Gabrielle Warncke, CTA, DS, LS
Interests & Specialties
Gabrielle has been with Central Travel for 13 years and has traveled extensively. She has been featured in National Geographic Traveler 80 experts list for her expertise in Australia and New Zealand. In addition to her expertise of Australia and New Zealand, she holds a Destination Specialist designation for the Caribbean and has visited almost every major island. One of her favorite spots in the world is French Polynesia, visiting Tahiti several times and holds a Tiare Specialist designation with Tahiti Tourism. She also holds an Adventure Specialist designation from The Travel Institute and prefers traveling in an "active" mode.
Other areas of training and development include:
- Graduate of Disney College of Knowledge, 1998
- Disney Cruise Lines Discover Enchanted Magic Education Program, 1999
- Sandals Certified Specialist, since 1999 renewed every year
- Aruba Certified Expert 2001
- Marriott Specialist, since 2001
- NCL Specialist 2003, renewed 2006
- Club Med 2006
- RCCL Wow Expert, 2007
- Universal Parks and Resorts Specialist, 2007
- Uniworld River Cruise Specialist, 2008
- Lindblad Virtuoso Trust, 2009
- Lindblad LEXpert , 2010
Gabrielle is located in the Central Avenue office in Toledo, OH and can be reached at 419 843-6294, 800 843-6280 or gabrielle@centraltravel.com
Expert Bio
Gabrielle Warncke loves to travel and she is passionate about the South Pacific! She has been named to Travel + Leisure's A List of 125 Travel Super-Agents both in 2002 and 2003 for her specialty in Australian travel.
She has concentrated her travels on the eastern coast of Australia. Some of her favorites are Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Cairns, Port Douglas, The Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock, Kangaroo Island, and Melbourne.
When will you find the market in the Rock's open? Gabrielle knows and loves to share her knowledge. She has been a guest at Lilianfels Blue Mountain Resort in Katoomba, explored Queensland, and highly recommends the Port Douglas area for a few days.The Daintree Rainforest by 4WD is a must and how about having "Breakfast with the Birds" in the Palm Cove area? She knows one of the only places you can still hold a koala.
Australia properties visited in 2005, 2006:
Sydney- Intercontinental, Four Seasons, Park Hyatt, Observatory Hotel, Lilianfels
Hunter Valley- Tower Lodge, and Peppers Guest House
Melbourne- Windsor, Langham, Lyall and Chateau Yering in the Yarra Valley
Great Ocean Road- Oscar's Waterfront Boutique, Goble’s Mill House
Hayman Island Resort
Cairns- Holiday Inn
Palm Cove- Sebel Reef House, Sea Temple Palm Cove
Daintree- Silky Oaks Lodge
Wrotham Park Lodge- day trip from Cairns
Ayers Rock- Sails in the Desert, Desert Garden Inn, Longitude 131
Adelaide- North Adelaide Heritage Group- stayed in Bishop's Garden
Kangaroo Island- Stranraer Bed and Breakfast, Lifetime Private Retreats,
Activities Gabrielle has experienced in Australia:
Sydney- Bridgeclimb twice, Harbour Days private sailing with Colin Madden, guided Opera House tour, Chef's Table at the Four Season's twice, general sightseeing tour of Sydney with Australian Wild Escapes, Southern Cross Sea Planes scenic flight, Helicopter over Sydney Harbour, Captain Cook Harbour Cruise, Rock’s Market twice, Darling Harbour, Featherdale Animal Park, the Botanical Gardens, and general site seeing.
Blue Mountains- twice- Three Sisters rock formation, general site seeing
Hunter Valley- Wine touring and tasting, Robert’s Restaurant on Tower Estate for dinner
Melbourne- Aussie Rules football games, winery day trip to Yarra Valley twice, Debortoli wine tasting twice, Colonial Tramcar Dinner Experience, Hidden Secrets Shopping tour, Afternoon Tea at the Windsor twice, Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary, National Gallery of Victoria, Queen Victoria Market, Fitzroy Gardens, Flinders Street Station, Rialto Observation Deck.
Phillip’s Island- Fairy penguin parade on Summerland Beach, Seal Rock
Mornington Penisula- Wineries, chairlift to Arthur’s seat, start of Great Ocean Road
Great Ocean Road- 12 Apostles, Helicopter scenic flight over 12 Apostles, just driving the road… from Melbourne to Adelaide
Adelaide- general sightseeing, dinner at the Caledonian Hotel
Kangaroo Island- Exceptional Kangaroo Island touring including Seal Bay
Outback- The Ghan train from Adelaide to Alice springs, Sounds of Silence Dinner, Eco Discovery Tours- tour of Ayers Rock, Bill Peach Journeys took us for a flightseeing experience during their downtime over Kata Juta and Uluru.
Cairns-Kuranda Rainforest Station Rail and Skyrail, Army Duck Ride, Held a koala and purchased a picture holding the koala, Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation, Quicksilver to the Great Barrier Reef, Rainforest Habitat and breakfast with the birds, Hartley’s Crocodiles, Hot Air Ballooning, Tjapukai by Night, Flames of the Forest Dinner, Sunlander train (Queenslander service)
Townsville- general sightseeing
New Zealand is another area of the world Gabrielle loves to travel in a more active mode.
New Zealand Properties visited:
On the South Island
Christchurch- Heritage Hotel, The George, Charlotte Jane Bed and Breakfast
High Country- Grasmere Lodge
Wanaka Springs- Minaret Lodge, Wanaka Springs
Queenstown- Millbrook Resort, Matakuri Lodge, Azur, St. Moritz
Nelson area- Paratiho Farms,
Bay of Many Coves
Marlborough area- Old St. Mary’s Convent, Vintner’s Retreat
Wellington-The Duxton, CityLife Hotel
North Island
Rotorua area- Treetops
Taupo- Huka Lodge
Keri Keri- Kauri Cliffs
Auckland- Sky City Grand, The Hilton, Mollies, The Hyatt, Quay West
New Zealand activities Gabrielle has experienced:
South Island
Christchurch- Antarctica Center, Hagglund Ride, and Antarctica Storm
Grasmere-4WD Farm Tour
Driving to Wanaka- Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki, and Mount Cook.
Queenstown- Bungy Jumped Kawarau Bridge, Over the Top Helicopters Flightseeing through Milford Sound, Shotover Jetboat, Amisfield Winery
Nelson- Local market, Cougar Ferry from Picton to Bay of Many Coves
Marlborough area- Cloudy Bay Winery, Huia Vineyards, Herzog’s Winery and Restaurant for dinner
Wellington- Te Papa museum
North Island
Rotorua- Te Puia, Skyride, Luge Ride
Keri Keri- Dune Rider tour-history and culture, Kauri tree forest, Marsden Winery
Auckland- Harbour sailing with Pride of Auckland, general site seeing around the waterfront area
Tahiti Properties visited:
Tahiti- Intercontinental Tahiti, Le Meridien, Manava Suites, Radisson Tahiti
Moorea – Intercontinental Moorea, Hilton Moorea, Moorea Pearl
Bora Bora- Four Seasons Bora Bora, Intercontinental Resort and Thalasso Spa, , Bora Bora Lagoon Resort, Hilton Bora Bora Nui, Bora Bora Pearl Resort, Intercontinental Le Moana, Le Meridien, Sofitel Marara, Sofitel Motu Resort, Le Maitai
Raiatea – Hawaiki Nui Hotel
Huahine – Te Taire Beach Resort
Taha’a- Le Taha’a Private Island and Spa
Rangiroa- Kia Ora
Tikehau – Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort
Fiji properties visited:
Viti Levu- main island
Nadi and Denarau area- Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, Westin Denarau Island, Sheraton Fiji Resort, Hilton Denarau Beach Resort, Radisson Resort Fiji
Coral Coast- Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa, Outrigger on the Lagoon, Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort, Warwick Fiji Resort, Hideaway Resort, Naviti Resort
Coral Coast Island resorts- Royal Davui Island Resort
Lomaiviti Island Group- Wakaya Club and Spa Resort
Mamanuca Islands- LikuLiku Lagoon Resort, Vomo Island Resort, Tokoriki Island Resort
Vanua Levu- Northern Islands- Jean Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort, Namale Fiji Islands Resort, Koro Sun Resort
My Recent Trips
In October 2009, my adventures took me to the Galapagos Islands with Lindblad Expeditions on the National Geographic Endeavour. Check out my experience!
In June of 2008, I went on an amazing East African Safari with Micato Safaris. In Kenya, we were 3 nights at the Fairmont Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi, 2 nights at Tortilis Tented Camp in Amboseli National Park, 2 nights at Lewa Wilderness Trails in Lewa Downs Conservancy, 2 nights in Bateleur Camp in Masai Mara, and 2 nights at Sabora Tented Camp in the Grumeti Reserve of the Serengeti.
We also visited Singita Grumeti Reserves in Tanzania which was truly special. In addition to staying at Sabora Tented camp we had a chance to see the other Singita properties in the Grumeti Reserve in Tanzania. Singita Saskwa Lodge is completely over the top. It is for the client who wants to go to Africa, but has no desire to be in the bush. It is a completely inclusive lodge perched up on the hills.
Their other property is Faru Faru Lodge. It is a perfect mix of Sabora Tented Camp and Sasakwa Lodge. It has the more modern look to the rooms, but you still feel like you’re in the bush.
I found Micato to be exceptional:
- They have been operating in Kenya since 1966
- Staff is local to Kenya, so they can get you in and out of local places easier
- A concierge is available to you 24 hours day while on safari for all your needs
- Having a Safari Director throughout is priceless
April 2010, I returned from my third trip to Tahiti. Although I had visited Tahaa, Raiatea, Bora Bora, and Tahiti in November 2002, and Moorea, Bora Bora, and Tikehau in February 2006, I had the chance to experience Huahine for the first time on this trip. I was also able to visit new properties in Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora. The islands of French Polynesia are amazing, and each one is unique and an experience all its own.
The South Pacific islands are home to the overwater bungalow accommodations, and I had the pleasure of staying in one at the Pearl Resorts in Bora Bora, and Tikehau as well as the Bora Bora Nui Resort in Bora Bora . They feature a glass bottom table so you can enjoy the spectacular underwater life of the lagoon. Ask me about my shark and ray feeding excursion on Moorea, my motu picnic on Tikehau, dining at Bloody Mary’s on Bora Bora or eating at Les Roulottes in Papeete, Tahiti. The diversity of the islands is sure to offer something for everyone. I would love to help you plan your dream vacation to French Polynesia or maybe a stopover in French Polynesia on an Australia or New Zealand vacation.
