Day 1:   Arrive in Sydney.  Transfer to your accommodation.  Start your Sydney experience with an afternoon tour of the iconic Sydney Opera House.  The Sydney Opera House is one of the world's most recognizable landmarks and this is your chance to truly get up-close. Run your hands over the world-famous shell tiles, take a seat in the elegant custom-made white birch timber chairs and marvel at the vaulted ceilings. Visit areas off-limits to the public and capture photographs from rare vantage points. Explore theaters and foyers where more than 1600 concerts, operas, dramas and ballets take place each year. Spend the rest of your day exploring Sydney, shopping or relaxing by the harbour. (3 nights Sydney)

 

Day 2:   There’s no better way to explore a city than on a walking food tour the incorporates food, history and culture.  The afternoon explore Sydney's newest and oldest developed areas with a taste of classic dishes and Sydney's colonial history! See the landmark iconic sites Harbour Bridge Opera House and the Rocks, as well as Sydney's newest dining destination, Barangaroo, with views of Darling Harbour, as well as the beautiful Barangaroo Park. Satisfy your sweet tooth with ice cream, and scrumptious French tarts. Indulge in Italian classics, and local cheeses. Enjoy beautiful harbour side views, local beer and yummy pub grub in one of Australia's oldest public houses with 360 degree views of the harbor. Explore Barangaroo and The Rocks and hear stories of New and Old Sydney. Finish your adventure with delightful Thai dining.

 

Day 3:  Sydney Harbour is stunning, and you get to experience it today on a hop on hop off tour.  Board at Circular Quay and take in all the sights of Sydney Harbour including Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, Watsons Bay, Luna Park, Manly and Shark Island.  You can stop at any attraction and reboard the next Explorer cruise.  Included in your pass is entry to Taronga Zoo (open from 9am to 5pm) and Sky Safari cable car.  After your wildlife experience at Toronga Zoo cruise back to Darling Harbour and enjoy an evening dining at a harbor side restaurant as the sun sets.

 

Day 4:    Leaving Sydney today you’re off to Hunter Valley.  Picking up your rental car in Sydney you then drive 2.5 hours to Hunter Valley.  Check in to your accommodation and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. (2 nights Hunter Valley)

 

Day 5:  You get to explore the Hunter Valley today. You’ll be picked up from your accommodation in the morning and will head off on a full day food and wine gourmet tour.  In addition to seeing the region you’ll spend the day enjoying multiple wine tastings, a cheese and wine masterclass, a mystery wine experience, chocolate and wine pairing, a super generous lunch, a glass of wine with lunch, and a tour of a working brewery. Finish the day with a few cold beers in hand. You’ll be returned to your accommodation to relax for the rest of the day.

 

Day 6:   Driving back to Sydney today you return your rental car and catch your flight to Adelaide.  Spend the rest of the day at leisure. (2 nights Adelaide).

 

Day 7:  You’ll be picked up from your Adelaide accommodation and driven to the renowned Barossa wine region.  Your tour includes a brilliant showcase of the beautiful and historic Barossa Valley. Highlights include the amazing Whispering Wall, hidden deep in the Adelaide Hills, personally hosted wine tastings at the iconic Chateau Yaldara, Peter Lehmann, Langmeil and Lindsay Wine Estate and a walk alongside the oldest known Shiraz vineyard in the world. There is plenty of time to enjoy the picture-perfect scenery, unique culture and remarkable heritage of this world famous wine region.

 

Day 8:  You’re heading to Kangaroo Island today.  An early morning pick up from your Adelaide Accommodation will take you to the SeaLink ferry for the 45 minute cruise to Kangaroo Island to meet your tour guide.  You have a full day Kangaroo Island wildlife discover tour. Your tour begins with an introduction to the island. Tour through several island habitats and see wildlife in its natural environment. Keep an eye out for echidnas, wallabies, reptiles and wildflowers, and the many species of birds. At Seal Bay your guide will escort you on a memorable walk along the beach. Walk among the sea lions as they bask on the beach or among the sand dunes after their extensive fishing expedition. Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch with wine. After lunch enjoy a pleasant bushwalk or stroll along the beach. Travel through the island's interior keeping an eye out for koalas and echidnas. Explore the beaches of the north coast and take a bushwalk. Later in the afternoon as the day draws to a close, see the kangaroos and wallabies leave the safety of the bush to begin grazing on the open pastures. (1 night Kangaroo Island).

 

Day 9:  Kangaroo Island is also famous for its food and wine.  Today you get to experience this for yourself.  On your tour see the busy Ligurian Bees (originally imported from Italy) produce their amazing-tasting honey at Clifford's Honey, experience some Emu Ridge Eucalytpus Oil and see how the oil is distilled, spend an hour strolling through the township of Kingscote and also have lunch, enjoy some Bay of Shoals wine and a cheese platter, watch a sheep being milked at Island Pure Sheep Dairy and taste their mild cheese, taste the Australian Award Winning Gin 'Old Tom' at Kangaroo Island Spirits.  Finish your tour with a visit to Island Beehive before your transfer to the Sealink Terminal for your cruise back to Adelaide. (1 night Adelaide)

 

Day 10:  An early morning pick up will take you from your Adelaide accommodation to the airport for your transfer to Tasmania.  Arriving in Launceston, pick up your rental car and drive to your accommodation.  Your accommodation at Cradle Mountain Lodge is in the World Heritage listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, one of Tasmania’s premier wilderness regions.  Enjoy sensational local food and wine, indulgent spa treatments, breathtaking scenery and magnificent wilderness surrounds. (2 nights Tasmania).

 

Day 11:  Day at leisure to enjoy optional activities include exploring the Cradle Mountain National Park, guided canoe trips, wildlife spotting, fly fishing, guided walks or relax in the scenery and enjoy the lodge spa facilities.

 

Day 12:  Today you leave Tasmania for Melbourne. Transfer to the airport to board your flight to Melbourne.  Spend the rest of your day at leisure exploring Melbourne.  The shopping is excellent. (3 nights Melbourne)

 

Day 13:  You have a full day exploring today on a small group tour of Melbourne city and Phillip Island. You’ll be collected from your hotel.  The Melbourne City Tour includes visiting the world famous Albert Park, home of the Formula One, Australian Grand Prix as well as our inner-city sports precinct, home to the famous MCG and Melbourne Park where the Australian Tennis Open takes place. The city tour concludes at Eureka tower (entry at own expense) for a lunch break.  The afternoon Phillip Island tour commences from Eureka Tower and you will drive south-east from Melbourne to reach Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park where you will meet endangered species, kangaroos, wallabies and koalas plus an array of colorful birds and reptiles. Your journey then leads onto Phillip Island, the home of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix and the famous Little Penguins. Upon arrival on the island, depending on the time of year you will visit Woolamai beach to see surfers riding the waves. From here, you are off to the western corner of the island to enjoy magnificent views of Bass Strait and the Nobbies, which is home to the largest colony of fur seals in Australia. Finally, a trip to Phillip Island is not complete without its black tie gala event: the Penguin Parade. On this tour, you will be treated to viewing the penguins at the special Penguins Plus viewing platform close to the little penguin's favorite spot to exit the water. Tour concludes at approximately 9.30pm (April to October) and 11.30pm (November to March) at which time hotel drop offs will commence.

 

Day 14:  You’ve seen the Melbourne sights now you get to explore the city on a morning walk through Melbourne's beautiful back streets and get orientated in the life of the city that locals love. Discover artisan and specialty retailers, and see quirky cafes, independent designers, street art, architecture and learn of historic tales in these walkways. Soak in the city via all your senses and engage with passionate creatives. There is something for everyone. Morning tea is included before a bistro lunch with a glass of wine. Get orientated and return to those places you like best in the afternoon, at your leisure.

 

Day 15:   Today you depart Melbourne for your journey home.