We are here in Austrailia with A and K family and wanted to be able to compare the two companies. We have also traveled with Tauck Bridges. Arrival in Sydney was great, plane on time and our kids slept about 10 hours on the flight from SFO. It was easy to spot our a and k escort as he had a big sign with our family name and we weee whisked off to the sprinter van and off to the Four Seasons. Location is perfect and I’m a sucker for a good hotel. Our view from our adjoining rooms is spectacular. We arrived a full day before the tour started so we arranged for a private tour guide to give us a tour Sydney so we could stay awake
The next day he picked us up and took us to the Blue Mountains and Featherdale wildlife reserve where we were able to feed/pet/hold baby wallabies and kangaroos and actually get up close and personal with a koala and pet her. It was pretty amazing. That evening at 530 our group met for welcome drinks and dinner at the hotel. The restaurant at the hotel was great. Food and wine delicious. The next am we met and took the ferry to the Taronga Zoo. We had a guide from the zoo and she was wonderful. I would have thought they would have arranged for a private animal interaction but they did not. It was really hot after we left the zoo so most of us opted to head back, cool down and nap. That night was dinner on our own. The next morning we met at 845 and headed to Bondi Beach for a private group surfing lesson. It was amazing. We all had a blast and that was followed by lunch on the beach at an awesome restaurant called Bucket List. We then got back on our coach and headed to circicular quay where we boarded a high power jet boat. It was an high dateline boat ride that included crazy tricks and spins. It was our kids favorite part! Tonight we are meeting our group for dinner at a local restaurant. The restaurant was right on the water and despite the tuna being abysmal, the barramundi was delicious. I thought the service at the four seasons was incredible and our rooms were great. The coach picked us up this morning and we are headed to the airport to leave for Ayers Rock. Just as in a Disney trio, the kids have all bonded well and are loving hAnging out with each other. I’ll tell you the thing that I feel is missing is the interaction with the kids by the guide. My kids have loved our Disney guides and still y’all about them. This a and k guide is fine... my daughter says she reminds her of her English teacher at school. I’ll continue to post throughout.