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Australia Inbound by Orange Journeys

Exploring the land Down Under can be found on the bucket list of many travelers and is often considered to be a once in a lifetime experience. We fully understand this, which is why our team of travel professionals live by the commitment of delivering memories to our guests for them to take home!

Australia Inbound by Orange Journeys operates from the picturesque Bega Valley, half way between Sydney and Melbourne via the coastal route. We are a relatively small yet passionate and innovative specialist for Australia, recognized for genuinely personal and excellent service in delivering personalized (self-drive) itineraries. We have developed our products & services and the way-we-work to differentiate ourselves from the many other operators in the market.

Our nationwide network of local partners enables us to deliver a portfolio of highly rated products & experiences, accommodating a wide range of budgets, standards of comfort and levels of activity. We are here to share our passion for and knowledge of Australia and would love to hear from you!

Australia Inbound by Orange Journeys is part of the following groups: Australia Travel Agents

Featured trips & expertise

Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent Trip Reviews for Australia Inbound by Orange Journeys

Rely on Gary to create a memorable trip
Australia | Jul 13 - Jul 31, 2023

Carole
Carole R.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Aug 04, 2023

Gary had some great advice on where to go to make the best use of our time. Our guide in Kangaroo Island was engaging, informative and pleasant to spend the whole day with. The snorkeling tour on the great barrier reef was memorable and our last days in Sydney a delight. The astro tour at Uluru was certainly one of the highlights. Truly a wonderful experience in all and the ease of travel with the car service helped. Jim and Carole read more

Gary had some great advice on where to go to make the best use of our time. Our guide in Kangaroo Island was engaging, informative and pleasant to spend the whole day with. The snorkeling tour on the great barrier reef was memorable and our last days in Sydney a delight. The astro tour at Uluru was certainly one of the highlights. Truly a wonderful experience in all and the ease of travel with the car service helped. Jim and Carole

Hotel Review
The Reef Retreat
Palm Cove, QLD

Nice and quiet location, hotel management was very helpful and accommodating. Easy walk to restaurants etc.

Authenticity & Character
Location
easy walk to everything but off the main area so very quite
Staff
very accommodating and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
When we needed an extra towel or blanket it was there
Activity Review
Day trip to the Great Barrier Reef
Australia

It was so informative and the staff was so accommodating with all of our needs that it made it special.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
One of our party has some medical conditions and they were able to create a great experience for them
Transport
boat was very open but the seas were rough so some of the areas became crowded
Local specialist: Gary Topic

An Excellent Itinerary for a Two Week Trip
Australia | Jul 6 - Jul 22, 2023

D
Debra G.
Charlotte, NC | Reviewed on Jul 29, 2023

We couldn't have been happier with the itinerary that Gary prepared for us. As someone who had never been to Australia before, he successfully translated our requests and lack of knowledge into a schedule that was easy to follow--and thoroughly enjoyable. The places he recommended and organized for our trip were mind-blowingly spectacular. The Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu, Litchfield, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon, and Uluru---our only complaint was that we didn't have enough time at any of... read more

We couldn't have been happier with the itinerary that Gary prepared for us. As someone who had never been to Australia before, he successfully translated our requests and lack of knowledge into a schedule that was easy to follow--and thoroughly enjoyable. The places he recommended and organized for our trip were mind-blowingly spectacular. The Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu, Litchfield, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon, and Uluru---our only complaint was that we didn't have enough time at any of these locations! Even more impressive is that he was able to pull together an itinerary with not much time to spare. We connected with him only 8 weeks before our trip (during peak travel season), so we were quite impressed that he managed to pack as much into our two week trip as he did. Thank you!

Activity Reviews
Day trip to the Great Barrier Reef
Australia

Seeing the GBR was an amazing experience, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to do so. The crew was high energy the entire time, and made the journey there and back a pleasant one. What I was expecting, but didn't get, was any information about the GBR. I had assumed there'd be some type of presentation about the plants and animals we'd be seeing during our 2 hour journey there, and how to maximize our snorkeling/diving experience. Even better would have been a discussion about the issues that the GBR is facing as the oceans warm. All we got was a disjointed, generalized slideshow AFTER we had done the snorkeling. In addition, I was given a wetsuit that was too large (never having worn a wetsuit before, I had no idea). Thus, for me, the snorkeling was uncomfortably cold, and I ended up with non-stop shivering even after back on the boat. Thankfully, a crew member noticed on the second round of snorkeling, so that dive was much more enjoyable. Lastly, I wasn't blown over by the food provided. Since I stayed out snorkeling until called in for lunch, most of the food was already gone, since others had come in early. What I had was fine, but cold (all the hot food was gone), and not particularly memorable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Classic Kuranda Tour
Australia

Another amazing experience. Thoroughly enjoyed visiting this area, and getting to see the tropical rainforest and learn a bit more about the original inhabitants, plants, and animals. The cable car up and train down were a fun way to get to the town. And I was thrilled the buffet lunch had food choices there was both healthy and tasty. My major critique is that the entire day was so tightly programmed, it did feel a bit rushed. I understand that this can be an occupational hazard of having a tight schedule, but in our case, we were dropped off at the cable car entrance and had to wait for an extended time (maybe 45 minutes?) for our guide to show up with our tickets. It wasn't exactly clear what was going on at the time. If it could be arranged, it would have been a better use of that time for us to have our tickets when we arrived at the cable car entrance, so we could have just immediately gone up. Even better, I'd recommend that the train be used to go up, and the cable car to go down. That would provide a bit more flexibility in heading back down, rather than having to be at a precise location at a precise time in order to leave.

Transport
As I mentioned above, there was a lot of waiting around on this trip. Also, it was very confusing finding our transport van at the end of the train trip. We were not picked up where all the other buses where loading, but had to walk over to a separate area. If someone had not directed to this location, I don't think we would have found it on our own.
Darwin City Sights
Darwin

This tour was probably the least favorite of the activities we did on this trip (of course, it's competing with some heavy hitters!). That being said, this overview of Darwin was pretty disjointed, and didn't give us much information about Darwin at all. Basically, it was a bus ride pointing out various buildings (and even that not done clearly), then trips to several locations. To be fair, the guide was also the driver (I don't know if this is normal), and she mentioned she hadn't done this tour in quite a while. Since I don't have much interest in aviation history, that museum wasn't a highlight for me, but I definitely enjoyed the trip to the Botanic Garden and the Museum and Art Gallery.

Yellow Water Cruise - Sunrise
Australia

This cruise was amazing! It shows what difference a good guide can make on a trip like this. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, entertaining, and open to questions and discussions. If we had had the time, I would have booked the afternoon cruise with him. I felt like I learned so much about the area, and the plants and animals that inhabit it. And he was so good at spotting things!

Uluru Sunrise & Kata Tjuta
Uluru

For a large bus tour, it was pretty well organized. Clearly the tour operators have a clear system for their trips. It was a bit wild, how many people were lining up before dawn for multiple bus tours. We had an awesome guide, Glennon--very high energy, and very knowledgeable. I very much appreciated that he gave us commentary while we drove to the sites. I think we might have gotten off to a late start, however--there really wasn't enough time to do the breakfast, see Uluru, then get back on the bus. I think all of that had to occur within a 1/2 hour, which meant that we had to leave Uluru just 10 minutes after the sun rose. The walk in Kata Tjuta was amazing. I've never seen that type of unconsolidated amalgamation of rock before. I very much enjoyed the experience of being in that place, and I appreciated that Glennon had us all gather at the end and engage in a minute of silence so that we could fully be present in this space. The only critique--and I know this is so common with large groups--is that he stopped several times to make a presentation, but didn't wait for the entire group to catch up, so only a small percentage of the overall group got to hear it.

Sounds of Silence Dinner
Australia

Yet another event that I found tremendously moving. For a large group event (two buses worth of people), they did a fantastic job of making it feel special and more intimate. The setting is spectacular, the food was delicious, the didgeridoo player was phenomenal, and the star gazing was out of this world. And the time of silence was sublime. As a city dweller, I think that might be the first time I've ever seen the Milky Way! My suggestions for improvements are minor: I would have liked the star storytelling to be twice as long (at least). I so enjoyed it, but it seemed much too brief. A side note: the laser pointer he used was awesome! And they did something odd with the food service: we happened to be the first table that got served. (They ask each table to go up to the buffet line separately.) But then they reverse it for the desert, so we were the last to go up for desert. Thus we had a huge gap in our meal, and then only had 5 minutes to eat the desert before we had to depart. Not sure why the swap--it doesn't really make sense for the meal flow. And they need to provide a bit more time between when the last desert is served and the guests are asked to leave.

Local specialist: Gary Topic
Gary
Gary Topic
Local specialist in Newcastle, Australia | Replied on Jul 31, 2023

Hi Debra,
Thank you for your amazing feedback and also for the details regarding every item on your trip plan. This is rare insight that we rarely receive, so I will be sure to pass on your comments to each and every supplier.
Warm regards,
Gary

Gary put together an amazing trip for us with...
Australia | Jul 6 - Jul 22, 2023

L
Laura N.
Bayonne, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 29, 2023

Gary put together an amazing trip for us with very little notice and during Australian school holidays, which I am sure made the puzzle of finding flights and hotel rooms to all the places we went even more challenging. He was incredibly patient with all our questions and steered us to some fantastic places that it turns out many Australians never get too. This I discovered during my week work at the end of the trip in talking to Australian colleagues. He was incredibly responsive as... read more

Gary put together an amazing trip for us with very little notice and during Australian school holidays, which I am sure made the puzzle of finding flights and hotel rooms to all the places we went even more challenging. He was incredibly patient with all our questions and steered us to some fantastic places that it turns out many Australians never get too. This I discovered during my week work at the end of the trip in talking to Australian colleagues. He was incredibly responsive as well during the trip to questions we had as we moved through our trip. A heartfelt thank you for an incredible trip!
Laura

Activity Review
Darwin City Sights
Darwin

This city tour was a bit of disappointment. We were expecting that we'd learn something about the history of Darwin etc. Essentially the driver (there was no separate guide on board) pointed out buildings and told us what they were.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Gary Topic
Gary
Gary Topic
Local specialist in Newcastle, Australia | Replied on Jul 31, 2023

Hi Laura,
Thank you for your wonderful and detailed feedback. I was especially glad to hear you loved Kakadu. I will be sure to pass on your comments to each and every supplier.
Warm regards,
Gary

Gary was fantastic . He put together the perf...
Australia | May 9 - May 25, 2023

Darlene E
Darlene E E.
Alhambra, AZ | Reviewed on Jun 22, 2023

Gary was fantastic . He put together the perfect trip according to my suggestions. The hotels were great. The excursions were wonderful.
I loved everything. I am a travel agent in Arizona, USA. I will definitely recommend Kim Kim Travel.

Local specialist: Gary Topic
Gary
Gary Topic
Local specialist in Newcastle, Australia | Replied on Jul 31, 2023

Hi Darlene,
Thank you for your wonderful feedback. I'm very glad you loved Australia.

Australia trip
Australia | May 26 - Jun 7, 2023

Katie
Katie K.
Palm Bay, FL | Reviewed on Jun 20, 2023

Gary was incredibly helpful and planned an absolutely wonderful trip for me and my family. Everything from the transportation, hotel reservations, and excursion was exceptional. We had some last minute travel issues that he helped us with immediately. I gave 5 stars but Gary deserves 10. Thank you, Gary!! read more

Gary was incredibly helpful and planned an absolutely wonderful trip for me and my family. Everything from the transportation, hotel reservations, and excursion was exceptional. We had some last minute travel issues that he helped us with immediately. I gave 5 stars but Gary deserves 10. Thank you, Gary!!

Hotel Reviews
Shangri-La Sydney
The Rocks, Sydney

This was the best hotel we stayed at. Incredible view and impressive service.

Authenticity & Character
It was beautiful and unique
Location
Walkable to everything and great views from our window.
Staff
Very helpful staff. They took care of my kids who arrived before I did.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mercure Cairns
Cairns

This hotel worked great for us and our short stay but didn't compare to the other hotel stays. It was a bit of a Bahamian vibe.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The staff was lovely.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel
Mascot, Sydney, NSW

Perfect stay for an early departure.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Day trip to the Great Barrier Reef
Australia

Unfortunately I was sea sick most of the time. Regardless, this excursion was one for the books. The captain took good care of me and the kids and I had a blast.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Gary Topic

Gary was absolutely AMAZING. There wasn't a ...
Australia | May 26 - Jun 7, 2023

K
Kirk K.
Melbourne, FL | Reviewed on Jun 08, 2023

Gary was absolutely AMAZING. There wasn't a glitch. Gary covered every angle from airline and car transportation, hotels to excursions.

We had drivers waiting for us everywhere they were courteous and punctual. The excursion to The Great Barrier Reef was a highlight that we would have most likely missed if Gary had not recommended we see this when we traveled to Australia. Kim Kim Tours and Gary are OUTSTANDING and I would highly recommend them if you are considering a trip.

Thank you read more

Gary was absolutely AMAZING. There wasn't a glitch. Gary covered every angle from airline and car transportation, hotels to excursions.

We had drivers waiting for us everywhere they were courteous and punctual. The excursion to The Great Barrier Reef was a highlight that we would have most likely missed if Gary had not recommended we see this when we traveled to Australia. Kim Kim Tours and Gary are OUTSTANDING and I would highly recommend them if you are considering a trip.

Thank you

Local specialist: Gary Topic
Gary
Gary Topic
Local specialist in Newcastle, Australia | Replied on Jul 31, 2023

Hi Kirk,
Thank you so much for taking the time to send your wonderful feedback. I am so glad to hear that you loved your trip.

We really enjoyed our trip greatly. The plann...
Australia | Apr 28 - May 15, 2023

H
Hari R.
Irving, TX | Reviewed on May 22, 2023

We really enjoyed our trip greatly. The planning and execution were very good overall. We enjoyed many of the places we stayed at, especially Amora Jamison in Sydney and Mandalay apartments in Port Douglas. read more

We really enjoyed our trip greatly. The planning and execution were very good overall. We enjoyed many of the places we stayed at, especially Amora Jamison in Sydney and Mandalay apartments in Port Douglas.

Hotel Reviews
Clarion Suites Gateway
Melbourne

The location and overall experience were great!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Southern Ocean Villas
Port Campbell

The location of the hotel was great and it was very spacious for our family of 5.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
We did not interact with any staff.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Quality Hotel Melbourne Airport
Tullamarine

Overall the hotel was OK but did have a restaurant next door.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments
Port Douglas

Excellent all around!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Adabco Boutique Hotel
Adelaide

This was a good hotel in a central location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge
American River

Nice hotel in a good location on Kangaroo Island.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney
Sydney

Very nice and posh hotel in a great location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Phillip Island Private Tour
Melbourne

We very much loved this experience and our guide took excellent care of us. He was a wealth of information.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise
Australia

This was a great experience that was enjoyed by our whole family.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Classic Kuranda Tour
Australia

We truly enjoyed this experience. The skyrail and train were great! The experience at Kurranda was wonderful.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Gary Topic

Australia in 9 days/Sydney and Carins.
Australia | Apr 8 - Apr 16, 2023

R
Robyn C.
Johnstown, PA | Reviewed on Apr 17, 2023

My 17 year old son and I went to Australia for a belated Birthday trip. We only planned the trip 8 weeks prior to going and Gary was very thorough and helped guide our short trip. We did a half day Sydney tour, a full day tour out to the Blue Mountains (with a hike and botanical gardens stop) flew to Carins and did a full day Great Barrier Reef snorkeling trip and a few days there and ended with a day at Cogee and a day at Bondi Beach. All of the tours and our transportation to and from... read more

My 17 year old son and I went to Australia for a belated Birthday trip. We only planned the trip 8 weeks prior to going and Gary was very thorough and helped guide our short trip. We did a half day Sydney tour, a full day tour out to the Blue Mountains (with a hike and botanical gardens stop) flew to Carins and did a full day Great Barrier Reef snorkeling trip and a few days there and ended with a day at Cogee and a day at Bondi Beach. All of the tours and our transportation to and from the hotels and airports went perfectly, our rental car on Carins also was also easy to rent and return. The hotels Gary booked were fine, especially Mantra Amphora in Palm Cove. (highly recommend) Our final hotel in Cogee, Adina Apartments, was very small and had canceled our reservation at check in. We had to call Gary and he answered immediately and took care of the problem which was not his fault, and he made sure Adina checked us in and gave us our room as originally planned. We were very pleased with Gary and his prompt response to all of our questions. If I could give any future travelers advice I would say be very specific about what you want to do, the type of accommodations you expect and the bed sizes and if you prefer large or small group tours. The more specific you are the more tailored your adventure will be. The cost was reasonable for all that we did. We will us Kikiman again!

Hotel Reviews
Mantra Amphora
Palm Cove

Great hotel complete with separate bedroom, spacious bathroom, balcony and living/kitchen area. Very clean and lovely grounds.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Near the beach
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Adina Apartment Hotel Coogee
Coogee
Authenticity & Character
No character
Location
Staff
Weren't very friendly at check in
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean but cramped
Holiday Inn Darling Harbour, an IHG Hotel
Haymarket

The hotel is clean and the room is a normal size for a city. We had a terrible view of an alley and brick wall and couldn't take advantage of the free breakfast because we were scheduled for tours before the restaurant opened.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Sunlover Reef Cruises Pontoon - Moore Reef
Australia

The staff were great but it was very crowded and the lunch not very good.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Panoramic Sydney Sights
Sydney
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Pick up your rental car at Cairns for your trip to Undara
Canberra
Quality of Experience
L
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Blue Mountains Hike the World Heritage
Sydney
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Gary Topic

Put us at ease:)
Australia | Mar 27 - Apr 2, 2023

J
JESSI E.
San Diego, CA | Reviewed on Apr 09, 2023

Gary was awesome helping us out. He went above & beyond our expectations. We were very pleased with the flight, car service & hotel he organized for us while visiting Australia from the States. He was able to also give us some insight on the areas we planned to see. Would definitely recommend him & the KimKim team, thank you all! read more

Gary was awesome helping us out. He went above & beyond our expectations. We were very pleased with the flight, car service & hotel he organized for us while visiting Australia from the States. He was able to also give us some insight on the areas we planned to see. Would definitely recommend him & the KimKim team, thank you all!

Activity Reviews
Pick up your rental car at Cairns for your trip to Undara
Canberra
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Beach & Dune Tour with Sandboarding
Australia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Drop Off Your Rental Car at the Airport
Australia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Gary Topic
Gary
Gary Topic
Local specialist in Newcastle, Australia | Replied on Jul 31, 2023

Hi Jessi,
Thank you for taking the time to send your wonderful feedback. I am so pleased to hear you loved your trip.

Gary did an amazing job planning and organizi...
Australia | Feb 14 - Mar 2, 2023

C
Charlie S.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Mar 03, 2023

Gary did an amazing job planning and organizing our trip!!!
We got where we wanted to go, we saw what we wanted to see, logistics were perfect- actually amazingly so, locations of accommodations were unbeatable, and the timing sequencing of our itinerary was excellent!!!! read more

Gary did an amazing job planning and organizing our trip!!!
We got where we wanted to go, we saw what we wanted to see, logistics were perfect- actually amazingly so, locations of accommodations were unbeatable, and the timing sequencing of our itinerary was excellent!!!!

Hotel Reviews
Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney
Sydney
Desert Palms Resort
Alice Springs
Discovery Kings Canyon Resort
Petermann

Dining is limited and the food sucked

Desert Gardens Hotel
Yulara
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clarion Suites Gateway
Melbourne

Limited staff, no food or coffee available. Very tired, old hotel but excellent location!

Waves Port Campbell
Port Campbell

Incredible room, amenities and staff!

Quality Hotel Melbourne Airport
Tullamarine

Small room, but great staff, bar, and restaurant

Byron Bay Hotel & Apartments
Byron Bay

Very cool spot, great location!

Sails Port Macquarie - By Rydges
Port Macquarie, NSW

Excellent ambiance!

Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens
Pokolbin

A little tired! Very cool grounds, bar and restaurant. Staff were great except for receptionist

Hyatt Regency Sydney
Sydney

Great staff, room and location!

Activity Reviews
Pick up your rental car at Cairns for your trip to Undara
Canberra
Uluru Astro Tour
Uluru

Did not go, to late after a long day!

Sounds of Silence Dinner
Australia

Did not go, Wind storm created what we thought would be a miserable experience

Drop Off Your Rental Car at the Airport
Australia

Easy, no problem

Melbourne Lanes and Arcades Tour
Melbourne

Highest kudos to the guide and experience! One of the highlights of our trip.

Uncork the Hunter Full Day Tour
Australia

Too long, got tired of ta s ting the same wine and hearing the same story. Driver and host at Two Fat Blokes was great, excellent guide!

Explore the Blue Mountains - Scenic World
Australia

Total bust! Directions were unclear! Still.no idea what we were supposed to do.

Drop Off Your Rental Car in the City
Australia

Challenging to find the drop off spot/parking space.

The Rocks Walking Tours
Sydney
Clearview Glassboat Cruises Dinner Cruise
Sydney

We skipped this event . It was supposed to be a 3-hour dinner cruise but was actually a one- hour sunset cruise that was scheduled to get back well before sunset. Boat also looked crowded and uninviting!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Gary Topic
Gary
Gary Topic
Local specialist in Newcastle, Australia | Replied on Mar 12, 2023

Hi Charlie,
Thank you for your kind and fair review. It will help us to make improvements in future trips. I just want to address a few things. The hotels Desert Palms in Alice Springs and Clarion Suites in Melbourne were added to stay within your budget requirements, however I am a little surprised that you only rated them at 2 out of 5. Please message me through our usual message system to expand on your thoughts about these. It sounds like we should perhaps avoid using these in future. I... read more

Hi Charlie,
Thank you for your kind and fair review. It will help us to make improvements in future trips. I just want to address a few things. The hotels Desert Palms in Alice Springs and Clarion Suites in Melbourne were added to stay within your budget requirements, however I am a little surprised that you only rated them at 2 out of 5. Please message me through our usual message system to expand on your thoughts about these. It sounds like we should perhaps avoid using these in future. I am also disappointed with your score for Desert Gardens at Uluru, as this is supposed to be quite an upmarket property. Please feel free to expand on this scoring as well. Apologies for the lack of details for Scenic World. We have not had this feedback before, so it was not on our radar. I will be sure to add additional notes for future trips. For your rental car drop off, I had added some very detailed instructions in the 'Daily Schedule' section at the start of your trip plan. Please share any ways in which this could be improved, or do these notes need to appear elsewhere in the trip plan? I am very disappointed about Clearview Sunset Dinner Cruise. This was the first time we have booked with this company, as our usual dinner cruise operator was not available on your travel dates. I will be investigating why this is advertised as a sunset cruise when it clearly is not. Apologies for this and again, we might avoid this one in future.

Great last minute help and service
Australia | Jan 24 - Feb 4, 2023

Joan
Joan G.
Charlottesville, VA | Reviewed on Feb 27, 2023

I really appreciated Gary because he listened to what I was asking for in terms of hotels to stay and the types of experiences that I was interested. in””His work was somewhat stressful because I only had a few weeks before departure to plan the trip and the planning time included Christmas in between those weeks so I really appreciate his stepping up to the plate so quickly. I also learned myself that when I use Kim Kim in the future, I need to really look in detail at the options that they... read more

I really appreciated Gary because he listened to what I was asking for in terms of hotels to stay and the types of experiences that I was interested. in””His work was somewhat stressful because I only had a few weeks before departure to plan the trip and the planning time included Christmas in between those weeks so I really appreciate his stepping up to the plate so quickly. I also learned myself that when I use Kim Kim in the future, I need to really look in detail at the options that they are offering me and really explore them in depth to be sure that I’m asking clearly for the things that I want. I only had one real issue, and that was not being able to go on a scuba diving tour because of a physical limitation, and Gary was very helpful trying to address that at the last. Minute. It was also great to have someone I knew I could call in-country and a similar time zone if I needed assistance - that really helped.

Hotel Reviews
Spicers Potts Point
Potts Point

I LOVED this hotel in a great Neighborhood, with very kind staff and wonderful bars, restaurants all nearby

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Harbour Rocks Hotel Sydney MGallery
The Rocks, Sydney NSW

Great central city hotel with very helpful staff- quiet but near everything

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Gary Topic

Everything was seamless and easy. It made our trip stress-free.
Australia | Feb 4 - Feb 12, 2023

Vaibhav
Vaibhav M.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Feb 21, 2023

Gary put together a fantastic itinerary that allowed us to see a lot of things in very little time. Having someone figure out transportation, accommodations, and activities was extremely helpful and saved us a lot of hassle. read more

Gary put together a fantastic itinerary that allowed us to see a lot of things in very little time. Having someone figure out transportation, accommodations, and activities was extremely helpful and saved us a lot of hassle.

Activity Reviews
Classic Kuranda Tour
Australia

Everything from the Gold Class train ride to the park to the views from the sky train was amazing. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience
Punctual, friendly, with clear instructions.
Food
Food at the park was sorta meh.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very knowledgeable and friendly guides.
Transport
I mean, whaddya expect from a bus? It was a nice bus, though. USB ports included.
Sounds of Silence Dinner
Australia

The food was phenomenal, the view was spectacular, and the setting was intimate. I enjoyed the astronomy lesson, but I wish the digeradoo player hung out longer (maybe for the duration of the dinner!).

Sunrise Tour of Uluru (Ayers Rock) & Kata Tjuta Hike
Uluru

Hot and tiring, but the guide made it a good experience. The fanny packs with snacks and water were great. The toilets at the rest stops are ---- ummmmm..... an experience. I'm not sure if that could be upgraded since it's a government run thing. I would like to have had a more meditative experience of just "taking it in" when it was still cool first thing in the morning.

Day trip to the Great Barrier Reef
Australia

Well organized, food was great, equipment was excellent quality, supervision was top-notch, and the views were spectacular.

Small-Group Uluru Sunset Tour
Australia

I was expecting better food. Otherwise it was a nice view.

Local specialist: Gary Topic

6 days Sydney->Cairns->bristane->Sydney
Australia | Jan 5 - Jan 10, 2023

L
LI T.
West Falls Church, VA | Reviewed on Jan 13, 2023

Gary, our tour agent planned for us a very good 6-day trip in Australia. We went to most of places we wanted to be. And we're very satisfied with his arrangements. The fact that we couldn't make local phone calls made things difficulty but when there're changes during the trip Gary responded very fast to meet our requirements through other communication channel he could find.

We were arranged in Palm Cove for 3 nights. That is a beautiful place. But the hotel (Alassio) is horrible. We... read more

Gary, our tour agent planned for us a very good 6-day trip in Australia. We went to most of places we wanted to be. And we're very satisfied with his arrangements. The fact that we couldn't make local phone calls made things difficulty but when there're changes during the trip Gary responded very fast to meet our requirements through other communication channel he could find.

We were arranged in Palm Cove for 3 nights. That is a beautiful place. But the hotel (Alassio) is horrible. We couldn't get in after 5pm because we didn't get the code to get the key and their emergency phone didn't work at all. Thanks the restaurant next door who helped us to got the key. Then we found there're no elevator, no microwave oven, very hard to get into shower tub (aged people could fell and hurt themselves easily), the toilet seat doesn't stay up at open position unless you use your hand to stop it falling down. One of the bed lamp didn't work, TV remote controller out of battery, There're bugs in the closets. Couldn't find the switch for the ceiling fan (hiding behind the bed board) and nobody to ask after 5pm. Other than that, Palm Cove experience was still very good.

We missed the part of Rainforest program (because we stay at Palm Cove?), still wait for the refund Gary promised for that part.

The experice in Gold Coast is super! Stay in a great hotel (Hilton) at a great location!

After we fly back to Sydney we found no transportation arranged from the airport to the hotel. And we're not told that we need to take a taxi to get to the hotel. Asked Gary, he probably is on vacation so still waiting for the reimbursment from kimkim for the taxi.

All in all kimkim is a very good and trust worthy toure agent! We believe it'll improve their work from our experience to make it better.

Hotel Reviews
Alassio Palm Cove
Palm Cove

We were arranged in Palm Cove for 3 nights. That is a beautiful place. But the hotel (Alassio) is horrible. We couldn't get in after 5pm because we didn't get the code to get the key and their emergency phone didn't work at all. Thanks the restaurant next door who helped us to got the key. Then we found there're no elevator, no microwave oven, very hard to get into shower tub (aged people could fell and hurt themselves easily), the toilet seat doesn't stay up at open position unless you use your hand to stop it falling down. One of the bed lamp didn't work, TV remote controller out of battery, There're bugs in the closets. Couldn't find the switch for the ceiling fan (hiding behind the bed board) and nobody to ask after 5pm. Other than that, Palm Cove experience was still very good.

Authenticity & Character
after hour attendant
Location
the environment
Staff
more friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
shower tub layout
Hilton Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise

Convenient, comfortable, friendly!

Authenticity & Character
like it very much
Location
so close to everywhere
Staff
so friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
very clean and comfortable
Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel
Mascot, Sydney, NSW

No shuttle bus to the hotel from airport after 5:30pm.

Authenticity & Character
we arrived late so didn't see too much
Location
close to airport
Staff
tried to help
Cleanliness & Comfort
clean
Activity Reviews
Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise
Australia

The Great Adventure arranged everything for us, including Green Island visit, Great Barrier Reef, (we took semi-sub), lunch buffet, afternoon tea/coffee snack, transportations to and from the hotel...

Quality of Experience
Went to Great Barrio Reef
Guides, Drivers and Staff
all people were very friendly and helpful
Transport
On time and professional
Kuranda Rail, Rainforestation, Skyrail
Australia

We like the Skyrail and Kuranda Rail experiences! We missed Rainforestation program. kimkim promised to refund that part of the trip.

Quality of Experience
smooth ridings
Guides, Drivers and Staff
all people are friendly and helpful
Transport
On time and professional and friendly!
Local specialist: Gary Topic
Gary
Gary Topic
Local specialist in Newcastle, Australia | Replied on Jan 16, 2023

Hi Li,
Thank you for your kind and constructive feedback. I too was disappointed with the service at Alassio Palm Cove and rest assured we will never use them again.

Apologies for the lack of transfer at Sydney Airport. I was not aware that the free Sydney Airport shuttle stops operating after 8.50pm. That is duly noted for all future trips.

Yes, we will certainly arrange that refund for you once we have finalized payments to all suppliers, so that we can calculate the difference.

I am very glad you had a great trip despite the several hiccups that arose.

Warm regards,
Gary

Gary was very helpful to us during the trip
Australia | Oct 19 - Oct 26, 2022

R
Robert D.
San Diego, CA | Reviewed on Oct 27, 2022

Gary was very helpful to us during the trip read more

Gary was very helpful to us during the trip

Hotel Reviews
Mantra Lorne
Lorne

The first room shown was very smelly/musty and we were moved to a newer room

Authenticity & Character
Location
close to restaurants/shops
Staff
D'Altons Resort
Halls Gap

It was nice sitting on the front porch and watching the kangaroos

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pan Pacific
Melbourne

One of the best hotels we have stayed at!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Drop Off Your Rental Car in the City
Australia

Difficult to find drop off location

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Gary Topic