Tour Highlights

01 | ARRIVE ADELAIDE WED 9 OCT
Passengers make their own way to Adelaide and own transfer to hotel. Check into well located central hotel and this evening there’s a Welcome Dinner to meet your Tour Manager and get to know your travel companions from around Australia and overseas.
(- - D) Overnight Adelaide – Hotel Grand Chancellor (or similar)

02 | ADELAIDE TO PORT AUGUSTA THU 10 OCT
Sightseeing tour of the city known for its ‘Wine and Roses’ - with the Torrens River dividing the city with a series of parklands – all designed by Captain Light. Visit the seaside resort of Glenelg (only a short tram ride from the city) for morning coffee overlooking the beach, then travel to Virginia and visit a world-class horticultural enterprise. Lunch in Snowtown followed by a livestock visit in the Port Pirie area. Late afternoon continue north to Port Augusta at the head of the Spencer Gulf. Today, Port Augusta is a busy commercial centre servicing the needs of travellers and freight trucks crossing the famous Nullarbor Plain, but it was once a major port for the shipping of wool to English mills and later wheat to overseas markets.
(B L -) Overnight Port Augusta – Standpipe Motel (or similar)

03 | PORT AUGUSTA – WILPENA POUND, FLINDERS RANGES FRI 11 OCT
Travel northeast from Port Augusta towards the Flinders Ranges where the colours of the ranges from a distance are ever-changing and often lilac in colour. The journey takes us through the famous Pitchi Ritchi Pass and the historic railway town of Quorn. We will spend time in both the Quorn and Hawker districts. Today’s destination is Wilpena Pound; a remarkable natural amphitheatre or rock basin reached by a route that traverses country that inspired Hans Heysen to paint some of his famous eucalyptus tree paintings. Located within the Flinders Ranges National Park, renowned for its geological history, including impressive fossil remains, Wilpena Pound is at the heart of the Flinders Ranges, where the landscape is rugged and dramatic and the wildlife and flora, plentiful and diverse. Enjoy an afternoon walk into the Pound.
(B L D) Overnight Flinders Ranges - Wilpena Pound Resort

04 | FLINDERS RANGES SAT 12 OCT
So much has been written about the dramatic beauty of the Flinders Ranges but nothing can beat the firsthand experience of the spectacular scenery. This morning we will travel north of the Pound to learn about the management of livestock in a low rainfall environment and see how some graziers go about drought-proofing their properties. We’ll visit the picturesque town of Blinman, once known for its copper mine. Enjoy lunch in this historic town. After lunch our journey takes us to Brachina Gorge, which provides an insight into 130 million years of earth history; past climates, the formation of the ranges and the evolution of early life forms. Return to Wilpena Pound.
(B L D) Overnight Flinders Ranges - Wilpena Pound Resort

05 | FLINDERS RANGES TO CLARE VALLEY SUN 13 OCT
Optional morning walk to old Wilpena Station prior to leaving the Flinders Ranges to travel almost due south into the cropping regions of South Australia known as the Mid-North. We’ll visit a cropping farm in this area where winter cereals (wheat, barley or oats) as well as possibly lupins and canola will be well advanced. A visit will be made to the on-farm factory manufacturing a unique and innovative piece of equipment for stubble incorporation – now being exported around the world. Later in the day travel into the beautiful Clare Valley, an essentially rural region with restored heritage towns, picturesque sandstone buildings, delicious food and fabulous wine produced from vines that are some of the oldest in Australia. Spend the afternoon at historic Bungaree Station (established in 1841). Originally a sheep station with over 100,000 head of merino sheep, Bungaree today is a mixed farming enterprise run by the descendants of the original founder. There will be time to have a look around this historical station and discuss farming objectives with members of the family. Enjoy 2 nights in the farm stay accommodation.
(B L D) Overnight Bungaree Homestead

06 | CLARE VALLEY MON 14 OCT
Today will be spent exploring the local area and will include a visit to Mintaro and the grand Martindale Hall. We will visit a family’s mixed farming operation, which includes cattle, sheep, hay, cereals and grapes. Return for overnight at Bungaree Station.
(B L D) Overnight Bungaree Homestead

07 | CLARE VALLEY TO BAROSSA VALLEY TUE 15 OCT
Today we travel from the Clare Valley into the Barossa Valley. Apart from being one of the world’s great wine and food regions, the Barossa has a rich European heritage dating back to the first settlers. George Fife Angas (founder of Angaston Winery) assisted the passage of an entire European community from various Prussian provinces, including German speaking settlers from Silesia (now part of Poland), to South Australia to set up a piece of the ‘old world' in the ‘new world'. These settlers established the tiny hamlet of Bethany in 1842, and other settlements soon followed. The early settlers worked hard and cleared land for mixed farming. They built churches and schools and planted small vineyards, some of which remain in the same family name. During the day there will be a chance to sample the local food, visit the Yalumba winery and cooperage and the Kaiser Stuhl Conservation Park with its spectacular views over the Barossa Valley. Accommodation and dinner at Lyndoch Hill Retreat.
(B L D) Overnight Lyndoch Hill Retreat (or similar)

08 | BAROSSA VALLEY TO NORMANVILLE WED 16 OCT
This morning’s first visit is to the Whispering Wall, an acoustic marvel near Williamstown. Travel south through the Adelaide Hills, with morning tea in the German settlement of Hahndorf. Continue through Strathalbyn, considered by many to be the prettiest town in South Australia. Lunch in the charming coastal town of Victor Harbour. This lush countryside supports beef and dairy cattle, as well as prime lamb production and some of the nation’s elite thoroughbred studs. During the afternoon we will visit a dairy before we head on to the Normanville area to observe a coastal property with beef and lamb production. Overnight in Normanville – near the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula.
(B L -) Overnight Grand Mercure Resort Lady Bay (or similar)

09 | NORMANVILLE – KANGAROO ISLAND THU 17 OCT
Early morning start to reach Cape Jervis in time for the fast ferry to Kangaroo Island. It’s a comfortable 45 minute journey across to the small town of Penneshaw. Kangaroo Island, known as KI locally, has strict quarantine requirements to protect its unique environment that is free from many predators, pests and diseases found on the mainland. There is virtually no large-scale development on KI which means that small, and often innovative, businesses have thrived and provide the island with a fantastic array of foods and wine. KI is also home to a population of around 4,400 people, mainly primary producers descended from islanders who have lived here for generations. Fresh seafood is plentiful with naturally farmed oysters, prawns, crayfish, whiting, snapper and fresh marron. Apiarists collect honey from the pure strain of Ligurian bees (the only such colony left in the world) and there are also locally made cheeses and yoghurts as well as free range eggs, olive oil, native jams, sauces and marinades and eucalyptus products. Over the next two days some of these unique enterprises will be visited. Later in the day travel to Kingscote and check into our hotel for the next three nights. Dinner at a local restaurant.
(B L D) Overnight Seaside Inn (or similar)

10 & 11 | KANGAROO ISLAND FRI 18 & SAT 19 OCT
Owing to its isolation from mainland Australia, Kangaroo Island has become a special and protected place and a true wildlife sanctuary. KI is also known for its amazing wildlife experiences and spectacular scenery. During our time on the Island we’ll visit Flinders Chase National Park with its stunningly beautiful deserted beaches, crazy natural rock formations and bushwalking trails as well as locations where Australian sea lions and New Zealand fur seals can be seen lazing around or frolicking in the sea. We’ll explore the history of the Soldier Settlement Scheme with a visit to the Soldier Settlement Museum in Parndana. On our trip to the north coast we’ll visit Stokes Bay Bush Garden, a fabulous private garden of three hectares in an isolated location, with over 1,500 named plants that survive in an annual rainfall of around 20 inches or 500 millimetres, the garden has a wonderful mix of native plants indigenous to southern Australia, some only found on Kangaroo Island.
(B L -) Overnight Seaside Inn (or similar)

12 | KANGAROO ISLAND TO ADELAIDE SUN 20 OCT
Depart on the morning ferry from Penneshaw to Cape Jervis and travel north through the McLaren Vale region. Enjoy a winery lunch, prior to returning into Adelaide. Remainder of the day free and this evening gather for a farewell dinner in a nearby restaurant.
(B L D) Overnight Adelaide – Hotel Grand Chancellor (or similar)

13 | DEPART ADELAIDE MON 21 OCT
(B - - )

PER PERSON, DOUBLE - from $5,940.00 (Land only)

Single Occupancy - add $1,040.00
Plus Gov't Taxes
INITIAL DEPOSIT - $2,000.00 at time of booking
FINAL PAYMENT due prior to June 30, 2019

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