Hear what our clients have to say about their experience with Greenhills Travel Centre.
Hi Warwick,
Just wanted to send a message of thanks to you for organising our holiday to Japan. Our family of five all had the most wonderful holiday experience from beginning to end. The day tours that you organised at each location were informative, fun, and provided us with an understanding of the local history. Our accomodation was excellent and ranged from modern hotels through to more traditional Japanese inns, all with delicious meals served each day. With so many beautiful and interesting places to explore, wonderful food and kind, welcoming people in Japan, I would highly recommend Japan as a holiday to book through Green Hills Travel Centre. One we will all remember very fondly, thank you Curly!
Liz and all the Mayfield's - Japan
February 2025
Thanks to Greenhills Greenhills Travel Centre for another great holiday.
Our 23 days Hurtigruten or HX Expedition cruise to Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia certainly produced the “WOW” factor to quote one of the scientists aboard. An early start to Punta Arenas & flight delays due to strong winds saw us arrive later than expected & once we reached the docks, we were placed in group numbers which dictated our zodiac cruising departures slots for the entire cruise which rotated each zodiac cruise day as later departures sometimes meant you may have had less time on shore.
Our HX cruise jackets were given out on day 1 and proved water & wind proof (so no need to bring your own) & our muck boots were given out on day 2 (ours to maintain for the duration of the cruise).
Lectures were a daily event which you could attend in person or watch via tv in your cabin. A team of scientists were on board ready to answer questions or seek assistance through their “citizen scientist” programs. Also on board were representatives from “ORCA” noting whale sightings and recording data on them. The onboard historians also provided an insight into Shakleton’s movements, that of the whalers & sealers as well as life in the harsh remote environment for the old timers & the newer research scientists.
As it was the Antarctic summer wild life spotting began almost immediately with bird sightings followed by whales & seals & finally the penguins with the chicks in various stages of moult soon appearing. When the Ice Bergs emerged, some with that picture perfect penguin or seal lazing on top made you realize exactly where you were. The scenery was stunning and “pinch me moments” were a daily thing. Encountering surfacing whales with their calves, breath taking & walking among penguins and seals at arms-reach quite surreal.
Apart from sea days we left the ship either to cruise an inlet to observe the wildlife or to view abandoned whaling stations or to venture on shore to discover wildlife, towns or just to enjoy the vista. It was optional if you left the ship or participated in lectures or any citizen scientist events. The onboard photographer offered lectures with tips & hints on how to maximize your camera/phone & also took those with “fancy” cameras with big lenses out on photographic cruises.
For those who need a little assistance in getting in or out of the zodiacs there were always team members there to help. Most of the landings were beach landings and some were a little more challenging than others. Walking sticks (recommended later in the cruise) were always available at landings and came in handy when walking on the ice & uneven surfaces as well as to keep curious seals at bay.
A daily program was listed on the HX App which was required to be downloaded before departing and enabled you to see what activities were on for that day and at what time as well as meals for the day. A paper copy of the daily program was available if you asked and came in handy even if it was just to remember where you were as each daily program was erased each day. Breakfast was continental, lunch buffet style and dinner except for the first night which was buffet style was off a menu and seating was at the degression of the head waiter with no real need to book. Drinks were included however top shelf spirits & cocktails were chargeable. There was a laundry service available for a fee or included for the Expedition Suites. The rooms were comfortable although a little tight in places and there was plenty of storage for bags & hanging space in cupboards but who wants to spend time in your cabin when there is plenty going on outside of your cabin. Tip: take your own hangers or magnetic hooks to dry your clothes as they will dry in your room. Inside the ship the temperature was a pleasant 22oC roughly and the rooms could have their temperature adjusted if need be. We had an arctic superior suite on the 6th deck in the middle of the ship and felt little movement except crossing the Drake Passage.
Most excursions were included. The Falklands Town Bus Tour at €79 was only value for money since it was raining and blowing a gale when we arrived (it did show you areas not included in the free walking tour & did take you out of town a little) otherwise it was a little overpriced and the guide not overly informative. The free town tour took in the main street (it is not a big town) was interesting and the guide informative. Plenty of free time to shop, visit attractions & eat. Options on board included snow shoeing (which was dependent on the amount of snow available – not an option on our cruise), Kayaking (all equipment provided) at €179 each was worth the money although be mindful that you are in a ballot and the day you are selected to kayak (we kayaked in the crater of an active volcano) may not include ice bergs nor may you get to kayak (weather dependent – some did not get to go) & camping €460+ per person was expensive & all equipment was provided & this too was by ballot with only 30 people (2 per tent) were permitted to go with the group leaving the ship abt 9pm & return abt 3.30am (did come recommended by those who did it, only downside was you were not allowed to sit down on the ice, only walk around & only No1’s NO No2’s & the sun does not set until very late/early). The Polar Plunge (free) was offered in 2 places, one in the volcano crater & the other several days later & both you run into the sea not bungee into it and no special equipment needed apart from your swimwear or undies.
The Drake Passage either a “Shake” or a “Lake” will always be a little rough with swells ranging from about 3-4m to up to 10m+ on a bad crossing & depending on sea & weather conditions. Sea sick tablets are available from reception should you forget.
All in all well worth the money spent & definitely bucket list material.
Thank you so much.
Carol and Graeme - Hurtigruten In-depth Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia Expedition
February 2025
We were picked up at the airport by our English-speaking guide who took us to the Intersur Recoleta Hotel for the night. The hotel was roomy and comfortable and located near cafés, restaurants, bars, shops & within walking distance to many attractions. Our guide checked us in at the airport the following morning for our flight to Iguazu where we were met again by another English-speaking guide and we hit the ground running. We stored our bags in the tour van and visited the Argentinian side of the Iguazu Falls and The Devil’s Throat. Be prepared for crowds and a fight for a reasonable viewing spot but well worth the visit. After our viewing of the falls, we were then driven across the border to Brazil and our stay at the Bourbon Hotel and its equally spacious room with views looking back to Foz do Iguacu City and over the hotel grounds. The hotel had 2 restaurants and was a 15 min walk to a duty-free shopping plaza that also had a food court.
The following day was full on with a visit to the privately run Bird Park (before the regular tourists/crowds arrived), followed by an optional helicopter flight over the falls. We took the private one for 35 mins & took in the dam (equal in size only to the three rivers dam in China) and circled the falls for about 10 mins (at an additional cost). Cheaper flights were available but only lasted about 10 mins with max 6 people (at an additional cost). We then headed off to view the Brazilian side of the falls which was equally as impressive. Be prepared for crowds and getting wet. Following the falls we then took a jet boat ride on the rapids and drove under one of the many waterfalls. I felt this was not really what I wanted (although it was fun) (be prepared to get saturated so wear light clothes and no shoes). Back in Buenos Aires we were again met by an English-speaking guide for our return to the Bourbon Hotel. The following day was a half day city tour which was very informative but seemed a little rushed despite seeing most of the attractions the city had to offer. Our Tango Show & dinner was quite enjoyable especially as it was all you could drink & we had front row seats. Be prepared to eat late as we weren’t picked up until 7.30pm & were dropped back at our hotel about 11.45pm. Our free day took in sights such as the Recoleta Cemetery where Eva Peron was buried, Avenue 9th July (the widest street in the world), several parks, the Obelisco de Buenos Aires & Congressional Plaza.
Was it worth it? Yes it was. Thank you Curly for recommending this add on.
Grame And Carol - Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls add on to Antarctica Cruise
February 2025
Hello Wawick
Mike and I would like to thank you very much for the organisation of our recent trip to The Netherlands, Budapest and Croatia. We had a wonderful holiday and all your planning fell into place to make it as stress free as possible. We are settling in at home now but will be thinking of our next adventure soon and will be in touch.
Margaret and Mike - Adriatic Cruise, Hungary and the Netherlands
September/October 2024
Hi Warwick
We had an AMAZING time, and we have been telling so many they should do the trip. We have given your contact details out to several people to book through you also.
Looking for a bucket list holiday then we highly recommend the Trip A Deal Vietnam and Cambodia holiday, it is great value with so much to see and do. Our guides were very knowledgeable and took us to great places and always assisted us where needed and referred us to great places to eat when meals were not included, along with places to shop and see on free days.
Booking through Greenhills Travel made life a breeze.
Again, thank you for everything that you have done, and we look forward to our next holiday (India, Sri Lanka & Maldives) in February.
Colleen, Joe and Stewart - Vietnam and Cambodia
October 2024
It was great to come in and visit last week and just wanted to send through our thanks for your organising of our holiday. It all worked out really well after the unexpected cancellation of our original holiday
All the hotels were really well located, convenient to things we wanted to see as well as transport. Your suggestion of catching the train through to Boston was great and gave a great opportunity to see things a different way. Also, the opportunity of tacking a few days in San Francisco was a fantastic idea that wasn’t part of our original plan though was a brilliant way to wrap up the trip!
Now, we’ll be focussing on saving the pennies to get ready for the next one!
Annalise and Kris - USA and Canada
September 2024
I think this is the 13th holiday we have had Greenhills Travel Centre to arrange for us since 2013
Coach Tours, Cruises, Adventure Travel and more.
The latest being:
Ultimate Africa Adventure. What an amazing experience and holiday, lived up to all our expectations and more. Travelling through the most amazing landscapes.
We opted for the camping experience which proved to be an adventure in itself. Would totally recommend this trip for anyone to take.
Namibia was an unexpected highlight and of course all the wildlife. We were lucky enough to see the Big 5, those leopards are hard to find.
Thank you to Greenhills Travel Centre for all of your expertise over the years and we look forward to our next holiday..
Anne and Terry - Africa
August 2024
I've just returned from a fully escorted 3-week tour to Egypt with Curly at Greenhills Travel Centre. It was amazing, well-organised and I would highly recommend it.
Janet - Egypt
November 2023
We have travelled extensively. For seven seasons, we lived on our sailing yacht, exploring the coasts of NSW and Queensland, venturing as far as the Louisiades Archipelago (PNG), New Caledonia, Vanuatu and circumnavigating the top of Australia to Broome on the west coast before returning to Sydney. Subsequently, we bought a motor home and travelled Europe, including Scandinavia and the USA, with a journey that extended to Alaska.
When we came across an advertisement for a 23-day guided tour of Egypt and Jordan, we thought it would be an ideal way to explore these countries with their rich ancient history. Greenhills Travel assured us of our safety by mentioning that the guide, 'Curly,' had undertaken this trip numerous times.
As residents of Morisset Park, we were provided with direct transport to Newcastle Airport, where we met Curly and the other five members of the tour group. Beyond Australia, we were consistently met by guides who facilitated our passage through security, customs and baggage pickup. Transportation between top-quality hotels, as well as guides for tourist sites, was seamlessly arranged. The package included a good number of meals, along with all fares, taxes, gratuities and most unforeseen costs.
In Cairo, our guide for Egypt, Amany - an Egyptian Egyptologist - impressed us with her incredible knowledge of the country's history. Our visits included the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, Memphis, Saqqara, El Alamein’s Commonwealth War Cemeteries, Alexandria and many other historical sites.
From Cairo, we flew to Luxor, where we stayed in the historic Winter Palace Pavillon Hotel before embarking on a seven-night Nile cruise. This cruise provided a comfortable and scenic route from Luxor to the High Dam, with stops at Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan Dam, High Dam and the Temple of Isis at Philae.
A flight took us to the impressive Abu Simbel Temple site, followed by a hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Queens and a felucca ride on the Nile. In Luxor, we explored the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and other significant sites.
Back in Cairo, the Egyptian Museum's antiquities gained more context after visiting the related sites. A highlight was attending a light and sound show in the evening at the Pyramids of Giza, where the history of ancient Egypt came alive through captivating visuals.
Next, we travelled to Jordan, where Petra's rose-red city left us in awe. The guided tour continued to Wadi Rum, showcasing the stunning desert landscape, and then to the Dead Sea for a unique floating experience.
We saw so much more than we usually see when we are travelling alone and we learnt so much. Our heads are still spinning and we are still reading and learning more about the background of so much that we have seen. Thank you Curly for a wonderful, enriching experience! We could not have done it without you! We also thoroughly enjoyed the company of our fellow travellers.
Ron and Elizabeth - Egypt
February 2020
I wish to express my gratitude and commend Warwick (Curly) Gladman and the staff of Greenhills Travel Centre (GTC) for arranging a most memorable holiday in Japan through JTB Travel. Of particular note was the efficient handling of a challenging situation when a typhoon in Japan resulted in the closure of Kansai International Airport, leading to the cancellation of my return flight to Bangkok.
While other travellers were informed by their travel agents that they might have to wait for 3 or 4 days, Curly from Greenhills Travel Centre had me booked on a return flight from Nagoya International Airport within 15 minutes of my call. This flight seamlessly connected with all other necessary flights.
The 14-day Japan Combination Package Tour (starting from Tokyo) exceeded all expectations. All the hotels where I stayed were of high quality, offering brilliant breakfasts each day. The day tours were escorted by English-speaking Japanese guides employed by Sunrise Tours. They were locals from the areas we toured, providing invaluable assistance, information, and even humour.
The traditional Japanese lunches served on each tour added to the amazing experience. GTC had also arranged tours on my free days and these were just as well organised. The tour operators were punctual, picking us up and dropping us back to our hotels in luxury.
I cannot recommend Greenhills Travel Centre and its staff, as well as this particular tour, more highly.
Ross Whybin - Japan
August 2018
Such a great experience. Your team's good work made it all come together, especially with the flights - it must have been a logistical challenge. We enjoyed every aspect of the tour of Norway, including Bergen, Oslo, Flam, Voss and especially the journey up the fjords with their beautiful scenery of snow-capped mountains - just amazing. Experiencing so much in a short time was brilliant; we loved the Northern Lights and feel grateful and privileged to have seen them. The experience of immersing ourselves in another country's culture is something I will never forget.
Thank you, Greenhills Travel Centre, once again for providing us with this incredible experience and for the friendships we made along the way.
Margie and Chris - Norway
March 2018
We utilised Curly and his team at Greenhills Travel for trips to Thailand, cruises to New Zealand and Vanuatu and an amazing journey to Egypt and the UAE. These were top-quality tours with exceptional tour guides. I highly recommend this travel agent to all my friends!
Greg and Karen
February 2018
I just wanted to send you an email to let you know that our family holiday to Palm Cove went really well. The organisation was great and the whole family had a fantastic time. The accommodation was really nice and the staff were very friendly and helpful. Thanks so much for all of your hard work in putting it together for us.
Julie and Bruce - Palm Cove
September 2017
We had a fantastic time and really enjoyed travelling with you and the lovely group you put together. The trip was well planned and organised. Despite covering so many amazing things in the three weeks, we felt relaxed and not rushed. We appreciate the time and effort you put in, even on our "free" days, to ensure everyone had a great experience.
Reality has hit us in the face upon returning to work and we wish we were still in Canada or on a cruise ship! Thanks again, Curly. We enjoyed traveling with you and we'll be back!
Ralph and Linda - Canada
August 2017
Firstly, thank you for organising our fantastic holiday. We thoroughly enjoyed every place we visited. The highlights were sailing into Venice, Croatia, and Montenegro. It was also wonderful to catch up with our friends in Canada, and they took us to new places every day. Thank heavens I keep a daily diary as there were so many highlights to try and remember over the 5 weeks. We also enjoyed our accommodation on the Cook Islands, but the weather was a little too cool for swimming.
Jan and Noel - Round the world
June - July 2017
I chose Green Hills Travel Centre to handle the bookings for what was initially planned as a tour to Norway but developed into a seven-week odyssey covering Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland and the UK. Warwick and his staff assisted in making bookings for two tours, a Eurail pass, hotel accommodations, air travel and travel insurance.
While it all seemed straightforward, there were several changes of plan and extensions of time. Warwick and his staff demonstrated great patience, were helpful and offered valuable suggestions. I initially opted for an 11-day ferry cruise from Bergen to Kirkenes and return to Trondheim, but due to a ferry mishap, it became a 10-day return Trondheim-Kirkenes-Trondheim. Despite this, I was pleased with the tour, finding the ship comfortable, staff customer-focused and social events well organised. Side excursions to North Cape were excellent, but dog sledding at Kirkenes and a horse ride and land tour through the Lofoten Islands were less satisfying.
I also chose an 8-day rail tour of Switzerland with Trafalgar Tours, which was unfortunately cancelled. I opted for an alternative coach tour with Insight Tours and overall, I enjoyed the tour. Accommodations in 4-star hotels were good value and the guide and driver were informative.
Choosing to travel early in the season to experience snow and ice, I was not disappointed. However, the Premium Economy flight with British Airways was less comfortable than expected due to a constant loud roar from the engines.
Despite encountering some challenges, including a ferry incident and changes to my itinerary, Amanda and Warwick provided helpful assistance, rearranging accommodations and resolving issues promptly. The Switzerland tour coincided with heavy snowfall, adding to the scenic experience.
Warwick's prebooking of budget hotels generally met expectations, although cash flow problems arose, partly due to flawed advice from the bank about travel cards. The recommendation to prepay tips proved beneficial. Green Hills Travel Centre is recommended for its caring and helpful service.
John - Europe
March - April 2017
Thanks, Curly, for a wonderful holiday, a great group and lots of great memories.
When people ask about my holiday, I put in a good word for you and your travel agency and I mention that you are returning to Iceland in 2018.
Yvonne - Norway and Iceland
March - April 2017
Thank you so much for arranging the trip of a lifetime to New Zealand. Our trip was very well organised and everything went off without a hitch. Hopefully, it won't be too long before we are arranging another holiday with you.
Kath and Craig - New Zealand
January 2017
Just want to say a big thank you to you and the rest of the staff of Greenhills Travel. Our Scenic river cruise, along with additional accommodation and side tours, were all fantastic and we had no problems at all. All the hotels that you booked for us were great. The Keukenhof Garden tour was wonderful and the Interlaken tour was also fantastic. The staff are friendly and helpful, drawing on their vast travel experiences to help plan my holiday and nothing was too much trouble. From meeting up with my relatives in Europe to advice on money matters, guidance was given willingly.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone thinking of taking a holiday and not wanting the frustration of coordinating everything themselves. Thanks to you all!
Deanna - Europe
September 2016
I just wanted to pass on my thanks for your organisation of our recent tour of Cambodia and Vietnam. We had a fabulous time, and all the activities were great. We did miss a flight from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh due to an error on my itinerary, but Duc Trinh came to the rescue quickly and all was well. Our guides were excellent, and the organisation was superb. I will be in touch again in two years' time for another trip with my next senior class. Thanks for everything.
Lyn, Coffs Harbour School Group - Cambodia and Vietnam
September 2016
You have organised the best trip we have ever been on. We are down to our last week and really don't want to leave South Africa. The places you have organized have been fantastic. In all our travels, we have never had anything like the Victoria Falls Hotel. We feel like royalty!
Jane and Pete - South Africa
August 2015
Can't thank you enough; it was truly fantastic. Our standout was the two days around Tianmen Mountains, Heavens Gate, the glass floor walk, Avatar Mountains and the lake cruise. A lot of walking but absolutely magical part of the world. Your dedication and willingness to get the very best value for money deal inclusive of all sites cannot be highlighted enough for us. Very grateful.
Belinda - China
July 2015