The Great Ocean Road and South Australia

Thursday 07 March

Depart Auckland on Air New Zealand, arrive in Melbourne and coach to Geelong.
Enjoy a Welcome Dinner tonight.

Friday 08 March

Today travel the Great Ocean Road – a magnificent drive with views at every corner. Stops along the way will allow for photography and short walks. The accommodation is beachside and parkland.

Saturday 09 March

Continuation of our coastal route takes in the historical town of Port Fairy, rural Portland and Mt Gambier with the beautiful drive around the Blue Lake. Our destination for the next two nights in the red wine Limestone Coast region is the country town of Penola with its long line of history.

Sunday 10 March

A day to relax in this premium wine region of South Australia. A wine tasting and lunch at Wynn’s Estate, Coonawarra is a relaxing day. Later return to Penola with time to browse this character town of antique and craft shops.

Monday 11 March

Drive along the coastal road passing Coorong National Park (a saltwater wetland) and the Murray River mouth. Depart by ferry for Kangaroo Island.

Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island after Tasmania and Melville.

Once occupied by Australian Aborigines, but when the native population later disappeared, the island was subsequently resettled from the early 19th century, usually by sealers and whalers.
Since then, the island's economy is mostly agricultural (grapes, honey, wool, meat and grain). Traditionally sheep grazing has been the major farming type, but in recent times, more diverse crops such as potatoes and canola have been introduced. Cattle farming has grown as well, with good quality beef cattle being grown and tourism and fishing also play significant roles. 
The largest town and the administrative centre is Kingscote and the island has several nature reserves, with the largest and best-known being Flinders Chase National Park.

Tuesday 12 March

A day for exploring and understanding the island, its farming enterprises and way of life - time amongst the locals! Visit Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery in the afternoon.

Wednesday 13 March

A day touring this fascinating Island with its diverse wildlife and nature reserves which includes a visit to Raptor Domain for a Birds of Prey Show.

Thursday 14 March

A morning charter flight across to the southern-most tip of Eyre Peninsular to Port Lincoln – the seafood capital of South Australia.

Port Lincoln overlooks Boston Bay (a natural harbour three times the size of Sydney Harbour) and home of Southern Bluefin Tuna fishing and Makybe Diva, a three times winner of the Melbourne Cup whose statue is in the centre of the town. It was here that a wooden boat changed the fortune of an entire town. The Tacoma was Australia's first purpose-built tuna fishing vessel. It began catching blue fin off the coast of Port Lincoln in the early '50s and transformed the fishing industry in this country forever. www.tacoma.org.au

Friday 15 March

Experience a morning town tour today, enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

Saturday 16 March

A seafood luncheon excursion on the preserved historical Tacoma boat is today’s highlight. The original builders were the Haldane family and are you are hosted by one of the descendants.

Sunday 17 March

A morning journey to Coffin Bay, home of another local delicacy – oysters. On return, call into a local country race meeting. Once a year, the Port Lincoln Racing Club holds it prestigious Kimba Cup Day. Apart from the main race, it is also a major fashion day where the winner gets direct entry into the Melbourne Cup Fashion Parade.

Monday 18 March

Today’s drive takes you north along the Eastern coast road of Eyre Peninsular.

A lunch stop at Whyalla a popular holiday resort which boasts an average of at least 300 sunshine days each year. Continue on to Port Augusta to visit the ‘Tunnel of Time, ’an interactive interpretive centre that tells of life over the different era’s in the region.

Port Augusta
With a population of 14,000, Port Augusta is the home of the Wadlata Outback Centre which provides tourists with an introduction to life in the Australian outback. Port Augusta is a stop on the Indian Pacific transcontinental train service for the Sydney – Perth railway and The Ghan service between Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin.

Tuesday 19 March

Our scenic drive today takes us via Bungaree Station and Clare Valley, before continuing on to Adelaide’s resort in Glenelg.

Wednesday 20 March

A morning city sightseeing tour including a visit to the Adelaide Oval, cricket’s iconic test venue. Afternoon free to explore this beautiful city.

Thursday 21 March

Our city tour takes us to the summit of Mt Lofty with views over Adelaide and onto the picturesque town of Hahndorf. Enjoy tonight’s Farewell Dinner.

Friday 22 March

A mid-morning transfer to the airport for return Air New Zealand flight home.