Itinerary
- Day 1
Melbourne to Ballarat
Meet your group leader early in Melbourne and head out on the Great Southern Touring Route. You'll start with the Pinnacle Walk at Hanging Rock Reserve, where you can take in views across volcanic landscapes. Stop in Daylesford for lunch, and if you're departing on a Sunday, the Sunday Market is worth a quick look. By evening you'll be in historic Ballarat with free time to visit Sovereign Hill or check out the Art Gallery.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hanging Rock Reserve - Pinnacle Walk to summit
- Daylesford Sunday Market (if departing Sunday)
Optional Activities
- Sovereign Hill visit
- Art Gallery of Ballarat visit
Landmarks Hanging Rock Reserve Sovereign Hill Art Gallery of Ballarat - Day 2
Ballarat to Apollo Bay
Drive south from Ballarat toward the Great Ocean Road coastline. The scenic highway takes you through Anglesea to Apollo Bay, with views of windswept cliffs and the Southern Ocean along the way. At Wildlife Wonders you'll do a guided walk through Otway bushland where you might spot koalas, wallabies, and native ferns. Settle into Apollo Bay for the afternoon with some free time to explore.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Great Ocean Road scenic drive
- Wildlife Wonders guided walk through Otways bushland
Landmarks Great Ocean Road Otway National Park Apollo Bay 
- Day 3
Apollo Bay to Warrnambool
Travel along the Great Ocean Road from Apollo Bay to Warrnambool, stopping at scenic spots with dramatic cliffs, native bushland, and white sand beaches. The main highlight is the Twelve Apostles, those 45-metre rock stacks that ocean erosion carved over millions of years. You'll arrive in Warrnambool and have the option to join other travelers for dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Great Ocean Road scenic drive with stops
- Twelve Apostles viewing
Optional Activities
- Group dinner in Warrnambool
Landmarks Twelve Apostles - Day 4
Warrnambool to Grampians
Head toward Budj Bim National Park for a walking tour with a Gunditjmara cultural guide. You'll learn about the Gunditjmara creation story and walk through Lake Condah's wetlands and historic lava flows. Lunch is all-Australian with bush tucker like eel, kangaroo, and emu. Later you'll continue to Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park with free time in the afternoon and evening.
- Meals
- Lunch (All-Australian bush foods grazing board including grilled kooyang (eel), grilled macadamia nuts, pickled vegetables, kangaroo, emu and local bush foods)
Included Activities
- Budj Bim National Park cultural landscape walking tour with local Aboriginal guide
- Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre & Café bush foods grazing board lunch
Landmarks Budj Bim National Park Tae Rak (Lake Condah) Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park 
- Day 5
Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park
Spend the full day exploring Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park on guided walks. You'll discover waterfalls, rugged sandstone ridges, mountain vistas, and the largest collection of rock art paintings and shelters in Southern Australia. Keep an eye out for kangaroos, wallabies, emus, and native birds. Your leader chooses walks based on weather, track conditions, and group ability. End the day relaxed with an optional final group dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park day walks including rock art sites
Optional Activities
- Group dinner
Landmarks Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park - Day 6
Grampians to Adelaide
After group breakfast at Grampians you'll drive to Stawell. Visit Bunjil's Cave, a significant First Nations cultural site with prominent rock art. From there you board The Overland train unaccompanied to Adelaide. Relax on this 130+ year-old train as it winds through wheat and sheep farms, crosses Murray Bridge, and travels through the Adelaide Hills. You'll arrive in Adelaide (Tandanya) with a free evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Bunjil's Cave visit
Landmarks Bunjil's Cave - Day 7
Adelaide to Kangaroo Island
Link up with your new group leader at a 9 am welcome meeting in Adelaide. After you learn what's ahead, transfer to Cape Jervis, about 2 hours away. Board the ferry to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island (roughly 45 minutes) and watch for dolphins. Check into your hotel, then explore the Kangaroo Island Sculpture Trail with ocean views over Hog's Bay. This evening visit Penneshaw Penguin Centre for a walk to spot the world's smallest penguin variety.
Included Activities
- Kangaroo Island Sculpture Trail
- Penneshaw Penguin Centre evening walk
Landmarks Kangaroo Island Sculpture Trail Penneshaw Penguin Centre 
- Day 8
Kangaroo Island
You'll start on Dudley Peninsula with a visit to a local farm where you can watch sheep shearing and meet kelpie dogs. From there, head to Cape Willoughby Lighthouse, which is South Australia's oldest, and take some time looking around. Next comes a eucalyptus oil refinery and honey farm to see how they operate. The KI Community Gallery is worth a stop to check out work from local artists. If you've got time before heading to Kingscote for the night, consider dropping by a local winery for a wine tasting.
Included Activities
- Full-day trip to Dudley Peninsula
- Sheep Shearing & Sheep Dog Experience
- Cape Willoughby Lighthouse visit
- Eucalyptus Oil Distillery visit
- Honey Farm visit
- KI Community Gallery visit
Optional Activities
- Local winery visit and wine tasting
Landmarks Dudley Peninsula Cape Willoughby Lighthouse KI Community Gallery - Day 9
Kangaroo Island
After breakfast, you'll make your way to Salt Lagoon to grab some scenic photos, then head over to Emu Bay Beach where the white sand is really something to walk along. From there, beach hop to Stokes Bay, a quieter spot and one that was voted Australia's most beautiful beach in 2023. You can swim and explore around the area. Keep in mind this region was recovering from bushfires in early 2022, so you might notice some signs of that. By evening, head back to Kingscote where you have time to yourself.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Salt Lagoon visit
- Emu Bay Beach exploration
- Full Day Trip to Emu Bay & Stokes Bay
- Stokes Bay exploration and swimming
Landmarks Salt Lagoon Emu Bay Beach Stokes Bay - Day 10
Kangaroo Island
Start your day at Seal Bay on a ranger-led wildlife experience where you'll watch sea lions swimming, playing, and basking in the sun. Head to Vivonne Bay next, one of Australia's nicest beaches, and spend time there. After that, move into Flinders Chase National Park to see Remarkable Rocks, these naturally sculpted granite boulders that are really distinctive, and Admirals Arch. Take some time wandering through the park before making your way back to Kingscote for the night.
Included Activities
- Seal Bay Wildlife Experience with local ranger
- Vivonne Bay visit
- Flinders Chase NP visit including Remarkable Rocks & Admiral's Arch
Landmarks Seal Bay Vivonne Bay Flinders Chase National Park Remarkable Rocks Admirals Arch - Day 11
Kangaroo Island to Adelaide
Begin at American River where you'll learn about the historic 1803 schooner 'Independence' and watch its restoration work happening on site. Take a scenic walk through coastal scrub toward an old fish cannery, keeping an eye out for rare glossy-black cockatoos in the area. Later, head to Penneshaw to catch the ferry departing Kangaroo Island. You'll dock at Cape Jervis, and then it's a drive back to Adelaide where your trip comes to an end.
Included Activities
- American River 'Rebuild Independence' Boathouse Visit
- American River bushwalk
Optional Activities
- Extended stay in Adelaide (requires advance booking with agent)
Landmarks American River Penneshaw Cape Jervis
