Review: Luxury Australia Tour, Sydney, Kangaroo Island, Barossa Valley, Melbourne, Uluru Night Sky, Boat Cruise

Shorter trip with not so much driving.

Travel Company Comments

Hi Steve,
 
I’m sorry that you weren’t happy with all of the elements of this trip.  It was however exactly the length that you asked for from the beginning and most of the hotels were five star so I did understand the level that you were looking for. But as I explained from the start not all areas in Australia offer 5 star hotels and that the Great Ocean Road has some tedious sections.  You said you liked long drives and the fact is that when combining Melbourne, Kangaroo Island, and Adelaide, driving the Great Ocean Road for those who have the time and the inclination to drive can be a very rewarding experience.  I’ll respond further according to your bullet points (the Bad first).

1. Your stay in Melbourne was only 3 nights which is the average stay there although most of my clients opt for 4 nights because it is just such an interesting city.
2. While the Great Ocean Road drive is tedious at times it’s also very rewarding.  In any event I gave you an accurate description of the drive including the fact that once you get past Apollo Bay, the accommodation is limited to motels.  No one stays more than a single night so what accommodation there is tends to be basic and small.
3. The motel in Robe has a Trip Advisor rating of 4.5 which is the highest of any accommodation in the region.  It is a small motel and like most small motels they don’t offer a 24 hour front desk.  Guests usually arrive late so they leave the room key on the desk.  This is a common practice down under where crime rates are very small.
4. Unfortunately the high end boat you were originally booked on, which is the only 5 star boat in the Whitsunday Islands, had to go in for unscheduled repairs at the last minute.  There is no way I could have anticipated that.  I spent hours and hours on a workaround which resulted in a cruise on the 2ndbest boat in the Whitsunday Islands.  I’ve never had a complaint on it before and several clients have said it was the best thing they had ever done.  I believe your insurance is paying for the forfeited flight that resulted from the change of boats.
5. I use the best limo company in Australia and their on time performance is 99%.  You had 4 transfers with them and only one was late.  I refunded you in full for that as a gesture of good faith but I still had to pay for it.

And the Good:

1. I agree, the Kangaroo Island B&B is a gem and even though it only has 3 rooms is my go to accommodation on Kangaroo Island.  It’s not due to the rooms though, they are 4 star at best, but the owners are so engaging.  What a great opportunity to get to know real Aussies.
2. Sydney’s hotel lounge is just the best I’ve ever seen anywhere.  It makes the hotel.
3. The local wine tour company runs the best wine tours in Australia period.  Small group (5 max), attentive, flexible, and when it comes to Australia wines the Barossa Valley is the best.
4. Yes, the flies in Australia can be horrible at times although usually only in the hottest months of December through March.  By late April they aren’t typically a problem.  Fortunately they aren’t biting flies but it’s maddening when they are swarming your face.  I have no proof of this but I believe they are looking for moisture.  They are much worse in the dry areas especially the Red Centre.  By the way it has apparently always been thus.  Captain Cook reported that when they encountered Aboriginals in Botany Bay that they were covered in flies.  For them there would have been no escape.