5 Day Tour Melbourne - MT Gambier - Kangaroo Island - Adelaide

"Magic Southern Explorer"

5 Days  Melbourne - Mt Gambier - Kangaroo Island - Adelaide 5 days/4 nights.    Every Monday   

5 Days  Adelaide - Kangaroo Island - Mt Gambier - Melbourne 5 days/ 4 nights .  Every Tuesday.  (Reverse Itinerary)

Boutique/Hotel/B & B Accommodation

To 31st March 2007  AUD$2815 per person twin share      AUD$3285 single. 

Day 1.  Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Ballarat 

Depart Melbourne city hotel approx 8.00am.Travelling over the Westgate Bridge, you will get an uninterrupted view of the Melbourne city skyline and Port Phillip Bay. Across the plains to Geelong, Victoria's second largest city and port. We start the world famous, Great Ocean Road, built by the returned ANZAC servicemen in 1919. Travel through the seaside towns of Anglesea, Lorne and Apollo Bay. This region is also known as the "Surf Coast". A very good chance to see koalas, kangaroos and echidnas in their natural habitat. Lunch at one of many gourmet cafes. 

Travel through the Otway National Park ( a temperate rainforest) with giant Mountain Ash eucalyptus trees and ferns to the Port Campbell National Park. Stopping at all the spectacular viewing areas,12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge. Many ships were wrecked only hours before reaching Melbourne, hear stories about the heroes and heroines of the "Shipwreck Coast", during the "Gold Rush" and pioneering days. After many photo opportunities, travel via the lakes and crater district to historic Ballarat for overnight stay at Ballarat Lodge or similar. An option in the evening "Blood on the Southern Cross" the sound and light show, telling the story of the EUREKA rebellion in 1854.Australia's only civil uprising over gold mining licenses. Overnight accommodation - "Ballarat lodge" 4 star boutique hotel where a real commitment to quality, comfort, service and wonderful food, ensures an unforgettable stay. There is a comprehensive selection of local wines available.

Accommodation: Ballarat Lodge, Ballarat (or similar). 

Meals: Lunch

Entries: National Park entry fees where applicable

Optional: Blood on Southern Cross sound and light show (own expense)

A short City tour of Ballarat's highlights, including Lake Wendouree and the Botanic gardens, TageGold ShopTagesee gold nuggets found by local prospectors. Local Ballarat gold is 23.5 carat in it's natural state, some of the purest gold in the world. We will step back in time to the 1850"s and relive the exciting vibrant TageGoldrush EraTageat Sovereign Hill. You can try your luck panning for gold in the creek, ride the Cobb & Co coach around the township, see the craftsmen at their trades, Candle maker, Undertaker, Blacksmith, Tinsmith, the steam boilers driving the period gold mining machinery, explore the underground mine, see the miners crushing the quartz in search for that elusive fortune, a $50'000 gold nugget being smelted and poured into ingots. Experience the exciting discovery of the TageWelcomeTagenugget, one of the largest gold nugget discoveries in the world, (150 pounds or 2217 troy ounces) in one gold nugget, at the Red Hill diggings. Lunch in Ballarat. A scenic drive heading west for the Grampians National Park, (Gariwerd) through sheep and cattle farming countryside, via Ararat, we meander along the Mount William range to Halls Gap, our overnight destination. We suggest dinner at the Kookaburra Restaurant, where local produce and specialties are served. A comprehensive selection of local wines is again available.

Accommodation: Colonial Motor Inn, Halls Gap (or similar).

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Entries: National Parks where applicable, Sovereign Hill Historic Park entry fees.

Day 3.  Grampians NP - Mt.Gambier - Adelaide

Departure around 8.30am to explore the Grampians Mountains National Park, (Gariwerd) to Baroka and Reeds scenic lookouts, Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Aboriginal art sites, wildflowers (over 850 species in spring) and even see a kangaroo, wallaby and emus in the wild. Travel through rolling hills and farm land to Hamilton for lunch. After a hearty refreshment we then travel on to Mt.Gambier, with the marvellous "Blue Lake", an extinct Volcano. An option is to visit the Coonawarra wine region. Your domestic flight, which brings you to Adelaide, departs at 1700h. You shall arrive in Adelaide at 1810h. Smart Car Transfer will transfer you to your City Hotel in the heart of Adelaide.

Transport: Smart Car transfer to City Hotel, flight from Mt. Gambier

Accommodation: Radisson Playford, Adelaide (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch 

Entries: National Parks where applicable

Important Information: Please note that you can only bring 10kg of luggage per passenger to Kangaroo Island. If you have more than 10kg per passenger you can store the excess luggage with REX-Regional Airlines, your carrier to Kangaroo Island, at their check-in in Adelaide and collect it again on the way back from Kangaroo Island - it will also appear on the carousel / luggage collection together with your other luggage. 

Transfer by Smart Car from your City accommodation to the Adelaide Airport - pick up time is usually around 8.00am. Your domestic flight departs for Kingscote on beautiful Kangaroo Island at 9.15am. Our representative Tour Manager will greet you at Kingscote Airport around about 9.45am. On arrival, guests are given an orientation to Kangaroo Island, describing its history, layout and the forthcoming days Itinerary. One of the most important features of the Island is its wildlife in their natural habitats. Guests can hope to see Kangaroo Island Kangaroos, Koalas, Echidnas, Sea Lions, Tamar Wallabies, a variety of Bird life, Wildflowers and Eucalyptus forests. Each season offers something different. Visit Seal Bay - home of the Australian Sea Lions, private properties where we take you off the beaten track to enjoy wildlife in the wild. Lunch is a gourmet picnic, arranged in the most suitable setting for the day - in the bush with Koalas in the trees above, or by the sea. Overnight and dinner on the Island.

Transport: Smart Car transfer from City Hotel, flight from Adelaide - Kingscote/Kangaroo Island

Accommodation: Kangaroo Island Wilderness Resort (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Entries: National Parks where applicable

The second day takes in more of the islands exciting wildlife experiences and highlights of the Island which includes - Flinders Chase National Park - 74,000 hectares of natural bushland and with the absence of rabbits and foxes, Kangaroo Island's environment is unique. It also features the spectacular erosive formations of Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. Guests will also be delighted by the antics of the New Zealand fur seals of the surrounding headlands. One of the last stops for the day is the habitat of the Kangaroo, where time is spent exploring their environment and enjoying the peace and tranquillity in the hope of seeing them come out to graze. Transfer to your domestic Aircraft which departs for Adelaide at 1835h. A 30 minute flight back to the Adelaide Airport follows, where you will be transferred to your City Hotel by Smart Car Transfer.

Transport: Flight from Kangaroo Island to Adelaide. Smart Car transfer to City Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch 

Entries: National Parks where applicable