Program
DAY 1 – DEPARTURE FOR MELBOURNE – AUSTRALIA
Today you will leave around noon towards Melbourne, Australia where you will arrive the following day in the late afternoon, early evening. You will fly with Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, or Emirates.
DAY 2 – ARRIVAL MELBOURNE – AUSTRALIA (D)
Today you will arrive in the late afternoon or early evening in the largest city in the Australian state of Victoria, Melbourne. After arrival, you will get a private transfer from the airport to your hotel where you will stay for three nights. After check-in at your hotel, you will be expected in one of the most beautiful rooftop bars in the city overlooking the Indian Ocean. After this you are expected for dinner in a wine restaurant.
Overnight.
DAY 3 – MELBOURNE (B, L)
After breakfast, explore Melbourne followed by your first in-depth introduction to Australian wine. On this private tour you will discover the beautiful alleys and buildings that give the city of Melbourne its unique charm. One of the must-see sights is the Victoria Library with its long history. This will give you the historical and cultural base to best appreciate your journey through OZ as the Australians call their country.
Lunch will be taken in one of the oldest pubs in the city. After this you will be welcomed by the President of the Australian Sommeliers Association who will welcome you to his brand-new establishment “Le Comptoir”. Wine tasting is of course part of the experience along with some delicious snacks to enjoy.
Overnight.
DAY 4 – MELBOURNE- YARRA VALLEY- MELBOURNE (B, L)
After breakfast, today you will discover one of Australia’s best known and most beautiful wine regions, the Yarra valley. The story begins in 1838 with two Scottish brothers who planted their first vines here. You will meet two esteemed and experienced wine connoisseurs. The first was born almost literally in wine (his father was the director of Château Lafite-Rothschild) and will welcome you to his estate. A true connoisseur of Australian wines, but still maintains contact with his roots in Bordeaux.
Afterwards you will enjoy one of the many restaurants in the Yarra Valley and discover Australian cuisine with its many international influences. After lunch, one of the best wineries in this wine region opens its doors to you. You should not miss the taste of the famous “Noble One” that dethroned some of our Sauternes during international competitions. At the end of the afternoon you will meet the second wine connoisseur of the day. His approach and philosophy represent the new Australian trend. He usually takes his inspiration from the Yarra Valley, but can let you travel (with words) in many other Victorian areas.
Overnight.
DAY 5 – MELBOURNE – MORNINGTON PENINSULA – MELBOURNE (B, L)
After breakfast, today you will discover one of the most beautiful spots of the State of Victoria, the Mornington Peninsula. This peninsula is not only known for its beautiful nature, it is also one of the better wine regions in the immediate vicinity of Melbourne. At the first winery of the day, the winemaker receives you and you search for the perfect wine together. His terroir consists mainly of grape varieties such as the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. For lunch, go to a typical local bistro.
The afternoon is all about meeting the ‘queen’ of the pinot gris: this winemaker will welcome you to her estate with some good surprises in store. You finish the day with delicious local wines and a cheese plate. After this you go back to Melbourne.
Overnight.
DAY 6 – MELBOURNE – HOBART AND THE DERWENT VALLEY (B, L)
Today, after the breakfast, you will take an early domestic flight from Melbourne to Hobart on the island of Tasmania, one of the best wine regions when it comes to white wines. This is due to its much cooler climate and southern location. You will be welcomed at Hobart Airport by your guide. From Hobart Airport, enter the world of Tasmania’s wines directly with a visit to an exceptional wine estate located in the Derwent River Valley just a few miles from the capital. This wine estate has 25 hectares planted with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Tasmania’s first and only vineyard that follows the principles of biodynamic cultivation. The use of innovative techniques, including the pressing of whole bunches of grapes, produces highly sought-after wines. Lunch at an osteria among the vineyards, where you will taste the best local products from this region.
Once in Hobart, you will take a guided tour of Tasmania’s charming capital: the Salamanca and Battery Point districts will enchant you with their colonial architecture. A visit to the top of Mount Wellington (if weather conditions allow) gives you an unparalleled panorama of the city and surrounding region.
Overnight in Hobart.
DAY 7 – COAL RIVER VALLEY (B, L)
After breakfast, about twenty kilometres east of Hobart, in the shadow of the Mount Wellington massif, lies the Coal River Valley, a scenic valley dotted with old and new vineyards. Here you will visit a French winemaker who tries to make his grapes shine with a minimum of human intervention. After the tasting you will have lunch in the hotel restaurant: one of the best addresses in the region. A little further in the day, enjoy a visit to another winery with its impressive bluestone mansion. This winery has two very different terroirs. The first terroir has a sandy loam substrate, the other terroir has a vertisol on sandstone and dolerite substrate. The diversity of grape varieties is astonishing: Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot … To end the day, visit the historic village of Richmond in the heart of the valley with its beautiful colonial stone architecture and its bridge, the oldest in ‘ Australia built by convicts in 1825.
Overnight in Hobart.
DAY 8 – FREYCINET AND THE EAST COAST (B, L)
After breakfast you will visit the eastern coast of Tasmania today. This has a sunnier and much drier climate than the rest of the island. This makes this part of Tasmania another great wine region. Departing from Hobart, you head east through landscapes with beautiful white sandy beaches and azure waters. After a short drive, visit today’s first winery, a 15-acre winery founded in 1986 and known for its Pinot-Gris and Noir. The Gewürztraminer – a fairly rare grape in Tasmania – will also seduce you. Afterwards, visit a second winery a little further north where you will enjoy one of the best panoramas in Tasmania overlooking the imposing and spectacular Freycinet Peninsula. The vineyard is the oldest in the region, with the first vines planted in 1979. The winemaker will introduce you to this impressive terroir. This is followed by a seafood lunch at an oyster farm. To end the day, discover Cap Tourville lighthouse with breath-taking views of the peninsula and the ocean. Return to Hobart.
Overnight in Hobart.
DAY 9 – HOBART – MELBOURNE AIRPORT – MELBOURNE (B)
After an early breakfast at your Hobart hotel, drop off the rental car at the airport and catch a domestic flight back to Melbourne where you will have a private transfer to your hotel. Free time in Melbourne.
Overnight.
DAY 10 – MELBOURNE – GREAT OCEAN ROAD- DUNKELD (B, L)
After breakfast, collect your rental car from the Melbourne rental office and head towards Great Ocean Road. Here is the opportunity to discover the legendary road of Victoria. On the program: Bells Beach, the Mecca of Australian surfing and its neighbours, the gray kangaroos of the east. The tropical rainforest at Maits Rest and the tallest plant in the world: the eucalyptus “bergas”. A little further, on Cape Otway lighthouse road, you will meet the locals, the koalas. Of course, you will see the site of 12 apostles in all its splendour. Lunch at Apollo Bay in “la Bimba” restaurant, the best seafood restaurant directly from the local fishmonger. You spend the night in Dunkeld.
Overnight.
DAY 11 – DUNKELD – COONAWARRA- ADELAIDE (B, L)
Departure for Adelaide. Your Australian experience is not complete without a real road trip. With the passing landscapes at the window of your rental car, you will learn to appreciate the greatness of this continent. On the way to the infamous ‘red land’ of Coonawarra you will be offered a tasting in one of the classic estates of this small wine region. The secret of this winery you will visit lies in the combination of its “terra rossa” with the limestone soil, and a source of pure groundwater, but we will say no more. Lunch will be taken at a beautiful estate nearby, the region’s new gastronomic place to be.
After lunch, drive about 380 km on the “highway” towards Adelaide where you will arrive early evening. Adelaide is the city of churches, but especially the wine region with one of the oldest vines in the world. After checking into your hotel where you will be staying for two nights, you will be welcomed to one of the city’s best wine restaurants for a tasting of local products.
Overnight.
DAY 12: ADELAIDE- BAROSSA VALLEY- ADELAIDE (B, L)
After breakfast, depart for the Barossa Valley, one of the most famous wine regions of South Australia and the world. The first winery you visit today is a family business with its own terroir and tradition since 1849. After the wine tasting you will be offered lunch here.
After lunch you will visit a winery anchored between tradition and sustainable culture. The winemaker welcomes you to his estate and you are offered a wine tasting. On your return to Adelaide, hand in your rental car at the rental agency’s city office.
Overnight.
DAY 13: ADELAIDE- KANGAROO ISLAND (B, L)
After breakfast, start today a three-day discovery of Kangaroo Island by 4WD.
First day – Early in the morning you will be picked up from your hotel in Adelaide or Glenelg for a scenic trip to Cape Jervis with its scenic Fleurieu peninsula and vineyards, coastal views and rolling hills. Upon arrival, board the SeaLink Kangaroo Island and take the ferry for a 45-minute crossing to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island.
Upon arrival in Penneshaw, you will be met by your local guide and your Kangaroo Island adventure begins. Your tour begins by seeing different ecosystems and seeing animals in their natural environment. Kangaroo Island is a haven for some of the most unique Australian wildlife living in their natural environment without the threat of any introduced predators. Listen to the different sounds of the native bird life as they grist from the tall eucalyptus trees. Kangaroo Island is home to about 250 species of birds, many of which, through isolation from the mainland, have developed their own subspecies and are therefore unique to Kangaroo Island. As you travel around the island, keep an eye out for echidnas, wallabies, reptiles, and other wildflowers.
In the spectacular Seal Bay Conservation Park, your guide will accompany you on an unforgettable walk along the beach. This bay is home to a healthy Australian sea lion colony. Stroll among the sea lions while sunbathing on the beach or among the dunes after their extensive fishing expedition. With your guide, you can stand a safe distance from these beautiful endangered animals and hear them sigh and watch them play, an unforgettable experience you will keep forever.
After this, head to an exclusive bush estate for a delicious lunch of gourmet picnic style and South Australian wine. After lunch you take a pleasant bush walk or a walk along the beach. After this, travel through the interior of the island to see koalas, echidnas, and many other spectacular wildlife and birdlife.
Later in the afternoon, when the day comes to an end, you will see the kangaroos leave the safety of the bushes and start grazing on the open pastures. The first day of your tour ends at your accommodation on the island.
Overnight.
DAY 14: KANGAROO ISLAND (B, L)
Day 2 – After breakfast, travel to the western end of the island to discover Flinders Chase National Park, one of the oldest and most important national parks in South Australia. The park covers almost 20 percent of the island and much of it is a protected natural area. Get an up-close look at some of the thousands of healthy long-nosed fur seals and their colony at Cape du Couedic and discover the formation of remarkable rocks. These large granite boulders dramatically balance on the edge of the cliff, which drops 75 meters deep into the turbulent Southern Ocean. At Admirals Arch you can see where the strong forces of nature have cut the headland to create these natural geological formations. A delicious gourmet-style picnic lunch with South Australian wine is served in a secluded bush setting.
During the daytime, koalas can be observed peacefully in their treetop habitat. Thanks to a special permit, visit Kelly Hill Conservation Park to see kangaroos and other native animals. The second day of your Kangaroo Island tour ends at your accommodation.
Overnight.
DAY 15 – KANGAROO ISLAND – ADELAIDE (O)
Third Day – Early departure from Penneshaw for the return trip to Adelaide
Comments:
– Small group trips (max: 12 people)
– Reach the island and come back by ferry
– Tour will not be in English
– English: daily departure
– Luggage limited to 15 kg
– Departure: 6:45 AM (from Adelaide) and return 11:30 AM.
The rest of the day is at leisure. Adelaide is a quiet city with museums, small restaurants, the Central Market … The green parks are ideal in summer, as they allow everyone to find some shade and deal with the region’s high temperatures. Adelaide is also the starting point for excursions to various wine valleys: Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Mc Laren Vale … During this day you can freely enjoy the capital of South Australia.
Overnight.
DAY 16: DEPART FOR HOME OR EXTENSION SYDNEY (O)
Today is already the last day of this beautiful wine tour through two of Australia’s most beautiful and well-known wine regions. After breakfast, depending on your flight schedule, you first have some free time. In the early afternoon, you will have a private transfer to Adelaide Airport for your flight back home where you will arrive the next day.
Sydney extension
If you wish to extend towards Sydney:
When you want to extend your wine tour to Australia with a few more days to Sydney, you will get a private transfer from your hotel to Adelaide Airport in the morning. Then you take a domestic flight Adelaide – Sydney. On arrival in Sydney at the end of the morning or beginning of the afternoon, you will have a private transfer from Sydney Airport to your accommodation where you will stay for three nights.
In the afternoon you have plenty of time to explore Sydney yourself. We will advise you on the best places to visit.
Overnight.
DAY 17 – SYDNEY – BLUE MOUNTAINS – SYDNEY (B)
After breakfast, take a full-day trip to the Blue Mountains today with a small group and a driver-guide. The Blue Mountains are known for their beautiful scenery (waterfalls, Blue Canyon, rock formations like the Three Sisters and more). You will also take a walk through the Jurassic rainforest and enjoy a beautiful view of the entire valley and the surrounding mountains. You will have lunch in the charming village of Leura in a cozy little restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit a reserve to see some of Australia’s most iconic animal species such as kangaroos, koalas, and kookaburras. In the late afternoon, return to your hotel in Sydney. Instead of going back with the rest of the group, there is the option to take a boat to Sydney across the river. This is on your own and in this case you will not be accompanied by your guide. You can reach your hotel yourself via Circular Quay or Darling Harbor. Ask for this option when sending your quote request.
Comments:
- Departure only on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
- Departure at 7:30 AM
- Duration: approximately 10 hours
- Maximum 10 people
- Children allowed from 3 years old
DAY 18 – SYDNEY (O)
After breakfast today you will visit Sydney itself and the Sydney Opera House with guide. You will learn about the city’s fascinating history and how Sydney has developed into a thriving metropolis over the past 200 years. You will also see the imposing and elegant Victorian buildings that perfectly define Sydney’s architectural heritage. Your guide will take you back in time as you discover the historic Rocks neighborhood. It is here that Sydney was born. Your guide will share the stories and legends of this place with you including the secret little alleys. He will also let you discover the architecture. Then you will visit one of the most iconic buildings of Sydney which is also inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Sydney Opera House visit only takes place on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. For about an hour, your guide will take you into the heart of Sydney’s Opera House, the emblem of the city, as well as Australia as a whole. You walk through the interior of the building and the different rooms, learn about the eventful history and the architectural challenge of the construction.
Comments:
- Visit on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
- small group (maximum 10 persons)
- duration 4 hours (from 08h30 to 12h30)
TIME OUT IN SYDNEY
In the afternoon you have free time to explore Sydney on your own. We are happy to advise you on this.
Overnight.
DAY 19 – SYDNEY
After breakfast, and depending on your flight times, you will get a private transfer to the airport for your flight back home. You arrive home the next day after a beautiful wine tour through Australia.
DAY 20 – ARRIVAL AT HOME
After a nice trip you come home today. End of this beautiful wine tour through Australia.
