Custom Self-Driving Tours of Australia

Kimkim was absolutely amazing to work with for our family trip to Australia. They took all of our specific interests and "must-see" destinations and developed a flawless itinerary that allowed us to do and see almost everything we wanted within our timeframe.

The trip was packed with bucket-list experiences. Our personal tour of the zoo was incredible, and snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef was unforgettable. The art adventure was a fantastic addition, and Uluru was absolutely amazing—especially the sunrise tour and the sunset camel ride.

What really set Kimkim apart was their responsiveness when things didn't go perfectly. When we encountered unexpected, weather-related travel issues, their team was incredibly quick to step in, help us adjust, and get us right back on track. I highly recommend Kimkim for anyone looking for a perfectly tailored and reliable travel experience!

Our guide Samantha was great in planning the variety of experiences we wanted on our first trip to Australia. She listened to our request for some outdoor adventures and some city activities. Highlights were snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef (a super cool trip on a sailboat), a tour of the spectacular Sydney Opera House and lots of Aussie wildlife - koalas, birds...
The Zoom call with Samantha before the trip was very helpful to clarify the timing and all the transfers, hotel details etc. We felt very prepared.
There were some last minute changes with a tour operator, I recommend using the kimkim 'emergency' number if the operators are not reachable.

This was our 4th trip with KimKim and they have never failed to connect us with excellent local travel consultants.

Asko Merilainen of Project Matka, based in Melbourne, was our advisor for a 31 day trip around Australia. He put together an ambitious and comprehensive itinerary that kept us fascinated, delighted and tired by the end of the day. He dropped in rest days here and there, just when we needed them and always made suggestions for additional fun along the way. He took us from the tropics to the desert and back again and mid trip, when a surprise appendicitis stalled us for a week, he made sure we had everything we needed, changed plans and made it easy for us to resume our trip when we were ready. He has also been great about making sure we have everything we needed to complete the travel insurance paperwork. We highly recommend Asko and Project Matka. LGBTQ friendly too! Thanks everyone.

Hotel Reviews

Rydges Perth Kings Square

Perth

The Rydges Perth Kings Square hotel was our least favorite. Although the bedding was excellent and it was centrally located, the view was not great and the hotel felt a bit odd. However, Perth was a difficult part of the trip due to an appendicitis incident, so I wouldn't hold it against the hotel.

Ozone Hotel Kangaroo Island

Kingscote

The Ozone Hotel Kangaroo Island was nice overall, but the coffee was the worst I've ever had in my life. We ended up bringing our own instant coffee and hot water. Other than that, the hotel was fine.

Mantra on Russell Melbourne

Melbourne

The Mantra on Russell Melbourne had excellent beds and linens, which I am usually very fussy about. The bedding quality was consistently excellent throughout the trip, which was impressive.

Activity Reviews

The Great Barrier Reef day trip

Cairns

The Great Barrier Reef day trip was amazing. I thought I had seen amazing reefs before, but this experience proved me wrong with its beauty.

Sunrise Camel Experience

Uluru

The Sunrise Camel Experience at Uluru was really fun and memorable. It made me want to learn serious camel trekking one day. The overall experience at Uluru was worth the trip with many sunrises, sunsets, dinners, presentations, and light shows.

Alice Springs

Alice Springs

The kangaroo sanctuary visit in Alice Springs was amazing. We got to hold and feed baby kangaroos rescued from traffic accidents, and the sanctuary educates people on kangaroo rescue. It was truly a high point of the trip.

Island Life tour

Kangaroo Island

The Island Life tour on Kangaroo Island was really nice and beautiful. One highlight was visiting a sheep station where they cooked fish for us on a beautiful day with perfect weather.

Great Ocean Road – Coastal Spectacular & Wildlife Wonders

Melbourne

The Great Ocean Road – Coastal Spectacular & Wildlife Wonders tour was a lot of fun. We ended up being the only people on the tour and had a wonderful guide who was very knowledgeable and skilled at navigating crowds.

Melbourne Foodie Culture - Walking tour

Melbourne

The Melbourne Foodie Culture walking tour was excellent. Unlike some food tours that can be marginal, this one was very good and enjoyable.