MELBOURNE TO ADELAIDE

Welcome to our 10 day Adelaide to Melbourne tour featuring the Great Southern Touring Route. With chauffeured pickup from home, we are transferred to the Melbourne Airport where we meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours crew and board our flight. Arriving in Adelaide, we enjoy our lunch before we set out on a guided City Sight tour of this vibrant and welcoming city. Our tour offers an introduction to Adelaide’s elegant boulevards, historic landmarks and cultural highlights. Thanking our guide, we now head to our hotel located in the city where the rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure - explore Adelaide’s laneways and shops, visit local galleries or simply relax.

Refreshments inflight

OVERNIGHT: InterContinental Adelaide, ADELAIDE

EXPLORING ADELAIDE

Our day begins in the heart of the city with an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Adelaide Oval, where the history, atmosphere and stories of this iconic sporting ground come vividly to life. From here, the journey continues to Carrick Hill in Springfield, a beautifully preserved historic estate that feels like stepping into another era. A guided tour reveals the charm and character of the house and its remarkable collection. We then enjoy a relaxed lunch at the cafe, set among the tranquil gardens. This afternoon, we discover more elegance at the David Roche Gallery. A guided tour of Fermoy House offers an intimate look into one man’s extraordinary passion for art and antiques, with each room revealing treasures gathered from around the world. Afterwards there will be time to wander through the Gallery before returning to our hotel to relax before dinner.

OVERNIGHT: InterContinental Adelaide, ADELAIDE

ADELAIDE TO MOUNT GAMBIER

Today we sit back and relax as we leave Adelaide behind and begin our journey into the south-east of South Australia, where city skylines give way to rolling farmland and charming country towns. Along the way, we pause in Coonalpyn to take in the imagery of its painted silo, featuring five local junior primary school children. Enjoying lunch along the way, we continue through the changing scenery of the Limestone Coast. Coonawarra is known for it’s wines of course, so it’s only fitting that we enjoy a wine tasting before the last leg of our journey to Mount Gambier, home to the remarkable Blue Lake. Here, we settle into our hotel for the evening.

OVERNIGHT: The Barn Accommodation, MOUNT GAMBIER

MOUNT GAMBIER TO PORTLAND

This morning we enjoy a guided tour of Mount Gambier, uncovering the highlights and stories of this unique city built on ancient volcanic landscapes and limestone formations. Then we visit the fascinating Aquifer Tours at the Blue Lake Pumping Station. Here we descend into the city’s underground water system and learn how the pristine aquifer beneath Mount Gambier supplies the region, all set against the dramatic backdrop of the famous Blue Lake crater. Before leaving town, we see the remarkable Umpherston Sinkhole, a hidden garden formed within a collapsed limestone cave. Cascading greenery, towering walls and filtered light create a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city. We now travel to Portland where we settle in for the next two nights.

Lunch at own arrangements and cost

OVERNIGHT: Richmond Henty Hotel Motel, PORTLAND

EXPLORING PORTLAND

Wake up to the fresh sea air and set out to uncover the many layers of Portland’s character. We begin the day at the Portland Maritime Discovery Centre, where we step into the region’s rich whaling past and come face to face a rib cage of a sperm whale skeleton. From here, the story continues just a short distance away at the Portland Cable Tram Depot, where heritage comes to life through a collection of memorabilia and a scenic tram ride along Henty Beach, tracing the edge of a working deep-water harbour. After lunch, we are joined by a local guide, who brings to life Portland’s unique identity. As Victoria’s oldest European settlement and the only deep-water port between Adelaide and Melbourne, the town plays a key role in regional industry. From the working waterfront, we journey into wild coastal scenery and visit the Cape Nelson Lighthouse, perched above rugged cliffs with sweeping ocean views. We finish our day with the dramatic coastline to Cape Bridgewater, where a short walk reveals the intriguing Petrified Forest and, when the sea is active, the natural blowhole in full force.

OVERNIGHT: Richmond Henty Hotel Motel, PORTLAND

PORTLAND TO PORT FAIRY TO WARRNAMBOOL

Following breakfast, we depart Portland and head to the charming seaside village of Port Fairy, where we are met by our local guide. Rich in maritime history and colonial charm, this beautifully preserved township comes to life as we are lead past bluestone cottages, antique shops, and original Victorian-era buildings, each with its own story to tell. We now have some free time to explore this charming town before enjoying a relaxed lunch. Now we’re off to explore the Tower Hill State Game Reserve. Here we’ll uncover the crater of an extinct volcano teeming with wildlife, including some very bold emus. Take in the beauty of this remarkable reserve on a one-way scenic drive across the land bridge and through the main body of the crater. After a wonderful day we continue on to Warrnambool for the night.

OVERNIGHT: Best Western Olde Maritime Motor Inn, WARRNAMBOOL

PORT CAMPBELL NATIONAL PARK

We set out from Warrnambool and start the day at Schulz Organic Dairy Farm where we are invited for a behind-the-scenes tour. Meet the famous happy cows and discover the farm’s innovative and organic practices and their philosophy on regenerative farming. Accompanied by our knowledgeable guide, we also learn the ins and outs of cheese-making in the creamery. After our tour we enjoy morning tea in the Creamery. Our drive now takes us into the breathtaking Port Campbell National Park, to journey along one of Australia’s most iconic coastal routes, where dramatic ocean scenery and ancient landscapes unfold at every turn. Here we witness the power of the Southern Ocean as it has sculpted towering limestone cliffs from the Bay of Islands to London Bridge, a dramatic limestone formation that was once a double-span bridge connected to the mainland. We will also see the worldfamous Twelve Apostles, rising majestically from the sea before heading to GORGE Chocolates, producers of handmade chocolates using a special type of Belgian chocolate. We enjoy a late lunch here and time to wander the store full of goodies before we make our way to Skenes Creek, quiet seaside spot just a few minutes east of Apollo Bay. Here we settle in to our hotel for the next two nights.

OVERNIGHT: 61 Ocean Road Motel, SKENES CREEK

CAPE OTWAY LIGHTHOUSE & THE OTWAY RANGES

This morning we travel through the Otway National Park to Cape Otway. Steeped in history and surrounded by beauty, the Cape Otway Lighthouse is an unforgettable experience. In 1848 the lighthouse became the beacon of hope on a dangerous coastline and is one of the oldest lighthouses in Australia. Spend time exploring the station at your own pace, discovering the amazing history of the lighthouse. Afterwards we leave the coastline and venture inland to the lush beauty of the Otway Ranges. In this cool temperate rainforest, we experience the unforgettable Otway Fly, soaring high above the forest floor along an elevated walkway that offers a unique perspective of the towering trees and dense canopy. After our up-lifting walk, we journey back to Skenes Creek.

OVERNIGHT: 61 Ocean Road Motel, SKENES CREEK

SKENES CREEK TO GEELONG

Our journey continues along the final stretch of the Great Ocean Road as we arrive in Lorne, a charming seaside retreat nestled between lush native forest and the sparkling ocean. The approach is unforgettable, with towering trees cascading down the hillsides to meet the water’s edge. Travelling onward through Anglesea, we pause to enjoy a relaxing lunch, before the afternoon brings us to Torquay, the gateway to Australia’s surf coast. Here, we visit the Australian National Surfing Museum, home of the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame, where the stories, triumphs and culture of the country’s surfing legends come vividly to life. Then its off to Geelong, beautifully set along Corio Bay, part of the larger Port Phillip Bay. On arrival at our hotel, we settle in and reflect on our amazing coastal adventures, enjoying our final evening on tour in this welcoming bayside city.

OVERNIGHT: Rydges Geelong, GEELONG

BELLARINE PENINSULA TO MELBOURNE

This morning begins with a stroll along the Geelong Bollard Trail Walk. The bollards, taken out of the old harbour, have been carved into colourful and interesting characters of various themes. There are more than 100 of these huge painted icons guiding visitors along the foreshore walking/cycling track. They represent a fascinating and fun chronicle of the city's past. Next, we visit the Hive Gallery to see the home of Victorian garden sculptor, Wil Wilson. Discover the intricate process behind his remarkable bronze pieces showcased annually at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show and admire works by other talented local artists. We now indulge in a farewell lunch at the idyllic Jack Rabbit Vineyard. Later, with cherished memories, we return homeward via the Searoad Ferry. Our chauffeurs will be ready to drop us to our very door – all part of the great O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours service!