The Private Tour Guide in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Tour guide

The Private Tour Guide

Locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 400 054 015

Address: 21 Halsey St, Box Hill South 3001 Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Website: http://theprivatetourguide.com

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25.01.2022 Winery restaurants are open but tasting rooms arent. When they do open though, well be ready to go with our expertly guided wine tours. Proud to say that not only do we visit all the best wineries in all the iconic regions of Victoria but we have genuine rapport with the staff & winemakers that run them. That is the major difference in what we offer. .... Yarra valley day, we had Simon, and our experience that day was at a different level altogether. From the moment we me...t him, each one of us (in a party of 6 ranging from 27 to 80 years of age) felt as if weve 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. Youll find not just a guide, but a friend.... https://www.theage.com.au//here-s-cheers-australia-s-52-to

25.01.2022 The Black Spur.

22.01.2022 Great to see one of our favourite operators out of lockdown and back up and running. The Bayleaf cafe in Apollo Bay has been serving our clients the most amazing lunches since we started out 8 years ago. Leah always goes out of her way to leave her busy kitchen and have a chat with our groups. https://www.goodfood.com.au//regional-reopening-20200918-h

21.01.2022 Some big sets rolling in @greatoceanroad

18.01.2022 A year ago today I was waking to that beast of a mountain- Makalu, 8485m. As I walked along the track I met so many wonderful Nepalese people. @ Manaslu Trek

18.01.2022 People often ask me ‘What’s your favourite tour?’ I love all my tours but our 3 Day Great Ocean Rd/ Grampians Tour is one of Australia’s greatest touring circuits. Incorporating Brae Restaurant and The Royal Mail Hotel - both world class restaurants, and lots of incredible walks through stunning natural scenery. I call it the Active Indulgence Tour. Best Tour Ever!... We chose Simon Greenland ("The Private Tour Guide") over larger companies for a Great Ocean Road/Grampian Mountains tour ... and we're happy we did. What we got was far beyond expectations. We can't imagine a better guide or tour. Simon customized our tour at every turn, learning what we like and adapting to focus on choices matching our interests. He not only took us to the "must-see" Ocean Road views (and advised on how to best photograph them), but also took us to several great locations the larger tours don't include. Those turned out to be among the very best. Learning we were foodies, he arranged a lunch at a hidden gem, a true gourmet restaurant (top 10 meal, honestly, including NY and Europe) in a small town in the Grampians - we would never have found it on our own. Same for off-the-beaten-path wineries - and at one of them he persuaded the host to open a spectacular bottle that wasn't on the tasting list. But maybe most telling, he knew where Koalas are in the trees right alongside the side roads, where kangaroos hang out, and where parrots will fly down from the trees and eat birdseed from your hands. Along the way, he made our time in his very comfortable auto both informative and entertaining. He turned a "tour" into a memorable, personalized, joyful experience. We've already recommended him to friends headed to Australia, and if we ever go back, Simon will be our first call. Date of experience: November 2015 Trip type: Travelled as a couple

17.01.2022 Home schooling?... not all bad.

17.01.2022 We dont do things small here. Even our home grown zucchinis smash the competition out of the park. #icouldgetusedtothis

17.01.2022 When you come down the other side. #happiness #joy

15.01.2022 Tomato/Macadamia feta/Basil oil ... TarraWarra Estate Thanks @markebbels for another #vegan #masterpiece

15.01.2022 Chasing waterfalls today on @thegreatoceanroad

15.01.2022 Sharing the view. Sharing the love. #dadanddaughter

14.01.2022 Early last week I received a call from the presenter of The Conversation Hour on ABC radio to see whether I could come into their studio as their guest. The topic was on the effect Coronavirus was having on businesses and local operators along the Great Ocean Rd. Unfortunately I wasnt able to go into the studio as I had committed to a 2 day Great Ocean Rd tour BUT I put them in touch an old industry friend- Terry Smit, who owns and operates Go West Tours. Terry was awesome and Sally Cannon from Apollo Bay Bakery also amazing- both offering their insights. ABC still managed to get hold of me whilst on tour towards the end and I am in the last 15 minutes of the hour. Another great experience to be a part of. Listen in- really great hour! https://www.abc.net.au//the/the-conversation-hour/11945710

14.01.2022 Cant wait to get back.

14.01.2022 No need to add anything other than those rocks behind me have put up with everything for 30 thousand years.

14.01.2022 #memories #privatetour @greatoceanroad Fantastic Tour that Exceeded our Expectations!!!!! My wife and I just came back from a 22 day visit to Australia. Half the enjoyment I receive on vacations is trip planning. After reading all the books and visiting countless blogs and travel sites, it became apparent that with only four days in Melbourne, to maximize our time we needed a professional guide for one of those days to see the Great Ocean Road. Most forums and blogs said it ...cant be done in a day. Simon, owner of The Private Tour Guide proves that it can be done in a most enjoyable 11-12 hour excursion. He promptly picked us up at our hotel in the center of Melbourne at 7:30am and we arrived back at our hotel 12 hours later feeling that the tour far exceeded our expectations! You can read about the itinerary on the web site. Im here to tell you how Simon interacts with his "clients." Within minutes you feel like old friends. He conversationally educates us about the plants, wild life, history, geology, Australian government, school system, books about Australia, wine, food.... What a thrill! The day was a perfect 10. The weather was crisp and clear, and Simon took numerous photos of us at the sites. He even showed us some tricks on our iPhones. We have had guides in Israel, Russia, Italy, and Japan, and these one on one experiences is more than worth the extra expense versus a group tour! The one thing that stands out about Simon is his genuine enthusiasm. He is like a kid in a candy factory, and cant wait to share his knowledge and show people places that he loves. A day with Simon showing us the Great Ocean Road was truly one of the highlights of our visit to Australia. Thanks Simon!!!!!!! See more

13.01.2022 Outstanding Tours and Tour Guide! Im convinced that Simon Greenland made our vacation to Melbourne the best it could be....from the first contact throughout our trip. He is professional, knowledgable and a fun companion. The first day was a Melbourne city tour - combo driving and walking - to get the lay of land so we could explore on our own on our free days, pointing out places of historical and cultural interest. The second day, one of the most memorable of any vacation ...weve had - The Great Ocean Road! Spectacular! The Twelve Apostles were amazing as was the entire coastline. Simon delivered on his promise of us seeing kangaroos and koalas in their natural habitat. Its a long day but the time flew by. Dont miss The Great Ocean Road tour. The third day, we were afraid wed be disappointed after the Twelve Apostles, but the Yarra Valley is lovely and we learned more about Australia, the wine regions and enjoyed all that Simon had to share about his country. Cant say enough good things about Simon and his tours. #fivestar #tripadvisor #certificateofexcellence #onlythebest

13.01.2022 Time is on our side. #stayathome

13.01.2022 #lovewhatyoudo #bestjobintheworld #iamsolucky

12.01.2022 Yep. Thats an #albino #kangaroo @visityarravalley_official

12.01.2022 https://www.facebook.com/241376415885748/posts/3537555549601135/?vh=e&extid=9EXjGKaSGsewbjCb AaAMAAAZING!

10.01.2022 GREAT NEWS! We have just been awarded a Travellers Choice Award from TripAdvisor which ranks our business in the top 10% of tourism businesses worldwide. #onlythebest

10.01.2022 Turtons Track. A small detour off the @greatoceanroad but a #stunning #drive

10.01.2022 Can’t wait to get back.

10.01.2022 Bowling birthday party with my besties. #lovebeingadad

09.01.2022 Really missing the @goodtimes with #greatpeople out on tour. Ive been a #tourguide for 22 years and the hardest thing to deal with right now is not having the #incredible #connections with the clients I meet on a daily basis.

09.01.2022 WAIT FOR IT.....WAIT.... #patienceisavirtue #lightson #lightupmyday @visit12apostles @greatoceanroad

09.01.2022 Last day of this today. #homeschooling Mixed emotions. Im no teacher but I went the distance. While my business and livelihood were destroyed I got up each day with a new purpose. Yes there were tears. Yes there were tantrums. But, Ill never have so much focused time - one on one, with these three. An amazing experience with three very resilient and smart kids. #blessed @ Home

08.01.2022 #iphone #lessons @greatoceanroad

08.01.2022 Ill never forget this. Hard to put into words. Having your son beside you at the GRAND FINAL and watching your team win the trophy.

08.01.2022 Step back, take a seat and enjoy what we have.

07.01.2022 How was your afternoon? #walkonthewildside

05.01.2022 It has been six months since our last tour in Melbourne but we are fit, healthy and looking forward to taking our clients to all these wonderful lookouts soon- https://www.traveller.com.au/let-loose-those-wows-the-ten-b

04.01.2022 Erskine Falls, Lorne, @greatoceanroad @visitmelbourne

04.01.2022 Totally immersed in what I do. Unlike other tour operators in the Yarra Valley, Ive been behind the lines, having worked at Domaine Chandon in their winemaking team. #knowwine ...Memories are made of this! We were privileged to be guests on a memorable tour of the Yarra Valley, our dear friend organised for his partners birthday. Despite being from Melbourne, and thinking I knew quite a bit about the Yarra Valley, I was proved wrong. Simon, an extremely down to earth and ...unpretentious man, gave me an insight into the history of the region, origin of the grapes, the wines, stories of the winemakers, educated us about our palettes and I could go and on..He did not feel like a tour guide who regurgitated memorised dialogue, but this gentleman has truly immersed himself in the industry. He knew the talented people behind the wines to give us an insight into what really goes into the bottle. Our time at Yarra Yering was truly memorable, and despite not being a fan of cheese, I certainly enjoyed my wine and cheese matching-thankyou Simon. I look forward to finding an excuse to enjoying another one of your tours, and trying out many more wines you have recommended.... See more

02.01.2022 .... Recently I was looking for a private tour guide to give a group of visiting international lawyers an experience of Melbourme / Victoria that they would not forget. I stumbled on Simon by accident... but once we had booked, there was nothing about the experience he provided that was accidental... Simon is meticulous in planning and executing every aspect of the service he provides for clients. Unlike other private tour guide experiences I have had, there is nothing off ...the shelf about his approach to guiding. He made a particular effort to learn about the members of the group in advance and to tailor the day in the Yarra Valley to their needs and interests. The group was impressed when he arrived, scrupulously on time, in his luxurious people mover and immediately put at ease by his engaging warm style.. On the trip out to the Valley, Simon demonstrated his encyclopeadic knowledge about everything and anything that is Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, answering questions and asking a few of his own in a way that made the visitors feel, within the space of an hour, that they had made an Aussie friend.. He guided us expertly through Healesville sanctuary, deftly avoiding crowds, taking photos for us, sharing our delight in the sights as if he was seeing them for the first time... At Oakridge winery (his choice), he gave us a tutorial on wine tasting and shared with us (at our request) a gourmet lunch that gave the group an insight into Australian food and wine that, left to their own devices, they would not have possibly been able to gain on their own.. The day peaked with wine and cheese matching at De Bortoli where it was quite apparent that the staff have the greatest respect for this unique tour guide and as a result went out of their way to give his guests VIP treatment.. The group were unstinting in their praise for Simon in the feedback I subsequently received about the day... For a one of a kind private guide, look no further, youve found him... See more

02.01.2022 Always love #winetasting at Yarra Yering The #wine is always enpointe and this #view is #superb