8D MELBOURNE TO ADELAIDE via The Great Ocean Road

Suggested Itinerary

PACKAGE INCLUSIONS: ü 1N accommodation in Apollo Bay ü 1N accommodation in Warnambool ü 1N accommodation in Mt Gambier ü 1N accommodation in Naracoorte ü 1N accommodation in Robe ü 1N accommodation in Victor Harbor ü 1N accommodation in Adelaide ü Otway fly tree-top walk at the Great Ocean Road ü 8 Days Hertz Standard/Intermediate Car Hire

DAY 01 MELBOURNE TO APOLLO BAY DISTANCE: 187KM, APPROX. TRAVEL TIME: 2.5HR Depart Melbourne via the West Gate Bridge and follow the Princess Highway towards Werribee. Visit the Werribee Open Range Zoo where animals from Africa, Asia, North America and Australia roam in open grasslands. Continue to Geelong, Victoria's second-largest city, and explore its historic waterfront; a lively

area filled with restaurants and cafés. The Geelong waterfront with its colourful bollards and yachts is a sight to behold. Call into the Bellarine Peninsula and get to the wild heart of Port Phillip Bay with a South Bay Eco Adventures tour into the habitat of dolphins, seals, whales, penguins and sea birds. From here, a short drive to Torquay - the official start of the spectacular coastal drive along the Great Ocean Road. The Surf World Museum at Torquay documents surfing history in the region and provides interpretative displays. Along with Bells Beach, Torquay is recognised among the world's premier surf locations. Time permitting, you can learn to surf with the experts. Continue on through the townships of Anglesea and Aireys Inlet to Lorne, a resort-style town combining restaurants and shops with historic properties and natural attractions such as the Angahook-Lorne State Park. Approaching Apollo Bay, the contrast between rugged coast and inland forest becomes more

spectacular. The stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is considered by many to be the most picturesque section of the Great Ocean Road. The highway is carved into sheer cliffs that drop away into the ocean, offering commanding views of the waves swelling and crashing onto the rocks and beaches below. This small fishing and farming village is also an excellent base for exploring the waterfalls and rainforests in the Otway National Park whilst enjoying the fresh seafood and local produce. Not to be missed is dinner at award-wining Chris Restaurant, which overlooks Apollo Bay. Overnight: Apollo Bay DAY 02 APOLLO BAY TO WARRNAMBOOL DISTANCE: 169KM, APPROX. TRAVEL TIME: 2.5HR Continue your journey west from Apollo Bay and walk through breathtaking wilderness, explore secluded beaches or the forest canopy via the Otway Fly Tree Top Walk in the Otway National Park. Thereafter, drive to Port Campbell National Park to witness nature's marvellous rock formations.

This is the most famous section of the Great Ocean Road featuring an amazing collection of rock formations known as the Twelve Apostles - carved out of the headland by the fierce waves of the southern ocean. Spectacular shapes in the nearby cliffs, including Loch Ard Gorge, the Arch, the Blowhole and London Bridge as well as Wreck Beach are also not to be missed. Adventurous sightseers can take the boardwalks that lead to lookouts and great views of the coastline, which is dotted with plaques and signs that mark the places where more than 160 ships floundered along the aptly named Shipwreck Coast. An exhilarating helicopter experience over the coastline and rock formations will mark an unforgettable experience! This leg of the journey ends at Warrnambool, the only city on the Shipwreck Coast. Set on the edge of Lady Bay, Warrnambool boasts a colourful history, which can be explored at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum. Whales migrate along the part of the coastline and can be spotted from lookouts and on boat trips between May and October. The nightly "Shipwrecked" sound and light show is a definite highlight! Overnight: Warrnambool DAY 03 WARRNAMBOOL TO MT GAMBIER DISTANCE: 182KM, APPROX. TRAVEL TIME: 2HR Continue your drive to Mt Gambier - South Australia’s second largest city this morning. See the Blue Lake, which mysteriously changes to an intense deep turquoise blue in early November. The colouring remains until late February. You may want to join the guided Aquifer Tour, which takes visitors in a glass panelled lift down the original dolomite well shaft, from which water was originally extracted. Explore Umpherston Sinkhole, once a cave formed through dissolution of the limestone, this sinkhole was created when the top of the chamber fell to the floor of the cave, creating the perfect environment for its "sunken garden". From dusk each evening, the area comes alive with possums as they venture into the floodlit gardens to feed. A large undercover shelter with group seating and free BBQ is provided. The entire Mount Gambier region is riddled with caves and the Englebrecht Cave are right in the heart of the city. It's an interesting experience to descend into the caves and realise that you're actually underneath a fairly major highway! Overnight: Mt Gambier DAY 04 WARRNAMBOOL TO NARACOORTE via the Woakwine Range Wind Farm Tourist Drive DISTANCE: 182KM, APPROX. TRAVEL TIME: 2HR Drive along Highway B1 to and turn left into Poonada Ro ad. Along the way you will pass Lake Bonney - South Australia's largest fresh water lake, and continue onwards to the Woakwine Range Wind Farm Tourist Drive. The dozens of giant turbines, which dominate the Woakwine Range skyline, comprise the largest wind farm development in the Southern Hemisphere. When fully operational, the 123 spectacular turbines at Canunda and Lake Bonney wind farm development will generate almost 300 megawatts which represents the equivalent of one eighth of South Australia's energy needs. Make a stop for a mouth-watering experience; try the world's best Wagyu Beef from Limestone Coast at Mayura Station. After lunch, continue via Millicent onto Mount Burr Road towards Penola. Turn left into Highway A66 to the famous Coonawarra wine region, where its rich terrarosa soil is responsible for great red wines. More than 20 cellar doors can be found along Riddoch Highway, which cuts right up the middle of the thin strip of Coonawarra. Sample some of Australia's best cabernets in the dozen or so cellar doors here, all set among beautifully maintained landscapes. Arriving at the UNESCO Heritage Naracoorte Caves, we suggest to join a guided tour to explore the impressive You will marvel at the interconnecting chambers and galleries of impressive live decorations as they weave and turn through limestone hills, in what is one Australia’s ‘ World Heritage ’ listed Conservation Parks. You can view the delicate wonders of calcite, or explore a 350,000 year old fossil bed of amazing diversity. You can even try adventure caving here. Continue to the town of Naracoorte for your overnight stay. Overnight: Naracoorte

Day 05 NARACOORTE TO ROBE via Pool of Siloam DISTANCE: 168KM, APPROX. TRAVEL TIME: 2HR the coast down to Beachport, known to have the longest jetty in Australia. Drive along the Bowman Scenic Drive and take in the spectacular views of the rugged coastline. You may want to put on your swim wear and take a dip in the Salt Lake - Pool of Siloam, which has a salt concentration seven times greater than the sea. Continue to Robe, a popular seaside town known for its crayfish. Enjoy the seafood and crayfish at a restaurant by the beach. Visit Cape Dombey and take a photo of the famous obelisk. This is used to navigate the entrance to Guichen Bay and to store rocket lifesaving equipment. If time permits, for those sun lovers, you may want to take a swim in the pristine waters of Guichen Bay. Overnight: Robe DAY 06 ROBE TO VICTOR HARBOR DISTANCE: 336KM, APPROX. TRAVEL TIME: 4HR From Robe, drive north and you will reach the town of Kingston SE, home of the 18.2m high Big Lobster “Larry”. Dine on fresh seafood and visit the historic Cape Jaffa lighthouse. Canoe or kayak along the shallow, salty lagoons of The Coorong, past a rich diversity of wetland birds. Learn about the area’s Aboriginal culture with a local Ngarrindjeri guide. Cross the Murray River at Wellington and head through Strathalbyn to the Langhorne Creek wine region and the historic river port of Goolwa. Surf, fly kites and spot southern right whales between June and September in Middleton. Swim in Horseshoe Bay and surf from Boomer Beach in Port Elliot, before driving into Victor Harbor. Overnight: Victor Harbor DAY 07 VICTOR HARBOR TO ADELAIDE DISTANCE: 100KM, APPROX. TRAVEL TIME: 1HR 30MINS Discover the attractions of the Fleurieu Peninsula on your drive into Adelaide. Take a horse-drawn tram to Granite Island to see little penguins or watch for migrating whales between June and October in Encounter Bay. Do the cliff-top walk to Port Elliot, then explore the streets on the Encounter Bikeway. Drive along the Gulf St Vincent coast, stopping to swim at Sellicks and Aldinga beaches. Then travel through the rolling green hills of Mount Compass and Yankalilla to the McLaren Vale wine region. Visit galleries and taste wine in some of the 45 cellar doors. Stock up on olives, oils, cheeses, almonds and berries from roadside stalls and orchards before driving into Adelaide. Wander Adelaide’s cultural boulevard of North Terrace, walk and bike ride through the expansive parklands and enjoy the seaside ambience of Glenelg and Henley. Overnight: Adelaide

DAY 08 DEPART ADELAIDE Free at leisure today to explore Adelaide on your own. Shop at Adelaide Central Market and Rundle Mall, take a behind-the-scenes tour at Haigh’s Chocolates Visitors Centre or swim with wild dolphins in Glenelg if time permits. Then drive to the airport and drop off your car before your flight takes off.