Itinerary
- Day 1
Sydney to Canberra
You'll start in the Southern Highlands, about 90 minutes from Sydney, where wine country spreads across rolling terrain. At Gold Creek Station, you'll have a Be My Guest BBQ lunch and talk with local farmers about their operations. After lunch, head to Canberra and either walk the Parliament House grounds or take yourself through on a self-guided tour to get a sense of the building's scale and design.
- Meals
- Lunch (Be My Guest BBQ lunch at Gold Creek Station farm)
Included Activities
- Be My Guest BBQ lunch at Gold Creek Station farm
- Meet Craig Starr and family at Gold Creek Station
- Explore Parliament House grounds or self-guided tour
Landmarks/POIs Parliament House Gold Creek Station - Day 2
Canberra to Wangaratta
Begin early at Mt. Ainslie summit for panoramic views across Canberra, then travel into the High Country toward Beechworth. This gold rush town has kept much of its original character. You'll chat with the publican at the historic pub, have afternoon tea at the town's oldest hotel, and then spend time browsing honey shops, gold stores, galleries and museums on your own schedule.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Mt. Ainslie for panoramic views
- Travel through Victoria's High Country
- Chat with publican at historic Beechworth pub
- Afternoon tea at oldest hotel in Beechworth
- Explore Beechworth shops, galleries and museums
Landmarks/POIs Mt. Ainslie Murray River Beechworth - Day 3
Glenrowan to Melbourne
Start in Glenrowan, where you'll explore Ned Kelly history and memorials from his 1880s capture. The stories of the bushranger and his gang are woven through the town's sites. Later, continue to Melbourne for a city tour and visit the Koorie Heritage Trust to see guided galleries featuring First Peoples arts and culture. Your evening is free to wander the city's laneways, find hidden bars, and try restaurants at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Glenrowan's Ned Kelly monuments and museums
- City tour of Melbourne
- Guided galleries tour at Koorie Heritage Trust (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience)
Optional Activities
- Explore Melbourne's hidden jazz bars and restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Glenrowan Koorie Heritage Trust - Day 4
Melbourne
This day is yours to explore Melbourne however you like. Your Travel Director can help arrange optional activities if you want suggestions. Grab coffee in one of the atmospheric laneways, head up to Melbourne Skydeck at Eureka Tower for views looking down at the city, try a History and Donuts Walking Tour, or take a day trip out to Phillip Island for a little penguin tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Strong coffee in Melbourne's laneways
- Melbourne Skydeck at Eureka Tower (Southern Hemisphere's highest attraction, approximately 300 metres)
- History and Donuts Walking Tour
- Phillip Island little penguin tour (all own expense)
Landmarks/POIs Melbourne Skydeck at Eureka Tower Phillip Island - Day 5
Great Ocean Road
You'll drive one of the world's most dramatic coastal routes along the Great Ocean Road. The limestone stacks, especially the Twelve Apostles, rise from the water with striking presence. Stop through sleepy towns like Lorne and Apollo Bay, see the Loch Ard Gorge shipwreck site, and view the unusual formations at London Bridge. Untouched coves line the route between stops.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- View the Twelve Apostles
- Travel along the Great Ocean Road (240-kilometre coastal route)
- View Loch Ard Gorge
- See London Bridge rock formations
Landmarks/POIs Twelve Apostles Loch Ard Gorge London Bridge Lorne Apollo Bay - Day 6
Lake Condah to Naracoorte
At Lake Condah, you'll walk through the World Heritage listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape and learn about the Gunditjmara people's aquaculture system, one of Australia's oldest. Then travel to Mt. Gambier to see the Blue Lake filling a crater. Stop at Coonawarra for a wine tasting, and later explore Naracoorte's Alexandra Cave with its stalactites and large columns.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Explore Budj Bim Cultural Landscape on short walk (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience)
- Learn about Gunditjmara people and oldest aquaculture system
- View Blue Lake in Mt. Gambier
- Coonawarra wine region tasting
- Explore Naracoorte's Alexandra Cave
Landmarks/POIs Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Lake Condah (Tae Rak) Budj Bim National Park Blue Lake Mt. Gambier Coonawarra wine region Alexandra Cave - Day 7
Fleurieu Peninsula to Kangaroo Island
The Fleurieu Peninsula offers rolling hills, rugged clifftops and sandy beaches to see. In Victor Harbor, you can optionally ride a horse-drawn tram to Granite Island if that appeals to you. After, take a ferry to Kangaroo Island, where you'll start exploring native wildlife including sea lions, koalas and various bird species across the island's different habitats.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Fleurieu Peninsula
- Visit Victor Harbor
Optional Activities
- Horse-drawn tram ride from Victor Harbor to Granite Island (own expense)
Landmarks/POIs Fleurieu Peninsula Victor Harbor Granite Island Kangaroo Island Kingscote - Day 8
Kangaroo Island
Your island adventure includes Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, where a massive fur seal colony lives. At Seal Bay Conservation Park, you'll see sea lions and learn why this is one of the country's most important breeding grounds. Visit South Australia's only eucalyptus distillery to understand their 100% pure aromatic oil production, and sample craft beer at the island's sole boutique brewery.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Remarkable Rocks
- Visit Admirals Arch with fur seal colony
- Visit Seal Bay Conservation Park (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience)
- Guided tour of Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery
- Tasting of craft beer at Kangaroo Island Brewery
Landmarks/POIs Remarkable Rocks Admirals Arch Seal Bay Conservation Park Flinders Chase National Park Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery Kangaroo Island Brewery - Day 9
Kangaroo Island to Adelaide
Take a fully guided tour of one of Australia's only vertical mills to see how wool production works historically. Stop at South Australia's oldest operational lighthouse, then ferry back to Adelaide, the South Australian capital. The city's well-preserved churches and reputation for excellent food and wine set the tone for your final days.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of vertical wool mill on Kangaroo Island
- Visit South Australia's oldest operational lighthouse
Landmarks/POIs Kangaroo Island Wool Mill South Australia's oldest lighthouse Adelaide - Day 10
Adelaide and Hahndorf
Morning orientation tour shows you Adelaide's layout and main sites. Head to Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills, a charming German village with smallgoods outlets, bakeries, pubs and cafes worth browsing. Back in Adelaide, you'll have free time to wander and visit the Adelaide Central Market. This evening you'll have a Japanese-inspired celebratory dinner at your hotel with the people you've traveled with.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Japanese-inspired celebratory dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- City orientation tour of Adelaide
- Explore Hahndorf historic German village
Optional Activities
- Visit Adelaide Central Market (own expense)
Landmarks/POIs Hahndorf Adelaide Central Market - Day 11
Adelaide Departure
You'll depart Adelaide with wines, gins and cheeses packed away, photos filling your camera, and stories from your Australian journey to bring home and share.
