Australia Tours
Southern Australia Holiday
A 17 day self-drive holiday from Adelaide to Sydney, taking in South Australia, Victoria and the Great Ocean Road.
Southern Australia Self-Drive Holiday
Get on the road on this epic self-drive adventure! This journey lets you experience the best of South Australia and Victoria at your own pace. First, you drive from Adelaide to Melbourne, before finishing off in Sydney.
Start by exploring Adelaide's delicious Central Market and vibrant art scene. Then take a detour to Kangaroo Island, a wildlife wonderland teeming with koalas, kangaroos and even penguins. Next, head north to Grampians National Park. Here you hike through stunning mountains, chase waterfalls and soak up panoramic views.
The adventure truly heats up as you drive the legendary Great Ocean Road. Along the way, you witness the awe-inspiring Twelve Apostles, charming seaside towns and the dramatic Loch Ard Gorge. Finally, arrive in Melbourne, a city buzzing with energy. Here a guided bike tour explores its hidden laneways, packed with street art and cafés.
However, this itinerary is just a suggestion. Love wine? Then extend your Barossa Valley stay. Craving more hikes? Then add extra days in the Grampians. Of course, no holiday in Australia would be complete without visiting Sydney. Therefore, that's where we finish off.
Day By Day
Your Itinerary
DAY 1
Welcome to Australia
On arrival at Adelaide Airport, collect your luggage and meet your transfer for the drive to your accommodation. Then discover the capital of South Australia at your leisure. Although once considered sleepy, Adelaide has undergone a rapid transformation. It now has a burgeoning small-bar scene, world-class art and music, and a packed festival calendar.
Overnight in Crowne Plaza Adelaide · Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 2
Exploring Adelaide
First, visit the Adelaide Central Market (closed Sundays and Mondays). With over 70 traders, it is one of the largest undercover fresh produce markets in the Southern Hemisphere. Then continue to Glenelg Beach, Adelaide's most popular city beach, reached via the famous "Bay Tram". It is renowned for its wide sands and stunning sunsets. Finally, in the evening, explore Adelaide's small-bar scene along the laneways of Leigh St, Peel St and Gilbert Place.
Overnight in Crowne Plaza Adelaide · Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 3
Adelaide to Cape Jervis and Kangaroo Island
Collect your hire car and drive to Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula (around 2 hours). Then take a 45-minute ferry across the Backstairs Passage to Kangaroo Island. This is Australia's third-largest island, covering 4,405 square kilometres.
Overnight in Aurora Ozone Hotel
DAY 4
The Best of Kangaroo Island
Join a small-group 4WD tour, starting at Seal Bay Conservation Park to see sea lions resting on the beach. Then visit Vivonne Bay for a possible dolphin sighting and swim. After that comes Flinders Chase National Park, home to the famous Remarkable Rocks (only 5 million years old!). Finally, at Admirals Arch, you can spot Long Nosed Fur seals playing in the rock pools.
Overnight in Aurora Ozone Hotel
DAY 5
Kangaroo Island Beaches and Nature
Explore the island's incredible scenery at your leisure. For example, choose Emu Bay, Stokes Bay, Snellings Beach or Western River Cove on the north coast. There is also Cape Willoughby Conservation Park, home to South Australia's first lighthouse. Later, in the evening, join a small-group night tour. The tour sets out to spot Tammar Wallabies, Brush-tailed Possums, Western Grey Kangaroos and even penguins.
Overnight in Aurora Ozone Hotel
DAY 6
Victor Harbor
Return via ferry to Cape Jervis and continue to the Fleurieu Peninsula. It is home to some of South Australia's finest coastal, scenic and culinary experiences. Then arrive at Victor Harbor, where you can take the famous horse-drawn tram to Granite Island. Once there, walk the circular Kaiki Walk for dramatic coastal views.
Overnight in McCracken Country Club
DAY 7
Drive to the Grampians, Victoria
Today is a long drive east, with stops along the way. For example, these include Coonalpyn's painted grain silos and Bordertown's white kangaroo wildlife park. You also pass the algae-pink Pink Lake near Dimboola. Finally, arrive at the rugged Grampians mountain ranges.
Overnight in Country Plaza Halls Gap
DAY 8
Explore the Grampians
Spend a day at leisure on the walking tracks within Grampians National Park, which suit every level of fitness. For example, the 2.5km Venus Baths Loop Walk crosses Stony Creek, with rock pools perfect for a swim. Meanwhile, the two-kilometre Pinnacle walk from Wonderland Car Park offers the best hiking experience in the park.
Overnight in Country Plaza Halls Gap
DAY 9
Welcome to the Great Ocean Road
Continue your road trip to the coast, stopping at Port Fairy or Warrnambool. Southern right whales calve at Warrnambool in May-October. After the Shipwreck Coast, you reach the Twelve Apostles, a series of towering limestone pillars jutting from the Southern Ocean. Finally, see Gibson's Steps, 86 stairs carved into the cliff face down to the beach.
Overnight in By Moonlight
DAY 10
Explore the Twelve Apostles Area
Spend a full day exploring the Twelve Apostles and surrounds. There are, in fact, only eight remaining! First, visit the Grotto, the Arch and London Bridge (a natural archway that collapsed in 1990). Then see the Bay of Islands, plus the offshore rock stacks of Gog and Magog.
Overnight in By Moonlight
DAY 11
The Twelve Apostles to Lorne
Continue through Great Otway National Park, stopping at Cape Otway Lighthouse, the oldest surviving lighthouse in Australia. Meanwhile, keep an eye out for koalas in the trees along the way. Then try the Tree Top Walk or a Zip Line Tour through the Otway Ranges. Afterwards, continue to Lorne, stopping at Kennett River, home to numerous koala colonies.
Overnight in Mantra Lorne
DAY 12
Lorne to Melbourne
Continue via the seaside town of Aireys Inlet, with a walk to Split Point Lighthouse. Then reach Torquay, the "Surf Capital of Australia" and home to Bells Beach. You can also stop at the Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Finally, make the last 1.5-hour drive to Melbourne, where you'll drop off your hire car.
Overnight in Clarion Suites Gateway
DAY 13
Classic Melbourne Bike Tour
Join a guided bicycle tour covering Melbourne's founding, Aboriginal history, the Eureka Stockade and the significance of sport. There is also a lunch stop in Fitzroy. Afterwards, explore the Queen Victoria Markets, St Paul's Cathedral and the Yarra River waterfront at your leisure.
Overnight in Clarion Suites Gateway · Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 14
Melbourne to Sydney
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Sydney. Then, on arrival, transfer to your accommodation. Afterwards, we suggest a walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens along the harbour. Stop at Mrs Macquarie's Chair for the best view of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
Overnight in The Tank Stream, Sydney
DAY 15
The Story of Sydney
Join a 4-hour guided tour beginning at The Rocks. You discover how the area evolved from a penal colony into one of the world's most iconic cities. The tour then travels past landmarks through Watsons Bay, Bondi Beach, Paddington, Darlinghurst and Barangaroo.
Overnight in The Tank Stream, Sydney
DAY 16
Explore Sydney and Bondi Beach
Enjoy free time to explore Bondi Beach before taking one of Sydney's most iconic walks. This 6km coastal path runs from Bondi past 2,000-year-old Aboriginal rock carvings at Mark's Park. It then passes Tamarama Beach, Waverley Cemetery and Gordon's Bay, finishing at Coogee Beach. Finally, in the evening, enjoy a deluxe sunset cruise on Sydney Harbour with a three-course dinner.
Overnight in The Tank Stream, Sydney · Meals included: Dinner
DAY 17
The End of the Southern Australia Holiday
A driver will pick you up from your accommodation. You then transfer to the airport for your flight home. Farewell Australia!
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Know Before You Go
Included & Excluded
What’s Included
16 nights accommodation as described throughout the tour, with board basis as described
Domestic flight from Melbourne to Sydney, including 1x 23kg luggage + 10kg carry-on per person
Transfers as mentioned in the itinerary
10 days car hire from Adelaide to Melbourne with Avis (compact SUV, e.g. Hyundai Kona or similar). There is no one-way fee, and two drivers are included.
Kangaroo Island Best of Kangaroo Island Tour and Nocturnal Tour
Melbourne Classic Bike Tour
Sydney Story of Sydney Tour and Sunset Dinner Cruise with a three course meal
What’s Not Included
International travel to the start and end point – contact us for information and flight options
Any airport taxes
Travel insurance
Any visa requirements
Drinks and meals not shown
Any photography and video fees
Items of a personal nature
Tips for drivers and guides
Tour Map
Book With Confidence
Dates & Prices
This is a private tour, so we can arrange it for any departure date. We can also tailor-make this itinerary to your exact requirements.
From £2,895 per person, based on two people travelling
Good to Know
Travel Information
Safety, Passport, Visa and Health Information
We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination. For example, it covers safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice for Australia.
To enter Australia, your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. British citizens can usually get an eVisitor visa (no charge). Alternatively, they can get an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) via the app. This has no visa charge, although a service fee of around A$20 may apply.
Australia has strict quarantine rules to keep out pests and diseases. Therefore, you must declare any risk goods on your Incoming Passenger Card. For example, these include food, animal products and plant material. All luggage is also x-rayed on arrival. Laws on e-cigarettes differ between states. However, liquid nicotine is classed as a poison and banned from sale nationwide. Same-sex marriages are legally recognised, and Australia is generally open-minded. However, isolated incidents of homophobic crime do occur.
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice. The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) publishes this on the TravelHealthPro website. UK citizens can also access essential and urgent medical care through the UK-Australia Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement. As a result, essential and urgent hospital treatment is free. However, there's a charge to visit GPs and receive prescriptions. You can recover some of these charges through Medicare.
What to Bring
We recommend lighter clothes through the day, with warmer layers for the evening. Also bring a hat to protect from the sun. Depending on season, early mornings and evenings can turn cold. Walking shoes or boots/trainers plus sandals are the ideal footwear. Finally, don't forget your swimwear!
Please allow yourself one main piece of luggage and a day-sack. You're expected to carry your own baggage, so don't overload yourself. For example, a soft wheely bag may be easier to manage than a suitcase. We also recommend a good insect repellent and bite cream, suncream, and a torch or head lamp. In addition, bring ear plugs if you're a light sleeper.
While You're There
Australia uses the Australian dollar. ATMs are widespread and credit cards widely accepted. However, there's an AUD$10,000 limit for bringing cash into the country without declaring it. Summer (November to February) is the peak season for travel. This is because of school holidays and the draw of the beaches.
Australia uses Type I plugs on a 220-240V/50Hz supply. Mobile data is available in most places, although signal can be patchy in the outback. Therefore, if your phone is unlocked, a prepaid Australian SIM card is a good option on arrival. Free wifi is also available in most hotels, cafés and restaurants.
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