Tastes of Southern Australia

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. This is your entre to the country's cool little capital of Canberra, home to Parliament House where you can explore the grounds or take a self-guided tour. After a full first day, get to know your group over a drink at your hotel.

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. Explore honey and gold shops, galleries and museums at your leisure. Then 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 before the city of Wangaratta beckons.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Visit the seaside town of Victor Harbor. Relax with fish and chips on its unspoiled beach or, time permitting, 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. Your destination is Kingscote.

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 adventure today, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience joining 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. Stop at Vivonne Bay Bistro for lunch with a glass of wine before your next adventure on a guided tour of the family-owned Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery. Here at the only commercial eucalyptus oil distillery in South Australia, learn about Kangaroo Island's history and how the distillery produces 100% pure Australian eucalyptus essential oil from the island's narrow leaf mallee. Later, meet a Local Specialist at Kangaroo Island Brewery to taste a selection of fine, local beers. How does a Golden Ale sound?

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.

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 wine or gin tasting at Maggie Beer's Pheasant Farm. You'll end the trip on a high note returning to the city for dinner at Koomo, Adelaide's highest restaurant, where you'll toast your adventures enjoying city views and feasting on Japanese-and-Asian-influenced dishes.

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).