11 DAY TASTES OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA
11 DAY TASTES OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA
This trip fully deserves its name. Expect to sample some of Southern Australia’s most drool-worthy produce – think craft beers, wines and cheeses – and also savour some of its most dreamy landscapes, from the Great Ocean Road’s Twelve Apostles to the sparkling coves of South Australia on a Kangaroo Island tour. In between there are Phillip Island little penguins, Melbourne laneways, the Barossa and Canberra, Australia’s culture-filled capital.
READ MORE >
End Location: Adelaide
TOP HIGHLIGHTS
- Meet a local grazier at Gold Creek Station
- Learn about volcanic formations from an Indigenous perspective on a guided tour of Tower Hill
- Taste some of Kangaroo Island’s finest beer at a local brewery
- Learn about seal conservation as you embark on a guided walk on Kangaroo Island
- Connect with 9 local specialists
- Try some of the Barossa Valley's best wine at Seppeltsfield before exploring their Jam Factory to watch local artisans at work, watch soap making or try some of the handmade skin and body oils at Vasse Virgin
ITINERARY
Day 1: Sydney - Canberra
As hard as it is to say goodbye to Sydney, it’s just as easy to say hello to the Southern Highlands. South of the ‘Harbour City’, the bucolic countryside of Berrima awaits – fun fact: this is the oldest Georgian village in Australia. Not far from here you’re welcomed to Gold Creek Station by sheep farmer Craig Starr for a Be My Guest BBQ lunch and tales about life on the land. And what eye-catching land it is, ringed by glorious gardens and deciduous forest that changes colour with the seasons. Your Sydney to Melbourne trip continues onward to the country's cool little capital, home to Parliament House, where you’ll go behind the political scenes, as well as the Australian War Memorial. Hearing the Last Post on your Canberra guided tour is a moving experience
Overnight: Canberra
Meals: Breakfast
Day 2: Canberra - Wangaratta
Get some Canberra perspective from the summit of Mt. Ainslie. You won’t be able to see the Murray River, but you’ll soon cross it en route to Beechworth, Victoria’s best-preserved gold rush town. Get the lowdown on Beechworth over a chat with the publican of the historic local pub, then set you on your way to explore character-filled antiques stores, galleries and museums at your leisure. There are plenty of charming places to refuel, as well, before Wangaratta’s cathedrals beckon.
Overnight: Wellington
Day 3: Wangaratta - Melbourne
Meandering south toward historic Glenrowan, you’re well and truly in Ned Kelly country – this is where the infamous bushranger and his gang were finally captured in 1880. We’ll tell you all the tales, then a few more about Melbourne, the home of Aussie rules football, some of the country’s best arts institutions, and a swag of stellar restaurants, cafés and bars. Once you have your bearings, explore as you will. We can help with evening restaurant reservations, as well as Melbourne laneway tours. But there’s something magical about just getting lost in the art-filled alleys of Australia’s second-largest city, discovering underground jazz lounges and rooftop eateries to watch the sunset.
Overnight: Melbourne
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Melbourne Free Time
You’re on your own today. Well, not really, because your Travel Director is at your service to help arrange sightseeing experiences. After you’ve enjoyed a strong coffee in one of Melbourne’s atmospheric laneways, that is. Adrenaline junkie? Linger in the city, gaining bird’s-eye views from the Eureka Skydeck, the Southern Hemisphere’s highest attraction, looming almost 300 metres above the ground. Animal lover? Venture out on a Phillip Island little penguin tour to see hundreds of these cute creatures pad from the ocean along the sand back to snuggle in their burrows for the night. Want to get back to nature? Chug through the lush Dandenong Ranges on the Puffing Billy Steam Train, followed by a sip or two of wine in the Yarra Valley. This cool-climate growing region makes standout chardonnay, pinot noir and sparklings. The choice is yours.
Overnight: Melbourne
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Melbourne - Warrnambool
The Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s most epic journeys, a dramatic 240-kilometre union of limestone stacks (Twelve Apostles, we’re looking at you), World Heritage listed rainforest, untouched coastal coves and sleepy towns, like Lorne and Apollo Bay. It’s hard to know where to point your camera. We recommend having it poised to snap shots of the Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge rock formations. It doesn’t get any better than this.
Overnight: Warrnambool
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Warrnambool - Naracoorte
Emus, kangaroos, koalas, echidnas… oh my! These are just some of the animals you’ll likely spot visiting Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve – housed in a dormant volcanic crater – with an Aboriginal guide. Remarkably, this pocket of paradise was once wasteland, transformed by volunteers. More volcanic history awaits across the South Australian border in Mt. Gambier, home to the crater-filling Blue Lake. Because it’s very blue. And it’s a lake. By now you’ll be pretty thirsty, so it’s a good thing the Coonawarra wine region is around the corner. After a few sips, you may find yourself getting deep – literally. Naracoorte’s Alexandra Cave is a maze of delicate needle-like stalactites and massive twisting columns.
Overnight: Naracoorte
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Naracoorte - Kangaroo Island
The Fleurieu Peninsula region of South Australia is a natural adventure playground, all rolling hills, rugged clifftops and sandy beaches. Seaside Victor Harbor turns on the charms – there are steam locomotives – before your ferry blasts its horn. All aboard to tour Kangaroo Island. A well-deserved tasting of craft beer awaits at a boutique brewery, the only one on the island. How does sheoak stout sound or a Mexican inspired brew made using a combination of malted barley and flaked rice? We won’t judge you for sneaking in a nap en route to is Kingscote, South Australia’s oldest European settlement and your base for the night.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Kangaroo Island
If you like alliterations, you’ll love today’s attractions: first stops are Remarkable Rocks (because these rust-hued monoliths really are) and Admirals Arch, home to an immense colony of raucous fur seals. AAT Kings-sponsored Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary was badly damaged by the 2019 bushfires; your Kangaroo Island tour reveals the part fire plays within this delicate ecosystem, and how koalas and other wildlife adapt to their environment as it regenerates. More wildlife greets you at Seal Bay Conservation Park, where enormous sea lions barrel down the sand to the water. This is one of the most significant breeding colonies in the country, and they are certainly curious characters. Just try not to laugh at their antics.
Overnight: Kangaroo Island
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Kangaroo Island - Adelaide
You’ve arrived in the South Australian capital, known for its well-preserved churches and well-admired cuisine. Did you know that Adelaide boasts more restaurants per capita than any other city in Australia? After a cultural walking tour through the city’s Botanic Gardens with an Aboriginal Guide, and an Adelaide city tour, the afternoon is yours to see just how many you can sample – we have a few recommendations, including a visit to the epic Central Market, where you can try green ant gin with cheese, among so many other delicacies.
Overnight: Adelaide
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10: Adelaide Hills and the Barossa
Pull on your elastic-waisted pants – today is one of indulgences through the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa, dotted with atmospheric towns like Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. A Barossa and Hahndorf tour reveals the bountiful food and wine this pocket of the state is known for. And you’ll enjoy a tasting from small batch wine makers from across the valley as well as discovering local flavours over lunch at Lambert Estate enveloped by vines.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11: Farewell from Adelaide
By day 11, you will have a suitcase full of gin, wine and cheese; a camera full of dreamy images; and more memories than you can count.
DATES & PRICES
We accept 
Interested in this trip? Contact Us for 2026 dates and prices
Applicable taxes vary depending on travel destination and are not included. Please ask your sales agent what extra taxes will be payable for your tour.
WHY CHOOSE ANDERSON VACATIONS?
Anderson Vacations
Other Companies
Small Group Tours
Travel with a limited number of participants for a personalized journey with a tour leader.Experienced Tour Leaders
Who have gone through intensive vetting and training.(But most contract their tour leaders from Anderson Vacations.)
Canadian Travel Experts
With at least 30 years of experience.Min. 95% Satisfaction Rate
From past guests.Travel to unique places, visit more attractions each day.
Without the distractions of tipping.Activities and excursions included as part of the tour.
(Not as add-ons.)Sustainability
Planting one tree for every passenger that travels with us.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide
- Centrally located premium hotels
- National Park entrance fees
EXCLUSIONS
- International Flights
- Optional activities
- Airfare unless specified as included within the itinerary
- Taxes as applicable
- Gratuities for Local Guides, Tour Managers, and/or Bus Drivers
- Travel Insurance and Cancellation Protection (strongly recommended, ask us for a quote!)
- Meals not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
- Items (attractions and sightseeing & entrance fees) not listed as included in the itinerary
Can't find what you're looking for?
Our specialists can take away the stress and create a custom trip tailored to your exact interests and budget.
Get A Custom Quote
OR CALL
1.866.814.7378
Custom Trip Plans
You can see what you want, when you want, how you want.
Unique Experiences
Experiences that help you take in the region in a different way.
Freedom To Explore
Time to take in each place with only the tours you want to do.
Tour Questions
What is the maximum number of travellers in a group?
Anderson Vacations specializes in Small Group Fully Escorted tours. If the tour is classified as a ‘Classic Tour’ up to 24 persons may join the tour although tours commonly travel with anywhere between 18 to 24 travellers. If the tour is classified as a 'Tour of Distinction’ only up to 18 persons may join the tour and many 'Tours of Distinction' travel with 12 to 18 travellers.
What are Guaranteed Departures?
After dreaming about travel to an exciting destination, arranging for time off work, booking your flights the last thing you need is for your trip to be cancelled. Anderson vacation's pre-Guaranteed tours take the uncertainty away from planning your travel and give you peace of mind to book our tours. Pre-Guaranteed Tours are group tours that we have already confirmed as certain to travel on the specified date. All 'Guaranteed Tours' will travel except in the event of a natural disaster or a catastrophic event that is beyond our control. They may already have the minimum number of people booked or else are tours that are known to be popular. Only select departures of tours are 'pre-Guaranteed'.
What happens if I book on a tour that is not Guaranteed?
We pride ourselves on providing “a small shared group experience.” In the event that we have fewer than ten participants on a tour we will offer a “small-group surcharge” to ensure that the tour runs as scheduled. This fee, which is up to 15% of the “land” portion of the tour, will be offered to you as an option to continue with the trip. This fee will cover the costs associated with handling a smaller group.
What is the average age of passengers for this tour?
Our tours are suitable for all age demographics. The average age of travelers is typically 45+.
How physically demanding is this tour? Are you able to accommodate people with mobility restrictions/limitations?
Some tours are mainly coach based and may not be physically demanding while others may require walking inclines or on rough surfaces to access interesting locations. Please check with us and your booking agent carefully and discuss your mobility restrictions before completing any tour booking to ensure this style of travel is right for you.
Can you accommodate passengers with dietary restrictions (food allergies, vegan, vegetarian etc.)?
Yes, we do accommodate dietary restrictions (within reason) such as, food allergies, vegan, vegetarian, etc. There are many meals included on our fully escorted tours. Please inform us of any dietary restrictions at the time of booking so we can ensure there are alternative meal choices.
Booking & Flight Questions
Do you arrange airport transfers?
Yes, we can assist you with airport transfers for you in most locations at a reasonable extra cost. Several tours have airport transfers already included. Please contact us for more details.
Can you assist with booking additional accommodation?
Yes, we can certainly assist with booking additional nights of hotel accommodation for you before and after your fully escorted tour. This is available upon request and subject to availability. Please inquire for further information and prices.
How much luggage should I bring?
Each passenger may bring one large suitcase and one carry-on bag. The weight limit for baggage is 20 kilograms or about 40 pounds. Baggage handling is provided at the hotels in our tour packages but there may be places where you will be required to wheel in your bags for quicker access. Be sure to advise our reservations staff if you will be bringing additional items such as a cane, walker, or wheelchair. You may also bring one small soft-sided carry-on bag, which should easily fit into the overhead shelf of a coach. Each person is responsible for his/her own carryon luggage. Remember to check your airline baggage restrictions if you are flying, as they may differ from Anderson Vacations guidelines.
I am a solo traveller. Is there a single surcharge?
There are options for single travelers to join most tours. Solo travellers can choose to pay a Single Supplement and have their own room throughout the tour. For those willing to share with a co-traveller of the same gender, we have a Twin Share option that is offered for most tours where you share a hotel room with another same gender traveller. In this case, you will not be charged for Single Supplement.
Is it possible to book a triple share accommodation?
Yes, it is possible to book triple share accommodations on select trips. Please inquire or contact us regarding this option, as prices and availability vary from tour to tour.
Can we book this tour with our exclusive group?
Yes, you can! Anderson Vacations works with many private groups and helps to customize a tour to traveller’s needs. Please contact us for more details.
Are gratuities included in the tour cost?
For convenience, gratuities for local guides and meals that are specified in the itinerary are included in the tour price. For meals not included in your tour package please remember that it is customary to tip your server 10-20% in North America. Gratuities for your Coach Driver (where appropriate) and Tour Director are entirely at your discretion. We recommend about CDN $5.00 per person, per day, for your Driver and CDN$7.00 per person, per day for your Tour Leader.
TOURS YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Ready? Have More Questions?
Over 25 years offering custom trips and small group tours.
INQUIRE ABOUT THIS TRIP
OR CALL
1.866.814.7378
DOWNLOAD
Tour Code
11TSA
11 Day Tastes of Southern Australia
11 days
Created On: 19 Jan 2025
Highlights
- Meet a local grazier at Gold Creek Station
- Learn about volcanic formations from an Indigenous perspective on a guided tour of Tower Hill
- Taste some of Kangaroo Island’s finest beer at a local brewery
- Learn about seal conservation as you embark on a guided walk on Kangaroo Island
- Connect with 9 local specialists
- Try some of the Barossa Valley's best wine at Seppeltsfield before exploring their Jam Factory to watch local artisans at work, watch soap making or try some of the handmade skin and body oils at Vasse Virgin
Inclusions
- Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide
- Centrally located premium hotels
- National Park entrance fees
Exclusions
- International Flights
- Optional activities
- Airfare unless specified as included within the itinerary
- Taxes as applicable
- Gratuities for Local Guides, Tour Managers, and/or Bus Drivers
- Travel Insurance and Cancellation Protection (strongly recommended, ask us for a quote!)
- Meals not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
- Items (attractions and sightseeing & entrance fees) not listed as included in the itinerary
Itinerary
Day 1: Sydney - Canberra
As hard as it is to say goodbye to Sydney, it’s just as easy to say hello to the Southern Highlands. South of the ‘Harbour City’, the bucolic countryside of Berrima awaits – fun fact: this is the oldest Georgian village in Australia. Not far from here you’re welcomed to Gold Creek Station by sheep farmer Craig Starr for a Be My Guest BBQ lunch and tales about life on the land. And what eye-catching land it is, ringed by glorious gardens and deciduous forest that changes colour with the seasons. Your Sydney to Melbourne trip continues onward to the country's cool little capital, home to Parliament House, where you’ll go behind the political scenes, as well as the Australian War Memorial. Hearing the Last Post on your Canberra guided tour is a moving experience
Overnight: Canberra
Meals: Breakfast
Day 2: Canberra - Wangaratta
Get some Canberra perspective from the summit of Mt. Ainslie. You won’t be able to see the Murray River, but you’ll soon cross it en route to Beechworth, Victoria’s best-preserved gold rush town. Get the lowdown on Beechworth over a chat with the publican of the historic local pub, then set you on your way to explore character-filled antiques stores, galleries and museums at your leisure. There are plenty of charming places to refuel, as well, before Wangaratta’s cathedrals beckon.
Overnight: Wellington
Day 3: Wangaratta - Melbourne
Meandering south toward historic Glenrowan, you’re well and truly in Ned Kelly country – this is where the infamous bushranger and his gang were finally captured in 1880. We’ll tell you all the tales, then a few more about Melbourne, the home of Aussie rules football, some of the country’s best arts institutions, and a swag of stellar restaurants, cafés and bars. Once you have your bearings, explore as you will. We can help with evening restaurant reservations, as well as Melbourne laneway tours. But there’s something magical about just getting lost in the art-filled alleys of Australia’s second-largest city, discovering underground jazz lounges and rooftop eateries to watch the sunset.
Overnight: Melbourne
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Melbourne Free Time
You’re on your own today. Well, not really, because your Travel Director is at your service to help arrange sightseeing experiences. After you’ve enjoyed a strong coffee in one of Melbourne’s atmospheric laneways, that is. Adrenaline junkie? Linger in the city, gaining bird’s-eye views from the Eureka Skydeck, the Southern Hemisphere’s highest attraction, looming almost 300 metres above the ground. Animal lover? Venture out on a Phillip Island little penguin tour to see hundreds of these cute creatures pad from the ocean along the sand back to snuggle in their burrows for the night. Want to get back to nature? Chug through the lush Dandenong Ranges on the Puffing Billy Steam Train, followed by a sip or two of wine in the Yarra Valley. This cool-climate growing region makes standout chardonnay, pinot noir and sparklings. The choice is yours.
Overnight: Melbourne
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Melbourne - Warrnambool
The Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s most epic journeys, a dramatic 240-kilometre union of limestone stacks (Twelve Apostles, we’re looking at you), World Heritage listed rainforest, untouched coastal coves and sleepy towns, like Lorne and Apollo Bay. It’s hard to know where to point your camera. We recommend having it poised to snap shots of the Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge rock formations. It doesn’t get any better than this.
Overnight: Warrnambool
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Warrnambool - Naracoorte
Emus, kangaroos, koalas, echidnas… oh my! These are just some of the animals you’ll likely spot visiting Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve – housed in a dormant volcanic crater – with an Aboriginal guide. Remarkably, this pocket of paradise was once wasteland, transformed by volunteers. More volcanic history awaits across the South Australian border in Mt. Gambier, home to the crater-filling Blue Lake. Because it’s very blue. And it’s a lake. By now you’ll be pretty thirsty, so it’s a good thing the Coonawarra wine region is around the corner. After a few sips, you may find yourself getting deep – literally. Naracoorte’s Alexandra Cave is a maze of delicate needle-like stalactites and massive twisting columns.
Overnight: Naracoorte
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Naracoorte - Kangaroo Island
The Fleurieu Peninsula region of South Australia is a natural adventure playground, all rolling hills, rugged clifftops and sandy beaches. Seaside Victor Harbor turns on the charms – there are steam locomotives – before your ferry blasts its horn. All aboard to tour Kangaroo Island. A well-deserved tasting of craft beer awaits at a boutique brewery, the only one on the island. How does sheoak stout sound or a Mexican inspired brew made using a combination of malted barley and flaked rice? We won’t judge you for sneaking in a nap en route to is Kingscote, South Australia’s oldest European settlement and your base for the night.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Kangaroo Island
If you like alliterations, you’ll love today’s attractions: first stops are Remarkable Rocks (because these rust-hued monoliths really are) and Admirals Arch, home to an immense colony of raucous fur seals. AAT Kings-sponsored Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary was badly damaged by the 2019 bushfires; your Kangaroo Island tour reveals the part fire plays within this delicate ecosystem, and how koalas and other wildlife adapt to their environment as it regenerates. More wildlife greets you at Seal Bay Conservation Park, where enormous sea lions barrel down the sand to the water. This is one of the most significant breeding colonies in the country, and they are certainly curious characters. Just try not to laugh at their antics.
Overnight: Kangaroo Island
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Kangaroo Island - Adelaide
You’ve arrived in the South Australian capital, known for its well-preserved churches and well-admired cuisine. Did you know that Adelaide boasts more restaurants per capita than any other city in Australia? After a cultural walking tour through the city’s Botanic Gardens with an Aboriginal Guide, and an Adelaide city tour, the afternoon is yours to see just how many you can sample – we have a few recommendations, including a visit to the epic Central Market, where you can try green ant gin with cheese, among so many other delicacies.
Overnight: Adelaide
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10: Adelaide Hills and the Barossa
Pull on your elastic-waisted pants – today is one of indulgences through the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa, dotted with atmospheric towns like Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. A Barossa and Hahndorf tour reveals the bountiful food and wine this pocket of the state is known for. And you’ll enjoy a tasting from small batch wine makers from across the valley as well as discovering local flavours over lunch at Lambert Estate enveloped by vines.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11: Farewell from Adelaide
By day 11, you will have a suitcase full of gin, wine and cheese; a camera full of dreamy images; and more memories than you can count.
