MELBOURNE TO MOUNT GAMBIER

Welcome to our tour to stunning Kangaroo Island. With chauffeured pickup from home, we are transferred to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew. Following our morning tea break, we travel to Wickliffe where we stop for lunch at Narrapumelap Mansion, an impressive French Gothic Mansion. This afternoon, our journey takes us across the border into South Australia to Mount Gambier for our first night’s accommodation.

OVERNIGHT:  The Barn Accommodation & Steakhouse, MOUNT GAMBIER

SPIRIT OF THE COORONG CRUISE - FLEURIEU PENINSULA

Following breakfast, we travel along the Coorong, glimpsing the Younghusband Peninsula enroute. At Meningie we board the “Spirit of the Coorong” for an informative and relaxing luncheon cruise. Our cruise takes us across the Coorong National Park. Derived from an Aboriginal word ‘karangk’ meaning narrow neck, it is one of the most breathtaking national parks in Australia. Our coach will be waiting for us in Goolwa for the drive to Victor Harbor for our overnight accommodation.

OVERNIGHT: McCracken Resort, VICTOR HARBOR

KANGAROO ISLAND ENTERPRISES

This morning, we take the scenic drive to Cape Jervis where we board the Sea Link ferry across Backstairs Passage to Penneshaw on the eastern end of the Island. It takes just 50 minutes to complete the crossing. As we disembark the ferry we board our coach and begin exploring the Dudley Peninsula. Our first stop is at Dudley Wines where we are spoilt with a wonderful outlook as we are lead in a tasting of their fabulous wines and enjoy a light lunch. Now we meet Rob and his Kelpie dogs, at Robs Shearing and Sheepdogs as they share this most Australian experience with us. Enjoy learning about the many aspects of farming in an educational and down to earth manner, including sheepdog mustering and yarding, sheep shearing, wool classing, hand spinning and history. We now head to Kingscote, the island’s main town, where we check into our next four nights accommodation.

OVERNIGHT: Kangaroo Island Seaside Inn, Kingscote, KANGAROO ISLAND

KINGSCOTE AND FLINDERS CHASE NATIONAL PARK

This morning we enjoy a tour of Kingscote, Australia’s first free settlement, with a local expert. Learn of its early history and how it was abandoned after only 4 years due to lack of water and suitable building timber only to be replaced in favour of Adelaide. Farewelling our guide, we drive to the Emu Bay Lavender Farm, a farm gate cafe set amongst rows of Lavender. Here they make and package an extensive range of lavender products on site. The cafe is famous for its oversized lavender scones and handmade ice cream and it’s here we’ll indulge in our morning tea!! We now head to the western end of the Island to visit the Flinders Chase National Park. Witness its natural rugged beauty and the spectacular Remarkable Rocks, Cape du Couedic Lighthouse and Admirals Arch where, via a spectacular board walk, we can see close up a colony of New Zealand Fur Seals who live in the sea and the rocks just below us.  It will be a day of remarkable experiences!

OVERNIGHT: Kangaroo Island Seaside Inn, Kingscote, KANGAROO ISLAND

MORE OF KANGAROO ISLAND

After breakfast we can look forward to another interesting day on tour.  First we take a look at the unique artwork of a giant kangaroo and red tailed black cockatoos on the town’s silo. We then head to American River, which was named after American sealers that stayed on this part of the island for four months in 1803 and there is a memorial plaque in the main town to commemorate this. Here, we visit The Rebuild Independence Project where a volunteer group is recreating the 45ft United States Schooner "Independence", built by American sealers in 1803. This was the first vessel ever built in SA and an interpretive display details the adventures and fate of the boat. Venturing on, we will be introduced to some unique Kangaroo Island ventures - the first one is Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery where we’ll enjoy lunch before we take an interesting tour of the plant and equipment involved in producing eucalyptus oil and product. Our final stop for the day is Clifford’s Honey Farm for a honey ice cream and to learn about the unique Ligurian Bee.

OVERNIGHT:  Kangaroo Island Seaside Inn, Kingscote, KANGAROO ISLAND

KANGAROO ISLAND WILDLIFE

We start the day travelling to Seal Bay for a chance to walk along the beach amongst the colony of Australian Sea Lions who live here all year round. It is an unforgettable experience to be guided by a National Parks Ranger, along the beach, within metres of the bulls, cows and seal pups as they rest on the beach. Next stop is Raptor Domain for their free flight birds of prey demonstration. The show is interactive and a very rewarding experience. Enjoy lunch here and then we return to Kingscote for some free time to peruse the shops.

OVERNIGHT:  Kangaroo Island Seaside Inn, Kingscote, KANGAROO ISLAND

VICTOR HARBOR

This morning we say farewell to Kangaroo Island and board the ferry at Penneshaw for our return journey to the mainland. From here we make our way Victor Harbor. Nestled on a wide, sandy arc of Encounter Bay, Victor Harbor has been the summer holiday choice for generations of South Australians. You’ll now have some time to explore the main street and find a bite to eat. A trip to Victor, as the locals affectionately call it, would not be complete without traversing the iconic Granite Island causeway atop the Clydesdale horse-drawn tram. Afterwards we’ll transfer across the Fleurieu Peninsula to Normanville to our accommodation.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement

OVERNIGHT: Lady Bay Hotel, NORMANVILLE

NORMANVILLE TO HORSHAM

Today we begin our journey back towards Melbourne. Travelling to Tailem Bend, we join the Dukes Highway to Coonalpyn for a brief stop to view the silo artwork. The murals depict a magnificent tribute to the local school children representing “hope for the future”. Keith is our destination for lunch today and this afternoon, we make our way to Horsham. Before checking in to our next two nights accommodation, we take a look at the silos. Created by Smug, the silo tells the story of Yanggendyinanyuk, a notable figure in the Wimmera Region. He was a skilled tracker, talented cricketer and cultural exponent.

OVERNIGHT: Best Westlander Motor Inn, HORSHAM

THE GRAMPIANS

Today will be spent exploring the remarkable Grampians National Park. We’ll start our day with a visit to the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre to view the very best interpretation of the Grampians National Park, discovering its exceptional environment and Aboriginal culture. We make a stop at the Lake Bellfield Lookout to take in the scenic views then head out to the picturesque Wartook Valley and enjoy lunch in the majestic mudbrick building at the Wander Inn. Meandering our way back towards Halls Gap we spend the afternoon visiting several of the best lookouts in the northern part of the National Park McKenzie Falls, Reeds Lookout, and Boroka Lookout – all easily accessible and all with sensational views. The area is likened to a giant botanical garden, filled with one third of Victoria’s fauna.

OVERNIGHT:  Best Westlander Motor Inn, HORSHAM

HORSHAM TO MELBOURNE

Our last day together begins with a short drive to Murtoa, home to another striking silo artwork that celebrates the area’s agricultural heritage. We take time to admire the craftsmanship before our visit to the Stick Shed. This grain store is the only remaining emergency grain store built during World War Two. It is an enduring testament to Australian bush ingenuity and a symbol of the growth and strength of the Australian wheat industry.  After a fascinating tour, we continue to nearby Rupanyup, where the recently repainted silos stand as a striking new addition to the Silo Art Trail. The fresh design, created by street artist Smug, breathes new life into the town’s artistic landscape. From here we make our way to Ararat where we stop for lunch. We now head for home – our chauffeurs will be on hand to take us straight to our door – all part of the O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours superior service.