SOUTHERN COASTAL EXPLORER

Arrive

Day 1 Adelaide to Barossa Valley

Your international flight will arrive into Adelaide. Collect your rental vehicle and make your own way to your hotel in the Barossa Valley (around 1 ½ hours). The Louise lies on the hilltop in Marananga, well positioned for the renowned wineries and vineyards. Each of the fifteen suites offers a private terrace, contemporary furnishings, and superb sunrise or sunset views - lovely surroundings in which to recuperate after your flight.

Overnight: The Louise

Day 2 At Leisure

Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Australia's richest, oldest and best-known winemaking region - soft folds of hills scattered with gum trees, neatly dressed in ribbons of green vines. The Barossa Valley has storybook church spires, small villages, grand estates and beautiful stone cottages, and there are over 50 wineries to choose from - many with delightful restaurants that make a visit all the more enjoyable.

Overnight: The Louise

Day 3 Kangaroo Island

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Kangaroo Island. Stranraer Homestead, your home for the next three nights, is a 3500-acre property offering a unique insight into life on Kangaroo Island, one of Australia's most famous wilderness destinations. The property has been in the Wheaton family since 1911, now run by your hosts, Graham and Lyn Wheaton, who executed a glorious restoration of the homestead.

Overnight: Stranraer Homestead

Day 4 - 5 At Leisure

Enjoy two full days at leisure to do as little or as much as you like. Your stay at Stranraer Homestead includes 4WD touring (shared basis) with a knowledgeable local guide. Season dependant, you may visit Flinders Chase National Park, home to a wide variety of native animals and birds including kangaroos and Cape Barren geese; or, alternatively, visit the ancient limestone formations and Remarkable Rocks where forces of nature have carved modern sculptures out of granite. Search for the Echidna (spiny ant-eater), the island's endemic Crimson Rosella, and possibly a penguin or two. You will also have the rare opportunity to see koalas in their natural environment. Lunch is normally a traditional Aussie barbecue accompanied by South Australian beers and wines.

Overnight: Stranraer Homestead

Day 6 Melbourne

After a leisurely morning, head back to Adelaide for your flight to Melbourne. When you land our representative will be there to meet you and take you to The Lyall Hotel and Spa. The hotel is located in South Yarra - an area of cosmopolitan cafes and art galleries - and it is only a 30 minute walk via the Botanical Gardens to the city centre. Melbourne's theatres, bookshops and galleries are always alive, and waves of immigrants have added immeasurable richness and variety to this friendly, fun-filled city.

Overnight: The Lyall Hotel and Spa

Day 7 Melbourne

After breakfast, join your walking tour at the Time Out Cafe at Federation Square. A leisurely walk through Melbourne's Lanes and arcades will show you a side of Melbourne that many miss, as you discover local designers, specialty retailers and tiny cafes serving up delightful sweet treats and steaming hot drinks. Your walk will be peppered with information on the history and architecture of the city, before your tour concludes at Caboose Restaurant for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, you can head back to any places that might have caught your eye, or alternatively head back to your hotel to relax.

Overnight: The Lyall Hotel and Spa

Day 8 Mornington Peninsula

Check-out of The Lyall this morning, collect your rental vehicle and set off on an adventure down the Great Ocean Road. Around an hour's drive will bring you to the Mornington Peninsula, your home for the next two nights. Just a two minute walk from the beach you will find the three hideaways that make up Big Blue Backyard, a relaxed and friendly lodge that backs onto the coast. The three hideaways are tucked beneath a canopy of tea-tree, each with private decks and outdoor spa bath. It is a lovely place to relax, but if you wish to get out and about there are many experiences on offer.

Overnight: Big Blue Backyard

Day 9 Apollo Bay

Continue your journey along the Great Ocean Road, enjoying a drive along the beautiful stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay. The highway is carved into sheer cliffs that drop away into the ocean, offering commanding views of the waves swelling and crashing onto the rocks and beaches below. After around three hours you will arrive at Captains at the Bay, a charming boutique b&b just a stone's throw from the beach. On arrival, the rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight: Captain's at the Bay

Day 10 Port Fairy

After breakfast, continue by road for around three hours to Port Fairy, your last stop on the Great Ocean Road. On arrival, check-in to Oscars Waterfront, a delightful boutique hotel located right on the marina. Oscars has a great location for exploring the famous shipwreck coast of southern Australia and Port Fairy itself, a historic town with elegant buildings, little boats moored on the Moyne River, and lovely white sandy beaches nearby.

Overnight: Oscar's Waterfront Hotel

Day 11 The Grampians National Park

Follow the winding road inland towards the stunning Grampians National Park, renowned for rugged mountain scenery, spectacular blooms of wild flowers and Aboriginal rock art sites. Spend two nights in one of the five stylish villas at Meringa Springs, which have incredible views across meadows dotted with grazing kangaroos. Enjoy delicious cuisine in a natural setting, wonderful discreet, friendly service and stunning sunrises and sunsets from your private terrace.

Overnight: Meringa Springs

Day 12 At Leisure

Set off after breakfast for a full day of exploration. The Grampians create an impressive landscape of peaks and valleys, and there are innumerable lookouts with stunning panoramic views as well as a number of picturesque waterfalls. The park is also home to a profusion of native animals and birds, including kangaroos, koalas, emus and wedge-tailed eagles. Explore the extensive network of trails which criss-cross the area on foot, or if photography is your thing don't miss Reeds Lookout and Mackenzie Falls.

Overnight: Meringa Springs

Day 13 Depart

Bid your final farewells and make your way back to Melbourne Airport in your rental vehicle for your flight home.

Depart