Fiji Archives - Australia 2000 Travel

September 25, 2019

Thank you from Christine Riggle

Bula Karen and Hillary,

To say that Faith and I loved Savasi Island is an understatement. Words can’t describe how wonderful it was. The entire staff were so friendly they felt like family and it was very hard to say goodbye. We were enormously lucky to have the yoga instructor all to ourselves the first week. Very quickly she became one of our favorite people and we looked forward to spending time with her everyday. The Cora Villa was awesome. Although very close to the main building and another villa it was very private. The infinity pool was beyond words. When we weren’t in the pool, we were swimming at one of beaches. We enjoyed every minute and wouldn’t hesitate to return.

Vinaka vakalevu for finding Savasi. It exceeded our expectations and we left happy, relaxed and a little sad for having to leave.

Christine

August 30, 2019

The Face of Australia 2000 Travel ~ Karen Hardy Hodgson. Featured this month as Hour Detroit Magazine?s Faces of Detroit 2019

Australia 2000 Travel weaves a touch of Aussie magic into every Bespoke Luxury Journey, handcrafted for the discerning traveler seeking to explore Australia, New Zealand, and remote South Pacific islands from a unique perspective.

Australia 2000 Travel was established in 1992 by fifth-generation Australian Karen Hardy Hodgson, whose mission is to help travelers discover the South Pacific through a local’s eyes; experience the vibrancy of immersive travel during stress-free journeys tailored to include each person’s specific interests and desires; and take travelers beyond the beaten path, where lifelong memories of wonder are created.

Australia 2000 Travel stands alone with recognition by Tourism Australia as Michigan’s only Premier Aussie Specialist, by Tourism New Zealand as one of Fewer Than Ten North American 100% Pure New Zealand Life-Time Gold Specialists, by elite Luxperience as one of the Top Two-Hundred-Fifty Travel Designers in the World, and by Hour Detroit as Detroit’s Best Travel Agency.

https://www.hourdetroit.com/faces-of-detroit/australia-2000-travel-karen-hardy-hodgson/

August 2, 2019

What is the Meaning of Luxury Travel?

Luxury travel commences when the discerning traveler meets a passionate, knowledgeable travel designer who specializes in handcrafting bespoke, luxury journeys to a specific part of the world, based upon each traveler’s interests and desires.

At Australia 2000 Travel we focus on luxury travel to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific Islands, notably Fiji.

In visiting those countries annually I meet the locals, select boutique accommodations, choose the quintessential vibrant, private tour guide, move beyond the cities, seek the usual from a unique perspective.

As a travel designer I ask travelers, ‘”what” makes your eyes sparkle and your heart sing? And so begins the magic of creating individual, one-of-a-kind, stress-free, immersive travel experiences. Experiences that could include waking in a luxury tent at sunrise to see water buffalo walking by glistening in the sun after an early morning swim, dining in a local’s home, private wine tastings with the local vintner, visiting sacred indigenous sites, helicopter flights over Lord of The Rings country, firework displays at New Year, private garden, gallery and museum tours, diving on a glorious Fijian island.

I’m considered one of the top 250 travel designers in the world and recognized by Tourism Australia and Tourism New Zealand for my expertise. We take care of every single detail. All travelers need do is show up and be prepared for a good time. Past clients often say I helped them create the best trip of their lives. Now that’s luxury travel.

Vinaka vinaka, Nga Mihi, Cheers

Karen Hardy Hodgson

President

Australia 2000 Travel

Creating Bespoke Luxury Journeys to Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific Islands

July 12, 2018

Thank you from Vivian, Danny & Eric Chan

My family of 3 has spent one week in Port Douglas and one week in Fiji last month. My son has never been to Great Barrier Reef. We went out to different reefs at two separate tours. We saw many different kinds of reefs, fish and a few giant clams, so colorful! It’s remarkable and breathtaking. Karen has arranged a private cultural tour to Daintree for us. The guide Aaron was a native there. He was very familiar with all the plants and where to spot crocodiles. He showed us different plants to heal sinus and mosquito bites, very fascinating as we are all big city people. He took us to the beach spearfishing, which my son had so much fun playing with the spear. We didn’t catch anything but again, it’s something that we don’t get to do in the big cities.

We’ve stayed at Savasi Island in Fiji. The resort was beautiful and private. They have a very good activity center there. We kayaked in the channel and did line fishing by the shore. We also snorkeled at Split Rock and Turtle Alley. Our guide Thomas brought food to feed the fish and we were surrounded by tons of stripped sergeant, it’s amazing. We didn’t see any turtles at Turtle Alley but we saw couple sharks there. The weather was perfect that day, the sea was calm, the giant rocks with coral reefs and fish was spectacular. Maybe because we were the only people there, it’s so peaceful and relaxed. We love the ocean!!!

Photo Credit to Vivian, Danny & Eric Chan

June 21, 2018

Thank you from 2 Happy Germans, Peter and Meggie and Their Family

Welcome Back to Fiji – Photo Credit to Peter Schmitz

It is exactly 15 years ago that I asked Karen to apply some of her magic and work out a trip to the Southern hemisphere for my wife’s and my 30^th wedding anniversary.

I thought it is about time to have the honeymoon trip we never had since, at that time, I was still attending university and we didn’t have the money.

And what a trip Karen proposed!

It started on Fiji’s Nukubati Island, a small private island off the Northern coast of Vanua Levu, an hours drive from Labasa. It is a paradise for those who like a quiet and peaceful time to relax and recharge batteries. Luxurious service, pristine waters, outstanding scuba diving, fishing and so many more things to do and last but not least, being pampered by the wonderful Fijian people.

We spent Christmas on the island and then went on to Sydney for the New Year celebrations.

Harley-Davidson Tour – Photo Credit to Peter Schmitz

Not surprisingly, Karen found what we believe- is the best location to experience this event: The Quay Grand Sydney Harbour hotel at Circular Quay, with a direct look at the Harbour Bridge and in walking distance from the Opera House and the center of the city. Sydney is a great place to visit, a truly wonderful city.

After a few days in Sydney we continued to the Whitsundays further North. Seaplane trips to Whitehaven Beach and out to the reef for some snorkeling are a must.

After four weeks, which were filled with lasting impressions and just flew by, we returned home and for weeks, we couldn’t stop talking about this miraculous trip, praising Karen’s magical work. As a result, we got our kids all wound up so that we promised to take them also on the same trip, which we did a few years later.

New Zealand – Photo Credit to Peter Schmitz

Since then Karen has organized 12, four to five-week trips to Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand.

Every trip was top notch and even in the places where we returned to, like Sydney, Karen made sure that there was always something new to see or experience. Not one boring minute in now nearly one full and exciting year of accumulated travelling time.

Australia, Fiji and New Zealand, their wonderful people, lifestyle and breathtaking nature are worth to sit 20+ hours on airplanes to get there and every dime spent, was worth spending thanks to Karen!

We have seen many wonderful places and met great people among them some very memorable:

Tasmania Australia – Photo Credit to Peter Schmitz

Cities: Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney.

Nature: The Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef, Nukubati’s Great See Reef, Flinders Range and Tasmania, North and South Island of New Zealand.

Locations: Nukubati with wonderful Jenny and the Nukubati family and The Manse in Hawkes Bay with the equally wonderful hosts Dietske and Gary.

Karen will never cease to amaze me with the magic she does. We cannot thank her enough and I hope that she will continue with this wonderful work for at least as long as we are fit for travelling those distances so that we can continue to put our travel plans in her expert hands.

July 1, 2015

Destination Weddings Are Our Specialty

It is truly a joy and an honor to organize weddings to the GLORIOUS Lands Down Under, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Fiji.? Each ceremony is handcrafted to your unique dreams, desires, interests, taste and budget.? We organize every detail from hand selecting the wedding venue to suit your individual style to coordinating each aspect of your spectacular day.? Our extensive local knowledge of each destination coupled with our personal relationships throughout the South Pacific truly sets us apart enabling us to plan a wedding that will exceed your every expectation.

Click here to read testimonials from brides and grooms who have entrusted their special day to us then contact us to design your bespoke romantic destination wedding.

BNE-Wedding Spicers Hidden Vale — Photo Credit to Spicers Hidden Vale

BNE-Luxury Wedding Spicers Hidden Vale — Photo Credit to Spicers Hidden Vale

BNE-Luxury Reception Spicers Hidden Vale — Photo Credit to Spicers Hidden Vale

June 30, 2015

Our Local Agents Cater to Your Every Need

Besides having a wealth of knowledge about Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Fiji we also have local booking agents who coordinate every aspect of your Down Under Adventure and are on hand should you require assistance while traveling.? Should an excursion be canceled due to inclement weather simply call our local agents who will reschedule the tour for you, make a substitution or arrange for a refund on your return home if no other option is viable.? If for some reason you need to return to your home early our representatives will make the necessary changes and arrangements for you.? Though rarely needed it is comforting to know that our local agents are there for you when you need them.

June 30, 2015

G’day Mates Meet Our Hand Picked Local Guides

We expend a great deal of effort in choosing our local guides. We meet them personally and take their tours. Our guides are accredited and are selected on the basis of their passion, local knowledge, sense of history, story telling ability, sense of humor, contacts that open closed doors, flexibility, style and quality vehicles specifically suited to the touring needs.

June 9, 2015

Our Personalized Tours Suit Your Every Need

Client Meeting at Australia 2000 Travel — Australia 2000 Travel Client Meeting

Before we begin creating your customized itinerary we chat with you at great length to determine your lifestyle, personal interests, trip expectations, fitness level, budget and the type of accommodation that best suits your taste. We are great listeners with vast local knowledge. We draw upon our wonderful experiences, our cultural and geographic expertise that only a native can possess and lastly add a touch of Aussie magic to create an itinerary that will perfectly suit each of your needs. Our unrivaled customer service, passion and commitment to excellence guarantees you?ll have the South Pacific trip of your dreams, hand-crafted to exceed your every expectation.

June 3, 2015

Luxury Tours Customized to Your Dreams, Desires, Taste and Budget

Credit to Tourism Australia (22) — Photo Credit to Tourism Australia

Our customized tours are designed so that every aspect of your wonderful trip has been arranged to suit your personal needs and interests, time constraints and budget. Your tour will always include airline bookings, luxury accommodation, private or small group touring, private transfers between airports and hotels via chauffeur drive cars, early and late hotel checkouts, the full services of our local specialist offices in each country you visit in the South Pacific and assistance with entry visas. Restaurant recommendations and reservations, bookings for theatre and spa treatments are all part of your luxury tour. Your sightseeing leisure time activities will be selected according to your personal interests, tastes and desires. Your luxury tour will exceed your expectations.