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 as 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 to hike through stunning mountains, chase waterfalls and soak up panoramic views.
The adventure truly heats up as you drive the legendary Great Ocean Road, witnessing the awe-inspiring Twelve Apostles, charming seaside towns and the dramatic Loch Ard Gorge. Finally, arrive in Melbourne, a city buzzing with energy, exploring its hidden laneways packed with street art and cafés on a guided bike tour.
This itinerary is just a suggestion – love wine? Extend your Barossa Valley stay. Craving more hikes? Add extra days in the Grampians. Of course, no holiday in Australia would be complete without visiting Sydney, and 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. Discover the capital of South Australia at your leisure – once considered sleepy, Adelaide has undergone a rapid transformation with 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
Visit the Adelaide Central Market, one of the largest undercover fresh produce markets in the Southern Hemisphere with over 70 traders (closed Sundays and Mondays). Continue to Glenelg Beach, Adelaide's most popular city beach, renowned for its wide sands and stunning sunsets, reached via the famous "Bay Tram." 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, Australia's third-largest island, covering 4,405 square kilometres.
Overnight in Aurora Ozone Hotel
DAY 4
The Best of Kangaroo Island
A small-group 4WD tour visiting Seal Bay Conservation Park to see sea lions resting on the beach, Vivonne Bay for a possible dolphin sighting and swim, and Flinders Chase National Park, home to the famous Remarkable Rocks (only 5 million years old!) and Admirals Arch, where 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 – Emu Bay, Stokes Bay, Snellings Beach or Western River Cove on the north coast, and Cape Willoughby Conservation Park, home to South Australia's first lighthouse. In the evening, join a small-group night tour 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, home to some of South Australia's finest coastal, scenic and culinary experiences. Arrive at Victor Harbor, where you can take the famous horse-drawn tram to Granite Island and walk the circular Kaiki Walk for dramatic coastal views.
Overnight in McCracken Country Club
DAY 7
Drive to the Grampians, Victoria
A long drive east, with stops along the way including Coonalpyn's painted grain silos, Bordertown's white kangaroo wildlife park, and the algae-pink Pink Lake near Dimboola, before arriving at the rugged Grampians mountain ranges.
Overnight in Country Plaza Halls Gap
DAY 8
Explore the Grampians
A day at leisure on the walking tracks within Grampians National Park, for every level of fitness – the 2.5km Venus Baths Loop Walk crosses Stony Creek with rock pools perfect for a swim, while 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 (where southern right whales calve May-October) and the Shipwreck Coast, before reaching the Twelve Apostles, a series of towering limestone pillars jutting from the Southern Ocean, and 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
A full day exploring the Twelve Apostles and surrounds – there are, in fact, only eight remaining! Visit the Grotto, the Arch, London Bridge (a natural archway that collapsed in 1990) and 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 (keep an eye out for koalas in the trees along the way). Try the Tree Top Walk or a Zip Line Tour through the Otway Ranges before continuing 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, and Torquay, the "Surf Capital of Australia" and home to Bells Beach. Optionally stop at the Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre before the final 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
A guided bicycle tour covering Melbourne's founding, Aboriginal history, the Eureka Stockade and the significance of sport, with 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. On arrival, transfer to your accommodation – we suggest a walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens along the harbour, stopping 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
A 4-hour guided tour beginning at The Rocks, discovering how the area evolved from a penal colony into one of the world's most iconic cities, travelling past landmarks through Watsons Bay, Bondi Beach, Paddington, Darlinghurst and Barangaroo.
Overnight in The Tank Stream, Sydney
DAY 16
Explore Sydney and Bondi Beach
Free time to explore Bondi Beach before taking one of Sydney's most iconic walks – a 6km coastal path from Bondi past 2,000-year-old Aboriginal rock carvings at Mark's Park, Tamarama Beach, Waverley Cemetery and Gordon's Bay, finishing at Coogee Beach. 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 and transfer you 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) – no one-way fee, two drivers 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 and can be arranged for any departure date – this itinerary can be tailor-made 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: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice for Australia.
For entry into Australia, your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. British citizens can usually get an eVisitor visa (no charge) or an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) via the app (no visa charge, but a service fee of around A$20 may apply).
Australia has strict quarantine rules to keep out pests and diseases – you must declare any risk goods including food, animal products and plant material on your Incoming Passenger Card, and all luggage is x-rayed on arrival. Laws on e-cigarettes differ between states – liquid nicotine is classed as a poison and banned from sale nationwide. Same-sex marriages are legally recognised, and Australia is generally open-minded, though isolated incidents of homophobic crime do occur.
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. UK citizens can access essential and urgent medical care through the UK-Australia Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement – essential and urgent hospital treatment is free, though there's a charge to visit GPs and receive prescriptions, some of which can be recovered through Medicare.
What to Bring
Lighter clothes are recommended through the day, with warmer layers for the evening, plus 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, and 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; a soft wheely bag may be easier to manage than a suitcase. We also recommend a good insect repellent and bite cream, suncream, a torch or head lamp, and 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, though 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, thanks to 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, though signal can be patchy in the outback – if your phone is unlocked, a prepaid Australian SIM card is a good option on arrival. Free wifi is available in most hotels, cafés and restaurants.
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