Meet your local guide at 8:00 AM at your nominated Melbourne hotel, and commence your journey along one of the world’s most spectacular coastal touring routes, the Great Ocean Road.

From Torquay to Apollo Bay, the road hugs forested coastal cliffs as it twists and turns past white sand surf beaches and through picturesque seaside villages. The hinterland of towering gum trees provides the perfect habitat for koalas, kangaroos, and colorful native parrots. Indulge in a lunch of locally sourced seafood in the quaint coastal township of Apollo Bay.

The road then turns inland through lush green, semi-temperate rainforest, featuring ferny gullies, moss-covered timber, and freshwater cascades. Enjoy a rainforest walk in the Great Otway National Park before arriving at the scenic highlight of the Great Ocean Road – the iconic Twelve Apostles. Battered by the fierce waves of the Southern Ocean, the dramatic coastline has been relentlessly carved into limestone towers, gorges, and caves. Stroll along cliff-edge boardwalks for the perfect vantage point, with the option to view from above with a short helicopter flight.

Check into your accommodation for the evening and freshen up before dinner. Your guide can transfer you to a relaxed dinner (at your own expense) at a classic Australian pub where you may meet some locals and sample the region's produce.

Following a comfortable night’s sleep, you may wish to wake early to catch sunrise at the Twelve Apostles or enjoy a morning at leisure before exploring some of the less-visited wonders of the Port Campbell National Park, such as London Bridge, The Grotto, and Bay of Islands.

Continue west to Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve. Tower Hill is home to some of Australia’s best-loved wildlife, including emus, kangaroos, koalas, and more. Join a local Indigenous guide for an exclusive opportunity to gain insight into traditional Aboriginal lifestyles, learn how to identify native plants for food and medicinal purposes, and try your hand at throwing a boomerang.

Lunch will be in the charming maritime village of Port Fairy. Take some time to wander wide streets lined with nineteenth-century cottages, great Norfolk pines, and old stone churches before continuing your journey to cross the state border from Victoria to South Australia.

In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Mount Gambier, where you will check into your accommodation for the evening. Your guide can assist with dinner (at your own expense) plans and transfers.

Meet your guide for the final day of the journey at 9:00 AM, and continue on to Adelaide. As volcanoes rocked the region over 5,000 years ago, lava caves formed, an array of sinkholes developed, and breathtaking lakes established within the limestone foundation of the region. This morning, you will visit geological wonders such as the garden-veiled Umpherston Sinkhole and Blue Lake.

Departing Mount Gambier, continue to the Coonawarra Wine Region – perhaps Australia’s most famous terroir. Coonawarra’s agricultural history began in the mid-1800s, and thanks to pioneering efforts by people like David Wynn and Bill Redman, today Coonawarra is Australia’s foremost cool-climate region for Cabernet Sauvignon. Visit some of the region's famed vineyards for wine tastings, followed by lunch at a leading vineyard restaurant.

En route to Adelaide, stop at the world heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves. Formed some 500,000 years ago, the Naracoorte Caves are recognized as one of the world’s most complete fossil sites, preserving the bones of megafauna that became extinct around 40,000 years ago. Join a guided tour offering the opportunity to analyze complete skeletons of megafauna species.

Relax as you travel through the Tatiara region to Adelaide. Tatiara was the name given by the Aboriginals to this patch of “good country.” Settled by pastoralists in 1846, the region is renowned for sheep, wheat, Lucerne, and includes the Padthaway wine region. Late afternoon (approximately 6:00 PM), you will conclude your Melbourne to Adelaide tour. After departing the Grampians National Park, visit Mount Langi Ghiran Winery, one of Australia’s most celebrated producers of Shiraz and a jewel in the crown of the esteemed Grampians wine region. Join your host for a structured tasting of their exceptional wines before returning to Melbourne.