10 Day New South Wales Outback Adventure

Day 1: Sydney - Canberra

Depart Sydney at 8.00am. We begin our journey to the nation's capital via the Southern Highlands with a stop at historic Berrima, famous for its gaol, a visit to a working sheep farm and an Aussie barbecue lunch. On arrival in Canberra, we'll tour through Parliament House and visit the Australian War Memorial before enjoying a welcome drink and dinner this evening with your Tour Director and fellow travellers.

Hotel: Novotel, Canberra.

Meals: L, D

Day 2: Snowy Mountains

Cooma and the Snowy Mountains Hydro Scheme start our day, plus the option to take a ride on the Mt. Kosciuszko chairlift to experience Australia's highest point! You'll be awestruck by the stunningly picturesque Kosciuszko National Park - home to mobs of kangaroos - as we travel the Alpine Way, over the mighty Murray River into Victoria and beautiful Beechworth, Victoria's best preserved gold rush town, for our unique overnight stay in one of the Bed and Breakfast properties.

Hotel: Boutique Country Accommodation, Beechworth.

Meals: B

Day 3: Melbourne

Get to know Beechworth with a tour and some free time to explore the legendary Beechworth Bakery, as well as antique shops and galleries. Later we'll see the museum then it's on through Glenrowan and Ned Kelly country to culturally diverse and cosmopolitan Melbourne. A dinner option tonight is on board the distinctive Colonial Tramcar Restaurant.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza, Melbourne, 2 nights.

Meals: B

Day 4: Melbourne 'Free Time'

Today Melbourne is all yours to explore. You'll have time to discover some of the secrets of this exceptional city - a myriad of cafés, galleries, museums, markets, restaurants, laneways and parks await you. Or if you want to get out of town you can take a tour to Phillip Island's little penguins, the Yarra Valley's wineries, the Dandenongs and Puffing Billy or Sovereign Hill's goldmine.

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Day 5: Great Ocean Road Sightseeing

Hold on to your seats today for one of the world's great road trips - the Great Ocean Road. We'll get plenty of photo opportunities along this gorgeous coastal road, including stops at surfing-mecca Torquay, world famous Bells Beach, a visit to the amazing Twelve Apostles, before finishing the day in the whale watching capital of Warrnambool.

Hotel: Country Comfort, Warrnambool.

B, D

Day 6: Tower Hill - Coonawarra

This morning we visit Worn Gundidj at Tower Hill State Game Reserve. The area was a rich food source for the Koroitgundidj people whose descendants retain links with this country. Our guide will provide us with an Aboriginal perspective about flora, wildlife, volcanic formations, bush existence and medicinal practices. Then marvel at the pristine vistas before we continue along the coast through picturesque Port Fairy. We skirt the Lower Glenelg National Park crossing the border to South Australia into Mt. Gambier for a city tour and stop to look at the spectacular and mysterious Blue Lake.

Hotel: Chardonnay Lodge, Coonawarra.

B, D

Day 7: Adelaide

We travel to Penola in the heart of the Coonawarra, where Australia's first saint Mary MacKillop founded the order of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Then on through Naracoorte, en route to Adelaide, the gorgeous 'City of Churches'.

Hotel: InterContinental Hotel, Adelaide.

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Day 8: Kangaroo Island

First up is seaside Glenelg then we continue on to the picturesque coastal village of Victor Harbor on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Here you'll have some free time to explore, maybe take a walk to Granite Island and see some sensational coastal views. Next we travel by ferry to Kangaroo Island for our two-night stay. We'll have dinner overlooking the spectacular Backstair Passage.

Hotel: Aurora Ozone Hotel, Kangaroo Island, 2 nights.

B, D

Day 9: Kangaroo Island

Today we explore Kangaroo Island! At Seal Bay we'll take a guided tour along the beach among the Australian sea lions. We'll experience more great photo opportunities at the Remarkable Rocks and Admiral's Arch. We'll also do some koala, wallaby and kangaroo spotting within Flinders Chase National Park. You are invited by the Hannaford family to Middle River for a Shearers Feast. Relax with a pre-dinner drink on the croquet lawn (try your hand at a spot of croquet or perhaps spot some wildlife by torchlight) then stroll to the old shearing shed, built from old sugar gum trees and corrugated iron, for a candle-lit casual dinner, prepared from local produce.

B, L, D

Day 10: Depart Adelaide

This morning we cruise by ferry back to Cape Jervis then on to elegant Adelaide. You will be transferred to Adelaide Airport for your onward flight.

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