My Profile
Jim and Janet
USA
Working our way around the globe. Departing Ayers Rock in Australia. Next stop New Zealand.
Oct042012
Tour/Activity
Rotorua Eco Thermal Small Group Morning Tour
Rotorua, New Zealand
My Rating

Just the right amount of time for viewing a wide variety of geysers, bubbling pools, forests, and generally smoking landscape. Knowledgeable guide provided good insights about the entire Park.
My Photos
Oct032012
Tour/Activity
Rotorua Maori Hangi Dinner and Performance
Rotorua, New Zealand
My Rating

Fun evening and another entertaining tour bus driver (Florence). This was a well-orchestrated combination of educational demonstrations, fabulous dancing, and good food.
Oct032012
Tour/Activity
Auckland to Rotorua via Waitomo Glowworm Caves One-Way Tour
Auckland, concludes in Rotorua, New Zealand
My Rating

Bus trip turns into fun adventure under superb leadership of driver, Paul, and his trainee, Andy. The 5-hour drive flew by as Paul provided facts and stories about New Zealand. The riders played “The Game” to test retention of information provided by Paul and generally entertain the group. The Caves were fascinating. Needed more shopping time and the photos are too expensive.
Sep302012
Tour/Activity
Best of Ayers Rock: Sunset Uluru and Sunrise Kata Tjuta Small Group Tours
Ayers Rock, Australia
My Rating

Wonderful experience. Informative, helpful guide. Excellent photo ops and our guide willing to take pix for us. Sunset champagne and snacks delicious. Breakfast not so interesting. Early morning rising was well worth it!
My Photos
Sep292012
Tour/Activity
Sounds of Silence Restaurant
Ayers Rock, Australia
My Rating

Amazing, unique setting. Opening champagne reception well done. Good photo ops. Star-gazing talk fascinating. Buffet meal quite good. Would have liked more didgeridoo music.
Sep282012
Tour/Activity
Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns
Cairns, Australia
My Rating

Would do this one again. Could have spent more time at Tjupakai Cultural Ctr w/ hand-on educational experiences. Lunch was excellent. Gondola ride fabulous and train offered great photo ops. Excellent, entertaining tour bus drivers.
Sep272012
Tour/Activity
Green Island Day Trip from Cairns
Cairns, Australia
My Rating

Great ride out on the fast boat. Enjoyed walking around the island. Preferred semi-submersible over the glass bottom boat. Awful buffet lunch with the mobs of people. Would have paid more for small group in the dining area of the resort.
Sep152012
Tour/Activity
2-Day Combo: Sydney City Tour, Sydney Harbour Lunch Cruise and Blue Mountains Day Trip
Sydney, Australia
My Rating

Great value for the money. Efficient overview of Sydney highlights w/ time at Bondi Beach nice Harbour Cruise. Blue Mountains sights were beautiful. Not enough time at 3 sisters and problems w/ lunch. Facility too small to serve tour group and individuals. We cancelled the order and didn’t eat. Could skip Olympic Park. Excellent, informative drivers both days.
Jun202012
Tour/Activity
Honolulu Hop-on Hop-off Tour
Oahu, Hawaii
My Rating

This was a little iffy. I had a 3-day pass. The 1st day I just stayed on the bus and saw all the sights. Day 2 off and on was slow but OK. Day 3 was a disaster. The bus eliminated the pick-up stop I was using with NO warning. I walked to next stop and the next TWO buses passed by wihout stopping. Also, the traffic in Honolulu is HORRIBLE. Makes the description of "a bus every 20 minutes" almost impossible to achieve. I would NOT purchase Hop-on Hop-off in Honolulu again.
Jun182012
Tour/Activity
Big Island Day Trip: Volcanoes National Park from Oahu
Oahu, Hawaii
My Rating

My husband and I had a fabulous trip to the Big Island. Tour guide, Dennis, was friendly, knowledgable, and encouraged a successful comraderie among his group. The photo opportunities were excellent, lunch at the Lava Cafe was fun and delicious, and there were just enough shopping opportunities without being too commercial. My only critisism was an unpleasant incident at the airport departing Honolulu. A non-US citizen tourist arrived without his passport as ID. While he was badly in error, the tour representative berated the man and publicly humiliated for his mistake. That was unnecessary and I even think, given that the man had just lost his entire payment, a little bit of empathy would have been more appropriate. The attitude of the Tour representative made it an embarrassing time for everyone.







