Tastes of Southern Australia

Day 1 - Canberra

As hard as it is to say goodbye to Sydney, it’s just as easy to say hello to the Southern Highlands. South of the ‘Harbour City’, the bucolic countryside of Berrima awaits – fun fact: this is the oldest Georgian village in Australia. Not far from here you’re welcomed to Gold Creek Station by sheep farmer Craig Starr for a Be My Guest BBQ lunch and tales about life on the land. And what eye-catching land it is, ringed by glorious gardens and deciduous forest that changes colour with the seasons. Your Sydney to Melbourne trip continues onward to the country’s cool little capital, home to Parliament House, where you’ll go behind the political scenes, as well as the Australian War Memorial. Hearing the Last Post on your Canberra guided tour is a moving experience

Hotel: Crowne Plaza Canberra
Meals: Lunch and dinner

Day 2 - Wangaratta

Get some Canberra perspective from the summit of Mt. Ainslie. You won’t be able to see the Murray River, but you’ll soon cross it en route to Beechworth, Victoria’s best-preserved gold rush town. Get the lowdown on Beechworth over a chat with the publican of the historic local pub, then set you on your way to explore character-filled antiques stores, galleries and museums at your leisure. There are plenty of charming places to refuel, as well, before Wangaratta’s cathedrals beckon.

Hotel: Quality Hotel, Wangaratta
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - Melbourne

Meandering south toward historic Glenrowan, you’re well and truly in Ned Kelly country – this is where the infamous bushranger and his gang were finally captured in 1880. We’ll tell you all the tales, then a few more about Melbourne, the home of Aussie rules football, some of the country’s best arts institutions, and a swag of stellar restaurants, cafés and bars. Once you have your bearings, explore as you will. We can help with evening restaurant reservations, as well as Melbourne laneway tours. But there’s something magical about just getting lost in the art-filled alleys of Australia’s second-largest city, discovering underground jazz lounges and rooftop eateries to watch the sun set.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza, Melbourne
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - Melbourne

Today Melbourne is yours to explore: you may like to consider one of the optional experiences. Why not venture to Phillip Island to witness the Penguin Parade, the nightly ritual where endearing Little Penguins emerge from the sea and waddle up the beach to their dune burrows?

Hotel: Crowne Plaza, Melbourne
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 - Warrnambool

Depart Melbourne this morning to embark on one of the world’s premier road trips – the Great Ocean Road. Enjoy spectacular coastal scenery, pausing in the quaint seaside towns of Lorne and Apollo Bay. Just off shore in the Port Campbell National Park, the towering limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles rise 50 metres above the wild Southern Ocean. You’ll also see nearby Loch Ard Gorge and visit the impressive London Bridge natural rock formation before arriving in the rural town of Warrnambool.

Hotel: Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs, Warrnambool
Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 6 - Naracoorte

Emus, kangaroos, koalas, echidnas… oh my! These are just some of the animals you’ll likely spot as you drive through Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve – housed in a dormant volcanic crater. Remarkably, this pocket of paradise was once wasteland, transformed by volunteers. More volcanic history awaits across the South Australian border in Mt. Gambier, home to the crater-filling Blue Lake. Because it’s very blue. And it’s a lake. By now you’ll be pretty thirsty, so it’s a good thing the Coonawarra wine region is around the corner. After a few sips, you may find yourself getting deep – literally. Naracoorte’s Alexandra Cave is a maze of delicate needle-like stalactites and massive twisting columns.

Hotel: William MacIntosh Motor Lodge, Naracoorte
Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 7 - Kangaroo Island

The Fleurieu Peninsula region of South Australia is a natural adventure playground, all rolling hills, rugged clifftops and sandy beaches. Seaside Victor Harbor turns on the charms – there are steam locomotives – before your ferry blasts its horn. All aboard to tour Kangaroo Island. A well-deserved tasting of craft beer awaits at a boutique brewery, the only one on the island. How does sheoak stout sound or a Mexican inspired brew made using a combination of malted barley and flaked rice? We won’t judge you for sneaking in a nap en route to is Kingscote, South Australia’s oldest European settlement and your base for the night.

Hotel: Aurora Ozone Hotel, Kangaroo Island
Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 8 - Kangaroo Island

Begin your exploration of fascinating Kangaroo Island today with a visit to the spectacular Remarkable Rocks and Admiral’s Arch. Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary was badly damaged by the 2019 bushfires; your Kangaroo Island tour reveals the part fire plays within this delicate ecosystem, and how koalas and other wildlife adapt to their environment as it regenerates. More wildlife greets you at Seal Bay Conservation Park, where enormous sea lions barrel down the sand to the water. This is one of the most significant breeding colonies in the country, and they are certainly curious characters. Just try not to laugh at their antics.

Hotel: Aurora Ozone Hotel, Kangaroo Island
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Day 9 - Adelaide

You’ve arrived in the South Australian capital, known for its well-preserved churches and well-admired cuisine. Did you know that Adelaide boasts more restaurants per capita than any other city in Australia? After a cultural walking tour through the city’s Botanic Gardens with an Aboriginal Guide, and an Adelaide city tour, the afternoon is yours to see just how many you can sample – we have a few recommendations, including a visit to the epic Central Market, where you can try green ant gin with cheese, among so many other delicacies.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza, Adelaide
Meals: Breakfast

Day 10 - Adelaide Hills & The Barossa

Today is one of indulgences through the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa, dotted with atmospheric towns like Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. A Barossa and Hahndorf tour reveals the bountiful food and wine this pocket of the state is known for.

And you’ll enjoy a tasting from small batch wine makers from across the valley as well as discovering local flavours over lunch at Lambert Estate enveloped by vines.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza, Adelaide
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11 - Farewell from Adelaide

Say farewell to your fellow travellers when your holiday comes to an end this morning after breakfast. Not ready to head home yet? Why not consider a 3 night cruise on the Murray River aboard the Murray Princess?

Meals: Breakfast