Itinerary - Kangaroo Island via The Great Ocean Road

24 Feb to 05 March 2023 – Fully Guided, All Transport, All-Inclusive, All Abilities

TRAVELWISE can organise your flights from any state to join this tour.

Day 01

06.15am – Depart Club Taree

06.40am – Depart Tallwoods

06.55am – Depart Tuncurry Beach St Bus Shelter

07.05am – Depart Club Forster

07.15am – Depart Golden Ponds

07.40am – Depart Boomerang Beach

08.30am – Arrive Bulahdelah (morning tea provided)

09.00am – Depart Bulahdelah

10.45am – Arrive Twin Servos M1 (comfort stop)

11.00pm – Depart Twin Servos

01.00pm – Arrive Campbelltown Sizzler (buffet lunch provided)                     

02.00pm – Depart Sizzler

03.00pm – Arrive Dirty Janes Antique Centre, Bowral

13-15 Banyette St, Bowral Ph 4861 3231

Dirty Janes is a true Australian family business. Run by the dynamic Father Daughter duo Athol Salter and Jane Crowley. Covering over 1600 square meters of undercover space, making us the largest indoor market in the Southern Highlands.

(optional)

03.00pm – Bradman International Cricket Hall of Fame

St Jude Street, Bowral Ph 4862 1247

The Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame is the definitive world cricket experience. Live footage from around the world, touch screen interactives, fascinating memorabilia and absorbing stories of cricket greats. The Hall of Fame is set in the beautiful surrounds of Bradman Oval, and includes the Bradman Café and gift store.

04.30pm – Depart Bowral

05.30pm – Arrive Mercure Goulburn                             

(2 Lockyer St, Goulburn – Ph 4822 5445)

07.00pm – Dinner Provided

Day 02

from 06.30am – Breakfast Buffet Provided

09.00am – Depart Mercure Goulburn

09.30am – Arrive Pelican Sheep Station (tour and lunch provided)

Phillip H 4821 4668 M 0407 454 845 - 4844 Braidwood Rd, Tirrannaville NSW 2580 (on left - stop at sheering shed)

Pelican Sheep Station is farmed by Philip Sykes with the assistance of his daughter Kimberley. Pelican Sheep Station is a mixed enterprise of wool, prime lambs, beef, oats, wheat, canola and barley. Here at Pelican Sheep Station, we have up to 5000 sheep—50% producing soft Merino Wool and 50% crossbred for prime lambs. Additionally, 50 head of Angus cattle for the production of top-quality beef. Our 27 paddocks and dams are supplemented by one bore and solar pump. Crops are grown for dual purpose (for stock to graze and harvest).

12.00pm – Depart Pelican Sheep Station

03.00pm – Arrive Holbrook Submarine Museum Visitor Centre & Cafe

Look through the periscope for your car, fire a torpedo, see the amazing hologram or captain a submarine. Ever wondered why there is a life-sized submarine in the middle of rural NSW?

Take a stroll through the Holbrook Submarine Museum and find out how the HMAS Otway's final resting spot came to be in Holbrook. Learn all about the brave young Submariner whose exploits during the First World War earned him the honour of having a town named after him.

The Museum houses an amazing display of photos and submarine memorabilia including authentic submarine escape suits, a torpedo and even a genuine Jolly Roger flag. Watch the hologram show to learn how the submarine came to reside in Holbrook.

04.00pm – Depart Holbrook

05.30pm – Arrive Quality Hotel Wangaratta

(29-37 Ryley St, Wangaratta – Ph 03 5721 8399)

07.00pm – Dinner Provided

Day 03

from 07.00am – Buffet Breakfast Provided

08.30am – Depart Quality Hotel Wangaratta

10.00am – Arrive Caltex Service Centre Tallarook (comfort stop)

10.30am – Depart Tallarook

01.00pm – Arrive Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery (tasting, lunch & tour provided)

We’re the sweetest destination on the Surf Coast! Join us at the start of the Great Ocean Road, just 20 minutes from Geelong to discover a wonderland for chocolate lovers of all ages. There’re free tastings as you watch our European Chocolatiers handcraft our chocolates; marvel at our spectacular showroom choc-filled with hundreds of different couverture chocolate creations; enjoy amazing pastries, fondues and our very own house made artisan ice creams. Our all-day Cafe serves delicious savoury items with ingredients from our own kitchen garden to go with a decadent array of desserts, hot chocolates and classic milk shakes. When tastings are done, explore our magnificent landscaped grounds and gardens.

03.00pm – Depart Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery

04.00pm – Arrive Mantra Lorne VIC                                           

(Mountjoy parade, Lorne VIC)

The only beachfront property in Lorne, Mantra Lorne offers wonderful accommodation in one of Australia's most sought after destinations, the Great Ocean Road. Built around the oldest guesthouse in Victoria, Mantra Lorne is now a part of the rich history of Lorne and the surrounding region.

06.00pm – Dinner Provided

Day 04

from 07.00am – Breakfast Buffet Provided

08.30am – Depart Mantra Lorne

11.00am – Arrive Twelve Apostles (lunch provided)

Witness the rugged splendour of the famous 12 Apostles, magnificent rock stacks that rise up majestically from the Southern Ocean on Victoria's dramatic coastline.

01.30pm – Depart Twelve Apostles

01.45pm – Arrive Loch Ard Gorge Lookout

The picturesque gorge is home to a smooth, pearlescent bay and an inlet of clear, blue water. It’s flanked by two yellow-washed cliff faces and tufts of vibrant greenery. Though it looks like something out of a storybook, Loch Ard isn’t just a pretty face. In fact, it has an interesting and colourful history that spans back hundreds of years.

02.15pm – Depart Loch Ard Gorge

02.45pm – Arrive London Bridge

Formed by the gradual erosion of the shoreline’s soft limestone due to the extreme weather conditions of the Southern Ocean, the collapse of the impressive rock formation was also a natural process. Today, London Arch has become a popular tourist attraction. When it fell down in 1990, two tourists were stranded on the outer span of the bridge until police helicopter came to a rescue. Thankfully, no one was injured during the incident.

03.15pm – Depart London Bridge

04.45pm – Arrive Olde Maritime Motor Inn, Warrnambool VIC                   

(110 Merri St, Warrnambool – Ph 03 5561 1415)

(optional)

05.30pm – Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum Light and Sound Show

(Jill and Jan – 03 5559 4607, show starts at 6pm)

Here lie the stories of hundreds of ships, their crewmen and passengers whose lives were claimed by the Shipwrecked Coast in the 19th Century. Stories passed on by the lucky few who survived the journey to start a new life in a foreign land, vowing never to set foot on a ship again. Without the modern day comforts we take for granted today, their lives were challenging and tough as they relied on the ocean for resources and communication. Flagstaff Hill is a place to remember and experience the stories of these early battlers who laid the foundations for life as we know it today. Don’t just learn about history – experience it in our Living Museum and Spectacular Sound and Light Shows.

07.30pm – Dinner Provided

Day 05

from 07.30am – Buffet Breakfast Provided

08.30am – Depart Olde Maritime Motor Inn, Warrnambool

11.15am – Arrive Wynns Coonawarra Estate (tasting, tour & lunch provided)

(77 Memorial Dr, Coonawarra – Ph 08 8736 2225

Since the first vineyards were planted by visionary Scottish pioneer John Ridoch in 1891, Wynns Coonawarra Estate has built a reputation as the Coonawarra region’s pre-eminent wine producer.

With the longest-established vineyards in the region, Wynns’ history is deeply intertwined with Coonawarra. Over the past two decades, our vineyards have been meticulously rejuvenated, resulting in wines which capture the true essence of the region.

02.00pm – Depart Wynns Coonawarra Estate

02.15pm – Arrive Petticoat Lane and Penola Coonawarra Visitor Centre.

Listed as one of South Australia’s State Heritage Sites, Petticoat Lane in Penola attracts tourists from all over the world all year round. This Lane is among the oldest streets, and as such, visitors should expect an adventurous experience with an insight into the history of Penola.

One of the things that pique the interest of first-time visitors to this place is the interesting name. History has it that at one time, there used to be so many petticoats hung along the lane that it was only appropriate to call the street Petticoat Lane.

The Gammon Cottage is also an attraction for those visiting this part of Penola. The cottage is a lavender products outlet with a fantasy theme to it, ensuring that it is not just the fragrance which draws visitors to Gammon. Wilson’s Cottage is home to a linen and lace store. From the enterprise at this cottage, visitors can also get unique glassware with Portuguese heritage.

A visit to this historic lane would be incomplete without popping by the  Mary Mackillop Interpretive Centre. The centre was opened in 1998 to teach visitors keen on learning about the history of the town as well as the role played by the Catholic Church in Penola.

04.30pm – Depart Petticoat Lane

04.45pm – Arrive Coonawarra Units

(Coonawarra Units, 15014 Riddoch Hwy, Coonawarra SA 5263)

06.30pm – Dinner Provided

Day 06

  from 07.00am – Breakfast Buffet Provided

08.00am – Depart Coonawarra Units

10.00am – Arrive Tintinara (morning tea provided)

10.30am – Depart Tintinara

11.45pm – Arrive Cosi’s Rhino, Tailem Bend (lunch on the Murray River provided)

12.45pm – Depart Tailem Bend

03.00pm – Arrive Cape Jervis (04.00pm Sealink Ferry Crossing)           

06.00pm – Arrive Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge                                           

07.00pm – Dinner Provided

Day 07

from 07.00am – Buffet Breakfast Provided

08.30am – Depart Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge

09.30am – Arrive Seal Bay                                                     

The stunning views of the Australian sea lion colony and the neighbouring coastline are what make Seal Bay an essential experience for visitors to the island. One of only two places in the world where you can stroll with your guide through a wild seal colony, Seal Bay is home to around 1000 of the rare Australian Sea Lions.

11.00pm – Depart Seal Bay

11.15pm – Arrive Raptor Domain – Bird of Prey Show (lunch provided)                 

An amazing and inspiring experience where the birds are flown to display their individual flight and hunting characteristics. The display involves various birds representative of those found on the Island including; Wedge Tailed Eagles, Osprey, Sea Eagle, Australian Kestrel, Australian Hobby, Tawny Frogmouth and Barn Owls.

12.30pm – Depart Raptor Domain

01.00pm – Arrive Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery                               

Emu Ridge is the only commercial distillery still in operation in South Australia. The technology of this operation may surprise you – the rustic outlook hides some clever bush engineering and processes which are simple yet effective. Enjoy a 2 course BBQ lunch and then the tour takes you through stages of distillation and concludes with an outline of just what might be possible in pursuing the development of other products from the Island's natural assets. An extensive range of unique Kangaroo Island souvenirs and eucalyptus oil products are available.

03.00pm – Depart Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery

03.15pm – Arrive Clifford’s Honey Farm                                             

Kangaroo Island is the only place in the world where a pure strain of the Ligurian bee exists, and at Clifford’s Honey Farm discover this successful local industry. Visit the honey room and see the bees in a glass hive, learn about the extraction process and taste the many different honey flavours produced at the farm.

04.30pm – Depart Clifford’s Honey Farm

05.00pm – Arrive Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge

06.30pm – Dinner Provided

Day 08

from 07.00am – Buffet Breakfast

08.30am – Depart Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge

10.15am – Arrive Remarkable Rocks, Flinders Chase National Park (morning tea provided)

Travel through the park, enjoying breathtaking views of Yacca Flat and coastal scenery on your way to the spectacular Remarkable Rocks. Take a walk around these huge rocks, which have been carved into many different weird and wonderful shapes by the wind and the ocean spray over many centuries.

11.15am – Depart Remarkable Rocks

11.30am – Arrive Admirals Arch

Drive past the ruins of an early settlement at Weirs Cove before going on to the Cape du Couedic Lighthouse built in 1906, and the natural land bridge that is “Admirals Arch”. Look out for the New Zealand Fur Seals frolicking in the water and on the rocks under the arch.

12.30pm – Depart Admirals Arch

01.00pm – Arrive The Chase Café, Flinders Chase Visitor Centre (lunch provided)

(442 Cape Du Couedic Rd, Flinders Chase SA 5223)

02.00pm – Depart Visitor Centre

03.15pm – Arrive Kangaroo Island Spirits

(856 Playford Hwy, Cygnet River)

Specialising in handcrafted premium Australian Spirits, Kangaroo Island Spirits (KIS) is South Australia’s only boutique distillery. Their high-quality products are clean, additive and preservative free and made using Native Australian Botanicals and locally grown or sourced ingredients. Although their vodka and liqueurs are exceptional, it is their KIS Wild Gin, made from native Juniper berries, that is an international multi-award winner.

04.15pm – Depart Kangaroo Island Spirits

04.45pm – Arrive Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge

06.30pm – Dinner Provided

Day 09

from 07.00am – Breakfast Buffet Provided

09.30am – Depart Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge

10.00am – Arrive Penneshaw Sealink Terminal (Crossing 10.30am)                         

02.00pm – Arrive Ibis Adelaide (lunch and dinner leisure)

(122 Grenfell St, Adelaide – Ph 08 8159 5588)

Day 10

from 06.30am – Breakfast Buffet Provided

07.30am – Depart Ibis Adelaide

08.00am – Arrive Adelaide Airport (09.00am Qantas Flights to Sydney and other States)

Note: Guests are welcome to return home on the coach with Steve via the Mallee Hwy (Ouyen, Hay, Wagga) instead of the quick flight. Extra cost  would be accommodation and food only, staying overnight in Hay and Parkroyal Parramatta.

11.20am – Arrive Sydney Airport Domestic

11.45am – Depart Sydney Airport (Port Stephens Coaches)               

 01.45pm – Arrive Twin Servos M1 (lunch at own leisure and cost)

02.15pm – Depart Twin Servos

04.30pm – Arrive Nabiac (Taree change to coach 2)

05.00pm – Arrive Club Taree (coach 2)

04.50pm – Arrive Tallwoods (coach 1)

05.10pm – Arrive Tuncurry (coach 1)

05.10pm – Arrive Club Forster (coach 1)

05.20pm – Arrive Golden Ponds (coach 1)

05.40pm – Arrive Boomerang Beach (coach 1)