Wine to Wildlife Australia Vacation Package

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1
Welcome to Australia! You will land in Melbourne and have your local driver drop you at your hotel. Melbourne, is a vibrant, multicultural city known for its bustling arts scene, diverse food culture, and beautiful blend of historic and modern architecture. Often called the coffee capital of Australia, Melbourne also boasts stunning parks, a lively waterfront, and close proximity to natural attractions like the Great Ocean Road. The balance of the day is yours to explore the city.
The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins

Day 2
Today you are off on your Melbourne city tour. This is an exploration of the city’s vibrant neighborhoods, showcasing the best of local culture, street art, and hidden gems. Along the way, you will a delicious café lunch, offering a taste of Melbourne’s renowned food scene while discovering the unique charm of its diverse districts. The rest of the day you can explore places like Federation Square and Rod Laver Arena.
The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins

Day 3
It is time for some wine tasting. You will sample world-class wines amidst picturesque vineyards and rolling hills. Renowned for its cool climate, the region is famous for its elegant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, providing a perfect setting for wine enthusiasts to indulge in tastings at boutique wineries and enjoy the breathtaking scenery.
The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins

Day 4
In the morning, you will pick up your rental car and start your journey to the Mornington Peninsula. Along the way stop at Moonlit Sanctuary for the Wombat Experience, a unique opportunity to get up close with these charming marsupials, learn about their behaviors and even get a chance to pet or feed them in a natural, relaxed setting. Then continue to your hotel for the next two nights.
Intercontinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula

Day 5
Be met at your hotel by your expert host. Sit back and get to know your host in a luxury touring vehicle with water and a selection of Victorian treats. Discover stand-up paddleboarding on the Mornington Peninsula with options for 1.5-2 hour ocean or lake excursions. Paddle through a stunning, serene lake surrounded by bushland, where you might spot kangaroos, white-bellied eagles, and turtles just beneath the surface. Alternatively, head to a hidden gem beach location along the coastline, where you could encounter marine life like dolphins and rays as you explore the beautiful waters.  After your thrilling SUP adventure, it’s time to recharge with a delicious lunch. The region is renowned for farm-to-plate experiences at restaurants and cellar doors. Enjoy a casual lunch or something more elegant among rolling hills and sprawling vineyards. The Mornington Peninsula has some classic local sparkling to get the afternoon wine tasting underway. Tastings can be enjoyed at a number of local cellar doors, with the opportunity to venture behind the scenes with the winemaker. Make your way to Alba to relax in the warm waters and naturally occurring minerals of the geothermal springs, which include a rain pool, botanical pools, forest pools, and cold plunge pools. Explore both secluded and social pools, including Eve, their sunset pool, all set against the stunning backdrop of the coastal Moonah woodland.
Intercontinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula

Day 6
Today you will drive to Sorrento ferry terminal and ferry to Queenscliff, where you will meet the Great Ocean. You will explore this iconic road for the day. Be sure to stop in places like Lorne and Great Otway. This is an unforgettable adventure, with stunning coastal views, dramatic cliffs, and iconic landmarks like the Twelve Apostles, all while winding through picturesque seaside towns and lush rainforests. You will end in Port Campbell for the night.
Southern Ocean Villas

Day 7
This is the day you get to see the Twelve Apostles from the air. Take a thrilling helicopter ride over the beautiful landscapes. You will also have an opportunity to explore the other rock formations in the area like: London Bridge, the Arch and the Grotto. You will end your day at Mount Gambier, known for its striking volcanic landscape, including the beautiful Blue Lake and the unique limestone caves.
Delgattie Estate

Day 8
Today is your Coonawarra Experience. This is an unforgettable day of exploration, combining world-class wine tasting, stunning natural landmarks, and wildlife encounters. You will journey through the famous Coonawarra wine region, savoring premium Cabernet Sauvignon wines at renowned cellar doors, then head to the region’s remarkable caves for a guided tour of its unique limestone formations. The tour also includes a chance to observe kangaroos and other native wildlife in their natural habitat, making it the perfect blend of adventure, nature, and fine wine.
Delgattie Estate

Day 9
From Mount Gambier, you will travel across to Adelaide, coastal capital, is renowned for its lively festivals, exceptional wine regions, and rich cultural scene, offering a perfect blend of urban sophistication and natural beauty. Enjoy dinner at one of the popular Chinese restaurants in the city.
Majestic Roof Garden Hotel

Day 10
You are off to wine taste again, this time in the Adelaide Hills. The area has picturesque vineyards and boutique wineries where you can sample a diverse range of cool-climate wines, including the region’s renowned Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. With its scenic landscapes and expert guidance, the tour offers a relaxing and immersive experience, perfect for wine enthusiasts looking to explore one of Australia’s premier wine regions.
Majestic Roof Garden Hotel

Day 11
From Adelaide, you will take a 40-minute flight to Kangaroo Island. The island is unique for its pristine landscapes, diverse wildlife, and untouched natural beauty, offering visitors the chance to see native animals like kangaroos, koalas, and sea lions in their natural habitats, all set against dramatic coastlines and lush bushland. Sea Dragon Kangaroo Island offers a range of activities, including guided wildlife tours, kayaking, and eco-friendly hikes, allowing you to immerse yourself in the island’s stunning natural beauty. The resort provides a luxurious, sustainable retreat with modern accommodations, perfect for relaxing and enjoying breathtaking views of the coastline and diverse wildlife.
Sea Dragon Kangaroo Island

Days 12-13
These days you will spend doing activities with the lodge including a Full Day Nature Tour to Flinders Chase and Seal Bay with lunch in a private converted sheep shearing shed and a selection of optional included on-site seasonal activities and experiences like gin tasting and cocktail making experience, Ligurian honey experience, visit to a sheep farm with Kelpie dog and sheep shearing demonstration, guided walks to Cape Willoughby Lighthouse, beach yoga, bird-watching tours, Antechamber Bay and beach walk, wildlife walks, star talks.
Sea Dragon Kangaroo Island

Day 14
Today, you ferry back to Adelaide and pick up your city tour. You will start with a drive along a wild beach. This is a must do experience in McLaren Vale, driving down Silver Sands beach in one of our Land Rover’s to see majestic coastline and spectacular biodiversity. For lunch you will visit Salopian Inn in McLaren Vale. This is one of Australia’s Top 100 restaurants as voted by both the Australian Financial Review and Tasting Australia. This is a stunning old homestead in the heart of the McLaren Vale Vineyards. After lunch you will drive into the Adelaide Hills to take The Private Koala Encounter Experience at Cleland Wildlife Park. This is a great way to spend one-on-one time with a koala, in a private session with a koala keeper, where you learn about the lifestyle and habitat of this famous Australian marsupial. This special experience allows you to meet and pat a koala close up (without holding). Your guide will then take you on a park tour with the opportunity to feed kangaroos, wallabies and emus. To finish the day, you drive through the historic charm of Adelaide Oval, Riverbank precinct and North Adelaide. This is one of the most beautiful and historic areas of Adelaide with its Victorian era architecture, stunning new stadium and beautiful parklands. Learn the early history of Adelaide and see the unique nature of its city planning. Visit some of the city’s most famous monuments and see the early Victorian architecture that is a feature of this area, plus walk one of Adelaide’s most historic streets to see the colony’s first housing and learn the stories of the settlers who helped build South Australia.  You will end at the airport and fly to Sydney.
The Grace Hotel

Day 15
You are off to visit Hunter Valley. This tour is an exclusive, personalized journey through one of Australia’s most renowned wine regions, with private access to premium wineries and expert sommeliers. You will enjoy a luxurious day of wine tasting, gourmet food pairings, and behind-the-scenes tours, all while experiencing the stunning vineyards and scenic beauty of the Hunter Valley in ultimate comfort. Return to Sydney in the evening for a lovely dinner in the city.
The Grace Hotel

Day 16
Your long lunch experience will begin with a welcome from your crew as you board our luxury cruiser, Ocean Blue, and depart for a surreal day out on Sydney Harbour. Soft drinks, sparkling wine, beer, still wine, tea, and coffee will be available from the moment you step on board. As we cruise past the world-famous landmarks including the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House your crew will be on hand to tell you about the past and modern-day history of the harbour. As a part of our lunch cruise in Sydney, you will see Woolloomoolloo Bay, the home of the Australian Navy’s Sydney Base Garden Island, then venture further down the harbour cruising past Double Bay and Point Piper which are the locations of the most expensive homes in Sydney. You then cruise past Clarke and Shark Islands which are two national parks in the middle of the harbour, with Rose Bay on your right. Shortly after you will pass by Vaucluse for your entrée and make the first stop at the renowned Doyles on the Beach at Watsons Bay. Disembark the boat and head down the wharf to the restaurant where you will have a choice of entrees and a selection of beverages to choose from. After you have finished your delicious entree, your crew will welcome you back on board. We will then cruise past the opening of Sydney Heads with Manly off to our right and then go around Middle Head to enter Middle Harbour. Then, we will stop at the Balmoral Jetty where you will disembark again for your main course at the Balmoral Public Dining Room. Here you will choose your main course from the menu and have a selection of beverages to choose from to accompany. After you have finished dining the boat will then head up to Spit Bridge and beyond to see some amazing landscapes and homes perched on the cliffs of Sydney’s upper-class North Shore district. Whilst onboard one of the best lunch cruises in Sydney Harbour, you will be able to enjoy delicious desserts and our cheese platter. Your return will be back through Middle Harbour and then we will re-enter the main harbour where you will see the Northern shores of Sydney Harbour. Cruise past Taronga Zoo and the prime minister’s house. This cruise is the long lunch and really does show you all the beauty of Sydney Harbour in one afternoon.
The Grace Hotel

Day 17
After a transfer to the airport, you will board your flight back to the US.