Day 1
Sydney – Canberra
Just an hour and a half from Sydney, you’ll find a landscape that feels like it was lifted straight out of the English Cotswolds. Charming villages sit among rolling vineyards in the Southern Highlands, Australia’s closest wine region to its largest city. Grand gardens and lush green farmland complete the picture.
At Gold Creek Station, you’ll meet farmer Craig Starr and his family for a Be My Guest BBQ lunch, where stories of life on the land are served alongside the food. From there, continue on to Canberra, the country’s laid-back capital. Parliament House is the highlight, with grounds to wander and a self-guided tour to explore at your own pace.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Canberra (Lunch)
Day 2
Canberra - Wangaratta
Thanks to architect Walter Burley Griffin, Canberra is a dream for urban-planning lovers, and you’ll see just how well the city fits together from the summit of Mt. Ainslie, where panoramic views stretch in every direction.
From here, you’ll head toward Beechworth, crossing the mighty Murray River, Australia’s longest, along the way. The road then winds through Victoria’s High Country to this beautifully preserved gold rush town, which drew fortune-seekers from around the world during the 1850s.
Settle in for a chat with the publican of a historic local pub to hear the town’s stories, then enjoy afternoon tea in Beechworth’s oldest hotel. After that, the town is yours to explore at your own pace, with honey and gold shops, galleries and museums to browse before the road continues on to Wangaratta.
Overnight: Quality Hotel Wangaratta (Breakfast)
Days 3-4
Wangaratta - Melbourne
Meandering south to historic Glenrowan, you’re firmly in Ned Kelly country, where the infamous bushranger and his gang were finally captured in 1880. His story is everywhere, from towering statues to the local museum. We’ll share all the tales along the way, some of them true, many of them hearsay, and every one of them entertaining.
Meandering south to historic Glenrowan, you’re firmly in Ned Kelly country, where the infamous bushranger and his gang were finally captured in 1880. His story is everywhere, from towering statues to the local museum. We’ll share all the tales along the way, some of them true, many of them hearsay, and every one of them entertaining.
Next comes Melbourne, home of Aussie rules football and some of the country’s best arts institutions, along with a swag of stellar restaurants, cafés and bars. It’s no surprise the city is known as Australia’s cultural, culinary and sporting capital. After a city tour, join a guided gallery visit at the Koorie Heritage Trust, a First Peoples arts and cultural centre and a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Then the rest of the day is yours.
Leave the map behind, because getting lost is one of Melbourne’s great joys. You might find a hidden jazz bar, stumble upon a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, or spot another gallery that catches your eye. Enjoy!
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Hotel (Breakfast)
Day 4
Melbourne Free Time
Today is yours to enjoy, though you’re never truly on your own, as your Travel Director is on hand to help arrange optional experiences. You might start with a strong coffee in one of Melbourne’s atmospheric laneways.
If you’re after a thrill, take in bird’s-eye views from the Melbourne Skydeck at the Eureka Tower, the Southern Hemisphere’s highest attraction, rising almost 300 metres above the city. Animal lover? Head out to Phillip Island for a little penguin tour, where hundreds of these adorable creatures waddle in from the ocean and across the sand to settle into their burrows for the night.
The choice is yours.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Hotel (Breakfast)
Day 5
Melbourne - Warrnambool
The Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s most epic journeys, a dramatic 240-kilometre union of limestone stacks (Twelve Apostles, we’re looking at you), untouched coastal coves and sleepy towns, like Lorne and Apollo Bay. It’s hard to know where to point your camera on a Great Ocean Road tour. We recommend having it poised to snap shots of the Loch Ard Gorge, the site of a famous shipwreck, and London Bridge rock formations. The latter sandstone arch once resembled its namesake bridge; even after its collapse, it’s still an impressive natural wonder. It doesn’t get any better than this.
Overnight: Lady Bay Resort (Breakfast and dinner included)
Day 6
Warrnambool - Naracoorte
On the shores of Tae Rak (Lake Condah), explore the World Heritage listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape. The lake spans 1,700 hectares of significant wetlands and stony rises, right beside the ancient lava flows of Budj Bim National Park. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, take a short walk around the lake and discover how the Gunditjmara people worked with natural resources to create Australia’s oldest aquaculture system.
More volcanic history awaits across the South Australian border in Mt. Gambier, home to the crater-filling Blue Lake. Why’s it called that? Because it’s very blue. And it’s a lake.
By now you’ll have worked up a thirst, so it’s fortunate that the Coonawarra wine region is just around the corner. After a few sips, you may find yourself going deep, quite literally. Naracoorte’s Alexandra Cave is a maze of delicate, needle-like stalactites and massive twisting columns.
Overnight: William MacIntosh Motor Lodge (Breakfast and dinner included)
Days 7
Naracoorte - Kangaroo Island
The Fleurieu Peninsula is a natural adventure playground of rolling hills, rugged clifftops and sandy beaches. Seaside Victor Harbor turns on the charm, so if time permits, take a wander along the pier before your ferry sounds its horn.
Arriving at Cape Jervis, enjoy views across Backstairs Passage before boarding for Kangaroo Island, home to native wildlife such as sea lions, koalas and a diverse range of bird species. Your destination is Kingscote.
Overnight: Aurora Ozone Hotel (Breakfast and dinner)
Days 8
Kangaroo Island
It’s time for an island adventure. Begin at Seal Bay Conservation Park, where enormous sea lions tumble down the sand toward the water. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, you’ll witness one of Australia’s most significant sea lion breeding grounds and learn about the vital conservation efforts protecting this remarkable species.
After soaking up the coastal scenery, settle in for a relaxed lunch with a glass of local wine. Then journey on to Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, two of Kangaroo Island’s most iconic natural landmarks, where a lively colony of fur seals basks and plays along the rugged coastline.
To round out the day, visit the island’s only boutique brewery for a well-earned tasting of handcrafted beer. How does a refreshing Golden Ale sound to finish your island exploration?
Overnight: Aurora Ozone Hotel (Breakfast and lunch)
Day 9
Kangaroo Island - Adelaide
This morning, discover Kangaroo Island’s heritage on a guided tour of one of Australia’s rare vertical wool mills. Then visit Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery to learn how the island’s 100% pure eucalyptus oil is made.
Continue to Cape Willoughby to spot local wildlife and visit South Australia’s oldest lighthouse, perched high above dramatic cliffs. Then it’s time to say farewell to the island and head for Adelaide, celebrated for its historic churches and a lively dining scene that draws visitors from far and wide.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Adelaide (Breakfast included)
Day 10
Adelaide and Hahndorf
After a city orientation tour of Adelaide, head up into the Adelaide Hills to Hahndorf, known for its strong German flavours. You’ll find them everywhere along the bustling main street, from smallgoods shops and bakeries to pubs and cafés.
Back in Adelaide, the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure. We have a few recommendations, including a visit to the epic Adelaide Central Market, where you can try green ant gin with cheese, among so many other delicacies.
This evening, join your newfound friends for a Japanese-inspired celebratory dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Adalaide (Breakfast and dinner)
Day 11
Farewell from Adelaide
Your tour comes to an end after breakfast, where you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
Breakfast included.
