DAY 1: (D) HOME TO ADELAIDE Fri 25 Sep 2020
Welcome to our Kangaroo Island and Great Ocean Road Tour. Our adventure will feature incredible wildlife, iconic scenery and a breathtaking drive along one of Australia’s most spectacular coastlines. Arriving in Adelaide, we meet our coach captain and a local expert who will introduce us to the beautiful city. At Montefiore Hill, we can see the spot from where Colonel Light planned a great city of the future in the sweeping valley below. Nearby is one of Adelaide’s most prominent landmarks – St Peters Cathedral, which overlooks the city from North Adelaide and below us is the recently redeveloped Adelaide Oval. We settle into our hotel for our welcome dinner.
Locally Guided Tour of Adelaide
DAY 2: (BLD) ADELAIDE – COORONG – VICTOR HARBOUR Sat 26 Sep 2020
We make our way to the stunning Fleurieu Peninsula where we discover gorgeous seaside towns. We ride the historic Horse Drawn Tram across the Causeway to Granite Island. Feel the ocean breeze as the beautiful Clydesdale horses draw us along the jetty bridge. Enjoy free time to explore the rugged coastline or spot the little penguins that inhabit the island. For lunch we join a Coorong Discovery Cruise. From the mouth of the Murray River, the cruise heads into the pristine waters of the Coorong, past the spectacular white sand dunes and bird life. We visit ancient midden sites, hear stories of the Riverboat days and learn about the first inhabitants of the area immortalised by Colin Thieles, Storm Boy.
DAY 3: (BD) COCKLE TRAIN AND KANGAROO ISLAND Sun 27 Sep 2020
We take the incredible interactive journey at the South Australian Whale Centre. Our guide, with the help of audio-visual displays, artefacts and a 3D theatrette, will introduce us to these magnificent creatures. The Cockle Train is one of the regions hidden gems as it travels across farmlands and coastal dunes from Victor Harbour to Goolwa. The heritage train windows frame the sparkling Southern Ocean and coastal cliffs as we travel along the oldest steel railed railway in Australia. This afternoon, we travel to Cape Jervis for a ferry ride to authentic Kangaroo Island.
cockle train
DAY 4: (BLD) KANGAROO ISLAND Mon 28 Sep 2020
Kangaroo island has an abundance of incredible wildlife and today we have a chance to get up close and personal as we travel to the world-famous Seal Bay. We’ll be taken into the heart of the colony where our experienced guide will teach us about the wonderful Australian Sea Lion. There is nowhere else in the world where you can listen to an expert give their unique insight while walking amongst the colony. At Raptor Domain, we witness the interactive and inspiring Birds of Prey demonstration. This afternoon, we explore all that Flinders Chase National Park has to offer. The park’s scenery includes Admiral Arch, Remarkable Rocks and an excellent boardwalk where we see a colony of New Zealand Fur Seals below. At Rocky River we should see plenty of Cape Barren Geese and maybe a Tamar Wallaby or two. What a day of truly exceptional wildlife experiences!
Lunch at Raptor Domain
DAY 5: (BLD) KANGAROO ISLAND TO HAHNDORF Tue 29 Sep 2020
This morning we visit some interesting attractions unique to the island. The first, is Clifford’s Honey Farm – home to the island’s own population of Ligurian bees (the purest strain in the world). Close by is Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery where we take an interesting tour of the equipment used to make eucalyptus oil and products. Our next stop is Penneshaw Hotel, where we are spoilt with a wonderful outlook as we enjoy our lunch. We travel back to the mainland and head to the gorgeous historic town of Hahndorf, in the Adelaide Hills. Step back in time in Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. The town is a superb “flashback” to the nineteenth century with its shops, eateries and attractions house in authentic surroundings.
Lunch at Penneshaw Hotel
DAY 6: (BLD) HAHNDORF TO MOUNT GAMBIER Wed 30 Sep 2020
Continuing to Naracoorte, we discover what the town was like thousands of years ago when megafauna roamed the landscape. Be amazed as we walk through the impressive Alexandra Cave before we visit the delightful village of Penola, home to the Mary Mackillop Interpretive Centre. The centre tells the story of Mary Mackillop and Julian Tenison Woods as they co-founded the Australian Sisters of Saint Joseph here. The centre houses exhibitions, the School House and Church. We continue to Mount Gambier where the remarkable natural landscape of volcanic craters, sinkholes and lakes are just waiting to be explored. Tonight, we see the impressive Umpherston Cave, a century old sunken garden, planted on a series of terraces. Appreciate its size from the viewing platforms above before walking down into the impressive garden with palm trees reaching to the sky.
Picnic Lunch
DAY 7: (BD) MOUNT GAMBIER AND PORT MACDONNELL Thu 1 Oct 2020
Unlock the secrets, folklore and legends of Mount Gambier when we visit the Blue Lake Visitor Centre to meet our local guide. We embark on a tour of the Blue Lake Pumping Station and hear the fascinating story about the unique Blue Lake and its mysterious annual colour change. At the Mount Gambier Old Courthouse, we discover the galleries of information and interpretive banners which tell the stories of some of the people who worked or crimes judged here. We travel to Port Macdonnell, the southernmost point of South Australia which is surrounded by crashing ocean and amazing cliff faces. As we drive out to Cape Northumberland, look out for the rocky formations, known by the locals as the petrified forest. The first lighthouse, built to close to the coast and on crumbling stone, the lighthouse only lasted 22 years before it was deemed unsafe. Now, only foundations remain while a new lighthouse was built. Our final visit for the day is to Dingley Dell, a historic cottage refurbished as a museum. It’s famous as the former home of Adam Lindsay Gordon, paying homage to the poet and bushman as well as reflecting the nineteenth century Australian lifestyle.
Port Macdonnell
DAY 8: (BLD) MOUNT GAMBIER TO WARRNAMBOOL Fri 2 Oct 2020
We farewell Mount Gambier and cross the border into Victoria. Entering the Shipwreck Coast, we arrive at the Portland Cable Tram Depot we get a taste of yesteryear on the restored and modified saloon cars. Jump onboard for a scenic journey and interesting commentary from the dedicated volunteers. Continuing to the pretty seaside town Port Fairy, we meet a local expert, who highlights the colonial character of the town and rich maritime history. Heading into Warrnambool, we stop at the Fletcher Jones Factory Garden to wander the heritage listed garden before checking into our hotel. Tonight, we enjoy the wonderful “Shipwrecked” show. Experience the dramatic stories of local indigenous culture, colourful whaling history and the event that lead to the fearful reputation the coast holds today. Told vividly through a spectacular, multi-million-dollar sound and light show experience, the village comes to life.
Lunch at Portland
DAY 9: (BLD) WARRNAMBOOL - GREAT OCEAN ROAD - GEELONG Sat 3 Oct 2020
Today we join the spectacular Great Ocean Road. We see the beautiful Bay of Islands, Crown of Thorns and London Bridge as we drive the remarkable coastline. A highlight of our journey will be Port Campbell National Park, where the dramatic coastal scenery encompasses the town. Next, we pass Loch and Gorge, which has a sad tale to tell. In 1878, the iron hulled clipper, Loch Ard, was driven out onto the rocks offshore at this point. Of the 50 or so on board, only two were to survive. Continuing our journey, have your camera-ready as we approach the Twelve Apostles – a group of magnificent rock stacks rising up from the Southern Ocean. For lunch, we visit the delightful town of Apollo Bay before travelling to Lorne, where the township is built amongst forest with native trees, stretching right down to the water. We finish our drive along the Great Ocean Road in Geelong for our farewell dinner at our hotel.
Lunch in Apollo Bay
DAY 10: (B) GEELONG TO HOME Sun 4 Oct 2020
After a morning stroll along the Geelong foreshore, we travel to Werribee Open Range Zoo. Jump aboard the safari tour where we’ll be transported through Asia, North America and Africa to learn about some of the worlds most endangered species. As we head across the grassy plains, we’ll find rhinoceros, zebras, giraffes and more grazing together on the picturesque Savannah. We continue to Melbourne Airport for our flight to Brisbane. Once we arrive in Brisbane, we’ll be transferred home from our fabulous adventure.
