Reviews
My fiancé and I as well as my cousin and his wife just completed the Gate 1 Travel tour to Australia and Tasmania. We had a most incredible trip covering major towns and cities on the east coast, IIuru and Tasmania. Bruny Island was stunning. I commend Gate 1 for the fabulous trip you put together. I can't begin to imagine how much work was involved with all the arrangements. It was the trip of a lifetime for us. Bravo! Kudos go to our tour guide, Matthew. He was the best. He was informative, fun, attentive and a real good guy. He nicknamed us "The Mob" and helped us all to speak Aussie. He took great care of us even diffusing a potential confrontation that surfaced in Melbourne. Please keep up the good work.
William S.Our New Zealand trip was fabulous! Our tour manager, Kirsten was so knowledgeable about her country and provided all kinds of information and little stories along the way. Our tour group was so fun and made the trip very enjoyable and fun. This was our first tour and we couldn't have asked for better weather, beautiful scenery and fun experiences. We will be using Gate One for our next trip. Thanks for all your help booking.
Teresa C.Our trip was outstanding. Factors contributing to this include: A stellar guide. Aaron was organized, considerate of individual needs, and an excellent communicator. His commentary was insightful, engaging, and always relevant. He is very knowledgeable about history, natural history, and about Maori culture. Of the three group tours we have been on, Aaron we clearly our favorite tour guide! Our itinerary was great. There was great variety. We hit the highlights that we were most interested in. No one travel day was exceptionally long. We had a good blend of being "on the go" and downtime. The hotels and food were great. We loved the variety. We liked that the hotels were very close to the city center/main attractions. We appreciated the way our bags were handled. Our coach drivers - Steve and Larry - were excellent. The coaches were comfortable.
David L.I had a great trip! Linda, the tour guide, was so incredible the entire trip. On the last day my group told her how much she meant to us on the trip. She knew everything about NZ and we all said we now know everything about NZ due to her. The bus drivers were wonderful too! Thank you for a memorable experience!
Kara C.My wife and I just returned from a fabulous tour of New Zealand with Gate 1. Needless to say, we were impressed with the encyclopedic knowledge of our tour manager, Kirsten. She also provided us with supplementary information in the form of handouts concerning NZ flora, fauna, history, government, art, culture, and the economy. She was very patient and, at all times, positive, despite encountering minor hiccups during the trip. One example - one our group left her purse (with her passport) at a cafe in a town, and we had to backtrack to retrieve it. Kirsten worked well with both bus drivers in getting us to where we needed to be on time. Kirsten took great care of our group, and generously shared her knowledge of all things New Zealand in a light and informative manner. I noted that her knowledge at one of the national parks exceeded that of the local guide!
Leslie K.It was a great tour with a great, caring tour guide, Annalise. First class bus drivers Chris and Gerry, irreplaceable every day, keeping us hydrated and safe on the road. Every day was a big surprise with beautiful places, comfortable hotels, timely and tasty meals. Our group was like big Family. Annalise was the Best.
Zofia R.The trip was over the top amazing! I loved the tour guides, the little surprises we received from them that included food, and extra stops. This trip was by far one of the best I have ever had with Gate 1 and I will tell my friends to go and not miss Ayers Rock and Uluru and the Sounds of Silence dinner. This time of year in October and November is a great time to visit Australia and New Zealand. Thank you Gate 1.
Sharon A.My husband and I were fortunate enough to have Clinton as our tour manager for our recent (Oct 15th - Oct 26th) 2023 New Zealand tour. He was absolutely wonderful! His knowledge of almost everything New Zealand was amazing, his personality engaging and entertaining, and his concern for the welfare of his guests was nothing short of excellent! He had "comfort" stops throughout the days we were on the bus for many hours, and stopped at interesting sights for ten to twenty minutes to give us a break. We were also lucky enough to have a great group of people to travel with! We will definitely be travelling with Gate1 because of the impression Clinton has left us with, AND we will be telling our friends too!
Elaine S.The trip to Australia was for myself and my husband and we both had a wonderful time. Our tour guide, Tracy, was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable, had a great personality and always went out of her way to be sure that everyone was having a good time. I had some dietary restrictions and she always made sure that there was food that I could eat and never made it an issue. We had many flights which were surprisingly on time and she made sure that the check-in procedure went smoothly. The guides at the different destinations were very informative and we were very pleased with all the meals that were included. Although we were on the go, the pace was good and we did see a good portion of eastern Australia. I was especially happy that I could swim at the Great Barrier Reef where we had good weather and enjoyed dinner under the stars at Ayers Rock. We would recommend this trip to anyone considering going to Australia and you would be very lucky to have Tracy as your guide.
Beverly M.Awesome. The pace was just right. Our tour manager Danah was fantastic- knowledgeable, helpful & resourceful. This a was my 7th trip with G1 and as always, I'm very satisfied with this Gate 1 tour and their tour manager.
Ruth S.It was INCREDIBLE! Our tour guide was outstanding. We traveled with an 8 and 12 year old and they ADORED her! She was so kind, energetic, knowledgeable and just so special. She made us feel so welcomed and comfortable the minute we got off the plane (she was on our flight from Sydney to Cairns!). After the tour, we stayed in Australia to visit some friends and our kids, at different points, said that they missed Juliet and our tour group (they were having a nice time with our friends, but really felt connected to Juliet and the group). As for the tours, they were fantastic. We fell in love with the Dreamwalk/Mossman gorge tour and the Skyrail. We would have liked more time in the villages in the Blue Mountains to explore, they were so cute and original, but the stops were very quick. We will definitely be booking with Gate 1 again! This was an excellent trip from every point of view.
Kateri L.Tracey was a superb tour guide - absolutely amazing! She was so knowledgeable, flexible, accommodating, nice, and quite fun to be with on this tour. At every point she went beyond what was needed. She made my first group tour a complete delight - and would make me want to take other group tours. The family who hosted the home dinner should be commended. They extended themselves with a bountiful, delicious meal, drinks, and dessert, as well as providing lovely entertainment and singing. They were lovely conversationalists. All in our group who went to the dinner thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The family told us this was the first time they had hosted such a dinner - they came through with flying colors. All of the "optionals" were wonderful. The entire tour was, as well - we saw so much of both countries, their cultures, sites, and highlights. It was a well put together tour.
Catherine O.Kevin is unique. We would classify him as one of the best tour managers we've ever had over many years of travel. He did lots of things to ensure us a great experience. For example, when a restaurant failed to serve the dessert on the menu, the famous Pavlova; he discretely arranged the next hotel to make and serve it to us. He was unfailingly upbeat, greeting us all the time with a broad smile and a cheerful "Kira ora." And he was funny and kept us laughing with his many jokes which he cracked with perfect delivery. Definitely a natural comedian. Because of his wit and humor, it was easy to overlook something else: his command of facts and figures about the culture, people, and history of NZ. He told us wonderful Maori stories about the "long cloud" and the "silver fern" and the doomed love between the maiden and the man in Rotorua. I even took notes so I can remember them long after this trip. If I had one wish, it would be that he had given us more details about what to do in our spare time. Perhaps cite his favorite local spots and even occasionally walk with us or take us to them . Without a doubt, Kevin was first-rate thoughtful, knowledgeable, and hugely entertaining.
Jeanne O.Hi, it was a wonderful trip. I enjoyed it very much. It's a beautiful country. People of Fiji are so friendly and helpful. I would recommend all my friends and family to take this trip.
Anita B.Our trip to Fiji was wonderful! The Hilton Hotel was so nice and the people in Fiji are so nice and humble!
Leigh F.Wonderful! Gate 1 did a nice job (again) on New Zealand. The hotels, food and tours were very good. Our tour guide Kevin was a hoot and we were always laughing on the bus. He was concerned with making us happy and enjoying our tour. Another job well done, thanks!
Trudy M. Mokena, ILExcellent! Clinton, our Tour guide, was so fun. We ran into several obstacles and he handled them seamlessly. All the hotels were great. The schedule was a good mix of busy and rest. I loved our small group. We were very compatible and had a great time together. New Zealand is beautiful. This was one of my favorite trips.
Penny Z. Overland Park, KSWonderful. Gate 1 has a real asset with Ben as a tour manager. This was my 9th Gate 1 trip. I tell everyone that the guides/managers are outstanding, but Ben stands out amongst even the best. The itinerary was excellent, as well. Three days in each place may be less stressful, but the time we spent in each place was well planned. The optional trips were perfect. The Great Barrier Reef, Outback BBQ, and 3 sisters were my favorites. Although only 9 days as a group, we became a bonded group quickly. Looking forward to my next trip.
Pamela V. Ewing Township, NJWe loved our trip!! New Zealand was even more beautiful than we imagined and Queenstown and Milford Sound with the optional trip to a remote sheep farm were breathtaking. Linda was a knowledgeable and resourceful guide who make us feel secure in her country. Australia was more fascinating than I anticipated and I loved the English influence on the foods, the architecture, and the culture. Melbourne's juxtaposition of old buildings and new, incorporating varying colors and shapes made it very artistic and lovely to behold. Vic was perhaps the best tour guide I've experienced with Gate 1; remember, this was my 12th tour. He went above and beyond expectations with his commentary, knowledge, good humor, and walking tours. The entire tour group (all 27 of us) agreed that he should receive tour guide honors for his work. As usual, the hotels were centrally located, impressive, and high quality; this is one of the features that I adore about Gate 1--location, location, location.
Sharon D. Claremont, CAThe trip to New Zealand was excellent. Richard is a great tour guide.
Alan S. Hilton Head Island, SCHad a wonderful time in Sydney Australia. Weather was perfect for taking in the many incredible sights. Flights were on time and everything clicked. Looking forward to booking again with Gate 1 travel for my next trip.
Dennis M. Rio Rancho, NMIt was excellent. Our guide, Greg, did a masterful job ... The itinerary was well-planned, including the day at leisure in Queenstown, which was gratefully received. Coach tours all have their drawbacks, but they were greatly overridden by convenience and the relatively small group. We simply could not have been happier with the trip, including the hotels and meals.
Bruce C. Aiken, SCBeautiful country and we had amazing weather. Food was incredible and our bus driver John was the best one we have ever had. Did lots of commentary and was fun.
Roy B. Saskatchewan, CanadaNew Zealand and Australia was awesome! This trip was the longest we had ever been on but it was worth every day of it! I can’t wait to plan our next Gate 1 trip! So far this company has been so good!
Debra A. Magnolia, ILOur trip was great! We had beautiful sunny days everyday, even a few were close to 100 degrees ... Our Australia guide, Dana, was THE BEST! Cheers to her for showing us a fabulous time and giving us over and above attention and service. We would highly recommend the combination of New Zealand and Australia trip. I hope we can join another Gate 1 trip in the future.
Mary J. Lake St. Louis, MOIt was lovely, Kevin our tour director was awesome!!! Fellow travelers were tons of fun & had similar interests, and the scenery was to die for!! Especially Milford Sound.
Sharon B. Mokena, ILIt was a great trip. We had a wonderful experience, the tour guide was fantastic. Everything was excellent, small group tours are the best!
Eduardo F. Cancun, MXThe trip was excellent in every way. The itinerary was wonderful. Very nice hotels, good meals and Richard was a fantastic guide.
Isobel F. Toronto, CanadaIt was truly amazing. New Zealand was pristine from the Mountain Views to the ocean and spectacular lakes. The air was so fresh and the water so clean. Australia was our highlight, but everyday the tour was more and more amazing. The additional excursions were great for seeing the wildlife and experiencing Australia and New Zealand for it’s true beauty. We enjoyed the city life, but enjoyed the small towns and wilderness even more. We thought being away for the holidays might of been a draw back, but the group we traveled with and the amazing tour guides of Richard from New Zealand and Pam from Australia filled our days and celebrated the holidays as if we were one big happy family. Thanks to them we had a wonderful time. Gate 1 really out did themselves with this amazing tour! Thank you for a memory of a life time!!! We are looking forward to our next tour with Gate 1!
Dina T. Middletown, DEBoth countries were great, both guides knew there stuff and were very informative. This was our 10th Gate 1 trip and all continue to be as advertised. We look forward to #11 in January to Italy. Thanks for all your hard work and making our trip special Gate 1!
Dianne N. Tyrone, GAIt was spectacular. Unbelievable scenery. Food was excellent ... Both bus drivers were pleasant, safe and professional. Always felt at ease. Guide was very knowledgeable .. Will definitely recommend Gate 1 and especially the Discovery Tours.
Georgeann H. Gilbert, AZWe enjoyed everything about our tour of New Zealand. We felt it was well thought out. The hotels were very good. The itinerary was excellent, as were the dinners. Our guide, Malcolm, was superb. He was so knowledgeable about NZ and tied in the Maori culture whenever possible which made the tour that much more interesting. Thank you for an excellent tour of NZ.
Frances R. San Jose, CAGreat trip! We enjoyed visiting both countries. Linda, our tour guide in New Zealand was amazing! She is extremely knowledgeable and very professional!
Mary M. Weeki Wachee, FLIt was great! The people are so genuine and kind and it's a beautiful place full of history, culture, and animals. 2 thumbs up!
Bonnie L. Riverside, CATrip was fantastic! New Zealand was amazing; people were great; and the Gate 1 experience was excellent!
John C. Wingham, ON, CAThe trip was fabulous especially New Zealand. The beauty of that country cannot be described. We had a great time.
Karen C. Cumming, GAWe had a great rime in New Zealand and Australia. We were very pleased with the tour guides, itinerary, and hotel arrangements by Gate1. Again, you exceeded our expectations!
Dwain B. Blountville, TNWe had a wonderful time. We had a great group and excellent guides. All connections were good with ample time between flights. An extra day in Melbourne would have been nice. But we had a good taste. Would certainly recommend the trip and already have. Thanks for the excellent arrangements.
David E. Niles, MIIt was great! We had two wonderful guides--Claudia in NZ and Dana in Australia! It was a great experience!!!
Jacquelyn S. Birmingham, ALOur trip to New Zealand and Australia was very interesting and enjoyable. We had seen and learned a lot about the both countries, their people and beautiful nature. Our guides, Richard in New Zealand and Mark in Australia, were very conscious, knowledgable and dedicated to make our travel comfortable and enjoyable. All the hotels were first class and travel arrangements were excellent. Overall had a great time and learned a lot about the life down under. The trip has been one of the best of the many trips we have taken with Gate 1 Travel.
Bogdan C. Sugar Land, TXWife & I had a wonderful time--really enjoyed the way Gate 1 set up the tour. Never really rushed with adequate time to enjoy each day, lodging was always top of the line, great guides, and wife & I both agree we would love to go back to New Zealand again one day. This was our third trip with Gate 1 tours and we have always had a great time. Thanks for your wonderful tours!
James W. High Ridge, MOGood trip good group. Excellent guides. Claudia in. New Zeland and. Mark in. Australia. Good hotels centrally located A highly recommended tour. One extra day in Melbourne is advised. Thanks for organizing a great trip which is bound to get more popular.
Patrick H. Newark, DEThere is no place like home although the trip was great!! Both of our tour directors were gems and the weather was fabulous which is always a big plus. We saw everything that we dreamed of and more.
Joyce F. Louisville, KYIt was great! Another perfect itinerary. We especially enjoyed New Zealand and the variety of activities and adventures offered. In Australia it was the unique 'wild life' and beaches for us. Looking forward to finding out next trip with Gate 1 as soon as we recover from this one.
Earl P. Greenville, SCMy trip was marvelous, cold in New Zealand beautiful country and the tour guide was absolutely wonderful. Claudia looked after us like mother hen to her chicks. On to Australia another amazing country my dreams have certainly come true Visiting those two countries. we thoroughly enjoyed every moment and the Sydney harbor was icing on the cake.
Ivette D. Margate, FLGreat - excellent guides and good hotels and of course wonderful scenery and events.
Maria P. Chevy Chase, MDOur trip was fantastic! Both guides, Linda, in New Zealand and Dana, in Australia were wonderful. Linda, especially, was extremely knowledgable about the history and topography of the area. The scenery was spectacular and the tours hit all the sites that we wanted to see and some that we didn't know about, but were a great addition. We are looking forward to our Gate 1 Russian River Cruise in September as we are so impressed with the quality and value of Gate 1's tours. We have become your "poster children" for your company and recommend you to friends and strangers alike!
Barbara R. Saint Charles, MNWe had a blast!!! It is hard to pick a favorite. New Zealand left us wanting more, Melbourne was OK and Sydney was very enjoyable. We loved the down time in which we could explore on our own. We lived in England for 18 months and we found so many of the English effluences that we enjoyed laced in their own history. Our tour guides were fabulous. We really enjoyed Richard. He was very comfortable to be around and took good care of us. Dana was very talkative and full of lots of energy. Once again, we are very happy with Gate 1 Travel, we are looking forward to our trip to Alaska the end of July.
Janette R. Hartsville, SCThis was a wonderful trip that met every expectation. My wife and I were focused on taking advantage of seeing things that could only be seen in ANZ, mostly animals. For many years I had a goal of petting a wombat, and we were able to do it at Featherdale. The other two of the big three for us were kiwis and platypus. Saw the former at Queenstown and the latter at Sydney. Also got to hold a koala. Except for the last, I'm not aware that any of these can be seen in the States. There were many other animals that we'd rarely or never seen, some I'd never heard of. Other highlights for us were the little penguin parade at Phillip Island, snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef and touring the gorgeous Sydney Opera House. We also saw a very good production of the opera Turandot at an outside venue near Mrs. Macquairie's Chair, with the Sydney skyline in the background. Of course, the scenery in New Zealand is spectacular almost everywhere you look, and Melbourne and Sydney are two of the most beautiful and impressive cities we've seen. Tour guides were both very good, also the driver/guide to Phillip Island. Hotels and meals were very good as well. Lots of free time that my wife and I took advantage of to do some serious hiking around, both urban and nature. My only problem, and it has nothing to do with Gate1, is that it is really a rough trip over and even rougher coming back. I am still getting over jet lag. You need to really want to do it.
John E. Aurora, COIt was a great Trip.We had two outstanding Tour Directors that made the trip very enjoyable.I like to go back to New zealand next year Thanks for the follow up
Narasimha Y. Las Vegas, NV