What Guests Say
Verified reviews from TripAdvisor, Viator & GetYourGuide
★★★★★
“ Best guide ever ”
"Our tour guide, Jay, was wonderful. He took us on a few hikes in the Dandenong Ranges and then to some beautiful botanical gardens. We stopped for lunch at a great cafe and were an arms length away from a hundred cockatoos. He then drove us around the city while explaining the history of Melbourne. Soooooo much fun. Best guide ever!"
— Nancy N. via TripAdvisor
★★★★★
"Personalized and captivating"
"Jay is a wonderful tour guide. It was a private personalized tour for just the two of us... He immediately ascertained our physical limitations and planned the day accordingly. The hike through the Dandenong forest was incredible. He has extensive knowledge about the indigenous people and respect for the land. We would recommend this tour heartily."
— Jeff G. via TripAdvisor
★★★★★
"Felt like leaving a friend behind"
"Our last day before returning to the UK we took the trip with Jay. For me, I could not have imagined a better experience. Jay is a knowledgeable, passionate and spiritual person. When we parted I felt we were leaving a friend behind. Thank you Jay."
— Sue C. via TripAdvisor
★★★★★
"A great day trip—highly recommend!"
"Respect shown for the sacredness of the area for the indigenous tribe who worshipped there. He knows his birds and nature and the history of the areas. Due to my health issues after a forest walk he realised I could not climb hills so he added on a trip to the botanical gardens. A great trip!"
— Rena O. via GetYourGuide
★★★★★
"Delightful conversation and awe-inspiring forest"
"Excellent experience! We can't praise Jay enough. Due to unforeseen events, we couldn't stick with our original plan. Jay came up with a creative solution... Our time in the car was filled with delightful conversation, and our time in the forest was calming and awe-inspiring."
— David M. via Viator
★★★★★
"One of the highlights of our 5-week trip"
"Jay is not only a great guide but also an incredibly kind and generous person. The whole experience felt like discovering nature with a close friend. The day's program is perfectly well paced. I highly recommend taking any tour that Jay offers!"
— Louis via TripAdvisor
★★★★★
"A relaxing day in nature"
"It was a beautiful, relaxing day in nature. Jay was an excellent guide. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and full of interesting conversation and insights. The eucalyptus forest smelled incredible and we enjoyed watching all of the birds. Lunch was delicious and we really enjoyed seeing the Australian plants at the botanic gardens."
— Stephanie B. via Viator
★★★★★
"Natural beauty just outside the city"
"Had a wonderful day with Jay. He is quite knowledgeable about the area—its flora and fauna—and it was so nice to see how much he loves Australia and being out in nature, making him the perfect guide. His transportation is comfortable, and we had nice conversation without feeling talked at all day."
— James C. via Viator
★★★★★
"Unforgettable nature experience"
"If you want to escape the busy tourist buses and see the real natural beauty around Melbourne, book with Awaken Tours. Jay goes above and beyond to make sure you have an unforgettable day."
— Verified Guest via GetYourGuide
★★★★★
"Meeting Jay was one of the highlights of our 5 weeks trip across Australia"
My wife and I, visiting Australia from Canada, took the William Ricketts Sanctuary tour with Jay in July 2017. It was a fantastic day, full of magical moments. Jay is not only a
great guide but also an incredibly kind and generous person. The whole experience felt like discovering the treasure that is the William Ricketts Sanctuary with a close friend, what a treat ! The day’s program is perfectly well paced, and the lunch was wonderful.
At the end of day we told Jay that we enjoyed his company so much that we would like to take another tour with him, any tour, just for the pleasure of spending more time with him. We ended up going with Jay to the Dandenong Range a few days later, and it was again a very pleasant day. I highly recommend taking any tour that Jay offers, you will be spoiled and will never want to do large group tours. Meeting Jay was on of the highlights
of our 5 weeks trip across Australia. Thank you Jay.
— Louis, Vancouver, Canada.