Melbourne to Kangaroo Island Adventure - 11 Days

Welcome to Melbourne! Or Narrm, in the language of the Wurundjeri people, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Melbourne is now located. Melbourne is the unofficial foodie capital of Australia, most famous for its fine-brewed specialty coffee. It's recommended that you arrive a few extra days before your adventure starts if you want to experience all this city has to offer. Today, you’ll meet your group leader and fellow travellers at 8 am for a welcome meeting. Then, start your journey along the Great Southern Touring Route. Your first stop today is Hanging Rock Reserve for the Pinnacle Walk and views over the Grampians and Halls Gap. Your leader will guide you to the summit and share the area’s importance to local First Nations groups. Next, drive to Daylesford to grab lunch and if it’s Sunday, wander the local fresh produce market. Your next destination is the historic goldfield town of Ballarat, where you’ll stay tonight. Perhaps visit Sovereign Hill or the Art Gallery of Ballarat, with the afternoon and evening at your leisure.

Depart the highlands and say hello to the coast on the drive south this morning. Arrive in Anglesea and begin your drive along the Great Ocean Road in Eastern Maar country, which was recently returned to its Traditional Custodians in Victoria's first native title in a decade. Once you reach Apollo Bay, you’ll enjoy a guided experience at Wildlife Wonders – a social enterprise operated by the Conservation Ecology Centre working to develop and deliver solutions to the most urgent conservation challenges in the Otways region. Learn the secrets of the bush from your conservationist guide and spot local wildlife like koalas and wallabies and, if you’re lucky, a potoroo or bandicoot. Wildlife Wonders invests 100 per cent of profits into vital research and conservation projects to save local threatened species. After your visit, continue to your accommodation in the laidback Apollo Bay, where you’ll have free time for the rest of the day.

Today, you’ll discover why this stretch of road is known as Australia’s finest road trip. Travel from Apollo Bay to Warrnambool, taking time to stop and enjoy the Great Ocean Road’s well-loved scenery. There are plenty of lookouts and beach walks (if the weather permits) to break up the drive today, where you can get up close to the cliff views and breathe in the fresh ocean air. However, the highlight of today’s drive is the 12 Apostles. Created by the constant erosion from ocean swells and swirling winds that began approximately 10 to 20 million years ago, these rock stacks rise up to 45 m from the ocean. Spot the remaining seven apostles that are left standing before you continue to your hotel in Warrnambool.

Buckle up for another day on the great open road as you set your sights for Budj Bim – the only UNESCO World Heritage site in Victoria outside the Royal Exhibition Building. Within Gunditjmara Country, Budj Bim is both culturally and geologically significant. Learn about its history, bushland and wildlife on a landscape walking tour led by a Gunditjmara cultural guide. You’ll also hear about the local Creation Story and how the Gunditjmara people are considered to have made Australia’s earliest and largest aquaculture venture. After your guided walk, enjoy a grazing board at the Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre & Café for lunch, where you can try all-Australian ingredients like grilled kooyang (eel), grilled macadamia nuts, pickled vegetables, kangaroo, emu and other local bush foods. With a belly full of bush tucker, hit the road to Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park, where you’ll have the rest of the evening free to explore.

Be sure to fuel up at breakfast today for a full day of exploring Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park. You can expect to see waterfalls, sandstone ridges, mountains and ancient rock art sites on your walks today. Traditionally known as Gariwerd, this region is home to the largest number of rock art paintings and shelters in Southern Australia. Today’s walks will feature these sites and likely introduce you to local wildlife like kangaroos, wallabies, emus and native birds. With a number of walking trails to choose from, your leader will pick the best, considering weather, track conditions and group ability. This evening, kick your feet up and relax after a full day of walking.

Enjoy breakfast with your fellow travellers before a short drive to Stawell. Here, you’ll visit Bunjil’s Cave – a significant cultural site in Australia and one of the most prominent rock art sites in southern Victoria. In local First Nations culture, Bunjil was the main Dreaming Being of south-eastern Australia. It’s believed that he produced the natural features of the landscapes, from the rolling mountains to the peaceful open ranges. He also gave each tribe their country and created the laws, customs and rights. Then continue the drive to Adelaide, making a stop along the way at a winery where you’ll sample some local varietals. Arrive in Adelaide, or Tandanya in the language of The Kaurna people, who are the traditional owners of the land on which Adelaide is now located, in the late afternoon and check into your hotel for the night. Enjoy a free night before the next leg of your journey starts tomorrow.

As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group will likely change at this location. This stage of your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at your hotel in Adelaide at 9 am where you’ll link up with your local leader and the other travellers joining you on this part of your adventure. Find out what’s in store over the coming days, then board your transfer bound for Cape Jervis (approximately 2 hours), from where you’ll jump aboard a ferry and travel to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island (approximately 45 minutes). Be sure to keep an eye out for dolphins swimming alongside the ferry! From the ferry landing, it's a short walk to your hotel. Drop your luggage, then perhaps get to know your group over lunch on the island. In the afternoon, get your first taste of the island’s unique nature by joining your leader and heading out onto the Kangaroo Island Sculpture Trail, positioned in the dunes overlooking Hog’s Bay. Keep an eye out for wildlife! This evening you'll visit the Penneshaw Penguin Centre for an evening walk to search for the world’s smallest variety of penguins.

Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third-largest island and a paradise for wildlife lovers. It’s not just kangaroos you can find here – wallabies, sea lions, echidnas and sheep live here too! This morning, travel to Dudley Peninsula, where you’ll visit a local farm, see how sheep are shorn and meet the owner’s super sweet kelpie dogs. Then, stop by the Cape Willoughby Lighthouse – the oldest lighthouse in South Australia. After, visit a family-owned eucalyptus oil refinery and a honey farm, before heading to the Kangaroo Island Gallery – a community gallery specifically for the promotion, encouragement and exposure of local artists and craftspeople. Tonight, if there’s time maybe visit a local winery and enjoy a glass of shiraz or chardonnay before heading to Kingscote for the night.

After breakfast, swing by Salt Lagoon to snap some pictures of this scenic spot, then continue towards Emu Bay Beach. Spend some time exploring the white sand, then beach hop over to the secluded Stokes Bay – a gorgeous spot for a swim and voted Australia's most beautiful beach in 2023. Explore the Stokes Bay region, which is still recovering from the early 2022 bushfires which damaged much of the island. After an afternoon on the beach, you’ll return to Kingscote and enjoy an evening at leisure.

Start the day with a visit to Seal Bay. There are no actual seals here, but there are plenty of sea lions! The sea lion colony you see today has existed at Seal Bay for thousands of years. Join an up close and personal ranger-led wildlife experience which will allow you to observe the lives of these endearing creatures as you watch them swim, play and bask in the sun. Next up is something really special – head to Vivonne Bay, which is not only one of the most stunning beaches on Kangaroo Island but the whole of Australia. Venture into the Flinders Chase National Park and come face to face with the aptly named Remarkable Rocks, made up of naturally sculpted granite boulders. You’ll also check out the impressive Admirals Arch and take some time to explore the park before heading back to Kingscote.

Start the day by heading to American River, where you’ll find a schooner boat first built in 1803 called 'Independence'. Learn about the boat’s history and see how it’s being rebuilt, then take a scenic walk through coastal scrub towards the remains of an old fish cannery – keep an eye out for the rare and striking glossy-black cockatoos along the way. Get ready to say goodbye to Kangaroo Island as you make the drive back to Penneshaw and catch the ferry back to the mainland. Dock in Cape Jervis for your trip back to Adelaide, where your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to stay in Adelaide longer, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.