Dunk Island Resort Reviews from GlobeNet Travel for Dunk Island

Thank you for your reviews of Dunk Island Resort for the benefit of fellow travellers. Included here are some of your responses and we update regularly.

• "Eva, We had an absolutely wonderful time at Dunk Island. The pick up and drop off ran extremely smooth. The resort was really nice, food was awesome and the staff was very friendly and helpful. I wish I would have known it was monsoon season (a number of people who booked did not know either).

It probably would not have changed our minds to go but I think it is something we should have been told. I will send a picture when I get organized. Thanks for all of your help! " Trisha E., El Paso, USA (2 Feb 06)

• "Hi Zoe, I had such a great time at Dunk Island and did so much activities. I also got to stay in the renovated suites I loved it.Thanks so much for everything I will send you so photo's and I might be in contact with you soon, we want to go to Bedarra Island..." Stella, Sydney, Australia (17 Jan 06)

• "Hi Zoe, We would like to thankyou for organising a wonderful holiday for us. Dunk Island resort was perfect and we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

All the flights went to schedule and we arrived home safe and very relaxed. I've attached a photo of my husband John and daughter Chelsea when we arrrived at Dunk Island. Once again I wish to thankyou for all your help you made organising our holiday so easy." Tania T., Melbourne, Australia (13 Jan 06)

• "Hi Tina, I wish I was still on Dunk Island. The whole trip went extremely well. We arrived & were upgraded to the Beachfront Room. Got married (the staff on the Island made it such a special day since we were on our own) & had the bestest time. Thanks for all your help. I will definitely be recommending you & your Company to others." Louisa & Gordon B., Sydney, Australia (11 Jan 06)

• "Dear Moniqua, We had a wonderful time at Dunk island- it offered both relaxation and a variety of activities to enjoy in a beautiful location." Diana S., Melbourne, Australia (3 Jan 06)

• "Hi Sali, Our east coast island hopping was fantastic. Thank you so much for booking the accommodation, your service provided was excellent & we have already recommended GlobeNet Travel to several other people.

Our trip highlight was Wilson Island, it was heaven & there was only 1 other couple there with us.

Great Keppel - lovely beaches & rugged island, accommodation/cleanliness very average....but I think they are trying to improve it, however it was cheap.

Dunk Island - we love everything about Dunk, jungle walks, quiet beaches, afternoon storms, excellent service & luxury accomm.

Brampton Island - we loved it almost as much as Dunk, unfortunately the staff weren't as efficient, we think the reception staff were not cut out for their job.

Hamilton Island - We had a spare night, so we popped in, it felt like the Gold Coast on an island after being on the other islands.

Heron Island - birds & birds & more birds...lots of international guests.

Wilson, our dream island, wonderful host couple, amazing wildlife pristine beaches, a very special place. All the islands had their own point of difference, it was interesting to compare them.

We had a fantastic 4 weeks, everything ran very smoothly, next year we are doing central australia..although tempted to go back to some of those islands first chance we get... Thanks again Sali" Christina & Rod L., Melbourne, Australia (27 Dec 05)

• "Thanks Kylie, Everything was just wonderful, we had an awesome time at Dunk Island. Thank you so much for organising our connections and flights to and from Sydney everything went smoothly. I will send you a photo when we develop them. I can't think of anything off the top of my head how you can possibly improve your service, you were very helpful and your advice was spot on. " Edward A., Sydney, Australia (16 Nov 05)

• "Hey Zoe, Dunk Island was really wonderful. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. I got back from holiday just yesterday so when I get myself sorted out will send on some pics of Dunk Island that I took. The room (Banfield room ) was 100 percent wonderful. It was like having my own lil apartment in the rainforest." Devon P., California, USA (29 Oct 05)

• "Thanks Zoe, Our trip to Dunk Island was very good - Nice and relaxed now and thankfully weather was fab. Cheers" Megan H., Sydney, Australia (25 Oct 05)

• "Hi Zoe Thanks for your help, we really did love Dunk Island, it is a wonderful place for our demographic. Slightly overweight, and cashed up husband who wants to spend lots of time with his kids, and me fortunately. There is never a lot at night to do, which is why we like it. I found a wonderful place in the Savannah Wetlands in Mareeba. Safari tents the Wardens rent out. New and quite expensive, and we all loved it." Cally W., Sydney, Australia (11 Oct 05)

• "Hi Sali I really liked Dunk Island, as while it was at 92% occupancy. Aart from at meal times, it didn't feel that busy and there were plenty of things to do, such as pilates, golf, tennis and yoga. Unfortunately the weather was too windy for all the boat trips so we couldn't get out onto the reef which was a shame, but logisitcially everything worked a treat. Thanks very much for organising all of this for us. " Sarah H., London, UK (19 Sep 05)

• "Hi Zoë The stay at Dunk Islandwas fantastic, the service was impeccable and the staff very friendly. In short the 5 day break on Dunk although very restful, was not long enough. Aside from the above, there is only a couple of suggestions which I would like to put to you as part of a service improvement plan.

1. Addition of a heated spa would be in keeping with the esteem of a 4 star amenity.
2. Some soft or cocktail music played at dinner time would enhance the atmosphere even further.

Once again we wish to thank you for your assistance and the prompt service in dealing with the arrangements linked with our stay at the island. " James D., Melbourne, Australia (10 Sep 05)

• "Dear Sali I had a WONDERFUL time at Dunk Island. The resort was lovely, the staff were excellent and, after the first day of rain it was mostly sunny. Whenever it wasn't I was able to use it as an "excuse' to stay in my lovely, upgraded room, to take advantage of the Foxsports channels and watch the cricket!!

I was upgraded from a Banfield Room to a Beachfront unit which I now see must have represented a saving of about $700! Perhaps you might convey my appreciation to Voyages for that. I was VERY pleased about that as the room was just lovely. Perhaps the involvement of your agency had that effect? In that regard let me say that I was extremely pleased with your (ie. you personallly) handling of all my enquiries & the bookings" Maria C., Sydney, Australia (26 Aug 05)

• "Hi, Sonia! We had a wonderful time. All arrangements worked very smoothly, effortlessly really. We had rainy weather on Dunk Island, but we didn't miss going in the water- lots of activities, good eating, beautiful views. It would have been breathtaking had the sun come out!

Silky Oaks Lodge was wonderful, of course. Next time we'll get river accomodations and stay longer. Fabulous dining. Again, beautiful scenery. And, as always, we found the Australians to be fun and lovely people. Nice to travel there! Thank you for all your efforts getting our trip together. We really appreciated it " Winnie and Jeff, London, UK (16 Aug 05)

• "Dear Zoe We had a great holiday, despite the terrible weather and all arrangements went smoothly. We loved our couple of days at Mission Beach before we went to Dunk Island when down came the rain. No photo opportunity! Didn't even get the bathers out and wished we had taken warmer clothing ! We played golf and lots of walks and made the most of what we could do. Thank you for looking after our arrangements." Peter G., Brisbane, Australia (7 Aug 05)

• "Hi Zoe This is a photo of our posing 3 year old Sarah. We had a great restful time at Dunk Island which was much needed and is all the weather allowed us to do due to the rain. Had a nice rain forest walk with the umbrellas. The food was great and the resort was beautiful. Sarah enjoyed the 'kids club' (not as much as we did). We really enjoyed the night time activities that involved everyone.

Thank-you so much for your prompt, professional service. Everything was well organised and arranged. Back to reality and shedding those extra kilos. Will definitely recommend you to our friends. Was totally amazed how we were turned down for the time we wished to go by other travel agents, and you had us there no trouble at all." Mark, Karen Sarah Van H., Sydney, Australia (4 Aug 05)

• "Dear Sali We thoroughly enjoyed our stay on Dunk Island. The room we stayed in was their newest addition to the island. It is called 'Bayview with sundeck '. Bathroom was exceptional and the room size was sufficient to accommodate 3 adults very comfortably. The single bed for Johanna was very comfortable, full size, thank you. Superb view, privacy, loved the board - walks in the resort and the gardens. Food delicious, activities....too many to do in 5 days. Enjoyed the mix of families and overseas visitors and the sprinkling of Aussie couples." linda, Ian & Johanna D., Melbourne, Australia (26 Jul 05)

• "Hi Kylie Here are some photos of my family and me, on our trip to Dunk Island. Ben is holding a piece of coral know as a "loaf of bread" It was not too cold for the Victorians to go swimming!" Yasmin N., Melbourne, Australia (15 Jul 05)

• "Hi Gayle, Just got back from Dunk Island and had a great time. Thanks so much for arranging everything for us. We really appreciate it. If any of our Canadian friends are planning a trip this way, we'll be sure to give them your name!" Candace K., Calgary, Canada (27 Jun 05)

• "Hi Zoe, Dunk Island is just perfect, we had such a wonderful time, compared to Vanuatu, Fiji, Phuket & Bali, Dunk is much, much better. Specially my two girls love animals, we went to the farm 3 times. We also went to the Barrier Reef for a day tour, and the sand cay is just beautiful, we spot the nemo, giant clam, turtles etc.

5 nights were not enough we thought, we rarely stay at the cabana because there are so much to see & do out there. But the location of the cabana is just perfect, close to all the places that we need to go, the food is just to die for, thank God is only 5 night, or I will gain too much weight. All the travel arrangement are perfect, they are all nice & friendly people, no time wasted, well done Zoe. I'm so happy with our holiday, I have even given your details to my doctor... " Elisabeth S., Sydney, Australia (20 Jun 05)

• "Hi Zoe, Everything was great - would highly recommend you as a service provider and Dunk Island as a destination ..just for Info the airlines especially JetStar are getting very strict with all passengers MUST having ID to travel..never questioned before...thanks again" Geoffrey F., Melbourne, Australia (15 Jun 05)

• "Hi Sonia, Our trip was wonderful with many, many great memories... Dunk island was fantastic. The room was the best...we fell in love with it immediately and could not have asked for a nicer accommodation. The food was fantastic. Many of the activities were not offered every day or even at all (we had hoped to take the scenic flight over the reef as advertised on the website) since we were there in the "slow season". Having not traveled much for pleasure in Australia I didn't realize that this might be a factor.

Fortunately with 5 days on the island we got a snorkeling trip to the reef (these were only offered every few days and depended upon the having enough customers, a walking tour to the artist colony (only on Thursday) and plenty of time to relax. The beaches were a bit too rocky for my tastes, but other than that it was fantastic. The island personnel worked with us to arrange to have our extra luggage sent ahead on an earlier flight that day and it was waiting for us in Cairns. All the transfers went smoothly and we were very pleased with the trip that you put together for us." Alan & Lauri C., USA (14 Jun 05)

• "Hi Sali, We had an awesome time and Dunk Island was lovely, great resort and the food was excellent. Unfortunately it rained most days which was a bummer but it was warm and relaxing and the pool was pretty good too as was the sea, and no stingers!! The air transfer was good too (although a little scary when not used to small planes!!). Thanks again and we will definitely use you again in the future!!!" Kirsty & Rod G., Auckland, NZ (19 Apr 05)

• "Zoe, What a sensational few days at Dunk Island! It was a truly memorable 36th Wedding Anniversary. Judie and I have stayed at many beautiful resorts around the world. The difference at Dunk Island Resort is the staff. Not a day went by without us feeling we were very special and could easily have been the only guests.

We had such a splendid celebration on arrival - chilled champers etc that we missed dinner. The staff came to check on us and then brought two gourmet dinners to our suite. One of the chefs even baked an anniversary cake for us. It would be difficult to beat the setting of the Bayview Suites with beautiful Brammo Bay just metres away.

The classic '5 star' accommodation featured beautiful 'rainforest to reef' décor - just superb. You could not have chosen better for us. We will be eternally grateful and look forward to booking our next adventure with the Globenet team. Sincere thanks Zoe, for wonderful memories that will endure forever." Don and Judie A., Mystic Sands, North Queensland, Australia (15 Apr 05)

• "Tina, Many thanks for your assistance the Dunk Island experience was above and beyond all expectations. The Child Care was so fabulous that the children are still asking to go to 'kids club' everyday since we left. Many thanks to you for your help!" Paula Mc., Detroit, USA (13 Apr 05)

• "Hi Sali, The photo shows the fabulous Dunk Island which was a delight to revisit after 25 years of marriage and being our second visit since our honeymoon. Thanks again for all of your help. You made everything so much easier and looked after everything for me." Kerrie D., Normanhurst, Australia (7 Apr 05)

• "Zoe, My family raved about the trip. They loved all the locations they visited and loved their accomodations at the Hilton Melbourne, Dunk Island and Medina Grand Harbourside Sydney. Thanks so much for all your help. " Michael S., Chelmsford, USA (14 Mar 05)

• "Gayle, All went well at Dunk Island, the room food and service were all up to expectations. Hot weather made it difficult to get full use of the non-motorised water sports - open 9-4 - as it was often too hot even for us to be out then. The island wasn't busy which suited us." Kevin D., Adelaide, Australia (28 Jan 05)

• "Dear Sally, We have had the BEST vacation in Australia and the highlight was our 9 nights stay at Dunk Island! I wish we could have stayed longer...we were so sad to leave this wonderful resort. As you know I am a world traveler and have stayed in many upscale resorts around the world and I must say that Dunk Island was by far the best one.

The rooms were very modern equipped with all the amenities. The view was breath taking and the atmosphere in the resort was very peaceful, no wonder they call it the "Island of peace and plenty". There were so many daily activities to choose from for all ages and that was very important. We enjoyed the day trip to the reef very much and were also very lucky with the weather.

I would highly recommend this resort for families and couples who are traveling to this destination. You really feel that you are in paradise, surrounded by the rain forest and remote beaches. The staff and guest services provided were also very good, every one was very friendly and accommodating.

Our flights with Virgin Blue and Mac air were smooth and no time and we did not experience any problems with over weight.

We also enjoyed New Years eve in Sydney, the gala concert at the Opera House was very nice and the fireworks were spectacular. Again, thank you very much for everything you have done for us. Happy New Year!" Sarah L., Saratoga, California (19 Jan 05)

• "Hi Elisabete, We had a lovely time on our honeymoon and everything you organised was really great. Dunk Island and Silky Oaks were very beautiful places and would highly recommend them to anyone. Organising through you over the internet made life very easy considering I had left booking until about 2 weeks before. Thank you so much for your assistance." Marsha R., Prospect, Australia (10 Jan 05)

• "Dear Zoe We had a wonderful holiday and have just returned to the UK this morning. The only suggestion that I would get you to advise your clients is that if they are doing the same as we did, to go straight to Dunk Island on arrival in Oz as it is a very long day hanging about the airport etc. Thanks again for your help." Lorraine M., London, UK (29 Nov 04)

•"Hi Kylie, Thank you so much for your booking & your attention to the details. This vacation to Silky Oaks Lodge, Dunk island, Outrigger Hervey Bay & Quay West Suites Sydney was like a fantasy. Everything went according to plan very smoothly. Of course the Gold Coast Indy Race was my favorite thing.

But, putting that aside the best part of the Australia visit was the four days in Longreach. The history, atmosphere and people there moved us. The Outback Tour that you booked was absolutely perfect. We met Alan Smith the tour owner. What a real nice caring & down to earth fellow. I was surprised to hear that they do not get many Americans out there. Must be the best kept secret of Australia. If we were to come back to Australia I would spend more time in Longreach. Regards," Jack H., New York, USA (2 Nov 04)

•"Hi Zoe, We had a wonderful week, with everything falling into place very well. We loved north Queensland, and can't wait to return. Dunk Island resort was terrific, my only negative comment would be that the buildings and resort in general look a little tired and old, and that the day trippers to the jetty disturb the island atmosphere a bit, but otherwise it is a beautiful island and we enjoyed it very much. We also had a wonderful day trip out from Cairns snorkeling on the outer reef which was a total highlight. Many thanks for you patient assistance. " Leith R., Melbourne, Australia (7 Oct 04)

•"Hi Jo This is my first day back at work. If I could kiss you I would!!! The Dunk Island holiday was absolutely fabulous. My husband even bought me a bunch of flowers when we got home to thank me for such a beautiful holiday. I told him they should have been for you because of all the effort you put in. I think you are terrific - well done. Hopefully you will still be doing this when I go to book the next holiday. Thank heaps - again, and again and again " Karen R., Melbourne, Australia (4 Oct 04)

•"Kylie, I just wanted to let you know that we thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Australia and New Zealand. Your recommendations for Sydney and Dunk Island were excellent. In fact, we thought the Saville 2 Bond Street was the best hotel room we had on the trip (great little place with all the necessary amentities, near the sites, and a great price - if you included the view, then others, like Dunk Island, were probably better). Everything we did in Australia and New Zealand seemed like a perfect choice for us.

We enjoyed many things including our trip to the Great Barrier Reef, Manly, Whitehaven Beach, the Sydney Harbor Cruise, Daintree and Cape Tribulation, and Hartley's Crocodile Farm ; but a few things really stood out in our minds. Walking back across the Sydney Harbor bridge at night towards the Opera House and Circular Quay was great. I am not a big aquarium fan, but the Sydney Aquarium was the best I've seen. We loved the Platypus exhibit and went back several times to watch the little critters. A guide tour of the Mossman area by an Aboriginal guide was especially interesting and comes highly recommended. Finally, on the Cormandel Penninsula on New Zealand, we visited Hot Water Beach. Show up at low tide and dig yourself a natural hot tub! It's a real blast and quite the social event. All in all, a great trip. We had great food nearly everywhere we went.

Accomodations were first rate, the people were friendly, and the weather was just perfect in Queensland this time of year. Also, our transfers and car rental with Sugarland went off without a hitch. So, I'd just like to thank you for all the work you did to help make this a great vacation. I'd certainly recommend you to others and will certainly consult you if and when we travel Down Under again." Barry O., Chicago, USA (8 Sep 04)

• "Hello Sonia, Our holiday was unreal thankyou. Qantas spoilt us with a bottle of champagne on ice, then when we arrived the weather was perfect, not even a breeze. We couldn't believe it. The staff were all lovely and couldn't of done enough for us, it was just excellent. The food was very yummy, we made pigs of ourselves ha!ha! The wedding was beautiful, we had an awesome day, it was romantic, casual and relaxing, everything we had hoped for.

Thank you very much for everything you did, and for being like our friend. We will definitely go through you next time we want to book a holiday, we even recommended you while we were on Dunk Island! We wish we could go back sooner! Yes, we would love to hear some of the specials on the islands, we just need to win lotto now so we can take them.ha!ha! Take care and thanks again!" Lisa, Sydney, Australia (19 Apr 04)

• "Hi Rene, Thanks for your email. We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday & thanks to you & your arrangements & attention to detail everything went like clockwork. The only slight disappointment was out of your control & I fed back to Dunk Island through their Guest satisfaction survey (the lunch options were disappointing).

The activities staff & Bar staff were fantastic and we certainly took part in many of the activities like Archery, Bocce, Jet Skiing, Snorkeling, Horse Riding & Danica & I even did an Introductory Dive Course on the Reef. I would certainly recommend the Island as a holiday destination & my parents have already expressed interest in a future trip to Dunk.

Do you know if P&O has a "Members Club you can join"? I would also happily recommend your services to friends & relatives & am happy to do so if you wish. Will try & send a few happy snaps either by e mail or through the post. I am keen to receive further info re trips & specials & we are keen to travel to Tahiti in the future to stay @ Moorea in overwater Bungalows.

Thanks for following up & thanks again for your assistance in organising a most enjoyable & relaxing holiday & Congrats on Winning a further award. I appreciate why you & your Company are worthy recipients. Fond regards," Vicki, Danica, Tessa, Ness & Kate C., Sydney, Australia (28 Jan 04)

• "Dear Sonia, First of all let me thank you for putting together a wonderful holiday, we really loved Dunk Island and of course did not want to leave. The rooms were great, right on the beach. There were so many activities, too many to be able to do in a week. We did get out to the Great Barrier Reef, do the circuit of the island twice through the rain forest, try out the various beaches and generally over indulge on the food.

As a result we had to do lots of walking in Sydney to get rid of the extra lbs or should I say kilos. I really want to thank you for coordinating the trip for Catherine and her boyfriend and particularly for the very prompt response when we arrived in Brisbane and things were not going as planned. We did in fact get the private charter over to Dunk Island, about 3 hours earlier than originally booked and thus had more time there on our first day.

Anyway our first trip to Australia was a great success and we would like to go again. I would certainly recommend your company to anyone who is planning to visit Austalia. If you are ever in the Boston area let me know. Thanks again," Helen S., Boston, USA (9 Sep 03)

• "Dear Zoe, We are now back home in the USA after a wonderful one month holiday in Australia. Linda and I wanted to thank you for the hotel bookings and transport connections that you arranged for us, everything ran smoothly. The Emu Walk Apartments at Ayers Rock were great and the stay at Dunk Island fabulous. Thanks for everything. Do remember if you are in the New York City area let us know as we would love to meet up with you. Sincerely," John & Linda L., New York, USA (3 Sep 03)

• "Dear Gayle, Our holiday in Oz went very well. Sydney was magnificent and the accomodation you chose (The Medina at Darling Harbour ) was ideal - good location & plenty of internal room for the family. It's a great city and we covered all the usual spots - by foot, ferry, bus and taxi - magical ferry service. We could have stayed in Sydney for another week.

So much more to see... Port Douglas was an ideal location to view the reef from (boat trip + helicopter ride), albeit that the Rendezvous Port Douglas accomodation was a little tired/needed some upgrading. PD is also a good base for the rainforest.

Dunk Island was magnificent - location, scenery, facilities, accomodation, restaurant - we should have stayed there longer.

Sea World was a good day out and made up for the rest of Surfers' Paradise!

All in all, a great adventure and an experience that satisfied all our hopes. Well done on directing us so professionally. Your itinerary was excellent. I have already passed your name to a number of people who may travel down under.

If by chance you also cover South Africa, you might suggest a similar holiday plan some time you have a moment to yourself (say one week each for Capetown, a beach and a safari type thing). We have to start planning for the future! Thanks again," Eddie M., Dublin, Ireland (26 Jul 03)

• "Dear Sonia, Our visit to Australia was terrific, especially the Billy Can Tour in Darwin. We really enjoyed Dunk Island and Palm Cove. Thanks for all your help. Kind regards" John G., Boston, USA (22 Jul 03)

• "Hi Mary......what can I say....absolutely magnificent!...most likely the finest holiday I have experienced from a variety of perspectives. On multiple levels, my family truly had a grand time. It was both pleasurable, informative, and enlightening to visit your country. As expected from contact w/you, the people were cordial, friendly, and gracious in all our encounters. Indeed, I felt a sense of congeniality and honesty throughout our entire trip, especially when our identities were revealed as "yanks".

I especially enjoyed meeting several couples and discussing a variety of issues concerning global events and the universal affiliation Americans feel w/other English speaking peoples. It was wonderful and we have several people w/whom we plan to correspond w/via email. The trip itself was excellent. The food everywhere we went was outstanding, albeit somewhat pricey in Sydney and Melbourne, especially for breakfast in the hotels, but we balanced this w/strolling about the areas and were fortunate enough to locate eating establishments w/the locals.

This proved to be not only markedly better financially, but offered the opportunity to mingle and mix w/local people. It's amazing how people everywhere who are getting to work need that early hit of caffeine and danish! The intercountry travel was fine and pick/ups and transfers were done professionally. The accommodations were all very good in all cities, w/the exception of Le Meriden in Melbourne. The booked rooms were not quite what I expected, and I needed to upgrade to the next level.

By contrast the rooms at the Palazzo Versace were a "bit over the top" for my taste, but were interpreted as fabulous by my children and afforded them the opportunity to mix w/the "beautiful people". Overall the best for my taste and comfort was the Stamford Plaza in Brisbane. This hotel had genuine class, "old world" charm and a very professional staff to boot.

Next in preference for me was the Observatory in Sydney. Again here are consummate professionals serving in a classy but unpretentious hotel. Dunk island was also very enjoyable. Remote enough to gain some solitude, yet had access to a variety of activities and events, should you choose to do so.

Port Douglas was also pleasant, but seems to be caught between wanting to accommodate tourism and maintaining a remoteness and environmentally shrouded barrier towards development. It was quite interesting to speak w/the locals concerning this dilemma. The Sheraton Mirage was very lovely as well. A bit large for my preference, but much to do for my family.

In summary the arrangements were very good. The sights and places seen were wonderful. (Sydney Opera House, Aquariums, Manly Beach and the Military Museum, the zoos at both Sydney and Melbourne, Yarra Wine Country Tour, Daintree Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef, Brisbane River via City Cat, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Surfers Beach in the Gold Coast, and so on.

I thank you Mary for your patience and flexibility during our interactions. Without a doubt I will endeavor to get back to Australia again in the future. The only flaw was trying to see everything in the limited time. I felt we lived out of the suitcases and never unpacked! But the trade off was exposure to many different parts of the eastern coast.

Without reservation I will recommend your services to my colleagues at the Hospital. You are the consummate professional and it was a genuine pleasure in dealing w/you. I bid you well in your future endeavors. Sincerely," Francis B., USA (22 Jan 03)

• "Dear Gayle, We had a great time! Thank goodness Australian airlines do not run such a tight check-in time as ours do. We arrived in Cairns with 25 min's to spare. Pete said I had him on a death march to get to the gate. We did not realize what a small airport Cairns has.

The flight over on Macair was fine. We arrived at Dunk Island and were asked to wait in the Bedarra waiting room. It was stocked with all kinds of goodies. The boat arrived just a few min's later for our trip over. I must say that unless you have been to Bedarra Island, it would be hard to explain that kind of luxury. Everything was perfect. They seemed to think of anything we needed before we did. I swear they watched for us to leave our room so they good go in and leave fresh towels, a thoughtful note, fresh flowers spread around the room or a fresh fruit tray and cheese in the refrigerator.

We even had a gift in our room on the day we departed. I can honestly say it was the most relaxing vacation we have ever had. We ate, drank, slept and went swimming. That was the extent of our days. We had Villa 5 and it was one of the best two story villas. Your private beach chairs were just out the door right in front of the villa. We had cocktails with some people that were staying in the pavilion villa and it was magnificent. But I don't think it was worth twice the money.

We took a boat out one day for a picnic on a private beach. Our basket was even packed with china, silver and wine glasses. They truly do think of everything.

Even though you didn't plan the first part of our trip, I will tell you that we fell in love with Brisbane. The people are so friendly. It was a great vacation. I will try to get you some pictures. Thanks for all your hard work, and holding my hand when I panicked. We will certainly recommend you to our friends and would call you again on our next trip to Australia. This trip rates right up there with the best we have ever taken." Sherry S., USA (19 Jun 03)

• "Zoe, we’re back from our wonderful trip. Tired, confused about our time zone, but full with magnificent memories. Thanks for all of your help. All arrangements went smoothly and worked well for our purposes. All of the accommodations worked well. Only suggestion for others is that we were on a low floor, street-side room at The Saville, which was very noisy. Silky Oaks, Dunk Island, the house in Katoomba and Hunter Valley Lodge Estates were great. Actually, Saville was just what we needed, just too close to the street. All of our air and hire car arrangements came off without a hitch. Our appreciation for your guidance." John & Barbie L., Savannah, USA (3 Jun 03)

• "Dear Gayle, Wife Christa and I have returned from an unforgettable trip to Australia. Car, hotels, water taxi and the resort that Globenet had organized for us were all expecting us without glitch, making our tour of Australia even more enjoyable. You delivered the kind of service that assures repeat bookings with Globenet.

Returning to deep snow in upstate New York we were seized by moments of homesickness for the sun in Australia and for the 'peace and plenty' of Dunk Island. We are so glad that we took your suggestion to select the Bayview suite, which was lovely. We left the balcony doors open at night, listening to waves rolling ashore and to the downpours of tropical rain.

The Bed and Breakfast in Sydney, Tricketts, which I had found via a former student of mine, offered an old world elegance with modern comforts beyond our imaginations. The owner, Liz Tricketts, is a delight to have you join the breakfast table. She has a beautiful mind and is a rich source of Sydney's history with many personal anecdotes in the world of big affairs. Staying at Tricketts for nearly a week was like visiting the inner world of Australia, as opposed to the outer world of the big inner city hotels run by international chains. We highly recommend Tricketts to your more discriminating clients. Tricketts has a website.

We are sure to return to Sydney which has become our favorite city. We would also like to see other cities in Australia, Melbourne and Perth. When the time comes you will be sure to hear from us. Cheers, Klaus B., Ithaca, USA (22 Feb 03)

• "Hi Tina. Alma, John and Hoppy (sp?) (Katherine) at Florence Court were so wonderful to us! We loved staying with them, it was a great way to spend our last few days of vacation. Auckland is an absolutey beautiful city; we definitely plan to return to NZ someday and spend more time there and elsewhere in the country. It was great fun to be there during the first few days of the America's Cup, and this from a couple of nonsailors. You should definitely recommend Florence Court to others, it was wonderful. Needless to say it is gorgeously appointed and well restored.

But the thing that really made the experience so wonderful for us was the Sax family and Hoppy and her husband, Bruce, all of whom were great, as noted above. They treat you as part of the family, and seem to genuinely enjoy themselves doing so. We also really enjoyed the other couple that was staying there at the same time. For sure, Florence Court and Auckland were a highlight of our trip!

We had a wonderful trip and thank you so much for all you did for us. As far as how it went after we met up with you in Sydney, here goes. As you predicted, we LOVED Hayman Island. What a great place! A gorgeous resort and gorgeous island. We loved all the birds -- a zillion cockatoos, plus ducks, swans, gallahs, tons of others. There were also a bunch of fruit bats that came out at sunset every night which was actually really cool. The reef trip was fantastic! The reef itself is unbelievable, so well preserved despite what the environmentalists say, an amazing variety of creatures and corals. We were treated beautifully by everyone, we had a fantastic room (I think it was 201 Lagoon Wing), and we just loved every minute we were there. We even had two days of serious rain, and we still loved it. The spa was fabulous, excellent masseuses. I hope you get to go on the next travel agent excursion there -- don't miss it.

Bedarra Island was also absolutely wonderful. We had crystal clear blue skies there, even during rainy season, and the villas are fabulous as is the service, food, pool, natural beauty etc etc. You can use all the facilities at Dunk Island, i.e. hiking (the island is much bigger than Bedarra so many more trails), bigger spa, two pools and go on all the same side trips. The accomodations at Dunk were very basic, especially considering the price. However, the food was very good. We loved our Reef trip there too. It was not as "luxurious" as the Hayman Reef trip, but the actual portion of the Reef we saw was even cooler than what we saw in the Whitsundays in terms of variety of coral, fish, other stuff, and the amount of time that we got to spend in the water. Next time (and there will be a next time though probably not for a few years) we would want to stay only at Bedarra I think and just use the Dunk facilities. Its only a 12 minute boat ride between the two islands.

Truthfully, the Cook Islands was disappointing. The people did not seem particularly thrilled to have tourists despite the fact that tourism would appear to be their only thriving industry. It was a less friendly place than French Polynesia or Hawaii. Lots of things did not work and people were disorganized about many things. I would not recommend either the Pearl Beach or the Roratongan Beach Resort to anyone else.

For Aitutaki, you might want to check into the Pacific Resort. That is the one that you also offered to us that it is not fully finished yet. (Remember we couldn't figure out which one was the Pearl Beach for a while?) We had lunch there a couple of times and it looked like it was quite nice, though of course we didn't see any of the insides of the villas and can't vouch for the service or anything else. But the setting was pretty and the resort is brand new so hopefully it can't be too bad. Not sure about the price. The food was ok, not great, but then again it was better than the Pearl Beach. I would definitely not encourage anyone to spend the money for the overwater bungalows at the Pearl Beach. It was STIFFLINGLY hot, NO BREEZE on that part of the water where they are located. Not worth it.

For Rarotonga, you might look into a place called the Little Polynesian. It looked great and we were told by the local vet there (a woman from US that we met) that it is considered to be the best on the Island. It's small and may not have a restaurant, but there are lots of them close by. There are also several small places to rent, like condos and such. The best part of the island is the Muri Beach area which is where these places are. The best restaurants are Sails, Da Carlos and the Flame Tree. The Roratongan Beach Resort was too touristy for us. Actually, the beachfront room was better than the Junior Garden Suite because it was virtually the same size and appointed the same way but had a much better view and was in a much quieter portion of the resort. The food there was very basic, we ate out. Next time, we will spend more time in NZ -- haha. I should say that it rained virtually the entire time we were there which no doubt colored our view, but then again it rained at Hayman and didn't affect our view of that. I can't believe I wanted to go to the Cook Islands so badly -- oh well, you don't know if you don't go, right?

And I already told you about Auckland, which we loved. We had a card from Peter and Val with pictures of our stay when we got home; what sweeties!

We have not gotten it together yet to get our pics developed, but would be happy to send you one for your website. Thanks again so much for all your help. We recommended you to a couple we met at Bedarra, did they get in touch? ," Lamar & Louann, Alaska (21 Feb 03)

• "Thanks Kylie, "The trip to Dunk Island was wonderful, all of the travel arrangements worked perfectly, thanks for your help and advice." Dan, Fran & Ellie, Sydney, Australia (29 Jan 03)

• "Dear Gayle, I wanted to let you know that we had a FABULOUS vacation!!! Everything about our trip was amazing: the weather, the people, the islands, the hotels, the flights....honestly, everything was perfect! So, thank you for all of your help in arranging the trip and for all of your suggestions!

We LOVED the Four Seasons, and I'm thinking about taking up a permanent residency in Sydney, it was just so spectacular! Our four days there were well spent and we felt that we did just about all that we wanted to do!

Cairns was great too, very different from Sydney. Thankfully, we had much to do while in Cairns - snorkeling, whitewater rafting, etc., so we didn't get too overwhelmed by the college spring breaker feel that is exuded from Cairns.

Dunk Island is wonderful! And, although it is in the midst of their rainy season, we were pretty lucky with the weather so that was good as well. And finally, Fraser Island was definitely our favorite! I absolutely LOVE Fraser Island and the Kingfisher Bay Resort was great because we had such a short time to spend on Fraser Island and they really helped us budget our time which allowed us to see all that we could!

So, I just though it might be nice for you to hear yet another success story of your travel assistance. You did a wonderful job at picking hotels that matched our styles, budgets, and interests, so thank you for that as well!

I am so jealous that you are still in Australia and also, enjoying the summer. We came back to Boston to below freezing temperatures - lets just say that there was a 90 degree difference between Sydney when we left and Boston when we arrived home - YUCK!!!!

Hope your summer months have been going well and that you had a nice holiday!! I will certainly pass your name on to anyone I know who might be traveling to Australia in the future! Take care," J.C. & J.S., Boston, USA (24 Jan 03)

• "Sonia As you may remember, you helped my father, myself and my son have an absolutely wonderful visit to Australia last year. TheSydney, the Ghan train, Ayers Rock, Cairns (Silky Oaks, Dunk Island) circuit was a fantastic, unforgettable experience. And you, of course, were instrumental in making it so. So a belated thank you from all of us for all your help." J.C., Alaska, USA (22 Jan 03)

• "Dear Zoe, Indeed, we had a fantastic time at Dunk Island! There were so many things to do in such a short time! Next time we'll make sure that we stay there a little longer. Thank you once more for giving us such a great suggestion! I am looking foward to speaking to you again if I should need any information for our next holiday," H.L., Sydney, Australia (6 Nov 02)

• "Dear Tina, The visit to Australia was fantastic and really that nice which people told us it would be. Down below life seems to have a different meaning and people were just so nice. We met only 2 unfriendly Aussies, both at Cairns airport customs and check in staff.

Both Sydney and Hunter Valley were fantastic, Sydney a little chilly but people so friendly. Sydney - Cairns via the International terminal is no hit,specially if you are onward booked, as we were, out of Cairns domestic.

The luggage handling and the time almost made us to miss the Dunk Island flight. Sydney said that the luggage could be tagged directly to Dunk, but Cairns were of a different opinion, so all luggage had to be taken to customs again and back to Domestic !! That´s where we met the two unfriendly guys who had no understanding why people got frustrated, not only us.

Dunk and Bedarra Island were absolutely top. Different style, because different customer segments but just so organised and lots of nice staff. My wife got some cold,so at Dunk she got medicine from the Royal Flying Doctors which was taken to Bedarra at a fraction of cost. Food was superb and so the wine.

Kewarra was nature at its best. I met the President and owner of the place and he tought me a lot not only about the rainforest but lots of other environmental projects going on in Queensland. They offered an upgrade to a suite, which we of course did not mind.

Finally Singapore where we stayed for the 20th time at Oriental. I am attaching one from the Reef taken with my Sony digital which would give you some idea about the beautiful nature. My wife on a tiny atoll. Best regards," B.A., Sweden (26 Oct 02)

• "G'day Kylie, We have been home four days now, and are almost adjusted to our new time zone... it does take a while. Our trip was fantastic and there were really no worries. We absolutely loved Dunk Island, and next time we will stay longer!

There was plenty of activity for all of us and there was never a feeling of too many people...had a great night walk there, the snorkel trip aboard the MV Calypso was just the right size boat and number of people, did kayaking, fishing, sailboating, golfing and hiking on the island and the accommodations were very nice. We had an end room which was especially nice as it looked out on the gardens.

We enjoyed the drive from Cairns as it gave us a feel for the country, but next time we will take the plane to and from Dunk. The Daintree was our favorite... what a very special spot when we crossed the ferry boat and entered the rain forest it was magical.

We also did this at dusk and arrived at Coconut Beach Rainforest Resort at night. This was a great time to arrive: torches blazing and dark jungle paths! Again we had a great room on the end of the building (the treehouses have 3 units per building) and ours was about 12 feet up in the jungle trees. And the beach there is one that is so beautiful it has been photographed for a postcard.

We had the best reef trip here with the MV Rum Runner... they take you to a small sand cay and anchor inside of it, so the water is very calm... The crew was super, food and wine on board, and the reef and fish and turtles and one shark were all thrilling.We found some excellent small restaurants there, and spent time on the beach and driving around the area. Darwin was hot...34 to 36C.

The Mirambeena Resort put us in a basement room with no window in the oldest building in the complex, so we upgraded to the top floor of the new wing and it was great. The Yellow Water Cruise was fantastic...saw more crocs than we could count and the bird life was overwhelming... as birdwatchers we were in heaven. We did not do as much walking as we had hoped due to the heat and the flies (no mozzies) but did get to the rock art. The flight was a great way to see the country and we loved it.

We had a very nice room with a good air conditioner at Gagudju Lodge, and enjoyed the early morning walks with the rangers there.Our one "free night" we stayed at the Rum Jungle Bungalows and would highly recommend it. It is in the town of Bachelor, just outside the Litchfield Park. They have 6 very nice bungalows set in the midst of palm and tropical gardens, a small swimming pool and a small restaurant all done in Indonesian style...very nice young couple. $95.AU.

The Blue Mountains were a welcome change in temperature and we had the best walk of the entire trip just outside Blackheath, it was the Grand Canyon walk, down into the rainforest and then back up by another route...3 hours and 130,000 million years back in time. Also the movie "The Edge" is a fantastic big screen tour of the wild areas of the park. Enjoyed our B&B there and in Sydney.

We really liked The Rocks in Sydney, and think your suggestion of the holiday inn would have been great... however the intercontinental was also very nice. David and Bryce are back in school and we will be back to work soon. We will have photos soon and will send you one. Thanks so much for your help in organizing such a great holiday. Fondly," C.&J. J., Hood River, USA (14 Oct 02)

• "Tina It was quite a honeymoon. We had an absolutely fabulous time and would thoroghly recommend Dunk island to everyone. Food was delcious, accomodation and service of high quality and lots of things to do for everyone! Thanks," S.A., London, UK (8 Oct 02)

• "Hi Kylie... Dunk Island was fabulous, spent most of our time on or in the water! Everything went very smoothly, no probs at any point. Sad to say we forgot the camera!! So no photos I'm afraid . . just as well we went there 15 years ago so can look at our old shots! Regards," R.L., Brisbane, Australia (8 Oct 02)

• "Dear Sonia, we are back from the most fantastic holiday in Oz. Highlights include the hot air balloon flight over Alice Springs, the spa of peace and plenty on Dunk Island, the jet ski trip around Dunk Island, Cape Tribulation and getting to sing in front of an audience in the Opera House, Sydney.

We will highly recommend you to anyone wishing information on your services, so please contact us if you need to. Thank you so much for arranging our wonderful holiday" K.&S. D. Los Angeles, USA (12 Sep 02)

• "Hello Louise, Just wanted to thank you. We booked Dunk Island through you. Everything was wonderfully arranged all vouchers (by e-mail and then printed)were well accepted. The island and the resort were a dream come true, the accommodation just great, much more than we expected. We have spent a wonderful week there. If you need any recommendation sometime, be sure to contact me. Thanks again, kind regards" P.D. Netherlands (5 Sep 02)

• "Kylie, We had a wonderful time in Australia. Everything went smoothly - even when we had some airport delays. Dunk Island was fantastic (although a bit cooler than we had hoped for) and the kids loved the Kids Club. Having been to several resorts with kids facilities my husband and I liked this one the best since the kids went in the morning, were with us in the afternoon and back at Kids Club in the evening allowing us to have a leisurely dinner.

We had a good time in Ayers Rock - the kids were blearly eyed from the sunrises we saw. I'd say our rom was okay - they brought in an additional cot which left us with just enough room to walk around - a bit cramped.

In Perth I'd have to say we loved the Mounts Bay Apts - clean, spacious and bright. An easy walk to the shopping area and train station - we went to the kids museum which was fantastic...

The Sydney (Taronga Park )Zoo was great and we did the BridgeClimb. Rachel learned to surf on Bondi Beach - she caught "a million waves". We did a day trip to the Blue Mountains. All in all a great time was had and were hoping that it won't be nine years before we're back again. [our kids did amazingly well on the 28 hour journey from our house to Sydney and back - although Michael now wants us to take 3 planes for any trip!]

As an FYI for you with dealing with Americans - we were pleasantly surprised with the map books in the cars in Perth and Sydney - its not something you'd get over here. If this is fairly standard you might want to mention it. Thanks again for all of your help in planning our trip! Karen" New York, USA (3 Sep 02)

Sunset at Dunk Island
Resort - Click to
enlarge

• "Hi Joanne, Here are the photos from Dunk Island that we promised. The sunsets were to-die-for. Mt. Kootaloo walk was very nice despite the dry season. We will be going back to Dunk (hopefully sooner than later). Thanks again for your professional and accomodating service. Kind Regards " K.K. & C. Sydney, (20 Aug 02)

• "Hey Sonia, Well we've come and gone. What a wonderful country you live in. We had a great time and wished we could have stayed longer. We did the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb and it was awesome. Dunk Island was probably our favorite place. It was more like paradise island. Beautiful. The trip out to the reef was a bit rough. Lots of sea sick people on board but only one in our party got sick. She was OK once we got to the reef. The snorkeling was great. I would rent a car if I had it to do over again.

Silky Oaks was nice but even farther from most of the things we wanted to do. We went back and forth to Cairns six times from either Port Douglas or Silky Oaks. We got to know that highway pretty well. We went through Wild World one day, rode ATVs through the rain forest another day, took the train to Kuranda and the Skyrail back then went bungee jumping after. If you haven't tried the bungee jumping it is quite a rush. Scary but awesome. I think next time I'd want to stay nearer to Cairns, rent a car and drive up to Port Douglas, etc. Since we left from Silky Oaks, we had to get up at 3:30 a.m., take a van into Mossman where we got on a bus, made several stops in Port Douglas and barely got to the Cairns airport in time for our flight to Sydney.

It made for a really long day. All of our connections going and coming worked like clockwork until we got back into the states. I want to thank you again for all your hard work. The arrangements you made went like clockwork and the facilities were very nice. We'll definitely be coming back. We barely scratched the surface of your country and want to explore more of it. All of the people we met were very friendly and made us feel welcome. Thanks again for the great service and I won't hesitate to recommend and use your services in the future. Keep in touch and let me know if you ever decide to visit the states. I'll try to smooth the road for you a bit." S.F. Texas, USA (20 Aug 02)

• " Hi Joanne, ... Wanted to let you know what a wonderful honeymoon we had at Dunk Island. Just returned yesterday and we are showing of our tan! The people were great, the resort was great. We snorkeled, walked around the island, played golf, layed on the beach, etc.... Too much to mention! We also met other couples and made some friends. The food is just too good and we miss it already! We would love to go back next year if all goes well. So, hope you enjoy the photos (that is a Cosmopolitan on ice in my hand!), my new hubby liked the Dunk Island milkshake.... Warmest regards," T.B-E., Sydney, Australia (3 Jun 02)

• "Gayle.... Dunk and Hayman were spectacular. We had a great time at each. Hayman was definitely the best resort we've ever been to, although Dunk was great, too. We took 2 reef trips at Dunk and one in Port Douglas. Everything at Hayman was wonderful, although they get a little out of hand with overcharging for some things. By the way, we made the right decision not to pay in advance for meals, the prepaid prices are more expensive than pretty much everything on the menu. You should tell future clients to avoid pre-paying for meals. Thanks for all of your help." E.S., USA (2 Jun 02)

• "Joanne, THE BEST !!!! Dunk was everything you said it would be and more. Thank you so much for getting us the Banfield Family room...it was perfect for us. I had a ball...Personalised Sea Kayaking Tour, Rainforest Guided Walk, Night Spotlighting Tour, Paddle Skiing, Snorkling, Catamaraning, Swimming (no stingers) etc etc. Kay had a great time doing absolutely nothing....Floral Rain body treatment was a real treat for her too.

Charlie was perfect 95% of the time and we all had the best family holiday. On our last day (late 4:00pm departure) we hired a tinny and went around to Naturists Beach...it was beautiful. The FOOD.... Yummmm. The Staff.....Nice as pie. If I wanted to pick a fault with Dunk, I think I'd need another 5 nights to try to find one !!!! I'll send you a photo or two soon. I'd be happy for you to include these on your testimonial page. Thanks again for your help. Kind Regards, K. K. & C. D., Canberra, Australia (27 May 02)

• "HI Gayle, Sarah and I wanted to send you some pictures from our trip to Dunk Island & Ayres Rock. We really had an amazing time! Thanks again for all your help." E.B., Boston, USA (21 May 02)

• "Hi Sonia, Just wanted to let you know we had a fantastic time on Dunk Island (thanks for reccomending it) food was great and staff were also very friendly, there was plenty to see and do." B.R. Burnley, AUS (22 Apr 02)

• "Hi Cathy, what can we say other than a holiday of a life time. Bedarra in particular should be compulsory for every successful person as a reward for their hard work. The food... superb. The staff ... helpful, friendly, professional, from the cleaner up to the manager. Caroline and Mara are two wonderful people with special gifts for managing people The grog cabinet and fridge, stacked full with quality drinks at all times. The rain forest walks .... spectacular. The quality of the units ..... unsurpassed. The view from the units.... just great A restful and peaceful place which we will return to.

We were in the Bay View units on Dunk....excellent. The staff on Dunk were fantastic... friendly and very helpful... Thank you for organising our wonderful stays on Bedarra & Dunk, we do appreciate it very much. Kindest regards " D. & J. T., Melbourne, AUS. (10 Apr 02)

• "Zoe, Just arrived back from Dunk. Wanted to say thanks. We had the most fabulous time. It was everything we hoped it would be and more. The weather was beautiful, the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, the island was stunning and the activities kept us busy all week. The kids club was wonderful for our son and the babysitting service meant someone could watch our little ten month old for a few hours in the evening while she slept so we could have dinner together. The whole combination of factors made it one of the best vacations we have ever had. Regards, " E.M., New York, USA. (19 Feb 02)