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Tastes of Southern Australia

11 Day Australia Tour from Sydney to Adelaide | Operated by Trafalgar

  • 11 Days

  • 1 Country

    Australia
  • 8 Cities

    Sydney, Canberra, Wangaratta, Melbourne, Warrnambool, Naracoorte, Kangaroo Island, Adelaide
  • 18 Meals

    1 Be My Guest, 4 Dinners, 10 Breakfasts, 2 Lunchs, 1 Farewell Dinner
  • Pace: Active

    Faster paces with mix of 1–2-night stays in each location. Typically features 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve steep hills and uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Depart Sydney for Australia's Capital Canberra

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 dinner where you'll enjoy seasonal produce, washed down with wine and a selection of tempting desserts.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza Canberra
Included Meals: Be My Guest, Dinner
Be My Guest: Meet Craig Starr for a BBQ Lunch on his Sheep Farm Visit Gold Creek Station for an exclusive Be My Guest Aussie barbecue lunch and sheep farm experience with the Starr family.
Notes
Day 2: Wangaratta in Country Victoria

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 we call into Beechworth, Victoria's best-preserved gold rush town, to explore the charming antique shops, galleries, and museums. Beginning in the gold rush days, you’ll soon learn how each building has a story to tell. Dive Into Culture and stroll the Beechworth Historic Precinct where you can sit in the judge's chair in the very courthouse that determined Ned Kelly’s fate, or step back in time and send a telegraphic message at the circa 1858 Telegraph Station. Reward your sightseeing with a visit to the legendary Beechworth Bakery, self-proclaimed as 'Australia’s Greatest Bakery.' If you like, sample their hearty, Big Brekkie Roll, toasty, or their specialty Bushwhacker or Bushranger focaccia. Full and happy, your home for tonight is the nearby cathedral city of Wangaratta.

Hotel: Quality Hotel Wangaratta Gateway
Included Meals: Breakfast
Dive Into Culture: Meet the Locals in Quaint Beechworth Experience small town charm and Australian hospitality during your visit to Beechworth.
Notes
Day 3: To the City of Melbourne

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 guided galleries tour of our First Peoples arts and cultural centre. 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 Southbank - a fun area that comes alive at night. Pop back to 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.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza Melbourne
Included Meals: Breakfast
Notes
Day 4: Melbourne, It's All Yours

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. Or 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.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza Melbourne
Included Meals: Breakfast
Notes
Day 5: Great Ocean Road to Warrnambool

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 the Mediterranean-inspired, quaint seaside villages. In Apollo Bay watch the boats come in at the harbour before today’s highlight, 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 eight 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. Relax in their sauna or book some time in their spa or geothermal hot springs to rejuvenate before another big day.

Hotel: Lady Bay Resort
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Notes
Day 6: Naracoorte, Gateway to Wine Country

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 tasting at Wynns Coonawarra Estate, built in 1891. 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 paired with local cheeses. 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.

Hotel: William MacIntosh Motor Lodge Naracoorte
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Notes
Day 7: Beautifully Rugged Kangaroo Island

Visit the seaside town of Victor Harbor. Relax with fish and chips on its unspoiled beach or 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 18 native mammals, some of which are found nowhere else. A well-deserved tasting of craft beer awaits at a boutique brewery, the only one on the island. How does a Golden Ale sound? Your destination is South Australia's oldest European settlement, Kingscote.

Hotel: Aurora Ozone Hotel Kangaroo Island
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Notes
Day 8: Kangaroo Island's Wonders and Wildlife

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's only boutique brewery to taste a selection of fine, local beers. Finish your day at the Aurora Ozone Hotel perched on the stunning Kingscote Seafront.

Hotel: Aurora Ozone Hotel Kangaroo Island
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®: Your Visit Helps Provide Habitat for Wildlife Join us to assist with Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary's bushfire recovery plan and wildlife rehabilitation programme.
Notes
Day 9: Adelaide the Festival City

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.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza Adelaide
Included Meals: Breakfast
Notes
Day 10: Taste Your Way Through the Barossa

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. Refuel over lunch at Lambert Estate, before visiting Artisans of Barossa, for a tour and 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.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza Adelaide
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell Dinner
Notes
Day 11: Farewell Adelaide

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).

Included Meals: Breakfast
Notes
This itinerary is for reference only. Upon booking with GET, guests will receive tour documents which will list all confirmed hotels and itineraries based upon the guest's departure date.

Price Includes

What's Included
  • - An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • - Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • - Porterage where hotels provide this service
  • - Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • - Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
  • - All land transport shown. All transfers shown
  • - Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • - Optional Experiences and free time
Dining Summary
  • - 1 Be My Guest (BMG)
  • - 4 Dinners (D)
  • - 10 Breakfasts (B)
  • - 2 Lunchs (L)
  • - 1 Farewell Dinner (FD)
Be My Guest
  • Visit Gold Creek Station for an exclusive Be My Guest Aussie barbecue lunch and sheep farm experience with the Starr family.
Dive Into Culture
  • Experience small town charm and Australian hospitality during your visit to Beechworth.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
  • Join us to assist with Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary's bushfire recovery plan and wildlife rehabilitation programme.

Optional Experiences

Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.

Eureka Skydeck (Available on Day 4)

Experience the awe-inspiring 360 degree floor-to-ceiling views of Victoria's capital city at the Melbourne Skydeck, Eureka Tower. This viewing platform is the highest in the Southern Hemisphere!

Adult Price: $28 Child Price: $19 Phillip Island – Penguins, Koalas & Wildlife (Available on Day 4)

If you’re curious about our native wildlife or just love animals, we’ve got you covered today! You’ll get up close to Australian animals, including koalas and kangaroos. On Phillip Island the main attraction awaits – the Little Penguins waddling up the sand to their dune burrow homes returning from their daily fishing excursion.

Adult Price: $183 Child Price: $139 90 Minute Cultural Capers Walking Tour (Available on Day 9)

Join passionate local Graeme Fanning as you explore and discover the cultural boulevard of South Australia’s capital, and the foundation for development of Adelaide, both socially and culturally within this tour. Pass by Government House, the State Library, South Australia Museum, South Australia Art Gallery as well as the vast University precinct on this informative 90-minute tour.

Adult Price: $40 Child Price: $40 Adelaide Zoo Entry (Available on Day 9)

Winner of the South Australian Tourism Awards for the past 4 years, Adelaide Zoo is a favourite with both locals and visitors. Situated in north Adelaide this iconic attraction is home to 2500 animals and 250 species of exotic and native mammals, birds, reptiles and fish, and is involved in a wide range of conservation programmes. Get up close and personal with some of Australia’s best loved animals!

Adult Price: $45 Child Price: $24 Central Markets 45 Minute Highlight Tour (Available on Day 9)

Experience the iconic Adelaide Central Market with a 45minute tour showcasing the Market, the stall holders and the amazing produce available. On Wednesdays the Market is a little quieter so it’s a great time to meet the stall holders and hear their stories. You will be hosted by a local specialist who will show you the best stalls and offer some delicious foods to try- think artisan cheeses, gourmet meats, seasonal fruits and sweet treats! After the tour there will be time to revisit the stalls and take advantage of some tour special discounts.

Adult Price: $65 Child Price: $65 National Wine Centre Master Class (Available on Day 9)

Take a guided tour of the National Wine Centre's Wine Discovery Journey. Uncover the diversity of Australia’s 65 wine regions and meet some of the wonderful characters of the industry. Learn how to blend your own award-winning wine with a virtual blending simulator and discover the main characteristics of the key wine varieties grown throughout the country.

Adult Price: $75