Bill P - Chicago, Illinois

Reviewed 23 December 2017

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Making the †Great‡ †Ocean‡ †Road‡ †Great‡

After my wife and I booked a trip to Australia, starting at Melbourne, she found a company called The Private Tour Guide to show us the Great Ocean Road. She contacted Simon Greenland at the company, and he made it easy and pleasant to customize a one-day tour to fit our available time. Exactly as scheduled, guide Peter Luehman picked us up and explained how we’d spend the day, starting with a moderately long drive to his recommended first vista, taking advantage of light early-morning traffic and giving us a chance to get comfortable with each other. That worked out very well. We walked the boardwalk near the Twelve Apostles, learned the history and geology of the area, and took a lot of pictures in the beautiful morning light. Peter even showed us some useful tricks with our digital camera and iPhones. We explored Gibson Steps and the Loch Ard Gorge from above and from beach level. We moved on to the engaging town of Apollo Bay for lunch, then continued to the Maits Rest Rainforest Trail and the Kennett River area (I don’t remember which was first) to see parrots, cockatoos, and koalas in a natural habitat. After that, we continued to a golf course at Anglesea to see kangaroos in what’s become their habitat, and then back to our hotel right as scheduled. We saw and did even more; this is just a summary. Both my wife and I highly recommend touring the Great Ocean Road, particularly with the company and guidance of The Private Tour Guide, Simon, and Peter.

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theresasV7529LM - Mason, Ohio

Reviewed 4 weeks ago

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Great Ocean Rd and More!

Stupendous tour of the Great Ocean Rd and more - including koalas in the wild as well as opportunities to see kangaroos and native birds. Comfortable vehicle and great driver/tour director in Peter. We had 4 people and appreciated the pick up and drop off timing flexibility.

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JimBobTraveler - Northeast

Reviewed 4 weeks ago

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An Exhilarating Day, Custom Tailored to Our Needs

Simon picked us up at our hotel in a very comfortable Mercedes SUV and we were soon on the main roads taking the 'reverse course', inland first, to the Twelve Apostles, then to the Loch Ard Gorge and then to Apollo Bay for a nice lunch. We were heading in the opposite direction from all the big tour buses and had virtually no traffic along the coast on the return trip. On little side trips he showed us koalas and habituated colorful parrots that were delightful. Lots of 'roos, some on golf courses, some in packs running along the fields by the road. With just the three of us, we had great conversation the whole trip. Simon was very informative and we had lots in common to talk about. It was a great day and well worth the extra expense of a custom tour

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Nxt_Hol - New Delhi, India

Reviewed 12 March 2018

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Stop looking! Start booking!!

Simon Greenland is your man. In 35 years of touring with guides all over the world, I can say without hesitation that I have not come across a more personable, more knowledgeable and more solicitous travelling companion. We booked The Great Ocean Road tour and The Yarra Valley tour with his company. For the GOR we had Pete, who was very good and very informative. But, on the Yarra valley day, we had Simon, and our experience that day was at a different level altogether. From the moment we met him, each one of us (in a party of 6 ranging from 27 to 80 years of age) felt as if we've known him all along. He has the rare art in a guide of informing enough, but knowing when to keep silent. With 20 years of very diverse travel experiences behind him in all parts of the world, the interaction ceases to be about the just the scenery or the sights, but encompasses life. 
Do not miss out on touring with him. You'll find not just a guide, but a friend.