Holiday Reviews: Australia & New Zealand

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Holiday Review: Best of Australia

Singapore, Australia, Thailand - the holiday of a lifetime. Singapore is the cleanest country we have ever visited. Flowers everywhere and the most charming people and what excitement to visit the famous Raffles Hotel bar and drop peanut shells all over the floor.

Australia is a country of great variation from temperate beautiful Perth in the west to the hot and arid fascinating Ayers Rock and Alice springs. Then north to gorgeous tropical Cairns and amazing Great Barrier Reef. Sydney is a great bustling city full of life and spectacular scenery. Melbourne is stunning and more sedate and Bangkok is an amazing vibrant city of wonderful golden temples and incredible food.

During this wonderful holiday we watched little penguins emerging from the sea and waddling up the beach to their nests in the dunes as darkness fell. We watched an Aboriginal display of spear and boomerang throwing. We saw the biggest crocodiles imaginable in Cairns Zoo then cuddled the adorable Koala Bears and stroked and fed kangaroos and wallabies.

We rode over the rain forest in an amazing cable car surrounded by flocks of parrots. We stroked the incredibly cute wombats and watched shoals of beautiful rainbow coloured fish from a glass bottom boat. We had lunch on the famous Bondi Beach, sailed past the Sydney Opera House and under the bridge then in Ballarat we rode up the dusty high street of a mining town as it was in 1852 in an authentic stage coach.

Afterwards we watched tourists panning for gol at the old mine. We had a wonderful day at sea watching dolphins during which we had a superb lunch. We had a superb BBQ in the desert outback under the brilliant starlit sky and an interesting time in Canberra at the seat of government.

Each of the ten hotels that we stayed in were of extremely good quality and most had a swimming pool. All the food was excellent. We flew on 8 flights and each went smoothly and efficiently.

Altogether worth every penny!

Iris Saxon, UK

Holiday Review: Best of Australia

We have done quite a few tours with a number of different companies but can honestly say this was the best.

Not only was the tour well organised by your staff but they were most helpful in organising our extension to Adelaide & Bangkok. Everything worked like clockwork. Our tour guide was first class - told us what we needed to know and extra tours which were available but also offered to make enquiries of any others which we might be interested in. There was no pressure from her to take any tours but she was there if we needed her for any reason - a good professional job done.

Although the weather in Cairns was not of the best we enjoyed our visit to the Green Island, in a full gale. Fortunately we are both good sailors although there was much "feeding of the fish" by others! We particularly enjoyed our time in Alice Springs and the optional meal out in the country when we not only had good fun but a wonderful, wonderful moment when we had the talk on the stars.

Again our thanks to all your team. We have already told many friends about Archers and we hope to be travelling with you again soon.

Hazel & Geoff Travis, UK

Holiday Review: Best of Australia

Having recently retired, we decided to take a trip to Australia. We had already taken several Archers Tours around America and Canada, so for 2006 we chose the Archers Tour "The Best of Australia".
It was absolutely wonderful, taking in all the best that Australia had to offer. "Ayers Rock", the "Barrier Reef" and the thrill of climbing the "Sydney Harbour Bridge." The organisation and knowledge of the Tour Director made sure we missed nothing. We also took the option of the Add-on to Singapore and Bangkok which really made this a "Trip of a Lifetime".

Mr & Mrs Lightfoot, Cumbria

Holiday Review: Australian Adventure

Our first tour with Archers was Highlights of Sicily, and after enjoying that so much the year after we went on the Discover Tuscany tour and the following year we took the Magic of the Italian Lakes tour.

We decided then to branch out and, combined with wanting to visit friends who had emigrated to Perth in Australia and only a certain amount of annual leave, chose the Australian Adventure tour and asked Archers if we could add on an extension for a week after the tour to Perth to stay with our friends. No problem was the answer, Archers sorted it all out for us so we set off on our big Ozzy Adventure!

The tour was fantastic, great flights with Quantas over to Melbourne, 3 nights in Melbourne then off to Alice Springs for a night, Ayers Rock for another night followed by 3 nights in Cairns. I will always remember the thrill of the flight leaving Ayers Rock and circling the red-earthed centre of Australia below then less than a few hours afterwards looking out the window and we were coming to land in Cairns with the Great Barrier Reef underneath - water sparkling in the sun and white coral beaches.

After Cairns it was off to Sydney for 3 nights then on to Perth for a week where we stayed with our friends and they showed us all the sights.

It was the most perfect holiday, I felt like a film star hopping on and off flights just like we hop on and off a bus here in Britain.

Our accommodation was superb and the reps excellent, everything went like clockwork throughout the entire tour and all we had to do was enjoy ourselves, which we did!

Highlights included trekking around the base of Ayers Rock (the photo attached is people climbing up Ayers Rock); the visit to Green Island including snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef and the cruise around Sydney's fantastic Harbour.

Now we are looking at the Journey through Japan tour for next year. Once you have been bitten by the touring bug there is no going back, the hardest part is figuring out where to go next!

Mr & Mrs Haxton, Edinburgh

Holiday Review: Best of Australia

We have recently returned from The Best of Australia tour, I don't quite know how to express just how much we enjoyed the whole trip to say it was fantastic seems such an understatement.

Our tour director, Bo was a joy to be with so caring and friendly, always there to advise Hat- Sunscreen- Water, but not at all intrusive.

Our first stop Perth was great and much enjoyed, then on to Ayers Rock watching the sun go down over the rock whilst sipping champagne, then on to Alice Springs a once in a lifetime experience.

Cairns very nice, Melbourne was busy and with a cosmopolitan air to it. The capital of Australia Canberra quite small but very interesting, but the jewel in the crown is Sydney it has such a friendly and welcoming city. Imagine having dinner in a restaurant in the harbour with a view of the bridge to your left and in front the moonlight over the opera house, what more could you ask.

We had some great optional tours in the three weeks, the Melbourne Colonial Tram Dinner is a must too, trundling through the streets eating a wonderful meal and drinking wine in a tram car decorated not unlike the orient express, what a night.

The people on the tour were a great crowd, we started off strangers and became friends over our journey.

The Australian people, the weather and the fantastic food made this the most unforgettable holiday of a lifetime, I had a tear in my eye when it became time to leave this wonderful country, we would make a return trip in a heart beat. We would recommend this tour having been on several with your company this is the best and will take some beating.

We added on the Singapore and Bangkok and found it very beneficial to break the long journey, while both Asian countries they are so very different and interesting.

We had some very nice hotels along the way and now look forward to our next adventure with Archers on the Spanish Panorama.

Mr & Mrs Steward, Sheffield

Holiday Review: Best of Australia

On November 5th we travelled to Australia, it was the first time we have taken a touring holiday, but I have to say what an experience. It was fantastic and we packed so much into three weeks.

I would like to say a very big thank you to Alison Diddams who was our tour director, she was fantastic and we her sense of humour and her professional manner she made sure our holiday run smoothly. She made sure we did not miss an opportunity to see as much as possible. With her background knowlegde she made sure we made the best of our time. She must be a real assest to the company.

It was one holiday I will never forget. A big thank you to Archers and Alison.

Damien & Elaine Murray, Luton

Holiday Review: Best of Australia

On 14th May I left Heathrow Airport for the start of the longest journey I had ever made. My destination was Western Australia for the start of my first ever visit to the continent of Australia. We flew via Singapore and the journey took about 19 hours.

There were 21 people on the tour, everyone from Britain. The tour started in Perth where we spent 3 nights and while there we had a city tour on the first day and then the choice of an optional tour. The optional tour I chose was the wine-tasting cruise up the Black Swan River on which we visited 2 vineyards for some wine-tasting and had a very scenic cruise on the river.

From Perth we flew to Ayers Rock for some fantastic sightseeing before flying to Alice Springs and visiting the old telegraph station and a visit to Alice Springs Desert Park. After Alice Springs our next stop was Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef where we had a trip in a glass bottomed boat to see the wonders of the reef and a visit to Green Island.

After Cairns our next city to visit was Sydney where we had 2 days of sightseeing before leaving to drive to the capital, Canberra. In Canberra after our city tour we had a visit to the Parliament building for a tour and a visit to the War museum.

Next we had another full day's drive to Melbourne for the last stop on our tour where we had two days to see the city before our final flight home to Britain. In Melbourne I did the optional Sports Lovers tour on which we visited Melbourne Racecourse, Melbourne Cricket Ground and finally had a visit to a brewery. Then next day it was goodbye to Australia as we left for the long flight home to Britain.

It was a 3 week tour which I really enjoyed and as with all the other Archers tours I have been on, it was really well organised and easy to book.

Mr R Ruffell, London

Holiday Review: Best of Australia

Just sending you this e-mail to thank you for your help setting up our holiday in Australia.

We returned home last Saturday and had fantastic time in Oz. Everything was first class, transfers and accommodation were excellent. Our reps were 1st class (Steve & Susie) and very helpful. Sightseeing and trips were fantastic.

The full holiday was absolutely brilliant and I would recommend this holiday and Archers Direct to anyone.

Mr & Mrs Cooper, Hull

Holiday Review: Highlights of New Zealand

Having recently returned from our tour of New Zealand and Fiji I feel I must write to say how wonderful our trip was.

The whole three weeks was just magical. Everything was organised perfectly with hotels and tour managers/drivers, i.e. John in North Island and Daryl in South Island, first class. We could not fault any hotel and service. The two drivers were very knowledgeable amusing and friendly.

Fiji was wonderful, obviously quite different, a relaxing time win beautiful surroundings at the Sheraton Hotel. Again, the staff there so obliging.

The only blip was the fact that my suitcase took one week to reach me due to British Airways omitting to put it on the aircraft on 9 th December in Heathrow. Your office in Auckland did an excellent job of tracking the luggage which finally was placed on a plane on 15 th Dec and reached me when we flew into Christchurch on 16 th December. Please forward my utmost thanks to them for their help.

The holiday was our first with your company and I am already looking forward to my next one in May to China and Hong Kong.

Thank you once again for a wonderful, wonderful holiday. I shall be recommending Archers to all my friends. New Zealand will be having a lot of new visitors on my recommendation.

Mrs J. Fleet, Lancs

Holiday Review: Best of Australia

Having just completed the Best of Australia tour, I felt that I had to write to say what a brilliant tour this was, brilliantly organised and well thought out.

The Australian courier, Judy Thompson, was one hundred per cent plus. To the rest of your staff please say a huge thank you.

Mr & Mrs Wilson, Flintshire

Holiday Review: Best of Australia

I have recently returned from your tour which departed on 23rd January which was the best of Australia.

I would like to commend the tour leader Alison Diddams who is a true professional and one of the best tour leaders I have ever experienced.

Ms C Bulley, Leeds

Holiday Review: Australian Adventure

We would like to let you know how much we enjoyed our recent holiday to Australia and New Zealand.

Our stop over in Singapore with all the optional tours was a lovely start. Australia was fantastic, would not change a thing especially the Tour Director, Alison Diddams. Also, the Tour Director Geoffrey Haughey was great - very entertaining and a fountain of knowledge.

All in all a fantastic holiday and we look forward to travelling with Archers again.

Mr & Mrs R. P. Ashman, Cambs

Holiday Review: Best of Australia

Thank you for a wonderful well organized holiday thoroughly enjoyed. This was our second holiday with Archers and unlikely to be the last!

We met people who had used your company up to 10 times so that has to be a recommendation to anyone considering your holidays for the first time.

Mr & Mrs Toms, Cornwall

Holiday Review: Australian Adventure

We have just arrived back from our holiday to Bangkok, Australia and Singapore and we wanted to express our appreciation of a truly magical holiday. We had never used Archers previously and were recommended by our sister and brother-in-law who had been to America and Canada with you.

The whole holiday ran without a hitch, from the booking over the phone, which was excellently handled to the actual holiday. All the hotels were first class and the pick ups both for trips and for transportation to the various airports were always either early or right on time, which ensures you are not left wondering if everything is ok. We had electronic tickets for the first time in our lives and you always have some misgivings when you don't have a "proper" ticket, but this never created any problem whatsoever and the airports are obviously use to this and are organised enough to ensure the customer goes through the procedure very smoothly.

We will have no hesitation in using Archers again and also recommending Archers to others, which we have already done. Thank you once again for organising a truly memorable holiday for us.

Mr & Mrs Gregg, Sheffield