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Karen and her staff planned a 1 month New Zealand adventure for our family of 6. She understood our desires and travel style and recommended just the right blend of relaxation, activity, and adventure. We especially enjoyed the wonderful lodging as we made our way around the fantastic country of New Zealand.
Traveled to New Zealand Dec 2009 - Jan 2010
We were so impressed with the itinerary and accommodations that Karen planned for our trip to New Zealand. After a brief conversation, she was able to plan a perfect vacation for our interests. We loved our day in Abel Tasman Park gaining different perspectives from a boat ride and hiking the coast. The bed and breakfasts were gorgeous and the owners so friendly and informative. Karen's connection with Wendy from the Art of Travel located in New Zealand was an important bonus. When we had to alter our plans due to weather, Wendy was able to suggest alternatives and make arrangements. The week was the ultimate combination of privacy and mixing with other travelers and Kiwis. Just tell Karen what you'd like and she will find the best vacation that fits your needs!
Laurie and Rob of Longmont, Colorado
Traveled to New Zealand October 2009
Karen, wow, the trip was wonderful! The tours were lovely - the sail was my favorite (even with the rain) and the girls loved Kangaroo Island. Logistics were perfect and we really appreciate your coordination and planning. The sunset dinner cruise was also a trip highlight.
So, all in all - it was a great trip. The people in Australia were our favorite part - what a friendly bunch they are! It was so refreshing to have the smiles, nods, doors held and greetings of "hello mate". The people really made the trip special.
Thanks again to you and your booking agents in Australia - every detail was covered and all went perfectly smoothly - what more can you ask for?
I'd be happy to be a reference if I ever could. You did amazing work with little time and a limited budget.
Cheers!
Laura Hamrick
Traveled to Australia October 2009
Karen,
 Although I have never used a travel agent in my travels around the world, at the advice of a friend I consulted Australia 2000 for a trip to Australia to celebrate my niece's college graduation. The result was nothing short of amazing. While I regularly try to take the road less traveled, with your assistance we were able to experience adventures I am quite sure I would not have been able to find on my own. Particularly amazing was our time in the Daintree Rainforest. Not only were the accomodations at the Eco Lodge amazing but our hunting and gathering tour with Juan, our aborignial guide, was a lesson in history, sustainability and family that cannot be learned until you've tromped through the mangroves looking for mudcrabs and mussels, followed up by spearing a mudcrab on the shore.
Thank you so much for listening and understanding the type of trip we were looking for....from adventure to accomodation....and providing us with an experience that neither of us will ever forget.
I'm looking forward to working with you on my future adventures!
Best,
Cindy Talmadge
Traveled to Australia September 2009
The trip was so exceptional in every way that it was truly The Time of Our Lives!
Cheers, Rebecca
Traveled to Australia July 2009
Last year I decided to keep my longtime promise to an Aussie friend to visit her and her country. Thank goodness I listened when a friend mentioned a travel agency that her friends had raved about, Australia 2000 Travel.
From my first contact with Karen, I was stunned by how determined she was to develop an itinerary that would match our particular desires within the flight schedule I'd already set. Because Australia 2000 Travel's arrangements were so thorough, so well explained, and so smooth running, we were at ease both before and during the trip, able to stay focused on the present activity with no concern about what would follow. Even our taciturn Aussie friend, who was included in part of our itinerary, frequently remarked how impressed she was by Australia 2000's work, how worthwhile each tour was, how perfectly the hotels matched our needs, how smoothly the trip progressed. Frequently a guide would say something that made me realize how much respect Australia 2000 Travel has earned among those in the travel industry. I believe that's why I'm able to say that every single person that Australia 2000 Travel brought us in contact with was courteous, conscientious, and a delight to be with.
 Our Sydney highlights: tour of the magnificent Opera House, aboriginal art in Art Gallery of New South Wales, history lesson at Hyde Park Barracks, beauty of Elizabeth Bay House, wallaby with joey hopping up to us at Taronga Zoo, intro to Ugg boots and Jacaru hats in the Blue Mountains, beautiful walks on headlands and beaches just minutes from downtown, and commuting by ferry on Sydney Harbour.
On to the Red Centre. Uluru at sunrise and Uluru under a full moon are breathtaking, but nothing beats Kata Djuta as Mother Nature's surprise creation! On the Liru Walk near Uluru, we heard Cassidy, an aborigine, tell a fascinating story in his own language. No problem understanding, with the aid of his expressive face and hands as well as an interpreter. All the small group tours that Australia 2000 arranged gave us great satisfaction.
Alice Springs feels like a frontier town, though modern conveniences abound. The tours of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and School of the Air increased our understanding of how people cope with Australia's vastness. We loved shopping in Alice, and were especially thrilled to find an affordable piece of aboriginal art in my favorite artist's style.
 Warm temperatures in Cairns were a welcome change! On our reef tour, we were surprised to find out how easy snorkeling is! We rented wetsuits and a flotation belt made me feel secure. Swam over corals, fish, sea cucumbers, and GIANT clams, just like those shown in "Blue Planet." Amazing buffet lunch provided, and every crew member was lots of fun.
Our Daintree rainforest accommodation was an incredible place - a vacation within a vacation! We had our own cabin with verandah overlooking, and making us feel we were IN, the forest. Jacuzzi on verandah, and home harvested ylang ylang oil (main ingredient of Chanel #5, we were told, harvested from a local flower) to perfume the bath. Fantastic meals served by the pond, prepared from local produce and flavorings and presented graciously. While at the lodge, we were led on a 2 hr tour of the area by an aboriginal guide, Ronald. On the trail, he explained (in good English) the uses of plants by his people and showed us a collection of his tools, weapons, and crafts. Then he played the didgeridoo and showed us pictures of himself and family dressed for native dances and proudly explained that his 15 yr old son would soon be initiated as a dance leader at the annual festival and competition held by area aborigine families. Talking to lodge staff later, I realized how hard Ronald works in the modern world in order to maintain his whole family as close to their roots as possible. We felt privileged to spend two hours with this man of two worlds.
On to New Zealand, where the low temp was forecast at 0 C. Glad I had already waterproofed my new Ugg boots because I wore them every day in NZ!
Our Auckland accommodation was large apartment containing a kitchen and a washer/dryer! A day tour with our Maori guide gave both an appreciation for the beauty of the area and a personal introduction to Maori history and culture. A box of NZ chocolates, courtesy of Australia 2000 Travel, were a delicious surprise!
 The compact beauty of NZ hit me during the flight to Nelson. From my window seat, I was amazed to see simultaneously all the types of terrain people tend to rave about: ocean, beach, cliffs, fields, forests, and snow topped mountains. I was truly in awe.
Our accommodation in Nelson provided congenial hosts John and Jill, perfect location, full kitchen, and a HEATED MATTRESS PAD! We hiked to the "Centre of NZ." It's about 30 min walk from downtown, mostly straight up! Well, ok, zigzag up. On the top is a monument purporting to mark the geographic center of the country. May not be true, I learned, but the view's terrific!
Our last day was in Abel Tasman National Park, a NZ jewel appreciated by locals as much as tourists. Bob and I were the only "water taxi" passengers dropped that day at Tonga Beach. The beach had rocks warmed by the sun, so we ate the huge, delicious picnic lunch that had been provided, then ambled through the forest to Medlands beach. Many of my favorite trip photos were taken along this walk. On the return boat, we had dolphins jumping alongside, which excited even the crew because it was so unusual in winter.
Thanks, Karen, Josephine, Wendy, and Australia 2000 Travel, for enabling our fantastic travel experience in Australia and New Zealand. What lovely memories you helped us create!
Julie and Bob Sigler
Traveled to Australia & New Zealand June 2009
Hi Karen,
We have just returned from our holiday in New Zealand and Australia and couldn't be happier. This trip was even better than I anticipated. Everything went very smoothly and all the tours we took were fantastic. Our tour guides were so knowledgeable and passionate about their subjects that it made all the information come alive. Our complements to you for finding such fascinating people.
New Zealand turned out to be more beautiful than everyone told us it would be. As we headed south from Auckland it just got better and better. By the time we got to Queenstown the scenery was gorgeous, even if it did rain and have snow on the mountaintop.
In Tasmania the surrounding area just made you want to see more. We would love to spend more time there in the future. On Kangaroo Island our guide Bill showed us all the hidden treasures along with lots of animals. How about a koala in a pine tree! By the time we arrived at Palm Cove we thought we had seen almost everything there was to see but we were wrong. The Great Barrier Reef was beautiful, with lots of fish to see. Our trip to the Daintree Rainforest was spectacular. Seeing six Cassowarys was a record for our guide Cathy and a real treat for us. Just being able to sit and have dinner by the ocean, listening to the waves, was the perfect way to end each night and our vacation.
Thanks so much for making this trip a memory to cherish forever.
Les and Carol Umsted
Traveled to Australia & New Zealand April 2009
Dear Karen,
Thanks to you and your staff our 50th anniversary adventure “Down Under” was a splendid success.
It was nice not having to drive anywhere, being picked up always on time and the private tour guides so courteous and full of information.
We enjoyed everything we did in New Zealand. Christchurch was our favorite place to wander about and we could have used another day, or week, or month!
Sydney was great! The Grace Hotel perfectly located. Sailing Sydney Harbor with Colin was a high point topped off by opening night at the Opera House.
Snorkeling off Fiji, etc., etc., etc.
Thanks again for all the planning that made our trip great.
Our best,
Joan & Greg Maleski
Traveled to Australia, New Zealand & Fiji March 2009
Dear Karen,
You read us so well! Our 30 days of exploring the natural beauty of New Zealand and Australia went far beyond our expectations for our 40th Wedding Anniversary trip.
 We covered a lot of ground in one month but the pacing was perfect. The last chapter at Sal Salis Luxury Tented Camp at Ningaloo Reef was a brilliant finale. The personal guides you chose for us were not only informative and gracious, but were charming characters we will hold dear forever. Being invited by our New Zealand wine country guide to a Tango party was just one example of the lovely ways this trip kept blooming!
Many of the Australians we met told us that  few people venture out as we did, asking, "How did you happen to know about these places you are visiting? " We always answered that we had a native Australian travel agent who took the time to ask us lots of questions and work at pinpointing our needs and tastes. We felt just the right amount of being looked after, but being on our own. How many times did we remark to each other, "Karen nailed it again!"?
As you predicted before we left, this will NOT be our only trip to Australia. We look forward to experiencing more that you hold in your magical bag of travel tricks!
Many thanks,
Martha Neumann
Traveled to Australia & New Zealand – March 2009
Dear Karen,
Just a note to thank you again for making our recent trip “Down Under” so wonderfully! You did a great job in finding all the right accommodations, locations, tours, drivers, and suggested sights to see on our own. The pace of the trip was perfect and all arrangements went smoothly. We saw so many beautiful sights and met so many interesting people. We will definitely recommend you to all of our friends.
Fondly, Marge & Ed Mazer
Traveled to Australia & New Zealand March 2009
Hi, Karen - we're back from our trip from New Zealand and want to thank you for a marvelous trip. The balance between free time and scheduled tours was perfect and we enjoyed all of our accomodations. Janet and Tim @ Baywick in Nelson were especially accomodating hosts. They went out of their way to help us in planning our stay and their breakfasts were excellent, with basil fritttas and blueberry French toast. And yes, we even went bungy jumping!
With happy memories of New Zealand -
Ronda & Bill Hobbs
Traveled March 2009
Dear Australia 2000 Travel Staff,
 I just wanted to let you know what a wonderful trip we had to Australia! All of your planning and ideas were great and we could not have had a more relaxing trip. The accommodations were spectacular and the view of the Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks celebration from our hotel room went beyond our expectations. The tours were well organized and top notch. We were a group of seven that moved around alot and everything went exactly as you had planned and we never had a problem with anything. It was so nice to have the itinerary with all the information, locations, phone numbers and directions for all the places we visited. It made the whole trip a great memory for our family. Thanks again for all your planning and work to make our two weeks in Australia such a success! We will definitely use you again.
The Webb Family
Traveled to Australia December 2008
Hi Karen,
I can not wait to talk to you in person but I had to e-mail now!!! We are at South Ocean Lodge. YOU MUST stay here!! It is heaven on earth!!! This is and will be our most beautiful place that we have ever stayed in!! I feel like a Princess in my own home. This is right up your alley. We are so lucky to be able to stay here and be the first to let you know that it won #1 international hotel in the world Tattler Magazine - London!! We have met some wonderful people here and have enjoyed fabulous food and sites with them!!
This trip is beyond glorious!! You are an unbelievable person. We showed our itinerary to a lovely gentleman from London. He actually represents tourism in London and said you have it done to a science. YOU have knocked our socks off with everything!!
This is a trip of a lifetime!! We want to come back!!
Hope you are well and have to go, we are on our way to watch Seals in their natural habitat!!
Lots to talk to you about when we get back.
Love,
Fran and David
Feedback from clients received while they were traveling through Australia (Dec 2008)
We rarely use travel agents, but decided to consider one for our trip to a very distant country, New Zealand, during the holiday season. Little did we know that finding Australia 2000 Travel and Karen Hodgson to design our itinerary would be such a lucky move.
Karen and her staff are Australia/New Zealand specialists, with years of experience Down Under and a well-developed set of contacts. As a result, incredibly, there is not one aspect of our 3-week travel to and within New Zealand that did not go smoothly. All the bed and breakfast hosts and hostesses were charming and helpful, all the activities were run by people who knew exactly what their participants wanted and needed, drivers were prompt and courteous, even the "days at leisure" were well-scheduled to provide relaxing breaks from preplanned days.
It helped tremendously that, before suggesting our itinerary, Karen spent ample time with us to discover our interests and learn what sorts of things we would enjoy doing, rather than just plugging us into a one-size-fits-all package. For example, thanks to her assessment of us and personal acquaintance with the numerous options available in New Zealand, we participated in a guided 3-day kayaking/walking trip in a beautiful national park. It was a major highlight of our trip, and if not for Karen, we would not have known enough to consider it. Hers is a travel service with the emphasis on service! Thanks to that, we had the time of our lives.
Ruth and Bryan Pfingst
Traveled to New Zealand December 2008
Hi Karen & Hillary:
 Mark and I had a fabulous time on the trip that you and the crew set up for us. The accomodations were outstanding - thank you for the welcome note and bottle of wine in Palm Cove. Everything was as you said it would be except for a slight mix-up with Suzanne in Sydney (I believe it was her husbands error). We were picked up, transferred, driven, shown and enjoyed everything. The weather was unusually warm (according to the locals) so we did not see as much in the Daintree Rainforest but were overwhelmed with the information and sights we did take in. The Barrier Reef trip was fantastic. We saw more than we anticipated and everyone on the  boat were so nice and accomodating.
I tried to stay an extra month but Mark advised the money wouldn't hold out, so we had to come home as scheduled. I have recommended your services to a couple people who are looking to travel in the next year, so I'm hoping they take me up on the recommendation since we had such a good time.
Hope that you and yours had an enjoyable Holiday Season and that the New Year is healthy and prosperous. Again, Thank You for the great trip.
Sincerely,
Mark and Lori
Traveled to Australia November 2008
Karen
Just a brief message to let you know that we returned yesterday and that the trip was fabulous. Hotels, tours, guides, logistics were all terrific. I wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed ourselves and the flawless arrangements, not to mention the wonderful Aussie hospitality.
Thanks for making it a great trip for us.
Mike
Traveled to Australia in October 2008
Karen,
Well, we have been back for awhile from our most excellent adventure in Australia. Our trip really did surpass all expectations and we had such a wonderful time. As with other trips, I have put together a note of the highlights of our trip. Please feel free to read at your leisure or just delete. Part of the reason I like putting together this kind of email is that it allows me to relive our trip a bit. We spent a good part of yesterday looking at our pictures and it was so fun to remind ourselves of all the good times we had. I would like to share them with you so
read on...
We started our trip on the evening of Saturday, September 27 and were lucky to be upgraded on the flight so flew executive class overseas. What a treat. Our first stop was...
Sydney - We landed at 8 in the morning after a long flight. However, our room was ready for  us so after a quick unpack and a wash we were gone for the day. Nothing like hitting the ground running to minimize jet lag. Sydney was a wonderful city and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves here. We had a few things planned but here our time was mostly just about hanging out and wandering the streets. The highlights of this city included climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge at sunset; a tour of the opera house where we actually were able to watch an opera rehearsal for a bit; "cruising like a local" on a small boat around Sydney Harbour which also included a quick dip in the harbour (brrrrrrrrrrrr); and a ferry ride to Manly Beach and swimming in the surf.
In Sydney we stayed at a fabulous hotel situated in Circular Quay; each night we sat on our balcony both before and after dinner overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House just people watching and of course sipping on wine. Each night we discovered a new and better restaurant. But finally on the following Saturday morning we had to move on, so flew to our next destination...
Kangaroo Island - This is the place where we encountered the  incredible wildlife of Australia. The name of this island says it all. Over the two days we were here we saw tons of kangaroos and wallabies jumping around, tracked koalas in the trees, watched the fairy penguins one evening, walked among the seals on the beach and took in some incredible landscapes. We had two days of touring with a great guide who cooked us lunch both days which of course included some great Australian wines.
On this island we stayed at a wonderful bed and breakfast. We sure ate well here!! Our host Lynn cooked us the most amazing breakfasts and dinners. The first morning was a spread like you can't even imagine - fluffy pancakes, fresh scones, homemade jam and a hot granola fruit bake. After we ate all that she then came out and said are you ready for the hot breakfast? Despite being full, Brendan and Bryan couldn't resist the eggs benedict with salmon. The next morning we were ready when she offered the eggs florentine. Dinners were even better and each night we had a choice of some amazing dishes and great wines. The appetizer the first night was marinated kangaroo. Bryan had it and liked it; Brendan and I tried a bite but we were not fans.
We left Kangaroo Island at the end of the second day and flew to Adelaide for the night and left early the next morning to fly to Cairns. One night was definitely enough in Adelaide.
After landing in Cairns we boarded a four-seater plane (just the pilot and us) to fly to our next destination, the Daintree Rainforest. This 25 minute flight along the coast and over the Great Barrier Reef was definitely one of the most memorable moments of our trip. The views were absolutely spectacular!!! And landing on the short grass runway was quite fun, not to mention bumpy.
Daintree - We stayed in a tree house resort near the edge of the Daintree River. A great place where we were able to hang around and relax, as well as tour a bit. Our first tour was out to the Great Barrier Reef. It was a one and a half hour boat trip to get to our first reef location. I accomplished a "life to-do" and went scuba diving for the first time in my life. Scuba diving in the reef is one of the most amazing things I have ever done and definitely something I will never forget. The underwater world is so different - the neat coral, the bright fish - it all surrounds you and you can't help but be in awe. The fish don't move and you are able to swim right through them. At times it is a little creepy, but only a little, mostly it is incredible. I was able to do two dives that day and it is something I will never forget. Brendan and Bryan also enjoyed the reef and went snorkling throughout the day. A great day.
Another tour a few days later was in the rainforest itself. A fun day walking through the immense trees and vegetation, cruising along the rives in the hopes of spotting a crocodile (no luck), walking along the beach where "rainforest meets the reef". This is also the trip where Brendan tried crocodile for lunch and licked an ant's butt which he, of course, thought was the funniest thing ever.
Other days of our four days at the resort were swimming or just hanging out on our balcony chatting and sipping wine. The balcony had a very relaxing hammock which made for a perfect early morning place to read. One day we went what we thought would be a short hike which turned out to be about four hours however that time also included just hanging out at a swimming hole at the bottom of some rapids we discovered. Very cool. We enjoyed our time here but after four days, it was time to move on to . . .
Palm Cove - From the rainforest we then moved onto Palm Cove, a small beach town about 20 minutes north of Cairns. This was yet another fantastic location. We stayed in a neat place which once again had a wonderful balcony where each night we could sit and relax, play games and drink wine (notice the theme yet?). Our first night we discovered an amazing restaurant with the best food and wine so far. Bryan only had one night with us here as he had to head back home the evening of our second day. A sad moment. However Brendan and I played some games that night to get our minds off of things and in the end had a great time.
The next day Brendan and I went on our second trip out to the reef. It was raining this day and the wind was strong. The trip out to the reef was VERY rocky and literally half of the people on the boat were sick on the way out but luckily Brendan and I had our sea legs and more importantly, our sea stomachs. Another cool day of snorkeling on the reef. Once again the underwater world was incredible - Brendan and I saw colorful fish, bright coral and some huge clams among other things. Our last days in Palm Cove were all about relaxing some more (the other theme of our trip). But finally it was time to leave so we got on a plane to . . .
Uluru (Ayers Rock) - Flying over Uluru just started to give us an idea of how amazing this area  in the centre of Australia really is. After spending the afternoon at the other resort's pool (bigger and nicer than ours) we went to the Sounds of Silence dinner. An amazing evening - started by watching the sun set over Uluru and Kata Tjuta sipping on champagne, next was a good dinner followed by an astronomer telling us many stories about the stars in the sky. Afterwards we were able to look through his telescopes and could see the craters on the moon,
Venus and Jupiter and four of its moons. Very cool.
Other highlights in Uluru included a sunset tour and walking through Kata Tjuta then waking up early the next morning to watch the sun rise. What made our sun rise tour extra fun was that we were on camels!! Crazy!! We finished the day by going on a private tour for just Brendan and I to Ulura. Our guide was amazing and we learned so many neat things about this big orange rock. It is very hard to describe the feeling of standing next to this rock. You feel so small and so much in awe yet appreciate the world around you. I found it quite moving. But then it was finally time to go . . .
Last night in Sydney - we finally landed in Sydney early evening and while it would have been easy to just crash, Brendan and I decided to make the most of our last night so headed out to dinner. We went to Doyle's on the beach and even though it was no where near our hotel, definitely worth the trip. A wonderful last meal. We enjoyed each other's company and remembered the highlights of our last three weeks. One of best meals.
The next morning it was finally time to head home but of course not before having one more glass of sparkling wine in the lounge at the airport. Nothing like a glass of wine at 8 in the morning!!! I love this country.
Kirsten, Bryan and Brendan
Traveled to Australia September 2008
Dear Karen,
Don and I would like to thank you for the wonderful trip you helped us plan for our 25th wedding anniversary. We knew we wanted to go to Australia, but we weren't sure exactly which areas to visit and what tours to take. With your knowledge and recommendations, you made our trip more than we could have hoped for.
 We had a great time in Sydney. The Amora Jamison was an excellent choice of hotel as its location was convenient for all our activities. We especially liked the personalized Sydney car tour with Suzanne and the harbor sailing tour with Colin, both of which you highly recommended. Suzanne and Colin were very personable, knowledgeable, and informative, and the tours were an excellent way to quickly become familiar with Sydney and the surrounding areas.
Our next stop at Kangaroo Island was enjoyable, and very different than Sydney. For the day and a half we were there, with the help of some excellent tour guides, we were able to see kangaroos, wallabies, seals, penguins, and koalas in the wild.
With our interest in wine, we very much enjoyed visiting the Barossa Valley. We sampled many wines we liked, and were surprised by how many good white wines we tried, since the area is known for its reds. We had several excellent dinners in the Barossa. We particularly liked 1918 Bistro and Grill, as well as Vintners Bar & Grill and Appellation.
Lamington National Park was amazing as we had never been to a rain forest before. Reillys was a great place to stay. Our room had a wonderful view, the food was very good, the staff was friendly and helpful, and we took advantage of most of the tours Reillys had to offer. The guides were especially personable and knowledgeable and made our tours lots of fun.
It was nice to end our stay in Australia by relaxing and enjoying the beautiful beaches in Byron Bay. Unfortunately it was not quite warm enough to swim in the ocean, but it was nice enough to lie on the beach and soak up some sun. We had our best meal of the whole trip in Byron Bay at Raes On Watego.
It was great working with you, particularly the way you customized our trip so it matched our interests. With your recommendations, we made excellent choices regarding where to go and what to see on our first visit to Australia. In addition, the way you put together all our travel documents (tickets, vouchers, maps, etc.), it made our travel so easy. Because of your excellent work, I have recommended you to a couple friends who are talking about taking trips to Australia.
Many thanks to you and everyone at Australia 2000 who helped us!!
Don and Deb
Traveled to Australia in October 2008
Karen and crew,
 We can't tell you enough how very much we enjoyed the wonderful trip that you planned for us! Every detail was fantastic and carefully planned! Following the itinerary and using the voucher system was extremely easy and "comforting". That itinerary was our security blanket; but we were never nervous or worried about anything while on the trip. We thoroughly enjoyed every day, even our "Days at Leisure".
The tour operators you use are so professional and friendly!!! Our favorites are Mic and James from Banksia Adventures. What fun! And knowledgeable!
We also loved staying at The Moorings on Waiheke Island and Old Saint Marys Convent. Both venues are unique and fabulous! The owners are also all extremely welcoming and helpful. We enjoyed all of our accommodations. The Sebel Reef House is awesome, as is Binna Burra Mountain Lodge!!!
We can go on and on singing your praises!!!
 Australia and New Zealand have so many unique geographic, botanic and biological attractions that we saw something new and different every day and we were NEVER bored. We will forever think of Australia as adventurous and New Zealand as magical.
We loved it all!!! We will always remember that it would not have been possible to have experienced such a fabulous trip without your caring knowledge and expertise.
THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!! We miss all of our new "friends", that we only knew briefly, but we have such fond memories of. Everyone was so much fun, beginning with you.
Thanks again,
Ann and Jim
Traveled to Australia & New Zealand September - October 2008
Hi Karen & Hillary,
We enjoyed Australia and Fiji very much. Your reps met us at Darwin/Australia and Jenny at  Nukubati Island/Fiji was expecting us so she brought the whole staff to sing the welcoming song when we arrived on the seaplane. Jenny pampered us while we stayed at her resort. She is a wonderful lady and she made sure she had her staff take care of us very well. It was incredibly relaxing three days and we were the only guests at the island. We did snorkeling and trekking around the island as well as motor boating. Drank cold coconut water all the time. The sunset drink, watching sun go down by the beach are the best. Jenny joined us in watching the night sky and we learnt quite a bit on the constellations such as Scorpio from one of the charts she had. They prepared great vegetarian food for us and it was very difficult to say goodbye to them.
We owe a whole lot of thanks to you for having made our vacation a memorable one, as usual, and so soon after our Jan 2008 Antarctica trip.
Best wishes,
Srinath and Latha and Preetha
Traveled to Darwin, Australia and Nukubati, Fiji July 2008
"Thank you to the staff of Australia 2000 for making this a trip of a lifetime for our wedding/honeymoon. We couldn't have asked for it to be more perfect! The attention to detail was phenominal and we can't wait to contact you again for an anniversary trip!"
Krystal & Jim
Traveled to and were married in Australia April 2008
Dear Karen and Team,
We arrived home last night. The trip was really wonderful. I cannot tell you how perfect your choices for us were....Blue Lagoon in Fiji was wonderful and we had the slow week of only 35 passengers! All Aussies and NZ which we loved. Rafi and Vict. were happy from day one running around the the other kids, dancing, swimming, visiting the school, snorkeling. It really was a wonderful experience. First landing resort is also to die for....we stayed in a 2 bedroom burree that Prince Charles and Camila stayed in!
Sydney was also completely wonderful. The apartment could not have been better. It was so quiet and untouristy and close to the ferry, etc. Suzanne was a joy, we all hugged after our day together...never ate a meal out again ---except at Doyles at Watson Bay! Our last two days were 20 which was warm enough to sit at Redleaf pool and relax.
Thank you for all the arrangements, everyone worked out beautifully and our family had the most long lasting memory. This was truly a wonderful trip and the combination of Fiji and Sydney was different, but equally beautiful. Thanks for all,
Also perfect for a working mom to have time alone with her two daughters!
Best,
Penny, Bill, Rafi, Victoria and Jennifer
Traveled to Fiji & Australia July 2008
Gday Ladies of Australia 2000:
Now that we have had a chance to adjust from the jetlag and handle all the emergencies at the office, we wanted to send you an email to let you know just how much we enjoyed our Australian adventure. Thanks to you, this holiday to the land down under was truly an experience of a life time.
First of all, we are in complete agreement that we chose the right company to plan our trip. Your attention to detail, selection of activities and accommodations made our holiday in Australia much more than we could have ever imagined. We were so impressed with the network of people you have in place! Everyone was so friendly, welcoming and knew their stuff!!! We expected 5 star services and received nothing less then 10 stars! By the way, thank you so much for the fruit, cheese and wine basket. We enjoyed the Riesling so much, we brought some home.
Butch and I also agree 100% you even have Mother Nature as a person in your network. The weather while we were in Oz was incredible. Warm and sunny during the day, and cool at night. In fact, when we were in Daylesford, it was cool and brisk. It was perfect weather to look at the color display of autumn leaves. The smell of firewood and baking bread in the air was heart warming. The only time it rained was on the day we were heading back to the States! How did you arrange that?!
 We enjoyed meeting each and every one of your company representatives from Cheri at the Sydney Airport to talking with Shelly on the phone in Melbourne, to touring with Suzanne and sailing the harbour with Colin, to experiencing the majestic beauty of the Daintree Rain Forest with Jim. Dinning with Suzanne & Piers at Lucios was magnifico and we enjoyed wonderful dinner conversation. Oh, and how can we forget lunch and the wine tasting with Garth? It was top notch. We even purchased a few bottles and brought them back in our luggage. We followed your advice and stepped into a clean skins shop near the Lyall. We selected a lovely (and we DO mean lovely) Shiraz from Heathcote and a delicious chardonnay from the Margaret River region. Fionas tour of the secret places of Melbourne was absolutely fascinating. How did you ever guess we had a weakness for chocolate? She surprised us with a mid morning break of hot chocolate at Koko Black that was to die for!!! The Great Ocean Highway was mind blowing. We loved every minute of it. Of course, the spa treatments at the Lake House in Daylesford were heavenly and the scuba diving at the reef was daring and exhilarating!! Lastly, actually seeing the Opera House, up close and in person, left us speechless. What a fantastic example of imaginative architecture and politics blended together!! Our hour long personal chat with James, the Sommelier at the Lake House, was one of the most interesting wine conversations we have had in a long time. This was most enjoyable.
It would be impossible for us to tell you if we had a favorite place, experience or event. The entire trip was like a dream. It is still hard for us to believe we experienced as much as we did. How about if we just attach a few photos and you can judge for yourself by the happiness in our faces?
We could go on for hours about the trip, but to tell you the truth, Karen, our hats are off to you and your team. You all have succeeded in turning our vacation into a true holiday. We look forward to meeting you on your next trip out to the City by the Bay. We would be honored to buy YOU a glass of fine California wine.
Again, thank you for an incredible, memorable experience.
Fondly,
Michael and Butch
Traveled to Australia April 2008
Dear Karen and Staff,
Thank you for putting together our most amazing trip to New Zealand. The trip was everything we'd hoped for and more. The itinerary was very manageable, no surprises or missed pick-ups or hotel glitches and the tours were worry free. The 4 of us appreciated how you met all of our needs and interests since we are such an eclectic group. The "days of leisure" made us truly appreciate your planning and bookings because they take up so much time to get organized and we were under such a tight schedule. It was perfect! Thank you all so much!
Sandy and Pat
Traveled to New Zealand February 2008
Dear Karen,
It is with great pleasure that we tell you that deciding on a highlight of our whole tour is very difficult. Every day was a wonderful surprise and incomparable. Jim and I both loved the  royal treatment we received each time we went to a new place or needed to be at the airport. It took a lot of responsibility off our shoulders.
This is the first trip we have ever taken where we wanted to stay longer. (On other trips we have been ready to return home after a few weeks.) It was a very special trip.
Of course, NZ is very scenic and surprising. But the places we stayed (Wilderness and Queenstown) gave us treasured opportunities to meet people. Most of them were eager to share and were friendly. NZ folk impressed us with their joy at living. That was contagious.
Mary & Jim Porter
Traveled to New Zealand March 2008
Hello (or I mean.... G' Day) --
Liz & I had a wonderful time Down Under. We both already miss both Australia and New Zealand.
 All of the people who were supposed to pick us up at the hotels and airports were all there on time, and everyone was very friendly. Seems like there are a lot of happy people in general down there. All of the adventure trips were fun, and we ate a lot of great meals (some of which were on your recommended list). Kevin Hopgoods served us one of our best meals ever. Qantas and Air New Zealand were great -- one plane in Australia had to be changed due to a slight delay, but it ended up not really effecting anything. The travel packages were informative, and things went about as smoothly as one could ask for. We really liked all of our hotel accommodations. Colin from Sailing asked us to say "hello" to you from him. Jose Carrarras was phenomenal. I can go on and on......
Again we had a great time -- and I will recommend you to friends & family who may wish to travel to Australia & New Zealand in the future. Thanks for helping make our Honeymoon unforgettable.
Thanks again.
Steve
Traveled to Australia & New Zealand December 2007/January 2008
Hi Karen & Hillary,
The entire trip was great and we enjoyed every minute of it. The Quark Expeditions is  educational and fun filled trip with great staff. The cabins were excellent. The vegetarian food was delicious every day. The lectures were quite good and kept us very busy learning about the animals and plants and the geology of Antarctica. They showed us four parts 'Shackleton' at night followed by lectures on him and others who tried to reach South Pole. The end of the third day of sailing we reached Antarctic islands starting with Halfmoon Bay followed by Deception Islands. There were landings everyday for the next next five days, sometimes two times a day. One late landing was held at 10PM in broad sun light. After that and other days after the movie, people gathered around in the coffee/bar lounge until 2:30AM. It was near 24 hour day light and no one wanted to sleep. The expedition leader called out 'good morning' greetings in the morning from the bridge and I skipped many breakfasts, unable to wake up at 7AM. But we were all ready for 9:30 landing or lectures. The penguins were plenty, actually about 70 million strong and they smelled really bad.
We got to see four different kinds of penguins but not the big Emperor ones. They live deep south, not near the shore and their cycle of birth is opposite to the others'. But we saw a lot of seals and orca and hump back whales and birds such as albatross and skuas. One day Latha took a snap of sun going down in south at 12:15 AM and coming right back up a while later. It felt like a dream land or another planet, nothing so beautiful and untouched that we have seen before. The general consensus was we should see it at least once in our life time. All in all the expedition was excellent and you can easily book other customers on this trip.
We had good hotel rooms in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia and good reps who received us at Buenos Aires airport, Art hotel and Ushuaia ship peer.
We hated to be back!
Great memories and I am ready for the next!
Thank you for booking us on a 'once in a life time' expedition, it was worth it.
Srinath
Traveled to Antarctica December 2007/January 2008
Hello, Karen, Hillary, and Shelley:
Further to my phone call to Karen earlier this week, I am following up with a letter--merely to sing your praises!
As I told Karen, you did what I thought just might be the impossible--you took a man who thought that he only enjoyed traveling to countries rich in ancient history and made him the number one fan of Australia and New Zealand! You made a believer out of him!
Steve and I had the most glorious trip of our lives. Your planning and attention to each and every detail helped to create a flawless, easy, exciting, and enjoyable trip for us. There was nothing left undone--from the efficient airport pickups and transfers, to the informative, friendly, helpful tour guides, to the carefully selected accomodations, to the exciting diversified itinerary--it was all WONDERFUL! How you ever got each and every airline to  cooperate and take off and land ON TIME was the most amazing thing. Now, if only you had equal control over the weather, you would be verified miracle workers!
We fell in love with the cities of Australia--from Melbourne, to Perth, to Sydney--each has its own unique appeal, but all are so compact and walkable that it made exploring such a treat. The landscape and natural beauty of New Zealand is unsurpassed. The fern forests, the breathtaking views in Abel Tasman park, the green, green, hillsides--all simply take one's breath away.
Our evening at the Sydney Opera House on New Year's Eve is a memory that will forever be ingrained in our heads and our hearts. I had to literally keep pinching myself in order to believe that I really was there. The fireworks, the concert with excerpts from various operas, the dinner, and the after party were all well- orchestrated and loads of fun!
Qantas airlines and New Zealand Air are both remarkable airlines. Northwest airlines should sit up and pay attention--or hang their heads in shame--probably an easier out for them, as paying attention would be too much work.
If you ever need someone to tout your services, please feel free to call upon us. We, in turn, are telling everyone we know about your unbelievable trip planning and will steer all who are planning a trip down under in your direction!
With warm wishes and heartfelt thanks,
Jill and Steve
Traveled to Australia & New Zealand December 2007
Hi Karen,
 Just a note to say thank you for the most marvelous trip we have ever had. Our trip to Australia & Fiji far exceeded our expectations..we were amazed at the perfect timing of every event and how perfect everything was it truly was a dream come true. Many thanks to everyone at Australia 2000.
Ken and Linda
Traveled to Fiji, Australia & Hawaii November/December 2007
Karen,
 You made our dream vacation come true. Our two weeks in New Zealand and two weeks in Australia were absolutely wonderful. The itinerary allowed us to spend enough time in each location to really discover the local beauty and individual highlights. It was excellent experienced advice from you. Your understanding of our interests came to light as we ventured from one delightful venue to the next. We could never have been able to create a vacation like this ourselves. We want to thank you and your staff for making our adventure a great experience. You exceeded our expectations. Thanks again and cheers mate.
Patty & Jim
Traveled to Australia & New Zealand October 2007
Karen,
 We had a fabulous time. The package of information you sent was so helpful and informative during our trip.
Sherry who met us at the airport was helpful and so nice. She gave us a few ideas and went through our itinerary. I could go into detail after detail of the fun we had, but to hit the high points. We were so impressed with how "intimate" the tours were. We felt much catered to because the tours were very small. Being on the boat with Colin on the Harbor with only 2 other people was so nice. As opposed to one of the boats that have 20-100 people. This was true for all of the tours we experienced. We would see these large tours and then us with a small group that you could actually get to know the other people on the tour.
The hotel was perfect. Great boutique hotels that offered exactly what we needed. All in all everything was perfect.
We ate at a number of great restaurants and if I can get my records together, I will send you a few names that you can add to your list.
Thank you so much for everything. I will definitely pass you name on to other friends and family that are planning to go to Australia.
Thanks again.
Norma
Traveled to Australia October 2007
Hi Karen,
Thank you for planning an incredible trip us to Australia. We had such a great time!! The organization, planning, and quality of the destinations made this the best trip any of us has ever had. We have already referred you to several of our friends. Not only did we take away with us the amazing memories and experiences of the land and the culture, we also brought back an increased awareness of the conservation ethic. We started recycling now, and we are trying to figure out how to collect and use rain water. (Other than catching it in the  wheelbarrow!)
We really loved Kangaroo Island, what a once in a lifetime treat to see the native flora and fauna in such a relaxed environment. Graham and Lyn took such good care of us and the meals were unbelievable. In Sydney, Suzanne was a real treat. She was very knowledgeable, interesting and a really fun tour guide. Ultra was incredible, while we were watching the sun come up there was a group of Asian folks who wanted to bring our son Timmy into their group for photos. After they took about 3 or 4 pictures with various members of their party and Timmy, a lady behind us explained that in their culture it is good luck to be photographed with someone with blonde hair!! We had no idea what was going on, but it was really cute.
Everything went off so smoothly, the coupons worked flawlessly, and there wasn't a single hiccup or missed appointment the entire trip. We are so grateful for your hard work and we really wanted to let you know.
Thanks again for the great trip Karen.
Amy
Traveled to Australia June 2007
Karen:
We can't thank you enough for organizing our perfect vacation to New Zealand. During our first meeting with you,  we felt confident that you both really listened and related to what we hoped to experience on this trip. We were very impressed that all the wonderful places you spoke about were based on your own personal travels. To our delight, your itinerary ended up exceeding our expectations! The beautiful lodges (Paratiho, Claremont & Blanket Bay), along w/ their food and wines were exceptional. Visiting the wineries in the Marlborough region, and experiencing the art and culture of Christchurch and Queenstown were worth the white knuckle driving on the winding, scenic roads to get there! Every driver and tour guide arrived just as scheduled---it was a compete worry free vacation. New Zealand is an incredibly beautiful country, and we hope to revisit sometime soon. We certainly will seek your services again for our next trip.
Thanks so much,
Bob & Debbie
Traveled to Australia & New Zealand March 2007
Karen
Well, I made it back!! Thanks for all your help. The trip went off pretty seamlessly to schedule. I now believe that you can control the weather! The weather was totally clear when I was on the West Coast. The only bad weather was the first day in Christchurch, which was cold and rainy (but that was okay because the Chateau on the Park is such a great hotel!). Interestingly, once we passed through the long tunnel at Arthur's Pass on the Trans Alpine train, the weather was clear and sunny, and basically stayed that way for the rest of the trip.
The Franz-Josef all-day hike was awesome (not sure why anyone would do the half-day). The Milford Sound Flightseeing was fantastic (I understand it doesn't go 70% of the time due to weather!). Wannaka was very nice. We did the Dart River Excursion to Glenorchy and Mt. Aspring National Park, which included a 4WD excursion, forest hike, and return on jet boats. That was also great fun I would recommend the Dart River excursion for the scenery, Kiwi history (we had a great guide for the whole day), and LOTR filmsites.
Thanks again for a great itinerary!
John
Traveled to New Zealand July 2007
Karen,
 Your itinerary has so many wonderful notes on side trips when we are driving. We are just amazed at your forethought in planning this trip. We've come across so many people who have been having problems that we have not had because of your attention to detail. We love the land and it's people.
You and your staff are the greatest.
Barb & Ron
Travelled in Australia October 2007
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