Ruth Grau

Local specialist in Adelaide, Australia, & Palm Springs, USA | Replied on Dec 03, 2025

Hi Ron

Many thanks for your feedback on the airport hotel that you had for the last night. I will certainly advise all our staff and take it off our selling list. I am glad you enjoyed all your trip to that point. We usually use the Novotel or Pullman so I am not sure why Jannie chose this hotel unless availability was tight. I really appreciate your feedback.

Kind regards
Ruth

Two weeks in New Zealand
New Zealand | Oct 21 - Nov 2, 2025

Karen C.

Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Nov 15, 2025

I connected with Kim Kim and Ruth only a mere month and a half before our scheduled trip to New Zealand. Despite the late notice Ruth stepped up, got some preliminary information on our interests, and curated an amazing two week self guided tour of the North and South islands. Every single event, from group tours to picking up our rental cars with driving directions in tow, went off without a single hitch. We had so many amazing experiences along the way it’s hard to choose the best, but I will say if you get the chance to kayak at night in the glow worm caves in Rotorua: DO IT! Amazing. Even in the rain. Thank you so much Ruth for the attention to detail, the quick availability and the amazing organization. We will definitely be in touch for our next adventure.

Activity Reviews

Queenstown Private Transfer Hotel to Airport

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Milford Sound Glass Roof Van/CruiseVan

Queenstown

Quality of Experience

Everyone should take the time for this beautiful part of the world.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Skyline Gondola Ride

Queenstown

Quality of Experience

Glacier Boat Trip -

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer - Christchurch Railway Station to City Hotel

Christchurch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Interislander Ferry - Wellington to Picton

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon/Evening Twilight Wine and Craft Beer Tour

Queenstown

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wellington Private Transfer Hotel to Ferry Terminal

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zealandia by Night Tour

Wellington

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Introducing Te Papa Tour and Museum visit

Wellington

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mitai Cultural Experience & Dinner

Rotorua

The host of the evening was absolutely amazing. Sharing his culture and knowledge was truly a passion for him and it translated into an amazing evening.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Waimangu Valley Nature Walk & Lake Rotomahana Boat Cruise

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hobbiton - Shared Tour

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Twilight Glow Worm Kayak Experience - 3 hour guided

Rotorua

The guides were absolutely amazing. Clearly very excited to share information and the beauty of these amazing creatures and their amazing habitat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Rotorua

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Auckland Private Transfer International Airport to Hotel

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local specialist: Ruth Grau

Ruth Grau

Local specialist in Adelaide, Australia, & Palm Springs, USA | Replied on Nov 18, 2025

Thanks Karen! It was a real pleasure working with you and planning your trip. I am so thrilled that you enjoyed your vacation in New Zealand! I hope I can work with you again!
Ruth

Amazing Trip
Seychelles | Oct 31 - Nov 7, 2025

Dania K.

Italy | Reviewed on Nov 08, 2025

It was an amazing trip thanks to Ruth.
Her questions were on point & helped her discover what I really wanted.
The local agent at Seychelles, Humming Bird, was also helpful & punctual. Read more

It was an amazing trip thanks to Ruth.
Her questions were on point & helped her discover what I really wanted.
The local agent at Seychelles, Humming Bird, was also helpful & punctual.

Hotel Review

Constance Ephelia

Very attentive staff. Huge resort. Excellent spa services. Excellent food. The only negative thing was that the sunbeds on the shore needed to be cleaner!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Excellent & courteous staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

VICTORIA & BOTANICAL

Mahe

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I’m

Transport

Transfer Airport to Hotel

Mahe

Very punctual

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer Hotel to Airport

Mahe

Thank you to the driver & the lady who helped us with the bags & the fast track check in.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

PRASLIN TOUR WITH VALLEE DE MAI & ANSE LAZIO

Mahe

We loved Elvis our guide & the driver who was with us in Mahe.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local specialist: Ruth Grau

Ruth Grau

Local specialist in Adelaide, Australia, & Palm Springs, USA | Replied on Nov 08, 2025

Oh I am so happy to read this! I am so glad you had a wonderful trip to this stunning part of the world!

Ruth

My daughter and I had an amazing trip across Australia
Australia | Jul 12 - Jul 25, 2025

Cari T.

Nashua, NH | Reviewed on Jul 27, 2025

Working with Ruth was great. She was very patient with me as I had lots of questions and I kept making adjustments and tweaks to the itinerary as there was so much to see and do. Her follow up is excellent and I definitely had an amazing trip. All of the hotels were perfect and we were able to relax and have the exact vacation we had hoped for. I have done several other trips to other countries through other travel companies and I’d say my only critic of KimKim is that their payment... Read more

I have done several other trips to other countries through other travel companies and I’d say my only critic of KimKim is that their payment platform doesn’t seem as easy as the other companies I’ve used and that part was clunky when I needed to add a night on to the end of my trip after I had already paid. Also, the prices for the domestic flights quoted were crazy high so with Ruth’s advice I booked those on my own to save a lot of $$. So that would be the reason I’m giving KimKim booking 4 stars. Ruth was a definitely 5 stars and I recommend her.

Hotel Reviews

Crystalbrook Byron

Suffolk Park

The portions at the restaurant were so small and so pricy. Plus the food selection was much too fancy for us so we did uber eats the second day for lunch and dinner and that was perfect.

Authenticity & Character

The rooms were amazing!!!

Location

The walk to the beach was very far and the stairs down to it were washed out so it was tough to get down. Also pretty far from downtown.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel

Mascot, Sydney, NSW

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfect hotel airport. The gym was amazing, multiple dinner options and an easy stroll across the street to the international terminal

Villa San Michele

Port Douglas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The women at reception were so incredibly friendly and free laundry was amazing! And being so central was exactly what we were looking for. So easy to pop out and hit restaurants and shops.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oaks Brisbane Aurora Suites

Brisbane

The view of the river from the 50th floor was amazing!! I didn’t want to leave!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

It was very hard to figure out how to get into the lobby. Thankfully someone walking by could tell we were lost and helped us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

River Drift Experience

Port Douglas

The guides were great. Wish we had more time to sit and swim at the end though. Most of our tour group was staying in the water as long as possible and we were ushered out to pack up and go. I get they had to keep us moving with lots of groups going at once but wish we had more time in the water.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I enjoyed the commentary on the area during the drive.

Port Douglas Private Transfer Port Douglas Hotel to Airport

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Outer Reef Mackay Coral Cay

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

Climb the Harbor Bridge

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sydney Private Transfer Airport to Hotel

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local specialist: Ruth Grau

Ruth Grau

Local specialist in Adelaide, Australia, & Palm Springs, USA | Replied on Jul 27, 2025

Hi Cari

I am so happy you loved Australia! You went to some of my favorite places like Byron Bay! It was fun working with you on your trip!

Ruth

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