Tastes of Southern Australia
Tastes of Southern Australia
Tastes of Southern Australia
11 Days Starting in Sydney, Australia and ending in Adelaide, Australia
Visiting: Canberra, Wangaratta, Melbourne, Great Ocean Road, Naracoorte, Kangaroo Island, Adelaide, Barossa
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ESMA2M24
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Cultural, Foodie and Wine Tours, Gardens & Nature Tours, History, Wildlife Tours
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey with the "Tastes of Southern Australia" tour, a cultural exploration of Australia's vibrant landscapes and rich heritage. Starting in Sydney and concluding in Adelaide, this 11-day adventure takes you through iconic destinations such as Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road, and Kangaroo Island. Discover the history of Canberra, the charm of Beechworth, and the culinary delights of the Barossa wine region. Engage with local cultures at the Koorie Heritage Trust Gallery and contribute to wildlife conservation efforts on Kangaroo Island. Enjoy exclusive experiences like a Be My Guest Aussie barbecue lunch and savor the region's finest wines. With expert guides, luxury accommodations, and a blend of sightseeing and free time, this tour offers a perfect balance of relaxation and discovery. Join us for a journey that promises breathtaking scenery, unique wildlife encounters, and a taste of Australia's diverse flavors.
Choice Highlights
- Melbourne: Make a positive impact while you learn about Koorie peoples, cultures, and communities at the Koorie Heritage Trust Gallery in Melbourne.
Must-see Highlights
- Explore Parliament House in Canberra, Coonawarra wine region, Alexandra Cave, Kangaroo Island Brewery, Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Seal Bay Conservation Park, and the Barossa with a Local Specialist
- Discover Beechworth, Glenrowan, Melbourne, and Adelaide
- Visit Gold Creek Sheep Station, the Twelve Apostles in Victoria, and wineries in South Australia
- View koalas at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, sea lions at Seal Bay Conservation Park, the Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch on Kangaroo Island
- Scenic Drive along the Great Ocean Road
Make Travel Matter®
Melbourne: Make a positive impact while you learn about Koorie peoples, cultures, and communities at the Koorie Heritage Trust Gallery in Melbourne.
Kangaroo Island: Join us to assist with Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary's bushfire recovery plan and wildlife rehabilitation programme.
Be My Guest
Canberra: Visit Gold Creek Station for an exclusive Be My Guest Aussie barbecue lunch and sheep farm experience with the Starr family.
Itinerary
Day 1: Depart Sydney For Australia's Capital Canberra
Location: Canberra
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
With 11 days of history, food and sightseeing ahead, we’ll head out of the city to start your Australia tour package in the historic town Berrima before pulling up at Gold Creek Station. It’s here you’ll appreciate a taste of true Aussie hospitality as hosts the Starr Family swing open their barn doors to share an insight into the family’s history and what life is like on a 400-hectare station. See Craig roll up his sleeves for a fascinating sheep shearing demonstration before they fire up the BBQ, for a delicious Be My Guest lunch. We’re back on the road toward your home for the night, Canberra, the capital city packed with history. You’re treated to a guided tour through Parliament House with a Local Specialist. After a full first day, get to know your group over a Welcome Dinner at your hotel.
Day 2: Wangaratta In Country Victoria
Location: Wangaratta
Accommodation: Quality Wangaratta
Accommodation Name: Quality Wangaratta
Meals Included: Breakfast
Say farewell to Canberra this morning by ascending the summit of towering Mt. Ainslie to bask in 360-views of the city. Then cross the mighty Murray River into Victoria, where you’ll feel like the clocks been wound back as you Dive Into Culture in Beechworth, Victoria's best-preserved gold rush town. Beechworth saw an influx of fortune-seekers from all over the world during the 1850s. Get the lowdown on the town over a chat with the publican of the historic local pub and enjoy afternoon tea in the oldest hotel in town. Then you'll be set on your way to explore honey and gold shops, galleries and museums at your leisure, before the city of Wangaratta beckons.
Day 3: To The City Of Melbourne
Location: Melbourne
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza
Meals Included: Breakfast
It’s a complete change of scene as we journey to cosmopolitan Melbourne where you’ll get your bearings on a city sightseeing tour. Discover why Melbourne has justifiably earned its reputation as one of the world’s most liveable cities and delve into its Victorian history in the CBD, Southbank’s sprawling riverfront, arts district, and natural beauty at the Botanic Gardens. Immerse yourself in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on a guided galleries tour of our First Peoples arts and cultural centre at the Koorie Heritage Trust Gallery. Cruise by the Crown complex and consider coming back this evening for one of its super-chef's restaurants, designer boutiques, or indoor amusement park. After seeing so much of what awaits, you’ll no doubt be eager to explore more of this stylish city. Fortunately, you’re staying in centrally located area, opposite Southbank - a fun area that comes alive at night. Pop back to an area you’d like to get to know better or tuck into a delicious seafood dinner and watch the sunset on the banks of the Yarra.
Day 4: Melbourne, It's All Yours
Location: Melbourne
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza
Meals Included: Breakfast
There are endless ways to discover heart and soul of Melbourne today both in, or out, of the city on an Optional Experience. You could visit the Melbourne Skydeck - the highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere - for panoramic, floor-to-ceiling views of the city stretching far beyond its skyscrapers. Perhaps exploring the city on foot with a History and Donuts Walking Tour is more your thing. Or, you could opt to venture further afield to Phillip Island to see the famous Little Penguins emerge from the sea and waddle up the beach to their sand dune burrow homes - a fascinating (and adorable!) wildlife encounter you can’t have anywhere else in the world.
Day 5: Great Ocean Road To Warrnambool
Location: Great Ocean Road
Accommodation: Lady Bay Resort
Accommodation Name: Lady Bay Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast
Buckle up for an epic coastal road trip filled with pinch-me moments. Your journey along the scenic Great Ocean Road will have you glued to the window the whole way with plenty of photo ops and time to relax and take in one of the world’s greatest drives. Stop at a Mediterranean-inspired, quaint seaside village of Apollo Bay, and watch the boats come in to the harbour before today’s highlight, the Twelve Apostles. Admire these limestone formations rising 45 metres above the Southern Ocean and towering over the surrounding landscapes, feeling fortunate that you have the opportunity to see the seven apostles still standing today. Later, visit Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge before arriving in the historic former port city of Warrnambool and your overnight stay at Lady Bay Resort.
Day 6: Naracoorte, Gateway To Wine Country
Location: Naracoorte
Accommodation: William MacIntosh Motor Lodge
Accommodation Name: William MacIntosh Motor Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Emus and koalas... these are just a couple of the animals you'll likely spot as you drive through Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, housed in a dormant volcanic crater. Remarkable, this pocket of paradise was one wasteland, transformed by volunteers. More volcanic history awaits across the South Australian border in Mt. Gambier, home of the crater-filling Blue Lake. Lovers of rich red wines will delight at our next destination, Coonawarra, where you'll join a Local Specialist for a wine tasting at Wynns Coonawarra Estate. Learn how their wine is made and the rich soil that makes the area one of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon regions in the world as you sample six tasty wines. Continue your Australia tour package to one of the world’s most important fossil sites and part of 800,000-year-old Naracoorte East Range where on a guided tour with a Local Specialist through Alexandra Cave you’ll learn about the layers of fossils. Your day finishes over dinner showcasing products from the Limestone Coast and Southern Australia at the Highlander restaurant.
Day 7: Beautifully Rugged Kangaroo Island
Location: Kangaroo Island
Accommodation: Aurora Ozone
Accommodation Name: Aurora Ozone
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Visit the seaside town of Victor Harbor. Relax with fish and chips on its unspoiled beach or perhaps take the horse-drawn tram to Granite Island to watch the white surf pound against unusual granite formations. Excitement will be at an all-time high as you board a ferry to Kangaroo Island, known as ‘KI’ to the locals and Australia's third-largest Island, and sanctuary for native wildlife like sea lions, koalas and diverse bird species, some of which are found nowhere else.
Day 8: Kangaroo Island's Wonders And Wildlife
Location: Kangaroo Island
Accommodation: Aurora Ozone
Accommodation Name: Aurora Ozone
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Nature and wildlife take centre stage today beginning with an exploration of Kangaroo Island showcasing the Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch coastal features in Flinders Chase National Park. You’ll love the next adventures today with two MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences, starting with a private educational ecology tour of Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, an area badly affected by the 2019/20 bushfires. As you learn about the delicate ecosystem from one of their experienced guides, know that your visit will assist their recovery plan and wildlife rehabilitation programme - native animals such as goannas, eagles, kangaroos and Kangaroo Island echidnas have already returned. After lunch featuring fresh local produce, join a Local Specialist at Seal Bay Conservation Park for a guided walk into the heart of one of the country’s most important sea lion breeding colonies. Your expert guide will introduce you to the Australian sea lion - one of the rarest species in the world of only 12,000, 800 of which call Seal Bay home. Learn how these endangered animals hunt, surf, interact with their pups, defend their territory, and - as “eared” seals - use their front flippers to prop themselves up and their back flippers to help them to “walk” on land. Later, meet a Local Specialist at Kangaroo Island Brewery to taste a selection of fine, local beers. Finish your day at the Aurora Ozone Hotel perched on the stunning Kingscote Seafront.
Day 9: Adelaide The Festival City
Location: Adelaide
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza
Meals Included: Breakfast
You've arrived in the South Australian capital, known for its well-preserved churches and well-admired cuisine. Following an Adelaide city tour, the afternoon is yours to explore how you wish. You could indulge your foodie side with a tour of the famous Adelaide Central Market, the city's premier food destination, or visit the National Wine Centre for tastings and a masterclass learning about the role wine has played in Australia’s history, the position of Australian wine in the international market, and the relationship between food and wine.
Day 10: Taste Your Way Through The Barossa
Location: Barossa
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The rolling Adelaide Hills, Hahndorf, and Australia's premier Shiraz producing region, the Barossa, lay ahead of you today. Your first stop is Mt. Lofty for sweeping views of Adelaide before stopping to stretch your legs in the quaint village of Hahndorf settled by 19th-century Lutheran migrants and known for its original German-style architecture and stone cottages. Continue to the Barossa to discover the local flavours over lunch at Lambert Estate, nestled in the rolling hills enveloped by vines, followed by a visit Wolf Blass for a wine tasting, You’ll end the trip on a high note returning to the city for a Farewell Dinner at Koomo, Adelaide’s highest restaurant, where you’ll toast your adventures enjoying city views and feasting on Japanese-and-Asian-influenced dishes.
Day 11: Farewell Adelaide
Location: Adelaide
Meals Included: Breakfast
As your journey through the beautiful natural landscapes and stylish cities of Southern Australia comes to an end, say farewell to your fellow travellers before your transfer to Adelaide Airport (flights anytime).
What's Included
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An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
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Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
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Porterage where hotels provide this service
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Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
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Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
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All land transport shown. All transfers shown
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Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
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Optional Experiences and free time
Dining Summary
- 1 Be My Guest (BMG)
- 4 Dinner (D)
- 10 Breakfast (B)
- 2 Lunch (L)
- 1 Farewell Dinner (FD)
Dive Into Culture
- Beechworth: Experience small town charm and Australian hospitality during your visit to Beechworth.
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with luxury air-conditioned coaches equipped with Wi-Fi, ensuring a comfortable journey across Southern Australia. All land transport and transfers are included, providing seamless travel between destinations.
Accommodation
Experience comfort and convenience with stays at cherry-picked hotels like Crowne Plaza, Quality Wangaratta, Lady Bay Resort, William MacIntosh Motor Lodge, and Aurora Ozone, ensuring a restful retreat after each day's adventures.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of cultural experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes a visit to the Koorie Heritage Trust Gallery in Melbourne to learn about Koorie peoples, cultures, and communities. Additionally, there is a visit to Beechworth, Victoria's best-preserved gold rush town, where you can experience small town charm and Australian hospitality.
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Are there any wildlife experiences on this tour?
Yes, the tour includes several wildlife experiences such as viewing koalas at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, sea lions at Seal Bay Conservation Park, and exploring Kangaroo Island, which is a sanctuary for native wildlife like sea lions, koalas, and diverse bird species.
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What kind of food experiences can I expect on this tour?
The tour offers a variety of food experiences including a Be My Guest Aussie barbecue lunch at Gold Creek Station, a lunch featuring fresh local produce on Kangaroo Island, and a Farewell Dinner at Koomo, Adelaide's highest restaurant, with Japanese-and-Asian-influenced dishes.
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What are some of the scenic highlights of the tour?
The tour includes a scenic drive along the Great Ocean Road, with stops at the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, and London Bridge. You will also visit Mt. Lofty for sweeping views of Adelaide and explore the Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch on Kangaroo Island.
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What kind of wine experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes a wine tasting at Wynns Coonawarra Estate, known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, and a visit to Wolf Blass in the Barossa region for a wine tasting. You will also have lunch at Lambert Estate in the Barossa, known for its local flavors.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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