Wineries Archives - Australia 2000 Travel

January 28, 2014

Thank you from David & Adrea Benkoff

Dear Karen,

We traveled to Australia and New Zealand for 3 ? weeks on a spectacular tour tailored to our tastes. We hopscotched around Australia from Sydney to Cairns, Ayers Rock to Kangaroo Island. Every stop included personalized tours, wonderful people and terrific wildlife experiences. We even spent a day in Barossa wine country sampling from four wineries.

The scenery in New Zealand was picture postcard perfect. The experiences that Karen provided in Arthur?s Pass, Queenstown and Doubtful Sound highlighted the natural beauty and provided exciting activities such as a Jet Boat Ride, overnight cruise and sheep shearing. We toured with an Aboriginal and Maori guide and experienced their lifestyle first hand.

Whether we had a private tour or joined with others, all the selected tour guides were personable, knowledgeable, and genuinely enjoyable to spend time with.

Australia 2000 made this the adventure of a lifetime.

Thanks, Adrea and David Benkoff

February 6, 2013

Thank you from Dr. Gunta Wheeler

Hello Karen,

Our trip to Australia & New Zealand was absolutely a dream come true.

Sydney was everything you told us to expect. We thoroughly enjoyed our luxurious hotel and all of the wonderful tours planned for us, especially the small group city orientation tour. Our guide was totally awesome, he even brought us to the market so that we could do a bit of shopping and then to the Yacht Club for a fantastic lunch.

Lizard island was as we dreamed it would be ?out of this world? with absolutely the best food and service. The weather was as we ordered, sunny when we needed it to be and cloudy when we had a slight sunburn. Adelaide, the wineries and Kangaroo Island were also just perfect.

Our favorite part of New Zealand was Queenstown. On arrival we enjoyed a hot springs spa treatment and then headed into town where we joined in a Bar Crawl at the Ice Bar. That was the best night ever. My friends were trying to remind me my age, but I could not care less.

I must tell you that there is a new restaurant in Queenstown called Flame Bar and Grill where the ribeye steak is to die for. Also the Irish pub, Pog Mahones Stone Grill, has the best cuisine next to Lizard Island. Our favorite tour was the jet boat ride on the Dart River. It was thrilling fun and we had the best captain. I have to admit that I am totally ready to drop everything and move to Queenstown if I am ever offered the opportunity.

We also thoroughly enjoyed our chartered boat tour in Nelson. The captain was great and the Tasman Sea was at its best with lots of sun and seals, penguins and very artistic jelly fish. We sun tanned, swam and enjoyed our lunch tremendously. A highlight of the day was the terrific driver who told all about the Nelson area and even stopped at the local market so that we could purchase fresh fruit.

WOW was as wow could be, we were shocked out of our pants, that Nelson has a magnificent museum. After visiting the museum our private guide took us to the wineries where we savored the best ever smoked salmon. Paired with a prized Chardonnay, the salmon was simply splendid. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed Nelson thanks to the tours and fantastic tour guides.

Now the toughest part is to get back to ordinary food and work. I truly feel that New Zealand is calling me to return as I felt so very much at home there.

Thank you so much for a truly glorious trip!

Dr. Gunta Wheeler

December 5, 2012

Thank you from Ronita & John

It was our 25th wedding anniversary and my 65th birthday and I had my eyes set on Australia and New Zealand. But what a headache I got trying to plan it solo. I lucked up on Karen at Australia 2000 and what a breeze it became.

It isn’t every day that you make plans and have an experience of ease and grace from a customer service perspective. And it isn’t every day that you find good people with a big heart like Karen and her staff that really care and bend over backwards to make your dreams come true.

It isn’t every day that every desire in your imagination becomes a reality, as you take in the beauty of another country – the warm people, the ancient customs, the cuisine, the nature, the Great Barrier Reef, sacred land of Uluru, kangaroos, camels, and wild birds, Sydney, clear blue waters and Ferg’s burgers of Queenstown, the Wearable World of Art in Wellington, fine wineries of Nelson, art, music, green stone, the snow capped mountains. Yes, we did it all! And, I tell you we enjoyed every moment of our 25-day experience.

We owe every expression of awe and beauty to Karen. And so I say with deep gratitude, look no further, if this is your destination. You will never find more dedication, more experience and wisdom, more spirit than Australia 2000.

Ronita & John

December 8, 2010

Thank you from the Pfingsts

Since Australia 2000 Travel arranged our first visit to New Zealand so well, we decided to ask them to help us with a completely new itinerary for our second visit. While we knew we loved New Zealand, we did not expect to be as overwhelmed by the beauty of the place as we were the first time. After all, we were not even going to the spectacular South Island this time. But we were wrong. It seemed as if every time we turned a corner we were viewing new and gorgeous terrain. Beautifully set vineyards and wineries, fascinating farmer?s markets, stunning and pristine ocean beaches, lakes, and rivers were our everyday companions. The friendliness and cheer of the country?s people impressed us again, as did the attentiveness to comfort and aesthetics at each accommodation. We had a wonderful time and were very glad we asked Australia 2000 Travel to take all the work out of our travels.

Ruth and Bryan Pfingst

Traveled to New Zealand December 2010

November 8, 2010

Thanks from Debbie and Mike

Hi Karen & Hillary,

We are still talking to everyone we see about our incredible trip to New Zealand and Australia. We were met upon arrival in Auckland, Queenstown, Sydney and Cairns by your fun and interesting local guides who delivered us to our fabulous hotels/apartments as well as providing us with your detailed itinerary that included vouchers for our total convenience.

Karen grasped the personality and needs of Mike and I perfectly. The unique and spectacular journey to New Zealand took us to the Waiheke Island with fabulous visits to wineries, artist’s studios, and a taste of the local cuisine. However, we fell totally in love with Queenstown with its view of the Remarkables and our exciting ride up the Dart River.

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