itinerary
Day 1: Monday – Brisbane
This morning you’ll set off from Brisbane aboard the Great Southern train. Take your time to settle in and be welcomed on board by one of our friendly Hospitality Attendants who will acquaint you with your cabin, arrange your dining and confirm your Off Train Experience bookings for the journey. Enjoy lunch and a relaxing afternoon before arriving at the coastal town of Coffs Harbour. As the sun dips beneath the horizon, enjoy a unique beachside diner, weather dependent. You will feast on local produce and fresh seafood matched with fine wines, while the waves lap at the shore nearby. After a few leisurely hours, you’ll reboard the train and set off for the night. 3 nights Great Southern Train (B,L,D)
Day 2: Tuesday – Newcastle
Start the day with a hearty breakfast on board before stepping off the Great Southern for a full day of Off Train Experiences. Today, you get to choose your own adventure with the choice of Hunter Valley, Port Stephens, or Newcastle. Meander through the picturesque and historic vineyards of the Hunter Valley, or you may choose to take in the stunning views of Port Stephens with the option of a land or sea tour. Alternatively, discover the vibrant mix of old and new in the beautiful coastal city of Newcastle on the Newcastle Explorer. In the evening, return to the train to enjoy a regionally inspired meal prepared on board before retiring for the night. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Wednesday – Melbourne
After enjoying breakfast on board as you travel through Victoria’s high country, you’ll have a choice of Off Train Experiences. Discover regional Victoria with options including wine touring, gourmet delights and natural sights. Or opt to visit cosmopolitan Melbourne to see the city from a new perspective at Melbourne Skydeck, 88 floors above sea level or perhaps the MCG or Old Melbourne Goal, all culminating in lunch at Eureka 89 within the Eureka Tower, home to the Southern Hemisphere’s tallest public observation deck, on Melbourne’s South Bank. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Thursday – Kangaroo Island
As the train rolls into Adelaide this morning, enjoy your last breakfast on board and the end of your Great Southern train journey. Disembarking at Adelaide Parklands Terminal, you will be met by your Outback Aussie Tours driver and host. Leaving the terminal, we will take a scenic welcome tour of Adelaide, the city of churches, making our way to McLaren Vale for our first winery experience at Wirra Wirra Winery. Gathering on the viewing platform overlooking the vineyard, we will learn about the history and biodynamic practices of the estate vineyards. Moving into the ironstone cellars we will view the open fermenters and dive more deeply into the wine making process. A private tasting will be held in the Original Cellar Door followed by lunch in the courtyard. Leaving McLaren Vale, we travel to Cape Jervis to board the SeaLink ferry to Kangaroo Island. After checking into our accommodation, we will meet for our welcome dinner in the restaurant at your accommodation. 2 nights Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge, Kangaroo Island (B,L,D)
Day 5: Friday – Kangaroo Island
Enjoy a hot and continental breakfast at your accommodation before meeting your driver and host for a Kangaroo Island tour. Travelling through the vast area of wilderness of Flinders Chase National Park, we visit Admirals Arch at Cape du Couedic. This is an impressive rock arch, weather worn over thousands of years and home to a colony of long-nosed fur seals. Following Admirals Arch we visit the iconic Remarkable Rocks. Sitting high on ancient rocky platforms above the sea, Remarkable Rocks’ surreal shapes and golden orange colours provide extraordinary photo opportunities. Following the Southern coastline of Kangaroo Island, we enjoy lunch at Vivonne Bay, once voted Australia’s best beach. After lunch, we will travel to Seal Bay, where we take a guided tour and learn all about the Australian sea lion. This 45-minute walking tour follows a boardwalk through the dune system to the beach. With breathtaking views of the majestic coastline, you will witness the seal colony at play. Departing Seal Bay, we travel to Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery. We begin our visit with a selection of canapes made from local produce paired with a tasting of Kangaroo Island ciders. Next, enjoy a guided tour of the Eucalyptus Distillery where we learn the history and distilling process of this unique product, before being seated for a Taste of Kangaroo Island dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 6: Saturday – Victor Harbor
After a leisurely breakfast this morning we take a short trip to view the recreation building of the 45ft United States Schooner “Independence”. The original Schooner was built on the banks of an inlet where now stands the town of American River by American sealers. This project is being undertaken solely by volunteers. Our next stop is Dudley Winery where we will sample some of their unique range of wines and graze on fresh local produce platters while soaking up the spectacular views across Backstairs Passage to mainland Australia. Early afternoon, we say goodbye to Kangaroo Island and board the ferry back to the mainland where we travel to the vibrant, creative heart of Victor Harbor. 2 nights McCracken Country Club, Victor Harbor (B,L,D)
Day 7: Sunday – Victor Harbor
This morning, we travel to the town of Goolwa where we board the Cockle Train. This iconic rail journey gained its name in the early days of settlement by local residents who would take a horse drawn train to Goolwa to collect cockles to be used for bait. Travelling on the oldest steel railed railway in Australia, guests will experience some of the most picturesque scenery of the Southern Ocean. Following lunch at a Goolwa local favourite, we travel back to Victor Harbor for a leisurely horse drawn tram ride over the causeway that connects Victor Harbor to Granite Island. The island is characterized by huge granite boulders tinged with orange lichen and is home to a small colony of fairy penguins. Returning to the mainland, enjoy some free time relaxing at your accommodation or wandering Victor Harbor, before dinner at your accommodation. (B,L,D)
Day 8: Monday – Mt Gambier
This morning, we take you on a journey into the Coorong where the Murray River meets the sea on board the Spirit of the Coorong. Visit the stunning Coorong National Park, rich in Ngarrindjeri Culture, bush foods, wildlife, seals and birds, cultural sites and the area that was immortalized by Colin Thieles Storm Boy. Enjoy a leisurely lunch on board as we make our way to Long Point where we meet the coach for a drive into Meningie for a short break before journeying onto Robe. Soak in the seaside scenery of this picturesque coastal town and stop for a photo at the Cape Dombey Obelisk before continuing to Mt Gambier. 2 nights The Barn, Mt Gambier (B,L,D)
Day 9: Tuesday – Mt Gambier
After breakfast we board the coach and enjoy a leisurely town tour of Mt Gambier, including the unique Blue Lake with its vibrant cobalt blue colour. Travelling to Tantanoola Caves Conservation Park, we will explore one of South Australia’s most impressive caves. Learn the history and geology of the caves and how their spectacular array of formations have developed over thousands of years through a guided tour. Heading North through the picturesque landscape of winery country, we arrive at Di Giorgio Winery in the Coonawarra region. Enjoy a tour of the property including the famous Terra Rossa soil profile, oak trees, 100-year-old vines, the winery and barrel hall and concluding with a private tasting of aged wine and a sample direct from the barrel. For lunch a shared produce platter will be served. (B,L,D)
Day 10: Wednesday – Mannum
This morning, we travel to the World Heritage listed Naracoorte Caves where we take a guided tour through magnificent chambers of the Victorian Fossil Cave. Your guide will outline the accumulation of bones, excavation techniques, and current research being undertaken. Next we will take our Naracoorte Caves visit to the next level with a brand new audio visual Megafauna experience. Developed in conjunction with world leading paleontologists, this animated audio visual experience recreates the movements and scale of some of the megafauna species who once called Naracoorte home. Take some time to wander around the gift shop before enjoying lunch at the Caves Cafe. Boarding our coach we travel to Mannum, a historic town on the banks of the Murray River where we check in to our accommodation to relax before dinner. Enjoy a late afternoon visit to the incredible Mannum Lookout with uninterrupted views of this historical landscape, where the Malley meets the Murray with untold stories to tell. 1 night Mannum Motel, Mannum (B,L,D)
Day 11: Thursday – Adelaide
This morning, we are welcomed aboard the oldest Paddle Wheeler in South Australia, the PW Mayflower, built in 1884 where we will spend a relaxing 90 minutes cruising the waters of the Murray River with expert commentary from your captain. After disembarking, we rejoin our coach and travel to Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement of Hahndorf. Stroll the tree-lined main street and experience a true village of authentic artisans and producers. Continuing our journey through the Adelaide Hills, we arrive at our final destination for the tour, Mt Lofty Guesthouse. Originally built in 1852, this iconic designer 5-star boutique hotel is famous for luxury escapes, fine dining and indulgent experiences. Immerse yourself in opulence with a high tea at Hardy’s Verandah which transcends the traditional tea service. Learn about the history of the house on a guided tour including a nature walk around the sprawling grounds. Tonight, take a seat in the historic walls of this 1852 residence before embarking on what will be one of the best culinary journeys of your life with a seasonally inspired degustation experience. 1 night Mt Lofty Guesthouse, Adelaide Hills (B,L,D)
Day 12: Friday – Adelaide
Your Grand Style South Australia tour concludes following breakfast at Mt Lofty Guesthouse. (B)
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