Southern Discovery in Australia

We’ve been working hard to uncover the delights of coastal and aquatic Australia, and this itinerary is the wonderful fruits of our labor. On this 14 night adventure, we’ll take you from foodie hotspot to off-shore island beauty, ensuring you experience indigenous wildlife and stunning beaches as you go. Starting in Adelaide and ending in Tasmania, prepare to be inspired…

A COSMOPOLITAN BEGINNING

Arriving in Adelaide, you’ll immediately be transferred to the Mayfair Hotel for your two night stay in one of their stunning deluxe suites. Located right in the centre of the city in a heritage listed, beautifully renovated building you’ll enjoy contemporary dining and premium facilities in a hotel that showcases the very best of South Australia.

Take your first day to tantalise your taste buds with a visit to the stalls at the Central Adelaide Market before sampling wines in true Australian style from more than 60 wine regions at the National Wine Centre.  Your gourmet journey continues the following day, as we’ve put together a wine tour in nearby, Barossa Valley which will see you exploring some of the oldest Shiraz grape vines in the world, accompanied by your own private specialist wine connoisseur.

AN ISLAND RETREAT

From the Mayfair Hotel, we’ll transfer you to Adelaide airport for your flight to Kingscote, Kangaroo Island. Here you’ll be met and transferred to your idyllic accommodation for the next three nights, a Flinders Suite at Southern Ocean Lodge.

The lodge site adjoins two national parks and is at the heart of the island’s major attractions, making it the perfect spot from which to embark on the next few days’ adventures. We’re talking clifftop walks with resident naturalist staff, a trip to see one of Australia’s largest colonies of sea lions, sunset canapes and drinks amid the island’s teeming wildlife.

A GREAT OCEAN ROAD-TRIP

It’s time to head back to the mainland, and after a low-level scenic private charter flight over the magnificent 12 Apostles formations you’ll be met at Cobden by John, your expert local guide for the day. Enjoy a truly insightful drive along the Great Ocean Road, one of the nation’s most scenic touring routes, picking up as much as you can from John’s vast knowledge of the area’s flora, fauna, geology and history.

MELBOURNE TO PHILLIP ISLAND TO MORNINGTON PENINSULA

It’s now back to the big city life and after returning to Melbourne airport you’ll be met by your private driver and transferred to your next home away from home – a super deluxe suite at Lyall Hotel and Spa.

Just to keep you on your toes and to illustrate how fantastically diverse coastal Australia truly is, the next day you can heading back to the wilderness with a daytrip to Phillip Island. Only 90 minutes from the metropolis of Melbourne, here you will find yourself nose to nose with koalas, sharing a beach with a colony of fur seals splashing in the sea or following the nightly parade of penguins returning to their nests.

Gastro indulgence is what got this trip of to such a great start so with that in mind, let’s take another stunning coastal drive and head south of Melbourne to the Mornington Peninsula. Gain a whole new perspective on the concept ‘paddock to plate’ as you join the chef in the kitchen to transform local ingredients; curing olives grown on the farm; creating sausages from scratch; making mouth-watering gnocchi. Now sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labour with a glass of the fine wine Mornington Peninsula has to offer.

ENDING ON A HIGH

Next stop, Tasmania, Australia’s darling island state.  You’ll start your visit in Hobart, Australia’s smallest and second oldest city. Nestled between the foothills of Mt Wellington and the banks of the Derwent river, here you’ll discover an intriguing blend of maritime heritage and vibrant modern culture. Take a journey back in time with a visit to Bruny Island, a miniature wilderness with a population of only 550 and a rich heritage of sealers, whalers and explorers. Enjoy a truly unique gastronomic experience as you harvest oysters yourself at the island’s oyster farm and eat them straight from the shucked shell – they don’t get fresher than this.

The next few days will see you soaking up your surroundings at the incredible Saffire Freycinet luxury coastal sanctuary. Discreetly positioned overlooking the Hazards Mountains, Freycinet Peninsula and the pristine waters of Great Oyster Bay, Saffire blends mankind and nature with breathtaking beauty. From here, travel to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary to experience Tasmanian Devils, Wombats, Wallabies, Echidnas, Quolls and other Australian animals first hand. Take the next few days to explore the surrounding vineyards and quaint coastal fishing villages, canoe and birdwatch in Pelican Bay, or try your hand at archery, kayaking or fishing off the Saffire coastline. To truly end your trip on a high, we recommend saving your last night for some star gazing like none we’ve ever done before.