Tour Type: Premium Escorted
Duration: 13 Days
Tour Starts In: Sydney
Tour Finishes In: Sydney
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from: AU $3795 pp
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 Click Map To Enlarge Tour Description
If you have just 13 days to tour the best of Australia, this fully escorted coach travel from Sydney return, is the easiest way. Start at the top with a Canberra Parliament House tour, then rise even higher with a chairlift ride on Australia's tallest mountain, Kosciuszko. Come down to bushranger Ned Kelly's level, then rise to cosmopolitan culture of ?magnificent Melbourne?. Smell the oceans of the Great Australian Bight from the Great Ocean Road, and bite the produce of the Barossa, Mildura and Yarra regions. Stay 2 nights on Australia's quintessential Kangaroo Island with its Remarkable Rocks and wildlife. Go for mountains, lakes, oceans, history, architecture, wildlife, wine & great food on this great tour! Tour Inclusions:
- Full Buffet Breakfasts (12) (B)
- Lunch (2) (L)
- Hotel Dinners (7) (D)
- Welcome Drink
- All Purpose Travel Wallet & Map
- Airport Transfers (Day prior to tour from Sydney Airport, flights anytime. Day 13 to Sydney Airport, flights to depart after 8pm)
Tour Highlights:
- Gold Creek Sheep Station
- Tour of Parliament House
- Kosciuszko National Park
- Explore historic Beechworth
- Travel the Great Ocean Road
- The amazing Twelve Apostles
- Tour the spectacular Coorong
- Tower Hill Game Reserve
- View the mysterious Blue Lake
- 2 nights on Kangaroo Island
- Sea Lions at Seal Bay
- Mysterious Whispering Wall
- Barossa Valley wine region
- Chateau Yaldara Winery
- Banrock Station Wetlands
- Picturesque Riverina District
- Spectacular Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains
- Aboriginal Cultural Experience
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Day
1 |
Sydney - Canberra
Today our highlights are a barbecue lunch, sheep shearing demonstration at a working sheep station, a city tour of Australia's capital city Canberra and a guided tour of Parliament House. This evening enjoy a welcome drink with your Tour Director and fellow travelling companions. Stay: Rydges Lakeside, Canberra (L/D) |
Day
2 |
Snowy Mountains
Visit charming Cooma, gateway to the Snowy Mountains, for morning tea. See Lake Jindabyne and stunning mountain scenery in Kosciuszko National Park, where there is time for an optional chairlift ride. We also enjoy a journey along the picturesque Alpine Way and a unique overnight stay in one of the Bed & Breakfast properties in historic Beechworth. Beechworth is Victoria’s best preserved gold rush town with its carefully restored colonial buildings and historic precinct. Its 19th century streets showcase an eclectic mix of galleries, collectables, handcrafts, old pubs, cafes, provedores, restaurants and lots more. Stay: Boutique Country Accommodation, Beechworth (B) |
Day
3 |
Melbourne
Get to know Beechworth with a tour and some free time to explore the legendary Beechworth Bakery with its fresh pastries and sweets, as well as the antique shops and galleries. Later we’ll see the museum then it’s on through Glenrowan and Ned Kelly country to culturally diverse and cosmopolitan Melbourne. A dinner option tonight is onboard the distinctive Colonial Tram Car Restaurant. Stay: Crowne Plaza, Melbourne (2 nights) (B) |
Day
4 |
Melbourne ‘Free Time’
Today Melbourne is all yours to explore. You’ll have time to discover some of the secrets of this exceptional city - a myriad of cafés, galleries, museums, markets, restaurants, laneways and parks await you. Or if you want to get out of town you can take a tour to Phillip Island's Little Penguins, the Yarra Valley’s wineries or Sovereign Hill’s goldmine. You’re spoilt for choice. (B) |
Day
5 |
Great Ocean Road
Hold on to your seats today for one of the world’s great road trips - The Great Ocean Road. We’ll get plenty of photo opportunities along this gorgeous coastal road, including stops at surfingmecca Torquay, world famous Bells Beach, a visit to the amazing Twelve Apostles, before finishing the day in the whale watching capital of Warrnambool. Stay: Country Comfort, Warrnambool (B/D) |
Day
6 |
Mt. Gambier
This morning we visit Worn Gundidi at Tower Hill State Game Reserve. Erupting 32,000 years ago Tower Hill’s volcanic formation is the largest example in Victoria. The area was a rich food source for the Koroitgundidj people whose descendants retain links with this country. Our guide will provide us with an Aboriginal perspective about flora, wildlife, volcanic formations, bush existence and medicinal practices. Then marvel at the pristine vistas before we continue through picturesque Port Fairy, along the coast and over the border to South Australia. We skirt the Lower Glenelg National Park into Mount Gambier for a city tour and stop at the spectacular and mysterious Blue Lake. Stay: Quality Inn International, Mt. Gambier (B/D) |
Day
7 |
Coorong
Travelling through Millicent we head to the amazing Coorong National Park. Here we’ll take a guided bush walk with a local Aboriginal guide through this ecologically important, major migratory bird habitat. Then it’s through Meningie, located on the shores of Lake Albert, en route to Adelaide, where we’ll take a city tour. The afternoon is yours to explore the gorgeous “City of Churches”. Stay: Intercontinental Adelaide (B) |
Day
8 |
Victor Harbor
First up seaside Glenelg then we continue on to the picturesque coastal village of Victor Harbor on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Here you’ll have some free time to explore, maybe take a walk to Granite Island and see some sensational coastal views. Next we travel by ferry to Kangaroo Island for our two-night stay. Tonight we’ll have dinner at the Aurora Ozone Hotel, overlooking the spectacular Backstair Passage. Stay: Aurora Ozone Hotel, Kangaroo Island (2 nights) (B/D) |
Day
9 |
Kangaroo Island
Today we explore Kangaroo Island! At Seal Bay we’ll take a guided tour along the beach among the Australian Sea Lions. We’ll experience more great photo opportunities at the Remarkable Rocks and Admiral’s Arch. We’ll also do some koala, wallaby and kangaroo spotting at Flinders Chase National Park. (B/L/D) |
Day
10 |
Barossa Valley
We leave Kangaroo Island, ferrying back to Cape Jervis, then we’re off through the Adelaide Hills today, we stop at the mysterious Whispering Wall then travel to the picturesque Barossa Valley - taking in some sensational panoramic views from Mengler Lookout - then it’s on to the real business - a winery visit - to Chateau Yaldara for a tour and tasting! We’ll also visit the Angas Park Fruit Centre then relax and watch the sunset over the vineyards at Barossa Valley Novotel Resort – what a way to end the day! Stay: Novotel Barossa Valley Resort (B/D) |
Day
11 |
Barossa Valley - Mildura
This morning we visit Banrock Station and its Interpretive Centre where you can learn about the fascinating wetlands. Travel on to Mildura, a charming oasis by the Murray River, often referred to as the Mediterranean in the outback, with its picturesque citrus groves and vineyards. Tonight you'll have the opportunity to sample the array of fresh food and wine at one of the local restaurants. Or simply relax at the hotel. Stay: Mercure Hotel, Mildura (B) |
Day
12 |
Banrock Station
This morning we visit Banrock Station and its Interpretive Centre where you can learn about the fascinating wetlands. Travel on to Mildura, a charming oasis by the Murray River, often referred to as the Mediterranean in the outback, with its picturesque citrus groves and vineyards. Tonight you'll have the opportunity to sample the array of fresh food and wine at one of the local restaurants. Or simply relax at the hotel. Stay: Country Comfort, Wagga Wagga (B/D) |
Day
13 |
Blue Mountains - Sydney
Our scenic journey through mid western New South Wales is packed with Australian icons. From a stop-and-see of Don Bradman ’s birth place, to Bathurst and a hot lap of Mount Panorama, to the impressive World Heritage listed Blue Mountains and the Three Sisters, we finish up at Sydney in the shadows of one of the great Australian icons – the Harbour Bridge. And here our Grand Southern Discovery ends. You will be transferred to Sydney Airport for your onward flight. (B) |
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Click on the icon to download the 13 Day Grand Southern Discovery tour in pdf format. |
I had a great time, except for the weather for the first couple of days, which you had no control over! The excursions included in the tour were very good, as was the tour guide and driver, Barbara and Darren, they were both knowledgable, and good fun. Relaxing Holiday? No, I seemed to be on the go most of the time, but would I do it again, most certainly, but probably at a different season.
Terry Bonwick (UK)
Tour Date 21/04/2009 |
Great trip - AAT Kings does a nice job. Bus was a bit old and worn. The trip from Adelaide back to Sydney was longer than we expected...helping clients think through more clearly whether it might make more sense to spend an extra day in Adelaide to visit wineries and then fly back and do a day trip to the Blue Mountains might be helpful. If it had been laid out clearly for us, we might have opted for that.
Naomi & Joel Kleinman (United States)
Tour Date 21/11/2008 |
Tour Prices
All tour prices are per person, twin share. |
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EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL OFFER*
Exclusive Sale! Save $AU 200 per person off the brochure price!
Valid for bookings made with Relaxing Journeys between 1 July 2010 and 31 July 2010
. Subject to availability at time of booking. |
Tour
Starts |
Tour
Finishes |
Tour
Status |
Brochure
Price |
OUR
SPECIAL |
OUR
PRICE |
| 14 Sep 2010 |
26 Sep 2010 |
G |
AU $3995 |
Save $200 |
AU $3795 |
| 19 Oct 2010 |
31 Oct 2010 |
G |
AU $3995 |
Save $200 |
AU $3795 |
| 02 Nov 2010 |
14 Nov 2010 |
G |
AU $3995 |
Save $200 |
AU $3795 |
| 07 Dec 2010 |
19 Dec 2010 |
|
AU $3995 |
Save $200 |
AU $3795 |
| 25 Jan 2011 |
06 Feb 2011 |
G |
AU $3995 |
Save $200 |
AU $3795 |
| 08 Feb 2011 |
20 Feb 2011 |
|
AU $3995 |
Save $200 |
AU $3795 |
| 15 Mar 2011 |
27 Mar 2011 |
G |
AU $3995 |
Save $200 |
AU $3795 |
| 29 Mar 2011 |
10 Apr 2011 |
|
AU $3995 |
Save $200 |
AU $3795 |
| 05 Apr 2011 |
17 Apr 2011 |
G |
AU $4155 |
Save $200 |
AU $3955 |
| 19 Apr 2011 |
01 May 2011 |
|
AU $4155 |
Save $200 |
AU $3955 |
| 24 May 2011 |
05 Jun 2011 |
|
AU $4155 |
Save $200 |
AU $3955 |
| 07 Jun 2011 |
19 Jun 2011 |
|
AU $4155 |
Save $200 |
AU $3955 |
| 30 Aug 2011 |
11 Sep 2011 |
|
AU $4155 |
Save $200 |
AU $3955 |
| 13 Sep 2011 |
25 Sep 2011 |
G |
AU $4155 |
Save $200 |
AU $3955 |
| 18 Oct 2011 |
30 Oct 2011 |
|
AU $4155 |
Save $200 |
AU $3955 |
| 01 Nov 2011 |
13 Nov 2011 |
G |
AU $4155 |
Save $200 |
AU $3955 |
| 06 Dec 2011 |
18 Dec 2011 |
|
AU $4155 |
Save $200 |
AU $3955 |
*Tour Status: 'G' tours are guaranteed to depart.
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Tour Discounts & Supplements:
Optional extras, single traveller supplement & multiple traveller discounts. |
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| Single Supplement: |
Add |
AU $880 |
| Child Discount: |
Save |
AU $800 |
| Frequent Traveller: |
Save |
AU $200 |
| Triple Discount: |
Save |
AU $200 |
| Friendly Fours: |
Save |
AU $200 |
| Concession Cards: |
Save |
AU $45 |
*Terms & Conditions apply to any discounts and/or specials above. Your designated tour consultant will apply the appropriate discounts automatically to your quote and detail any currently applicable 'Exclusive Specials'. |
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