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March 1, 2019

Thank You from Dan & Erica Nye

Photo Credit to Dan & Erica Nye

We met with Karen about a year and a half before our Honeymoon trip to Australia and New Zealand. The entire process with her has been fantastic and very fun. We met a couple of times in person during the planning phase and then once more in person right before the trip. During the planning phase most of the correspondence was through email, which she did great at keeping us informed of what our itinerary looked like and what the plan was. She has been very supportive, accommodating, and had great communication (let us know when she would be travelling, how long to expect updates, etc.). She gave us recommendations of the best time to go, things to do/see, and what to expect. The activities and excursions she had us signed up for were incredibly fun and once in a lifetime experiences. All of the travelling went very smoothly and even though we were busy and did a lot of things, Karen still managed to build into the itinerary plenty of time to relax. The scenery and everything we experienced had the perfect amount of romance attached to it as it was our honeymoon.

Photo Credit to Dan & Erica Nye

Our trip started in Sydney (Botanical Gardens, Private Harbour Tour, Bridge Climb, Opera House tour and show), then up to Cairns/Port Douglas (Dive Great Barrier Reef, Rain Forest Resort, Aboriginal Tour), then to Brisbane (Night in the city), then over to Auckland (Hobbitton/Shire tour, Waiheke Island winery tour). Every stop had breath-taking views and awesome guides (majority of time was all private, which helped make everything more romantic). All of the flights, airport pickups, and excursion drop-offs were right on time and went perfectly.

Photo Credit to Erica & Dan Nye

The 2 and a half weeks spent in the land down under will be remembered and cherished forever. We’re planning on going back every 5 years to celebrate our anniversaries and as long as Karen is still doing travel arrangements we will absolutely go through her.

Thank you again.

Dan & Erica Nye

Article by Hillary / Blog, Testimonial / 100% pure new zealand specialist, Aboriginal culture, Aboriginal guide, Aboriginal Tour, Airport Transfer, Airport Transfers, Auckland, Australia, Australia 2000 Travel, Australia Honeymoon, Australian Honeymoon, Awesome guides, Breath-taking views, Brisbane, Cairns, Customize Honeymoon, Customized Itineraries, Customized Itinerary, Customized Tour, Customized tours, Customized Trip, Diving, Domestic flights, Down Under, Down Under Adventure, Down Under Specialists, Down Under Trip, Excursions, Flights from the United States, Flights from U.S., Great Barrier Reef, Hand selected accommodations, Hand Selected Tour Guides, Hobbiton, Hobbiton Tour, Honeymoon, Honeymoon Trip, International flights, Karen Hardy Hodgson, Lands Down Under, Luxury travel, Luxury Travel to Australia, Luxury Travel to New Zealand, New Zealand, New Zealand Honeymoon, Once in a Lifetime Adventure, Port Douglas, Premier Aussie Specialist, Private Airport Transfer, Private Guide, Private Guides, Rain Forest Resort, rainforest, Romantic, Romantic Honeymoon, Royal Botanic Gardens, Scuba diving, Shire Tour, small group tour, small group tours, South Pacific Specialists, Sydney, Sydney Botanic Gardens, Sydney Bridge Climb, Sydney Harbour, Sydney Harbour Tour, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Opera House Tour, Travel, Travel Agent, Travel arrangements, Travel Down Under, Travel Expert, travel professionals, Travel Specialists, Travel to Australia, Travel to New Zealand, Trip Down Under, Unique Travel Experiences, Waiheke Island, Wine Tour, Winery, Winery Tours

February 17, 2015

Thank you from Heather and family

Dear Karen,

Overall we had a wonderful time in Australia and didn?t want to come back!? You did a great job of planning all the details.

Heather Sullivan OZ DEC 2014– The kids? favorite activity was the Sydney Bridge climb.? Such a beautiful view!

– Our Sydney accommodation Radisson Blu was in a good location

– The surfing lesson was fun (but cold)

– Christmas brunch at the Waterfront was great.? Good food, good service, and a beautiful view!

– Loved shopping in China Town

– Experienced ?Boxing Day?.? Wow, that was so much crazier than Black Friday in the U.S.!

– Took a tour of the Sydney Opera house

– We all loved the GrHeather Sullivan OZ DEC 2014 #5eat Barrier Reef cruise and snorkeling.? Soooo beautiful and the water was sooo warm!

– The kids loved feeding the kangaroos and wallabies at the wildlife sanctuary

– We enjoyed Daintree and saw a Cassowary bird with chick along the road.? Very cool.? Also had lunch at a caf? on the beach and listened to an interesting Aboriginal talk at the information center.

– The villas at O?Reilly?s are breathtaking!? Very relaxing.

– Walked along the river in Brisbane and did some shopping.? Beautiful city.? It would have been nice to have another day there.

Thanks again for planning such a wonderful vacation!? We will always remember it.

Heather and family

Article by Hillary / Blog, Testimonial / Australia, Brisbane, Daintree Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef, Kangaroos, O'Reillys Guest House, Radisson Blu, Sydney, Sydney Bridge Climb, Sydney Opera House, Wallabies

February 4, 2013

Detroit Free Press “Travel Diva” Recommends Australia 2000 Travel

Dear Travel Diva: I am trying to plan a trip to Australia and need assistance from a travel agent who has expertise in the country. Do you happen to know of an agency in Michigan? My particular interest is to visit the Australian wine-growing regions and to travel by train. –Down Under Wonder

Dear Down: Karen Hardy Hodgson, owner of Australia 2000 Travel in Birmingham, is an Aussie who specializes in Australia/New Zealand, especially in custom itineraries like the one you’re looking for.

She says that in her 20 years of sending tourists to Australia, she finds that Americans now know far more about the faraway nation than they used to. It’s also a lot easier to get there, with nonstops to Sydney from Los Angeles and to Brisbane from Dallas.

“When I started coming here (from Australia) 30 years ago, you had to make five stops. Now you can fly nonstop,” she says. “It’s like taking the bus.” OK, it’s a bus that takes 14 hours, but it flies overnight. Although Delta flies to Sydney, she likes the service on Qantas better; it’s also a Star Alliance partner with American Airlines.

Flights generally cost about $1,600 to $2,000 round-trip. She advises visitors to plan a two-week trip at minimum — three days for traveling and 11 days there.

Most Americans don’t realize that Australia is about the same size as the continental U.S., Hodgson says — so don’t try to do the entire nation at once, mate. Explore that Aussie magic slowly.

“I try to give people four days at any one spot,” says Hodgson.

Read “Diva’s” full article here then contact us to design your own customized adventure to the Lands Down Under that CNN & Lonely Planet have named the Top Destinations of 2013!

Article by Hillary / Blog, Press Releases / American Airlines, Australia, Australia 2000 Travel, Brisbane, Custom Itineraries, Detroit Free Press Travel Diva, Karen Hardy Hodgson, Michigan, New Zealand, Qantas, Star Alliance, Sydney

June 8, 2011

Australia’s Capital Cities

Sydney ~ Copyrighted Image: Tourism Australia

SYDNEY

Since 1996 readers of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines have voted Sydney, the World?s Best City for sixteen years in succession.? Whether you visit for one day or a week, we’re sure that you’ll enjoy this cosmopolitan city with its impressive harbor foreshores, glamorous homes and coastlines dotted with jagged sandstone cliffs and golden beaches. With its Mediterranean climate, arcade shopping, restaurants, parks, gardens, museums, the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge – you will find Sydney a gem.

Adelaide ~ Copyrighted Image: South Australia Tourism Commission

ADELAIDE

The wine and festival capital of Australia, Adelaide in South Australia is one of the most vibrant, stylish and innovative cities you’ll ever visit. With rolling hills, pristine beaches, a lively nightlife, galleries, cafes, pubs, bookshops, fashion houses, antique stores, cellar doors and National Parks (all within Adelaide’s boundaries!), it’s a city you’ll want to come back to time and time again…

Brisbane ~ Copyrighted Image: Brisbane Marketing

BRISBANE

Brisbane, capital city of Queensland is Australia’s third largest city. It has been built around the Brisbane River that snakes its way through the downtown. Be sure to check out the Botanic Gardens and the unique Customs House that have become part of Brisbane’s heritage icons.

[Read more…]

Article by Hillary / Australian Travel Highlights / Adelaide, Adelaide and Surrounds, Anzac Parade, Australia, Australia's National Landscapes, Australia's Top End, Australian Major Cities, Brisbane, Brisbane and Surrounds, Canberra, Canberra and Surrounds, Capital City, CBD, City Skyline, Colour Me Brisbane Sign, Darwin, Elizabeth Quay Bridge, G20 Cultural Celebrations, Hobart, Hobart and Surrounds, Lake Burley Griffin, Major Cities, Melbourne, Melbourne and surrounds, Mindil Beach Market, New South Wales, North Terrace Cultural Precinct, Norther Territory, NSW, Parliament, Perth, Perth and surrounds, Queensland, River Yarra, South Australia, South Australian Tourism Commission, Southbank, Sydney, Sydney Aerial, Sydney Harbour, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Tasmania, Tassie, Top End, Tourism Australia, Victoria, Visit Victoria, Waterfront, Western Australia

September 8, 2010

Thank you from Kevin, Kristin, Owen and Ian

We traveled in New Zealand 10 years ago and Karen planned an amazing 2 weeks in the South Island. She planned an equally amazing three weeks on Australia’s east coast this summer; we booked the trip and left 6 weeks later. She knew we were taking our 9 and 6 year old boys and created an awesome family adventure for us.

BRISBANE: We arrived August 15 to sunshine, palm trees, and found friendly people at every stop. The kids enjoyed the Australia Zoo with our private caddie, feeding the kangaroos and hearing about the animals of Australia. Canungra, at the base of the mountain going to Lamington, is the home of the Funky Dory restaurant. We recommend it for fish-n-chips (Baramundi and Red Emperor were our favorites), squid lips, and an owner who loves what she does. We drove to O’Reilly’s guest house in Lamington National Park and loved the birds, hikes, views and incredible food. The boys were up every morning for a 6:45 a.m. guided bird walk. When our son left his glasses in a restroom, Karen’s assistant in Sydney was able to help us track them down and send them to our next hotel.

[Read more…]

Article by Hillary / Blog, Testimonial / Aboriginal culture, Aussie Adventure, Australia, Australia Zoo, Baramundi, Blue Mountains, Bondi Beach, Brisbane, Cairns, Cunungra, Darling Harbour, Down Under, Great Barrier Reef, Great Staircase, Green Island, Juan Walker, Lamington National Park, New Zealand, O'Reillys Guest House, South Island, Sydney, Tarango Zoo, Three Sisters, Vegemite

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