Aspire Down Under

Fantastic experience: Our trip to Australia was wonderful and we were well taken care of by Aspire Down Under. Every plan they arranged for us went off perfectly and the Vamos app with all information and timing day to day was incredible. We loved meeting the animals and our tour guides were all great. I would highly recommend Aspire.

Fantastic experience: We had a great trip to Australia. Aspire Down Under put together a great itinerary - the trip options we chose were all great, the facilities we stayed at were wonderful and the arranged transportation worked out beautifully. Sharon was a pleasure to work with, essentially guiding us through the entire process! Thank you Aspire!

Fantastic experience: Excellent advice that ended up with a great itinerary to include accommodations, excursions and perfectly timed down time. Shelley was very patient with all my questions and "re-vamping" of the itinerary as we put it all together.

Fantastic experience: We just came back from a trip to Australia and New Zealand that Joanne Morgan put together for us. The trip was beyond expectations. Prior to the trip Joanne was very helpful and always got back to us in a timely manor. She put together 3 weeks of wonderful day trips that was very easy to navigate through. Every day was a different experience and we really feel like she exposed us to the best of both that Australia and New Zealand had to offer. I would definitely recommend Aspire Down Under and it was a pleasure working with Joanne!!

Fantastic experience: We booked a 3 week Australian vacation with Sharon and were very pleased with our trip! We went from Sydney to Uluru, port Douglas, Adelaide, kangaroo Island, Tasmania and Melbourne! It was a fun filled 3 weeks seeing many many highlights of Australia . I highly recommend Sharon and Aspire Down Under if you are planning a trip to Australia!

Fantastic experience: We had a wonderful 3-week trip to New Zealand that could not have gone better, thanks to Aspire Down Under's agent, Joanne. She took our general ideas and came up with perfect details that made great use of our time and gave us a great overall experience of that fabulous country. Thank you, Joanne, and we definitely recommend Aspire Down Under for your next trip to New Zealand!

Fantastic experience: Most things went without a hitch. It was a most enjoyable trip, and drivers were usually before actual time listed. Hotels had our rooms ready when we arrived, even when early. This was great! Two points I wish I knew in advance: 1)Star Alliance Airlines charges extra for carry on baggage weighing more than 4 pounds. Could have balanced my luggage better, and 2) it would have been nice to have a day for the walking tour earlier in Sydney in order to be able to know what else we would like to do, though it actually worked out. Also, a list of options to do on our free days in the cities would have been nice, too.

Fantastic experience: Sharon worked with us over more than several months, in designing a custom tour for our group of six. We experienced all that makes New Zealand a special place to visit. Sharon was very responsive, detail oriented and thorough. The trip she put together for us will be one that we will always remember.

Fantastic experience: We just returned from a five week trip from New Zealand with a stopover for a few days in Fiji. Our trip was arranged through Aspire down Under, in particular with Sarah Westerman. I can't say enough about the agency and in particular Sarahs diligent work. From inception to execution, not a single detail was missed. Sarah listened to our vision and recommended an itinerary that checked all of the boxes. At the same time our specific wishes were listened to and incorporated throughout making this a trip that was fully customized to our desires and needs. As for execution, without exception all connections auto rentals hotels, tours transfers and other activities were seamlessly arranged without a single hiccup over 5 weeks. Our responsibility was to simply partake and enjoy. If you are considering a trip to New Zealand, I cannot recommend this agency and Sarah enough.

Fantastic experience: My husband and I worked with Sarah at Aspire Down Under to plan what I can only describe as a two-week trip of a lifetime to New Zealand. After booking our international flights on our own, we realized we were way too overwhelmed to plan an itinerary that ensured we maximized our time in NZ and that we were able to experience as many of the "must do's" as possible while balancing the desire for down time and relaxation. A friend referred Aspire and after our first call with Sarah, it was clear she did the most important thing - listen - to what my husband and I were looking for in our trip. From the overall itinerary flow to the hotel properties, Sarah's plan was exactly if not beyond what we wanted. Once we arrived in NZ everything was seamless - all check ins, rental cars, and excursions. Don't sleep on the Vamoos app - this made advance prep like packing and restaurant perusing so simple, and was our bible once we were actually in NZ. THANK YOU Sarah + Aspire Down Under!

Fantastic experience: This was one of the most adventurous trips I have been on. Aspire Down Under arranged the perfect itinerary. Everything went extremely smoothly. All rides and flights went without a hitch. I feel as though we had done everything we could possibly do within three weeks. Thank you Shelley Madsen for such a great experience.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely flawless trip set up by Sharon Tidbury of Aspire Down Under.

Fantastic experience: Our 3 week trip to Australia was just amazing thanks to Aspire Down Under! Our agent, Sarah Westerman, took care of all the details so the flights, hotels, and tours went so smoothly—we just had to show up! And the excursions she helped us choose in each city were all fantastic. If you are looking for an excellent, stress-free vacation to Australia, let Aspire Down Under plan your trip!

Fantastic experience: Had a tremendous trip to Australia and New Zealand. Shelley at Aspire Down Under put together an excellent package for us for a 3 week trip. No complaints other than could have used another week.Enjoyed working with Shelley. She was very responsive to our questions and desires. Wouldn't hesitate to use Aspire for future travel.

Positive experience: Pros: - We worked with Shelley Madsen to plan our trip over several months and we appreciated the time and effort she took to understand our preferences to create our itinerary - The quality of the excursions and in-country transportation was excellent; we enjoyed all of the tours we went on and the guides/ drivers were punctual, friendly, and knowledgeable. We particularly enjoyed the Shotover Jet Boat tour, Wineglass Bay tour, Whitsunday Islands tour, and Sydney Opera House tour - For the most part, the quality of our accommodations was great; we particularly enjoyed staying at the Coral Sea Resort in Airlie Beach and the Park Royal Darling Harbour in Sydney Cons: - In July 2024 (~6 months prior to our departure), we applied for the NZ ETA to enter New Zealand. Due to a glitch in the mobile app and likely error on my part, the nationality for 1 traveler was oddly both correctly and incorrectly marked (Nationality was listed as USA which is correct but there was also a line that stated "You must have a valid Australian permanent residence visa and resident return visa, in your current passport, when you travel." which indicated some type of Australian nationality which is incorrect). The mobile app did allow me to go back and make any changes, so I submitted it; that NZ ETA still ended up getting issued by the New Zealand government. When I shared screenshots of this NZ ETA, with Shelley and Maria Mittleman of Aspire Down Under in July 2024, they said that this looked accurate. However, on the day of the departure in December 2024, due to this error in the NZ ETA, did not allow the 1 traveler to board the flight to New Zealand. Even after applying for a new NZ ETA, the 1 traveler was still not allowed to board the flight to New Zealand as the ETA was marked as "Pending". This led to flight rebookings, paying for additional flights, needing to contact the New Zealand government, and loss of money on missed hotels/excursions/ transportation of nearly $2,000. When this occurred, Shelley was not in the office, so I was put in touch with Sharon Tidbury who provided some support, but we had to handle resolving this issue on our own. While I take full responsibility for any errors in submitting the NZ ETA, if Shelley and Maria, as experienced travel agents at a company specializing in this region who likely see numerous NZ ETAs on a daily basis, were able to be more diligent in reviewing the NZ ETA as our second set of eyes in July 2024, this error could have been resolved in a timelier manner versus over a highly stressful period of 48 hours. When we contacted Aspire Down Under about this, we were told that they did not have anything to do with this and that it was our fault; ultimately, the "wiping our hands clean" attitude was highly off-putting. We did not find that Shelley or Aspire Down Under came through for us when it mattered most - When the 1 traveler did end up traveling to New Zealand and landed in Queenstown, no transportation was organized or provided. Out of courtesy, it would have been helpful to provide this especially as it was right after the ordeal with the NZ ETA - At the Stamford Plaza in Melbourne, there was an issue (either communication or technical, exact reason unknown) with our early check-in, and we were later informed that the hotel was not able to identify our reservation because they were given an incorrect spelling of our last name by Aspire Down Under - The Travelodge Hotel in Hobart, although listed as a 4-star hotel on Google, was highly cramped for our party size and barely fit our suitcases; it appeared more like a hostel compared to the other hotels, was not comfortable for a 3-night stay, and was not worth the money we paid - As mentioned above, the quality of the transportation and drivers were strong; however, for our last drop-off to the Sydney airport, the driver dropped us off at the domestic terminal instead of the international terminal (even after we informed him) which led us needing to unnecessarily walk a lengthy distance with 6-8 pieces of luggage

Fantastic experience: Aspire down under was absolutely amazing in helping plan the trip of a lifetime. They are very professional and really help to give advice on activities and things to do while we were in Australia, NZ, and Fiji. They had great drivers in NZ and hotels and accomodations were all very good! Would highly recommend them!

Fantastic experience: Outstanding tour with guide Genevieve - tour: Half-Day Rocky Mountain Escape. It was a beautiful day so perfect for seeing the mountains, lakes and more. The group was small (only three including myself) so it truly felt customized not only in what we saw, but how long we stayed at each location which was perfect. Genevieve was one of the best guides I have ever had - very personable as well. Truly an amazing time!

Fantastic experience: Great response and personal assistance. Would use them again in a heartbeat.

Fantastic experience: We would like to thank Sarah Westerman for tailoring our plans to fit in with our dates and budget. She is an excellent communicator and listened to what we wanted to see and the places we preferred to visit. She found us excellent flights, hotels and tours in every place. Each day was a full of different experiences. The pick up from every airport was perfect with a private car and driver waiting for us at baggage claim at every airport. The hotels were all 4 star and up, with deluxe rooms and excellent locations. Everything worked like clockwork. We did not waste a minute. Our family loved New Zealand and Australia thanks to the seamless arrangement by Sarah and Aspire. The Vamoos App was excellent. We would love to book our next travels through Sarah and Aspire. We thank you for this memorable vacation

Fantastic experience: My wife and I had a splendid time in Australia and New Zealand. Aspire Down Under more than met our needs. We highly recommend them!

Fantastic experience: Shelley was amazing to work with. She arranged a fantastic trip combining my wants with my husband's to ensure we were both extremely happy during and after the trip!

Fantastic experience: For our recent Australia trip, we coordinated with the Aspire Down Under travel agency to handle the planning for us. We worked closely with Joanne Morgan, and this was an outstanding experience! Joanne couldn't have made things easier for us, and having just recently returned from the trip, I'm happy to report that everything happened EXACTLY as planned, and we had ZERO issues. I would use this company again in a heartbeat! Aspire Down Under and Joanne are true professionals who assembled for us an amazing vacation with memories that will last a lifetime! HIGHLY recommend not only Australia as a place to visit, but Aspire Down Under and Joanne to handle the arrangements for you!

Fantastic experience: This is the second time we have used Aspire down under and we have found the experience to be wonderful ! This time we worked with Sharon Tidbury and found her to be one of the best travel agents we have worked with. Sharon was very receptive to our numerous questions and knew Australia and New Zealand in every aspect. While away she was always responsive! We are fussy travelers and she easily handled are multiple calls We can’t express our gratitude enough to Sharon.

Fantastic experience: A Truly Unforgettable New Zealand Adventure - Thanks to Joanne Morgan and Aspire Down Under! My husband and I recently returned from our first trip to New Zealand, and we couldn't be more thrilled with how everything turned out. With 16 days to explore both the North and South Islands, we knew we needed expert guidance. From the very beginning, Joanne Morgan at Aspire Down Under was incredibly helpful in shaping our itinerary. She offered us a variety of options and worked closely with us to design a trip that was perfectly tailored to our interests. Joanne’s attentiveness was outstanding – she was always quick to respond to our questions and provided valuable insights to help us make the most of our time. The itinerary she put together took us from Queenstown all the way to Auckland, and every day was filled with amazing activities, tours, and experiences that truly captured the beauty and diversity of New Zealand. The logistics of the trip were seamless, and everything went smoothly from start to finish. We never had to worry about a thing, which allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the adventure. We highly recommend Aspire Down Under, and we can’t thank Joanne enough for making our New Zealand dream come true. If you're planning a trip, you’re in great hands with Joanne!

Fantastic experience: The trip was flawless and the attention to detail was amazing. Sharon T who was our travel agent exceeded all expectations. Flights (all perfect), hotels (all perfect), transfers to/from hotels (all perfect), days trips (all perfect). The sights, activities, hotels showed a level of detail and care that was wonderful. They suffered through many of our calls, questions, and concerns ahead of this trip and during the trip with professionalism and patience. I am definitely spoiled after this experience. I don't see how anyone could do as well as Sharon T and Aspire down under. I have nothing but good things to say.

Fantastic experience: We were absolutely blown away by everything on our honeymoon trip to Australia and New Zealand through Shelley at Aspire Down Under! The organization and app access made everything so easy to navigate and plan for. Shelley really thought of everything and we felt like the packing list, itinerary, and her guidance enabled us to be prepared every step of the way. Each accommodation, flight, taxi, and tour was handled for us beautifully- making it a completely stress free trip. We had no issues at all with anything and we loved every activity. We so appreciate how willing she was to adjust the itinerary ahead of time to accommodate our budget and our activity preferences, it made the trip so personalized and kept us in budget. We could not have asked for a better experience in the planning process or the trip itself. Australia and New Zealand were beautiful places to spend our honeymoon and we are so thankful we had Aspire Down Under plan our once in a lifetime trip! We absolutely recommend Aspire Down Under to everyone and will be using them again for future trips!

Fantastic experience: My husband and I have traveled through most of the United States and Asia, a bit of Europe, and many other places. Traveling is our love and addiction. We often put together trips ourselves, but for Australia/New Zealand we needed an expert in the area to help us. We started by first looking at some tour companies. (My cousins used one to go to the same destination.) But none had some of the things we wanted, and I needed a few accommodations. I found three firms online that specialized in this area and that drew my interest. I emailed asking for quotes. Two called and I spoke to the agents, outlining my requests. The Aspire agent responded to a query from my husband on Zicasso. And I let her know (via email and then on the phone) what we needed. She listened to me and provided a quote with items and times that I had requested at a reasonable price. So she was our top pick, and we began to work together to cull the best items for the trip. We never paid a fee until we were ready to book the tour. I worked with Sharon T. And she was amazing. We got the cities we wanted, in the order we wanted, and with a few special accommodations. (For example: With a recent knee surgery, I couldn't climb the 300 steps at the Sydney Opera House, so she booked us an accessible tour. I sometimes have tummy trouble early in the mornings, so mostly I wanted tours that started at 10 am or later. I did have to give in to early times in a few instances, because they were not avoidable. I even had a specific order to the cities we visited, because I wanted to end the trip in Auckland, New Zealand, where we planned to meet with a friend we hadn't seen in more than 30 years.) Suffice it to say that Sharon and I exchanged tons [hundreds? :-)] of emails from May through the end of the trip in October. I even emailed her at least three or four times while on the 19-day trip, and I always got an immediate response (if the timing was right with the 15-17 hour difference). As a former assistant travel editor for a major daily newspaper, I may be more particular than most people and harder to please. Aspire (Sharon) was patient, detailed, and offered stellar service. P.S. The VAMOOS app was incredible. It provided every detail at our fingertips for the entire trip, along with reminders.

Fantastic experience: I have been working with Shelley on my trips to Australia, since 2016, and she is the best! She listens to my needs and always has my best interest as a priority, but if something doesn't make sense, she'll give me options. I don't know that I would have made 4 trips already if I didn't have the support of Shelley Madsen and Aspire Down Under. It makes it so much easier and hassle-free. If something comes up, she is there to help and when you travel solo, that makes a huge difference. Already looking forward to 2025!

Fantastic experience: Sharon and team planned our trip to Australia and New Zealand for October 2024. I have to say they planned each and every detail to the T and took into consideration a lot of our requests. I was pleased with the prompt response by the team and their efforts in making our wish their command. Highly recommend booking with them!

Fantastic experience: The experience working with Sarah and the Aspire Down Under team was delightful and made our honeymoon experience one to remember. We would highly recommend booking your Australian trip through this company because they know just about everything that you'll need to know for a first time trip over there.

Fantastic experience: Shelley Madsen at Aspire Down Under really came through for us on our trip to Australia. We gave her a list of what we wanted to see and do there, and she put the whole thing together at a reasonable price. Excellent hotels, wonderful tours, domestic flights, airport transports, all were included. We were absolutely delighted with our vacation, and highly recommend Aspire Down Under and Shelley specifically!

Fantastic experience: Shelley and her team planned and executed a perfect 30 day introductory trip to Australia and New Zealand. Everything was simply fabulous during the entire trip, and we could not have had a better experience in the communication/planning phase. The itinerary included a great mixture of geographical areas, culture and wildlife. All of the accommodations fit my request of no large hotel chains, and a preference for local small boutique hotels. Not only were the hotels a good match for us, but all were in the perfect location for our planned activities. Every private and small group tour that they arranged for us in fit our interests and pace of travel, and greatly enhanced our experiences in each of the different areas we visited. This travel group obviously has vetted the best local tour providers and transfer services, because all but one or two superbly delivered on all that was promised. Shelley promptly followed up with those two that did not meet our expectations and I know they want and expect the best for their travelers. We also had local contact information if any problems arose during the trip, and we got prompt assistance each of the two times we contacted them. Overall, everything met and exceeded our expectations and we definitely recommend Aspire Down Under and feel that they deserve more than five stars.

Fantastic experience: Joanne Morgan helped me plan this trip. She did an amazing job! I could not have done it without her!!! Absolutely no problems! I highly recommend this company and Joanne! Thank you for an amazing adventure!

Fantastic experience: Joanne with Aspire Down Under put together an exciting and diverse itinerary for my friend when she was traveling on her own to Australia. When my friend asked me if I wanted to join her, and showed me all the wonderful places and things planned, I said YES, how could I not? I simply told Joanne to add me on, and she made it happen seamlessly. She set us up in lovely accommodations for what I considered a very reasonable price. Our transportation via private car or shuttle when needed, was flawless. I would recommend this agency for all your travel needs.

Fantastic experience: If you're heading Down Under, go with Aspire! From the first communication with Joanne to the flight home, everything went smoothly with very little bumps. And the few bumps that did happen were met with immediate attention and efficiency to ensure I continued to have a smooth, enjoyable, and memorable experience. I can't recommend this company enough!

Fantastic experience: Shelley and the team at Aspire Down Under put together the most wonderful trip for my wife and I to Australia. If you are looking for a travel agent for your trip, look no further then Aspire Down Under!

Fantastic experience: Sharon was so helpful, and went above and beyond for us. Highly recommend using her for all international travels. Our vacation was a dream and didn’t have to think about anything as Sharon had it all planned for us. Thank you so much!

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend Aspire Down Under for your travel needs. From the initial inquiry, Joanne was a pleasure to work with and crafted a custom itinerary for my family's trip to New Zealand and Australia. She was flexible and responsive to all of our questions, ensuring that our accommodations were conveniently located near popular attractions. The Vamoos app was user-friendly and made it easy to reference our plans throughout the trip. We had an amazing time and can't thank Joanne enough for her exceptional service.

Fantastic experience: Sharon at Aspire Down Under was such a pleasure to work with. We gave her a budget and told her the things we wanted to see and do and she organized the entire trip! Transfers were seamless and I wouldn't hesitate to use ADU again for another vacation to Austrailia and NZ!

Fantastic experience: Aspire Down Under was extremely helpful in putting together our 2 week family trip to New Zealand. We worked with Joanne Morgan and she was excellent in all phases of the trip planning, from providing an initial list of ideas of places to visit and activities to do (as I had little clue) to recommending route ideas to arranging excellent accommodations that accommodated our family of 4 adults to making reservations for activities that made our trip work flawlessly while we were there. She was not "pushy" at all and I never got the feeling that she was promoting activities or accommodations based solely on making a commission. She was very up-front about whether she could meet or beat prices on things like flight arrangements (which, with her encouragement, I ended up making myself). She always responded to questions via email within 24 hours and was emphasized making the trip planning a collaborative process to make sure we got the most out of the time that we spent in New Zealand. I would highly recommend Aspire Down Under and Joanne Morgan for planning your New Zealand excursion.

Fantastic experience: We’ve recently returned from a fabulous trip to Australia put together for us by Sharon T. at Aspire Down Under. Everything was so well planned and set up specifically for us based on our interests. Our guides were all great. We explored Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, the West MacDonnell Range, Kings Canyon, Uluru, and finished with diving at the Great Barrier Reef. This was an extraordinary trip for sure! Highly recommend Sharon (and Australia) if you’re looking for a great adventure in a wonderful, friendly, country.

Fantastic experience: Great experience working with them!

Fantastic experience: A wonderful, easy to work with travel company, and a lot of trip for the cost. Have your wish list ready, and they are ready to work with you. Very professional transports, and internal flights went off in a timely manner with no travel complications. Guides love their work, and Australians are lovely people that want to make you happy!

Fantastic experience: Had a GREAT time in Australia for our Honeymoon. Shelley did a wonderful job planning our trip and included transportation each step of the way. We hope to plan a return visit with our daughter someday!

Fantastic experience: Shelley put together an amazing trip for us with a mixture of tours and time to do our own thing. Everything ran smoothly, all the pick ups and drop offs were on time.

Fantastic experience: Sharon Tidbury was so professional & helpful. She put together a customized itinerary that met all of our needs and more. The use of the Vamoos app was great. We love New Zealand - it’s people and it’s nature are what we wish the U.S. was more like.

Fantastic experience: I recently traveled to New Zealand with a friend for 2 + weeks. Joanne Morgan of Aspire Down Under curated the trip, and our experience with her was phenomenal. Hotels were centrally located, scheduled excursions were gobsmackingly fun, the scenery was exquisite, and all connections occurred without a hitch! Planning with Joanne was a breeze and she had wonderful suggestions for making sure we experienced some of the beauty and fun that New Zealand has to offer.

Fantastic experience: I have to say our experience with Aspire Down Under was very hands on for the most part. Our tour person Shelley responded quickly to questions and when we needed to chat via phone she was always available. We took the 17 day Kirra tour of New Zealand, and the way it was presented to us was it was a 17 day tour of the North & South Islands. When we arrived in Auckland, we found out that several in our small group would be leaving when we went south and that 17 more would be joining us for the south tour. Had I known that I might have changed my mind about taking the tour because it broke the group up into 2 groups, not one combined group. That could have been Kirra tour's fault, I don't know, People on the tour said they had the option of visiting one or both the islands, we were presented with only a 17 day tour, not one island or both. Otherwise, I was very happy with Aspire Down Under.

Fantastic experience: Every detail was perfectly arranged and we had an amazing trip!

Fantastic experience: We’re still riding so high from what was such a memorable trip to Australia and New Zealand for our honeymoon — thank you so much to Sharon for working with us in putting together an amazing itinerary!! All of the tour guides were so professional and kind, and the hotels were perfect, with the Rees just jaw-dropping (in fact, all of Queenstown was absolutely breathtaking)! Communication and itineraries were thorough and never left us wondering where we had to be and when.

Fantastic experience: We used Aspire Down Under to assist in our first trip to the southern hemisphere to South Island, New Zealand. Sarah matched our interests and hobbies to perfection. Hotel stays were amazing, and much nicer than we usually do. So nice to use small group and single drivers/tour guides and not worry about car rental, parking, and driving on the "wrong" side.

Fantastic experience: New Zealand/Australia tours February, 2024 It was a dream fulfilled. Our vacation was great and full of wonderful memories to cherish for a lifetime. Thank you Aspire Down Under.....most of all thank you Joanne Morgan. You were calm and organized, molded our vacation into reality. From planning to execution you definitely delivered. We trusted you from the very beginning, you involved us and listened to our inputs. I believe that made our planning went well, I like the collaboration involved. I highly recommend Joanne and Aspire Down Under, keep up the good work and continue to make vacation dreams to reality!!!

Fantastic experience: My husband and I just returned from a nearly 6 week trip touring around Australia and New Zealand. WOW! Could not have put this amazing trip together without the help and expertise of Shelley Madsen and Aspire Down Under. She listened to our ideas and preferences and put together an incredible itinerary! Highly recommend...and she's an Aussie so she's very knowledgeable on everything down under! It was a trip of a lifetime!

Fantastic experience: This was truly the trip of a lifetime in NZ. Beautifully organized with excellent accommodations and just the right balance of interesting tours and relaxing downtime. Also knowing that we could reach out with any questions during the trip and get a fast answer was comforting. I would highly recommend Sharon and her team and look forward to working with her again in the future.

Fantastic experience: My trip was well arranged and organized. At every stop, hotel, tour, car - my reservation came up immediately and I had no problems navigating any of them. New Zealand is an amazing land, with incredible people and culture. I waited 50 years to take this trip and it was everything I could hope for and enjoy. Thank you Aspire Down Under.

Fantastic experience: We had a fantastic trip to Australia and New Zealand which wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable without the invaluable input and guidance from Sharon at Aspire Down Under. She was a dream to work with - responsive, knowledgeable, and informative.

Fantastic experience: Aspire (Shelley Madsen) did a great job. We went on a month long trip to Kauai, Australia, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands. W e toured, snorkeled, toured, walked - had wonderful food, wine, and local delicacies. We did some touristy things but never in big crowds. All arrangements were well planned and professional. We would highly recommend Aspire and Shelley.

Fantastic experience: Shelley Madsen came through for us again with a great trip. I highly recommend Aspire Down Under.

Fantastic experience: A Dream Vacation Made Reality: A Glowing Review for Aspire Down Under and Sharon Tidbury Aspire Down Under and Sharon Tidbury have turned our dream vacation into an unforgettable reality. From the pristine shores of Fiji to the majestic landscapes of New Zealand and the vibrant cities of Australia, every moment of our 38-day journey was meticulously planned and flawlessly executed. It's not an exaggeration to say that Sharon's professionalism, attention to detail, and flexibility exceeded our highest expectations. From the outset, Sharon took the time to truly understand our vision for the trip. She carefully listened to our preferences, needs, and wishes, ensuring that every aspect of the itinerary reflected our desires. What truly stood out was Sharon's flexibility; she seamlessly incorporated events and activities that I had personally discovered, enhancing the richness of our experience. Throughout the planning process, Sharon demonstrated an unparalleled dedication to crafting the perfect itinerary. Each day was filled with a diverse array of activities that allowed us to immerse ourselves in the culture, history, and natural beauty of each destination. Whether it was exploring hidden gems, indulging in culinary delights, or embarking on thrilling adventures, Sharon ensured that every moment was unforgettable. What truly sets Sharon apart is her ability to adapt and accommodate. Despite the complexities of travel, she effortlessly adjusted the schedule to align with our availabilities, ensuring a seamless and stress-free experience. During our journey, Sharon remained in constant communication, providing invaluable support and guidance every step of the way. Thanks to Sharon's expertise and dedication, our dream vacation surpassed all expectations. Aspire Down Under is not just a travel agency; it's a gateway to extraordinary experiences. We wholeheartedly encourage anyone seeking their dream getaway to enlist the services of Aspire Down Under, and specifically request Sharon Tidbury. With her at the helm, you're guaranteed an unforgettable adventure that exceeds every expectation.

Fantastic experience: We ultimately did not book our dream vacation, but Joann could not have been anymore responsive or helpful. One day….one day! Thank you for all of you prompt and personalized attention!

Fantastic experience: We used Aspire Down Under to plan our 3 week honeymoon to NZ and Australia and they lived up to every expectation. Sarah worked with us before the trip to understand our interests and develop a custom itinerary. During the trip, communication was clear, every accommodation was excellent, and the excursions we booked were all top notch. We strongly recommend Aspire Down Under to other travellers - a great way to ensure your vacation will be high quality and easy on you!

Positive experience: Great planned out nicely trip.

Fantastic experience: I highly, highly recommend Aspire Down Under for any of your travel needs!! We had the pleasure of working with Shelley for our honeymoon to New Zealand and Australia. She planned the most perfect, tailored experience for us. She was thoughtful and accommodating and offered incredible recommendations. Shelley ensured all of the logistics were smooth and seamless. We didn't have to worry about a thing, whether it was the hotels, airport transfers, flights, tours, etc... We didn't have one single issue the entire time we were there. That was such a great feeling. It was a once in a lifetime trip thanks to Shelley and the Aspire Down Under team!

Fantastic experience: When everything unfolds smoothly while on holiday, life is good and you are happy your travel agent made good choices for you hotel, flight and activity wise. When things go sideways, while on holiday, is when you are eternally grateful for having booked with a responsive, easy to work with travel agent who considers every detail and is there to support you. Holiday gone sideways is what happened to us while in Port Douglas, Australia. Despite the challenges, I faced, Sarah was amazingly supportive and efficient with helping cancel and rebook flights, hotels and activities. I can't imagine the additional challenges I would have faced making the many changes that had to be made while my husband recuperated in the hospital. I can't thank Sarah, and her team, enough for helping me through a very difficult time. I would recommend Aspire Down Under a hundred times over. Thank you for your capable assistance.

Fantastic experience: Our 15 nights NZ trip went very smoothly and credit goes to Joanne. All our hotel stays in different cities, car and driver services were extremely good and very professional. Thank you for making our trip so memorable!

Fantastic experience: I, like so many others, have tried my hand at arranging international travel over the years. Maybe it was just luck, but I'd always wondered what our trips would be like if a travel pro made the arrangements. Thanks to Sharon at Aspire Down Under, the difference is amazing! She's planned three trips to Fiji for us and coordinated stuff that I couldn't have done on my own. If you're considering travel to the South Pacific, I highly recommend that you reach out to the folks at Aspire Down Under. You won't regret it.

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend Aspire Down Under! My husband and I were lucky enough to work with Joanne, who planned our three week long honeymoon to both New Zealand and Australia. Joanne made everything so easy. She was communicative, answered all of our questions and perfectly tailored our excursions and accommodations to our preferences. It was the trip of a lifetime thanks to Aspire Down Under. Thanks again Joanne!

Fantastic experience: My wife and I were privileged to have worked with Sarah W. of Aspire Down Under for a month-long journey through Australia and New Zealand. We were so lucky to find her as she planned the most magnificent time for us. Over the course of many conversations, she patiently listened to our objectives and concerns, and developed an itinerary that could not be beat. While on the trip, we kept marveling how there was nothing we would change and how brilliant Sarah was in fitting together all the pieces of a complex puzzle. We unequivocally recommend her for a travel advisor to this part of the world and have every confidence that she will do a tremendous job. Thank you again for the amazing trip!

Fantastic experience: Wonderful and helpful! This is our second trip planned with Aspire Down Under and Joanne! She is the best, very patient and listens to all our crazy ideas and somehow puts them all into the best vacation ever! Scheduling is great with them, always have tours and drivers that seem to be on time and fun. Hotels are picked for locations that work for lots of options from restaurants to tours close by, without lacking comfort and amenities. We would highly recommend and do often, to anyone wanting a special vacation designed with you and your family in mind. Thanks Joanne and Aspire!

Fantastic experience: Sarah put together a true bucket list trip! Starting with the beautiful Denarau Island, Fiji, before hitting Sydney, Port Douglas, Great Barrier Reef, Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road. We saw wild Koala’s, Kangaroos, Wallabees, Cockatoos and Turtles. Truly amazing!

Fantastic experience: Our trip was Amazing! It was tailored to our needs and we loved the hotel locations, the tours and all the shuttles were prompt!

Fantastic experience: Just returned from a 17 day trip to Australia. Arranged just 2 months prior to our departure, our agent was very knowledgeable, responsive and diligent. The itinerary met all of our expectations and there were no issues with the hotel and tour reservations. Will heartily recommend Aspire Down Under to those wanting to visit Australia.

Fantastic experience: I was very happy with the expertise and dedication that the staff at Aspire Down Under exhibited to make my trip to Australia and New Zealand happen. It was a dream come true to be on the continent of Australia. I am sure this trip would not have happened with all their help.

Fantastic experience: We worked with Sarah W to plan our trip to New Zealand, Australia and Bali. She listened to our desires as to what to do, type of hotels, tours, etc., we like, what we for sure wanted to see and the trip did not disappoint! It was a trip of a lifetime, 26 days and everything, and I mean everything went perfectly, without a hitch! The drivers, tours, were all on time, the hotels were all perfect, like I said, everything went perfectly, very smoothly! I would recommend Aspire Down Under as well as Sarah. She was friendly, attentive, responsive, knowledgeable, I cannot say enough about her. If you are planning a trip down under, do not hesitate to call her!

Fantastic experience: Joanne did a tremendous job with our itinerary to both Australia and New Zealand (for close to a month visit). Our vacation was fluid with no wrinkles at all with reservations for flights, rental cars, hotels, limos and excursions. Well done, Joanne!

Fantastic experience: Aspire Downunder helped me come up with my dream trip to New Zealand and Australia! I booked the trip prepandemic and was unable to take it until this past June 2023, but it was worth the weight! Sharon helped me with flights, hotels, activities, transportation in advance and all that I had to do was show up and enjoy!

Fantastic experience: My husband and I had visited Australia several times in connection with his work. We decided now that we are retired we would plan a visit that was mostly vacay. Based on a neighbor's Facebook posts of their trip to Australia, I reached out regarding their travel planner. Joanne with Aspire Down Under had planned their trip, and they loved everything about it. Joanne arranged an initial Zoom meeting, and a personalized PDF document of our itinerary promptly materialized. After a few reviews and edits, we wrote a check and then awaited our departure 4 months later. Of course, Joanne monitored our itinerary for any changes and 2 weeks beforehand we received the final itinerary and information on the VAMOOS app, which we loved as did our concierges. We were pleased that it was "no worries" to integrate time in which we had our own plans (including airfare using points) into the overall Aspire Down Under schedule. The services, access to tours, and background information provided by Aspire are top-notch, and we would not hesitate to give them turnkey responsibility for a future trip, because Aspire truly gives added value over a DIY visit.

Fantastic experience: We started working with Aspire Down Under in 2019 to design a trip to Australia and New Zealand in fall of 2020. Of course that never happened. The folks at ADU promptly let us know that they would apply our deposit whenever we were able to travel. Our original contact left the company during the pandemic but when the countries opened up again, Sharon jumped right in and added her expertise to the custom itinerary. We recently returned and thoroughly enjoyed our 30 days in spite of contracting Covid. Fortunately we were not very ill and only missed a small portion of our trip with the help of Sharon and the representatives in country. We loved all our tours and accommodations which met all our interests and special requests. I would highly recommend Aspire Down Under if you want to plan a trip to that part of the world. Their knowledge and experience truly show.

Fantastic experience: From beginning to end this whole experience was amazing! Shelley was easy to work with and planned the trip of our dreams for our honeymoon. Shelley met with us to understand our different likings with traveling. She designed a fantastic itinerary for us the whole way. She was helpful when we asked to change things or provide different options just to compare. Everything went perfectly on our trip! All hotels, transportation and tours that were set up were fantastic and went smoothly with no issues. We absolutely will be using Shelley and Aspire Down Under again in the future!

Fantastic experience: Our 3 week trip to New Zealand was amazing - it was delayed 3 years because of COVID! Shelley and her team rebooked the trip each time. Highly recommend, you will not be disapointed

Fantastic experience: We just returned from a very long anticipated trip to Australia and New Zealand, planned for us by Joanne Morgan from Aspire Down Under. I cannot say enough about how wonderfully Joanne executed her task of arranging. We are two 75 year old women, one of whom has a mobility problem. We explained our limitations and were given a plan that was as near perfection as it could have been! Thank you, Joanne and Aspire Down Under

Fantastic experience: Aspire Down Under planned the most unforgettable three week honeymoon to Australia and New Zealand for my husband and I. We worked with Sharon who listened to our requests and built an amazing itinerary for us. We packed a lot into three weeks, and Sharon made it effortless for us. Every tour, car transfer, and flight were expertly booked, and we cannot thank them enough for this once in a lifetime trip. I would highly suggest working with Aspire Down Under if you’re considering heading to that side of the world!

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend! We worked closely with Joanne to plan our dream honeymoon to Australia and New Zealand. She had great suggestions and reworked our itinerary multiple times to help us include the activities we wanted within our budget!

Fantastic experience: Shelley from Aspire Down Under helped us to plan our Australian honeymoon. We just go back and what an incredible trip! She picked out one in a lifetime activities for us like snorkeling and wildlife adventures. The schedule was perfect, not too packed - enough activities but also some leisure time. We spent time in Melbourne, Port Douglas and Sydney and loved each city for different reasons. Would definitely recommend Aspire for your next big trip to Australia!

Fantastic experience: Aspire Down Under is a first class travel agency that I highly recommend! Sharon created a Fijian vacation for my family that exceeded all expectations. Her knowledge, attention to detail and consideration of our specific requests were all highly evident and resulted in the vacation of a lifetime at a price that fit our budget. This was our first experience using a travel agency, we will definitely use Aspire Down Under for future travel.

Fantastic experience: We worked with Sarah from Aspire Down Under for our honeymoon to New Zealand and it was a great experience! Sarah handled everything for us and took all of the stress out of planning. She was so kind and professional, and she made sure we got to do/see all the things we wanted. We would highly recommend Aspire Down Under.

Fantastic experience: We just returned from a trip to Australia and New Zealand that was planned by Joanne with Aspire Down Under. To say it was absolutely phenomenal would be a gross understatement! We spent time in Sydney, Port Douglas, Melbourne and Queenstown for which all flights and ground transportation were arranged by Joanne. This made for completely stress free and seamless movement from one location to the next and allowed us to more thoroughly focus on and enjoy our experiences. A highlight of our trip was snorkeling around the Great Barrier Reef which proved to be the highlight of the trip. The Reef defies description and must be experienced at least once in a lifetime! Our visit to Port Douglas also included spending a day with an Aboriginal guide which was a completely rewarding experience. We had no idea of the extent that plants are used by the natives for curing everyday maladies that we simply purchase from the pharmacy. While in Melbourne, we toured the Great Ocean Road which offered numerous scenic ocean views. Queenstown may have been our favorite locale as the lifestyle is simple, casual and one can walk most anywhere to shopping a great restaurants. One day was spent touring Milford Sound and another was spent wine tasting and touring local sites. In all, a trip of a lifetime with experiences indelibly etched into our memories. Highly recommend connect with Joanne at Aspire to plan your next visit down under!

Fantastic experience: My husband and i just returned home from the trip of a lifetime to Australia followed by a cruise to New Zealand. We were lucky to work with Joanne Morgan. I can't praise her enough for the attention to detail that she provided. Every driver, every tour, every hotel was confirmed and ready for us. We were brave enough to rent a car and drive part of the trip from Melbourne via the Great Ocean Rd to Adelaide. We stayed at a charming B&B and then even went hiking in the Grampians. I know Joanne was concerned about our driving such a distance, but supported our decision and made it easy for us. It was the best part of the trip, along with snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. I cannot praise her enough.

Fantastic experience: We contacted Aspire Down Under to arrange our family's vacation to both New Zealand and Australia. We were fortunate enough to be able to work with Sharon Tidbury. She was absolutely amazing! We went to multiple locations in each country, which made the planning very tricky, and made it so important for the details to be accurate. Sharon was such a pleasure to work with. She meticulously planned multiple flights, transfers, hotels, excursions and so much more. She really listened to what we were interested in doing, and arranged everything to perfection. We literally had no mishaps at all. We would highly recommend Aspire Down Under and Sharon to anyone planning a trip to New Zealand and/or Australia. THANK YOU SHARON!!

Fantastic experience: Please grab a cup of coffee or tea before reading this. It's going to be a long write! Our Honeymoon plans began about a year ago, and from the first moment we spoke with Sharon - we knew the trip would be epic! From the flight reservations to dining experiences to excursions, everythinng was planned and all we had to do was follow the itenerary on the app. Let's start with the flights! I've never heard of Premium Economy before; however, I would consider it First Class without the sleeping pods. The Quantas flights were so pleasant that I didn't even realize we were in the air for 13 hours. Even the food was enjoyabe. The inflight entertainment was spot on and we truly enjoyed our flights. For the lodging.... Can we give the folks at Aspire more than just 5 stars? Sharon's picks for Quilia, Amore and Thalia could not have been better! Hamilton Island BLEW my mind with the level of service it brings to the visitors. I didn't want to leave, and when I shared that with the manager, he let me know that he had a job opening if I wanted to stay! (I seriously considered that until my bride told me "No".) The dining was superbed! Every restaurant we went to knew of our food alergies, and most all of them told us "Congratulations" on the wedding. I wish I could remember the site where the "Happy Honeymoon" was written with carmel on our desert tray (see the picture below). The excursions were the BOMB! The Heart Reef and the helicopter ride to get there - WOW! Quicksilver for our "Floor Walk" and my Scuba Dive - WHOA! Ziplining and Crocodile Tour - Amazing!!! We even saw three crocs on the Croc tour! I"m sure you may be bored with reading all this, but we will be working with Aspire for our 10 year anniversary to Australia. Shanon outdid herself and we are forever thankful. Cheers! Chuck

Fantastic experience: We used Aspire Down Under for our trip to Australia! We specifically worked with Shelley, who did an amazing job! She listened to our interests and planned the trip perfectly. She answered all of my questions for the months leading up to the trip. Every single detail was well thought out- all shuttles/car pickups from airports, flights within Australia, tours, etc. She knew exactly which tours were worth doing an upgrade for (for ex, Penguin Plus at Phillips Island was 100% worth it as was the private tour at the Wildlife Center in Port Douglas). We've never used a travel agent before, but now that we have and saw how easy Shelley made it, we'll definitely be coming back to Aspire Down Under for our next vacation. Thanks again Shelley!!!

Fantastic experience: We traveled to Australia and Fiji for a little over 2 weeks for our honeymoon. Joanne from Aspire was truly a lifesaver. Having a million questions, emails back and forth and a list of things we wanted to do she pulled together (In 2 months) the perfect trip! We enjoyed the travel so much and would 100% recommend the company and Joanne to anyone looking to book their travels!

Fantastic experience: I can't tell you how wonderful Joanne was in setting up the trip for my mom and sister. She was AMAZING from the start, so kind, patient, and thoughtful in all of her recommendations, always keeping in mind our time, budget, and interests. When there were a few issues during their trip, Joanne stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to help monitor and keep tabs on the status to ensure that my family was safe and everything was resolved. I generally don't write reviews but I proactively reached out to her to see how I can compliment and promote her to others because she is a gem and I absolutely want to thank her for all that she did for us. She is an expert and knows the ins and outs of the south pacific so you will be in good hands if you decide to book with her.

Fantastic experience: My wife and I worked with Joanne Morgan to plan our honeymoon to Australia and New Zealand and can't say enough good things about our experience. Joanne is very knowledge and was able to cater our trip to our specific interests and needs as well as helping to make sure we knew and understood all of the health requirements for both countries. All of the vendors used were incredibly knowledgeable and professional and made our trip a dream come true. We will definitely use Aspire Down Under again should we ever return to Australia, New Zealand, or the South Pacific!

Fantastic experience: Our honeymoon to New Zealand and Fiji was planned by Aspire Down Under (Shelley specifically) and it was the most incredible trip of our life! Every single part of the honeymoon was perfectly planned and we felt like Shelley did a great job making sure we had the best accommodations (within budget), best activities (but still enough of our own free time), transportation, and more. Shelley truly spent so much time with us during the planning phase helping us craft the perfect itinerary (multiple long Zoom sessions) and then continued to answer my ENDLESS amount of questions quickly throughout the year. I am so happy we chose to go with Aspire Down Under and hope to book another trip with them soon! Also, thank you to Joanne too for helping us as well! We are so thankful for such an amazing honeymoon!!!

Fantastic experience: I cannot say enough about the excellent experience we had with Aspire Down Under. In 2019, we booked a self-drive tour of New Zealand to leave in April 2020. Obviously, that trip did not happen. However, over the next 2 1/2 years, Sharon Tidbury at ADU, took care of every tiny detail to ensure that we had the trip of a lifetime and that we were updated and informed about New Zealand travel until we finally embarked on our trip in November 2022. We changed itineraries a number of times, finally deciding on a 17 day small coach tour. Sharon was so patient and helpful. We will definitely use ADU for future travel!

Fantastic experience: We worked with Aspire Down Under to book our honeymoon to Fiji. After extensive research on destinations we came across an ADU travel package to Fiji on the Travelzoo app. We'd never used a Travel agent/agency before but ADU had glowing reviews and we decided to reach out. Our contact, Sharon, was immediately responsive. She answered questions about the trip via email and over the phone in a responsive, clear, and friendly manner. She had been to the resort we were going to stay at and had first hand knowledge of what the travel and experience would be like. The trip was outstanding and all of our reservations and bookings worked flawlessly. We received clear instructions on additional steps we would need to take prior to travel, were sent an informative email before departure with copies of all the necessary travel documents/confirmations, and when we returned we had a welcome home email within hours. We highly recommend Aspire Down Under to anyone looking to travel to the South Pacific and intend to use their services again for future travel.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic job by Aspire Downunder planning our trip to New Zealand. Loved the South Island for its beautiful scenery and majestic mountains. The self drive from Queenstown to Picton then Wellington to Auckland went smoothly.Highly recommend Aspire for your next trip to New Zealand or Australia.

Fantastic experience: Shelley with Aspire Down Under exceeded our expectations when assisting us to plan and book our honeymoon to New Zealand and Fiji. Our trip unfortunately was complicated due to shut downs with the pandemic and we developed a long working relationship with Shelley over the past several years as we all were trying to navigate the crazy state of the world. We were originally scheduled to leave for our trip in April of 2020. Fast forward 2.5 years later we finally took our trip September of 2022. It was well worth the wait. We had a fabulous time exploring the North and South Islands of New Zealand and enjoyed our last few days relaxing in Fiji. We highly recommend Aspire Down Under. Thank you!

Fantastic experience: I found Aspire Down Under by chance with a Google search, and I'm so glad I did! I first messaged Joanne about to Fiji from New York on January 10. I emailed her at least a dozen times before I was ready to book the trip a month later. She patiently answered my many questions and addressed all of my concerns. I was planning travel for a graduation/birthday celebration and Matangi Private Island Resort, which Joanne recommended, was perfect for me and my 17 year old son. We embarked on our long journey with confidence and enjoyed every moment. Thank you, Joanne and Aspire Down Under for helping us create a once-in-a-lifetime experience! If I were to travel to the South Pacific again, I wouldn't even consider booking with anyone else. Vinaka!