First Choice
Tastes of Southern Australia
11 Day Guided Vacation | Sydney to Adelaide
Travel Period
This trip fully deserves its name. Expect to sample some of Southern Australia’s most drool-worthy produce – think craft beers, wines and cheeses – and also savour some of its most dreamy landscapes, from the Great Ocean Road’s Twelve Apostles to the sparkling coves of South Australia on a Kangaroo Island tour. In between there are Phillip Island little penguins, Melbourne laneways, the Barossa and Canberra, Australia’s culture-filled capital.
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Prices From Code: ESMA
Was $4295
Was $5375
$3436
Above lowest price is based on 2023-09-19 departure
$4516
Above lowest price is based on 2023-09-19 departure
Child prices are available on request
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Trip Details
What's included
- • Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide
- • Centrally located premium hotels
- • National Park entrance fees
Dining
- • 10 Full Breakfasts
- • 2 Lunches
- • 4 Dinners with Wine
- • 1 Farewell Dinner
- • 1 Be My Guest Lunch
Flight Information
- • Day Prior: Flight to arrive any time into Sydney Airport
- • Day 11 Flight to depart any time from Adelaide Airport
- • Airline schedules may change at short notice. Please consider possible flight disruption when booking your flights.
What to Bring
- • Camera
- • Comfortable walking shoes
- • Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
- • Water bottle
- • Warm layers in cooler months
Fitness Requirements
-
• Tower Hill Reserve - Low level fitness required
Slow-paced tour around Tower Hill site. Mainly flat, comfortable pace, some parts involve walking over uneven surfaces (i.e. gravel, grass, leaves) -
• Great Ocean Road and Kangaroo Island lookouts - Low level fitness required
Short walks from coach to lookout spots at your own pace, lookouts have shorter and longer options so you can take the option most suitable to your needs.
Itinerary
Tastes of Southern Australia (Travel Period: 01 Apr 2023 – 31 Mar 2024)
As hard as it is to say goodbye to Sydney, it’s just as easy to say hello to the Southern Highlands. South of the ‘Harbour City’, the bucolic countryside of Berrima awaits – fun fact: this is the oldest Georgian village in Australia. Not far from here you’re welcomed to Gold Creek Station by sheep farmer Craig Starr for a Be My Guest BBQ lunch and tales about life on the land. And what eye-catching land it is, ringed by glorious gardens and deciduous forest that changes colour with the seasons. Your Sydney to Melbourne trip continues onward to the country's cool little capital, home to Parliament House, where you’ll go behind the political scenes, as well as the Australian War Memorial. Hearing the Last Post on your Canberra guided tour is a moving experience
Hotel:
Crowne Plaza Canberra
Included Meals:
Be My Guest Lunch, Dinner with Wine
Get some Canberra perspective from the summit of Mt. Ainslie. You won’t be able to see the Murray River, but you’ll soon cross it en route to Beechworth, Victoria’s best-preserved gold rush town. Get the lowdown on Beechworth over a chat with the publican of the historic local pub, then set you on your way to explore character-filled antiques stores, galleries and museums at your leisure. There are plenty of charming places to refuel, as well, before Wangaratta’s cathedrals beckon.
Hotel:
Quality Hotel Wangaratta
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Meandering south toward historic Glenrowan, you’re well and truly in Ned Kelly country – this is where the infamous bushranger and his gang were finally captured in 1880. We’ll tell you all the tales, then a few more about Melbourne, the home of Aussie rules football, some of the country’s best arts institutions, and a swag of stellar restaurants, cafés and bars. Once you have your bearings, explore as you will. We can help with evening restaurant reservations, as well as Melbourne laneway tours. But there’s something magical about just getting lost in the art-filled alleys of Australia’s second-largest city, discovering underground jazz lounges and rooftop eateries to watch the sun set.
Hotel:
Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne,
2 Nights
Included Meals:
Breakfast
You’re on your own today. Well, not really, because your Travel Director is at your service to help arrange sightseeing experiences. After you’ve enjoyed a strong coffee in one of Melbourne’s atmospheric laneways, that is. Adrenaline junkie? Linger in the city, gaining bird’s-eye views from the Eureka Skydeck, the Southern Hemisphere’s highest attraction, looming almost 300 metres above the ground. Animal lover? Venture out on a Phillip Island little penguin tour to see hundreds of these cute creatures pad from the ocean along the sand back to snuggle in their burrows for the night. Want to get back to nature? Chug through the lush Dandenong Ranges on the Puffing Billy Steam Train, followed by a sip or two of wine in the Yarra Valley. This cool-climate growing region makes standout chardonnay, pinot noir and sparklings. The choice is yours.
Included Meals:
Breakfast
The Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s most epic journeys, a dramatic 240-kilometre union of limestone stacks (Twelve Apostles, we’re looking at you), World Heritage listed rainforest, untouched coastal coves and sleepy towns, like Lorne and Apollo Bay. It’s hard to know where to point your camera. We recommend having it poised to snap shots of the Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge rock formations. It doesn’t get any better than this.
Hotel:
Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Emus, kangaroos, koalas, echidnas… oh my! These are just some of the animals you’ll likely spot as you drive through Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve – housed in a dormant volcanic crater. Remarkably, this pocket of paradise was once wasteland, transformed by volunteers. More volcanic history awaits across the South Australian border in Mt. Gambier, home to the crater-filling Blue Lake. Because it’s very blue. And it’s a lake. By now you’ll be pretty thirsty, so it’s a good thing the Coonawarra wine region is around the corner. After a few sips, you may find yourself getting deep – literally. Naracoorte’s Alexandra Cave is a maze of delicate needle-like stalactites and massive twisting columns.
Hotel:
William MacIntosh Motor Lodge, Naracoote
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
The Fleurieu Peninsula region of South Australia is a natural adventure playground, all rolling hills, rugged clifftops and sandy beaches. Seaside Victor Harbor turns on the charms – there are steam locomotives – before your ferry blasts its horn. All aboard to tour Kangaroo Island. A well-deserved tasting of craft beer awaits at a boutique brewery, the only one on the island. How does sheoak stout sound or a Mexican inspired brew made using a combination of malted barley and flaked rice? We won’t judge you for sneaking in a nap en route to is Kingscote, South Australia’s oldest European settlement and your base for the night.
Hotel:
Aurora Ozone Hotel, Executive Rooms,
2 Nights
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
If you like alliterations, you’ll love today’s attractions: first stops are Remarkable Rocks (because these rust-hued monoliths really are) and Admirals Arch, home to an immense colony of raucous fur seals. AAT Kings-sponsored Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary was badly damaged by the 2019 bushfires; your Kangaroo Island tour reveals the part fire plays within this delicate ecosystem, and how koalas and other wildlife adapt to their environment as it regenerates. More wildlife greets you at Seal Bay Conservation Park, where enormous sea lions barrel down the sand to the water. This is one of the most significant breeding colonies in the country, and they are certainly curious characters. Just try not to laugh at their antics.
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch
You’ve arrived in the South Australian capital, known for its well-preserved churches and well-admired cuisine. Did you know that Adelaide boasts more restaurants per capita than any other city in Australia? After a cultural walking tour through the city’s Botanic Gardens with an Aboriginal Guide, and an Adelaide city tour, the afternoon is yours to see just how many you can sample – we have a few recommendations, including a visit to the epic Central Market, where you can try green ant gin with cheese, among so many other delicacies.
Hotel:
Crowne Plaza Adelaide,
2 Nights
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Pull on your elastic-waisted pants – today is one of indulgences through the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa, dotted with atmospheric towns like Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. A Barossa and Hahndorf tour reveals the bountiful food and wine this pocket of the state is known for. And you’ll enjoy a tasting from small batch wine makers from across the valley as well as discovering local flavours over lunch at Lambert Estate enveloped by vines.
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell Dinner
By day 11, you will have a suitcase full of gin, wine and cheese; a camera full of dreamy images; and more memories than you can count.
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Please note: This itinerary may be subject to change.
Tastes of Southern Australia
First Choice
11 Day Guided Vacation
Sydney to Adelaide
This trip fully deserves its name. Expect to sample some of Southern Australia’s most drool-worthy produce – think craft beers, wines and cheeses – and also savour some of its most dreamy landscapes, from the Great Ocean Road’s Twelve Apostles to the sparkling coves of South Australia on a Kangaroo Island tour. In between there are Phillip Island little penguins, Melbourne laneways, the Barossa and Canberra, Australia’s culture-filled capital.
Highlights
Insider Knowledge
Australian Parliament House and the War Memorial offer insights into the Australian capital best revealed with an in-the-know local by your side.
Local Connection
Ever wanted to know what life on a 400-hectare sheep farm is like? Meet Craig Starr and his family at Gold Creek Station for a tale or two, and a BBQ.
Cultural Immersion
Walk with an Aboriginal Guide through Adelaide’s Botanic Gardens as you learn some of its history from a First Nation’s perspective.
Sustainable Footprints
By visiting Kangaroo Island’s Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, you not only gain insights into South Australian animals, but also have the chance to support them.
Wildlife and Nature
Across the Great Ocean Road’s 240 kilometres you’ll discover all manner of natural drama, from limestone stacks to World Heritage listed rainforest and untouched coastal coves.
Accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort.
The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes:
At Crowne Plaza Canberra you’ll find a warm welcome with friendly staff, spacious and comfortable Canberra accommodation, and everything you need to make your trip a success. Crowne Plaza Canberra offers seamless service, premium facilities and well-appointed guestrooms with a central city location adjacent to tranquil parklands. The hotel is close to restaurants, cafes, shops and attractions.
- Ensuite
- Bathtub and shower
- Flat Screen TV
- Wi-Fi (additional cost)
- In-room Movies (fee applies)
- Broadband Internet access
- In-room safe
- Electronic security key system
- Security peephole
- Iron / Ironing Board
- Bathroom Amenities
- Bathrobe
- Work Desk
- Tea & Coffee Facilities
- Mini-bar (surcharge)
Features
The Quality Hotel™ Wangaratta Gateway offers modern and relaxing accommodation in the heart of Wangaratta with convenient access to the CBD and local attractions. The hotel is located less than 15 minutes from Wangaratta airport and conveniently close to the Wangaratta Base Hospital, Performing Arts & Convention Centre and the Court House.
Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne is located on Spencer Street on the fringe of the CBD. Just a short stroll to Crown Casino, Docklands and South Wharf, Crowne Plaza Melbourne is a Southbank hotel ideally situated on the bank of the Yarra River.
- 220/240 V AC
- Air Conditioning
- Radio
- Direct Dial Telephone
- Satellite/cable colour TV
- Wi-Fi
- Iron / Ironing Board
- Microwave
- Hair Dryer
- Communal self-catering kitchen
- Manual temperature control
Features
Quality Suites Deep Blue Hotel & Spa Warrnambool is perfectly positioned on a peninsula between Lady Bay and Stingray Bay. Warrnambool is known as Victoria’s ‘City by the Sea’.
All guestrooms offer balconies, many boast magnificent views of either Lady Bay or Stingray Bay.
- Air-conditioning
- Clock Radio
- Balcony or Terrace
- Ceiling fan
- Ensuite
- Flat Screen TV
- Heater
- Hairdryer
- Iron / Ironing Board
- Guest Laundry
- Towels and Bedlinen
- Mini-bar (surcharge)
- Refrigerator
- Tea & Coffee Facilities
- Phone
- Operator wake up call
- Work Desk
- Free wireless internet access
- Room service
Features
Brenton and Kemelee invite you to rest and explore from the William MacIntosh Motor Lodge, Naracoorte, just inland from Mount Gambier on the South Australian – Victorian border.
In the heart of the Limestone Coast region lays a district that is clearly a destination in itself. A collection of townships rich with assets, offering visitors a range of unforgettable experiences.
- Iron
- Electric blankets
- Austar
- Air-conditioning
- Coffee/tea making facilities
- Broadband
- Clock radio
- Refrigerator
- Mini-bar (surcharge)
- Hair Dryer
- Ensuite
Features
The original section of this hotel on Kangaroo Island has a Victorian façade and amenities that blend with the refined atmosphere of old world charm coupled with the vibrant & attractive modern hotel and townhouse section.
- Ensuite
- Air Conditioning
- Communal self-catering kitchen
- Refrigerator
- Hair Dryer
Features
Enjoy a culturally-rich and inspiring escape at Crowne Plaza Adelaide with stunning views from the city’s tallest building in design-led rooms. Stay in the East End— Adelaide’s sweet spot— close to Lot Fourteen and Adelaide Botanic Garden with easy access to the casino, Adelaide Convention Centre and Adelaide Oval.
- Complimentary WiFi
- Porter / Bellman
- Same-Day Dry Cleaning
- Heated Outdoor Infinity Pool
- State-of-the-art Fitness Centre
- Level 10 Bar
- Restaurant and In Room Dining
Features
Need accommodation before or after your tour?
Our special discounted rates make booking accommodation with us during your holiday both easy and affordable at selected AAT Kings hotels and resorts. Ask our friendly reservations at the time of booking.
Optional Experiences
To ensure your holiday is filled with memorable experiences, we have included a range of quality Optional Excursions for you to choose from and partake in, if you wish, during your holiday. The excursions can be booked on tour through your Travel Director.
Cultural Capers Walking Tour (Adelaide)
Adult $30.00
Child: $30.00
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.
Adelaide Zoo Entry (Adelaide)
$40.00 adult
$22.00 child
Adelaide Zoo is Australia’s second oldest zoo, and the only major metropolitan zoo in Australia to be owned and operated on a non-profit basis. Located in the parklands just North of Adelaide city, visit and get up close and personal with some of the unique animals like the only Giant Pandas in the Southern Hemisphere and the first to live permanently in Australia, Wang Wang and Funi.
*Post tour bookings only.
Central Markets 45 Minute Highlight Tour (Adelaide)
Adult: $63.00
Child: $63.00
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.
Great Ocean Road & Twelve Apostles (Melbourne)
Adult Price: AUD 169.00
Child Price: AUD 85.00
Take a breath and enjoy a relaxed and unhindered view of the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge all before lunch, beating the traditional afternoon rush. En route let us take you on a journey inland, reaching Port Campbell National Park to marvel at the iconic limestone stacks in the morning. Spend the afternoon with your experienced Driver Guide, meandering along the winding Great Ocean Road, taking in the spectacular coastal scenery, the Otway Rainforest and seaside townships.
FIND OUT MOREKangaroo Island Nocturnal 4WD Tour (Kangaroo Island)
Adult: $105.00
Child: $85.00
Venture out with a local guide to experience a very different kind of 'nightlife.' The sights and sounds of Kangaroo Island after dark. Find Tammar Wallabies, Brush-tailed Possums, Western Grey Kangaroos, and possibly other more elusive night creatures such as Boobook Owls, Stone Curlews or even Penguins
Lanes & Arcades Tour (Melbourne)
Adult Price: AUD 99.00
Child Price: AUD 99.00
Melbourne’s arcades and laneways hide many hidden treasures. This walking tour is the ideal way to discover and learn about the enchantment of Melbourne. We unveil local designers, specialty retailers, some of the quirkiest cafes, street art and architecture, with historical tales of Melbourne along the way.(Operates Monday to Saturday).
Eureka Skydeck (Melbourne)
Adult Price: AUD 28.00
Child Price: AUD 18.00
Experience the awe-inspiring 360 degree floor-to-ceiling views of Melbourne at the Eureka Skydeck, Eureka Tower. This viewing platform is the highest in the Southern Hemisphere!
National Wine Centre Masterclass (Adelaide)
Adult: $70.00
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.
Phillip Island - Penguins, Koalas & Wildlife (Melbourne)
Adult Price: AUD 175.00
Child Price: AUD 85.00
If you’re curious about our native wildlife or just love animals, we’ve got you covered today! Start the day off with a visit to the Koala Conservation Reserve where you’ll join an experienced park Ranger and explore the tree top boardwalks to see the koalas up close in their natural habitat.Then there is the main attraction – The little penguins waddling up the sand to their dune burrow homes returning from their daily fishing excursion. Arrive at Phillip Island Parade Visitors Centre and learn about the life cycle of the little penguins and learn of the environmental and conservation initiatives in place to ensure the wildlife and vulnerable geology of Phillip Island remains protected. As the sun goes down, head to the beach and watch as the Little Penguins battle the surf and make their way to their dune burrows. See the Little Penguins up close as they return to their nests to greet their families.
FIND OUT MOREPuffing Billy Steam Train & Yarra Valley (Melbourne)
Adult Price: AUD 195.00
Child Price: AUD 99.00
Drive through charming mountain villages towards the Dandenong Ranges before taking a 30-minute scenic ride on the restored Puffing Billy Steam Train for a memorable journey on Australia's most notable narrow-gauge railway. Journey into the prosperous heart of picturesque wine country, the Yarra Valley. Visit Rochford Wines and join a group wine tasting before lunch (either upgrade or purchase on the day). Visit a second cellar door and sample local wines before finishing the day at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery. Be treated to a private gourmet tasting experience from one of their unique chocolate bar ranges and learn about the chocolate making process.
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