Walk through seal colonies on a sandy beach and seek out sleeping koalas on Kangaroo Island. Experience the dramatic coastline and jaw dropping views of the Great Ocean Road enjoy delicious wines and charming hospitality in the Barossa Valley. Discover a vibrant atmosphere in cosmopolitan Melbourne and the beautiful gardens and charming architecture of graceful Adelaide.
- Travelling - 1 to 3
Fly to Melbourne arriving on day 3. Overnight Melbourne.
- City Sights - 4
Melbourne has it all. Elegant Victorian buildings and soaring Manhattan style skyscrapers, fragrant botanical gardens and vast sports stadiums, food markets bursting with local produce and galleries filled with fine art. See all the highlights on an included morning tour. View the Victorian Arts Centre and visit the Shrine of Remembrance and Victoria’s war memorial. Admire the fine architecture of St Paul’s Cathedral and Flinders Street Station.
- An Afternoon In The Dandenongs - 4
Leave the bustle of the city and take a meandering drive through the Dandenong Ranges. Journey through stunning hilltop villages, lush rainforest and fern filled gullies. Enjoy the panoramic views of the Yarra Valley, look out for kookaburras and king parrots, and treat yourself to the famous Dandenong Ranges Cream Tea. Overnight Melbourne.
- The Great Ocean Road - 5
Admire the Melbourne skyline as you set off on one of the world’s most scenic drives along the Great Ocean Road. Follow the stunning coastline as the road winds along cliff tops, up to breathtaking headlands and down to pristine white beaches. At some points the highway is carved into sheer cliffs that drop away into the sea, offering dramatic views as the waves swell and crash onto the rocks below.
Stop for lunch at Apollo Bay and then journey into Great Otway National Park. Your Tour Guide may point out swamp wallabies and ring tailed possums, grey kangaroos are common here too and you may see koalas high up in the branches. Drive through river estuaries and rainforests before joining the coast again. Here the stone monoliths of the Twelve Apostles have been carved out of the headland by the fierce waves of the southern ocean. Listen to tales of amazing shipwrecks at Loch Ard Gorge, before a final stop at charming Port Campbell. Overnight Melbourne.
- A Day In Melbourne - 6
Explore the city at your own pace. Take a tram ride to Victoria Market and join the locals as they shop for superb local produce. Why not make up a picnic and travel out to the beaches at St Kilda. Join a leisurely cruise on the Yarra River, and for more wildlife adventures travel out to Philip Island for the remarkable Penguin Parade. The restaurant scene in Melbourne is excellent with cuisine from all corners of the world. Ask your Tour Guide for recommendations. Overnight Melbourne.
- To Adelaide - 7
Travel by air to Adelaide. To help you get your bearings a brief tour is included on arrival. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore the city. Stroll through the parks and gardens and shade under leafy fig trees. Admire the elegant ironwork on the restored 19th century buildings, step into the cool interior of old churches and enjoy a cold beer at one of the restored historic pubs. Overnight Adelaide.
- Wine Tasting In The Barossa Valley - 8
A Mediterranean climate and cool ocean breeze creates the perfect environment for the vineyards of the Barossa Valley. Opt to spend the day with friendly producers, sharing a glass or two, and learn about this region’s world class wines. Visit the Wolf Blass Winery which started from humble beginnings in a tin shed and now exports to over 80 countries. Sample wines at Maggie Beers and tempt your taste buds with a visit to the famous farm shop. Stop for lunch at the Jacob’s Creek Visitor Centre. A memorable taste experience awaits with a delicious combination of food and wine. Take in the panoramic views over the vineyards and Barossa Hills and hear the story behind the success of Australia’s most famous winemaker. Step back into another era at the smaller scale Langmeil Winery and visit one of the oldest shiraz vineyards in the world. Overnight Adelaide.
- Introducing Kangaroo Island - 9
Travel by ferry to Kangaroo Island; known affectionately as ’KI’ this surprisingly big island is a splendid mix of soaring cliffs and dense lush green forest, towering sand dunes and massive arcs of bone white beach washed by turquoise seas. The wildlife is astounding; sea lions bask on sun soaked rocks, possums play in the scrub and pelicans soar over shimmering lagoons. Kangaroos and wallabies can be seen nearly everywhere on the island. Visit Frenchmans Rock and listen to the history of the island over morning tea with your local Specialist Guide, and Pennington Bay, a photographers dream. Our sightseeing on the island takes place in 4x4’s, to get into the heart of the natural wonders. Our route may vary depending on the season to ensure we are in the best places to
spot KI wildlife.
- Local Food And Wine - 9
A welcome lunch at The Source gives you a taste of island
produce. Sample a glass or two at a local winery and visit a farm where Ligurian bees produce fine honey made from the local
flora. Don’t leave without trying the delicious honey ice cream. Overnight Kangaroo Island.
- Island Landscapes - 10
Get a taste of KI life on a top to toe tour of the island. Travel through the Cygnet River valley, across the central plateau to the rugged south coast. Enjoy tea and homemade cakes before a stroll through the eucalyptus trees where koalas snooze overhead. At a crayfish farm sample this local river delicacy, also known as marron. Follow trails through the bush with your Tour Guide and learn about the indigenous creatures of the island. Look for species of wallabies that are extinct on the mainland and seek out a kangaroo found only on KI. Enjoy an ‘alfresco’ lunch of locally caught fish accompanied by a glass of chilled white wine. At Seal Bay walk amongst colonies of sea lions, around 600 of these whiskery creatures live on this beautiful beach. Watch pups nursing or playing in the surf and see bulls bearing scars from recent territorial battles. Overnight Kangaroo Island.
- A Day In Flinders Chase National Park - 11
Unspoilt and diverse Flinders Chase National Park covers the western end of the island, some flora and fauna which thrives here cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. Start the day with a visit to a sheep farm and sample delicious cheeses and yoghurt. Learn about local wildlife at the visitor centre, the park is a breeding area for the rare Cape Barren goose. Kangaroos and wallabies, koalas and platypus all inhabit this area and the call of a glossy black cockatoo may signal the arrival of this magnificent bird. Visit the fur seal colony at Cape du Couedic which now numbers over 20,000. Watch these entertaining creatures as they rest on the rocks and frolic in the surf under the spectacular Admirals Arch grotto. Relentless wind, rain and salt from the southern ocean have carved the huge granite boulders of the Remarkable Rocks. Take your seat in the bush for a picnic lunch of KI produce and a glass of local wine. Depending on the weather visit the secluded pools of Rocky River or a rugged south coast cove. End the day at Rustic Blue gallery and see the work of local artists and photographers. Overnight Kangaroo Island.
- Return To Adelaide - 12
Take the ferry back to Adelaide where the rest of the day is
your own. Why not browse the boutiques of Rundle Mall and
as the sun sets enjoy a glass of shiraz in one of the street cafes
in the buzzing East End. Adelaide is a gourmet paradise and
the restaurants are some of the best in Australia.
- Travelling - 13 to 14
Fly back to the UK, arriving on day 14.
