Wine & Wildlife of the Southeast

Barossa & McLaren Vale - Self Drive

Day 1: Barossa. Drive north for approximately one hour to Australia's wine mecca. Spend time tasting some of Australia’s premium wines including Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro, Cabernet Sauvignon and Semillon, across over 80 cellar doors whilst enjoying sumptuous local produce. Take the rare and special opportunity to step inside a working vineyard and learn how the science and hard work of grape growing has, for generations, supported the art and magic of winemaking in the Barossa. Or be guided through a food and wine matching class, perhaps with a focus on cheese, chocolate or even tea blending.

Accommodation: Flexible Options Available*

Day 2: McLaren Vale. Drive south to the picturesque McLaren Vale wine region with over 50 small to medium wineries. It is situated near the coast hence the area has a distinctly Mediterranean feel. Tours of the McLaren Vale wine region feature some of the most beautiful scenery in the state. Wineries include Wirra Wirra, d'Arenberg, Coriole and the historic Hardy's Winery. Other attractions include the Olive Grove and Medlow Fine Gels. 

Accommodation: Flexible Options Available*

Kangaroo Island - Fished, Farmed & Fermented Private Tour

Day 3: North Coast & Seal Bay. Upon arriving from your morning flight from Adelaide, travel through to Kangaroo Island's prime farming regions, where, depending on the season, you can see sheep, cattle, and various grains while exploring the island's mix of natural and productive landscapes. At Lathami Conservation Park, take a guided walk through the bush to discover the local wildlife and learn about the sounds, tracks, and markings left behind by animals. Search for wallabies, unique to the island, and observe the distinctive Australian birds, plants, and animals. Next, visit Stokes Bay, known for its hidden beach and local fishing spots where families catch a variety of delicious sea fish. Enjoy a barbecue lunch at a private bush camp on the "Ellamatta" sheep stud, featuring King George whiting, grilled halloumi, fresh salads, and local wines. Continue to Seal Bay for a private tour of the Australian Sea-lion colony. Watch sea-lions rest and interact, and look for pups, young males, and dominant bulls.

Accommodation: Kangaroo Island Lodge

Day 4: American River. Begin your day with a visit to Kangaroo Island Olives for a tasting of their olives and olive oil. The island's Mediterranean climate is ideal for olive cultivation. Next, get an overview of Fryar's Free-range Eggs farm. While biosecurity measures prevent entry, you'll learn about their use of Italian Maremma dogs and the 60,000 free-range hens that produce 15,000 dozen eggs weekly. Enjoy a tasting of Pacific oysters from the American River at the Kangaroo Island Oyster Farm Shop, complemented by a crisp local white wine.

Break for a platter of smoked meats, salads, and homemade chutneys, paired with a selection of local wines, beers, and soft drinks. Visit Clifford's Honey Farm to explore the island's 130-year-old honey industry and sample diverse honey flavours from local nectars. Conclude the day with a tasting session at Kangaroo Island Spirits, one of Australia's pioneering boutique gin distilleries, where you can sample their full range of gins and liqueurs.

Accommodation: Kangaroo Island Lodge

Kangaroo Island - Fished, Farmed & Fermented Private Tour

Day 5: Flinders Chase National Park. Start your day in the northwest of the island at Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife, a vital private wildlife refuge. Here, join Pat, Heidi, and their team to learn about and participate in their conservation efforts for lesser-known and often nocturnal native animals. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush featuring marinated poached chicken, fresh salads, cheeses, and a selection of South Australian wines, beers, soft drinks, and spring water.

After lunch, head to Flinders Chase National Park to marvel at the Remarkable Rocks, massive natural sculptures with forms reminiscent of Henry Moore and Salvador Dali, set against panoramic cliffside views that offer excellent photo opportunities. Nearby, a boardwalk leads to Admirals Arch, a coastal grotto home to a large colony of long-nosed fur seals. Watch these seals swim gracefully through the waves and rest on rock ledges. Conclude your day by exploring the earliest human occupation of the island and learning about the Indigenous Australians' traditional practices of foraging, hunting, and fishing from the local environment. Return to Adelaide via your afternoon flight.

Accommodation: Flexible Options Available*

Day 6: Adelaide. Connect with your flight to the capital of Tasmania, Hobart.

Accommodation: Flexible Options Available*

The Maria Island Walk - Shared Tour

Day 7: Casuarina. After a morning pickup in Hobart, you will be transferred to Triabunna, where you will take a cruise across Mercury Passage to Maria Island, reaching its pristine sandy isthmus. These untouched beaches are home to various bird species, including Pied and Sooty Oystercatchers, Crested Terns, and Hooded Dotterels. After a delicious lunch overlooking Shoal Bay's azure waters, you'll walk to the tranquil Casuarina Beach camp. The afternoon offers a trail through tall eucalypt forests to the stunning Haunted Bay, known for its vivid lichen-covered granite rocks. On the return, watch for Short-beaked Echidnas, Pademelons, wallabies, and Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos. In the evening, after a gourmet Tasmanian dinner, enjoy a sunset beach stroll with a glass of wine, reflecting on the day's adventures.

Accommodation: Wilderness Glamping at Casuarina Beach Camp | Walk length: approximately 8km

Day 8: Casuarina. Waking to the chatter of Yellow Wattlebirds, you'll enjoy breakfast and then embark on a scenic walk along five stunning beaches. Watch Bottlenose Dolphins surf and White-bellied Sea Eagles soar while strolling past exotic shells. Traverse grassy tussocks, sand dunes, and reach Bloodstone Beach, retracing the steps of French explorer Nicholas Baudin from 1802. Visit the historical Point Lesueur probation outpost before heading to White Gums Camp. Enjoy a swim or spot numerous bird species, including the rare Forty-spotted Pardalote and various honeyeaters, as well as Common Wombats, Bennett's Wallabies, and Forester Kangaroos. In Spring, look for cuckoos nesting in other birds' nests. Relax with fellow walkers and savour a candlelit dinner featuring fine Tasmanian food and wine, concluding your perfect day.

Accommodation: Wilderness Glamping at White Gums Camp | Walk length: approximately 13km

The Maria Island Walk - Shared Tour

Day 9: Mt Maria or Bishops and Clerk. Today, your local guides will lead you inland to explore the lush, majestic forests and the world's largest stand of giant Tasmanian Blue Gums. You might spot Common Wombats and the endangered Swift Parrot, which nests in tree hollows along the east coast of Tasmania in August. For a breathtaking experience, choose to climb Mt Maria or Bishop and Clerk for panoramic views of Tasman Island, Freycinet, Schouten Island, and the Ile Des Phoques. At the peaks, you'll see remnants of the last glaciation, including dolerite boulders. In the evening, arrive at Darlington's World Heritage-listed settlement and stay at the colonial Bernacchi House. Enjoy a final night banquet with fine wine, while observing Bennett's Wallabies and Tasmanian Pademelons in the garden.

Accommodation: Bernacchi House | Walk length: approximately 9-17km

Day 10: Darlington. The final day commences with a delicious breakfast followed by a walk around the northern tip of Maria Island. This trail covers a variety of spectacular woodlands and forests, before arriving at the dramatic sea cliffs of Fossil Bay. These massive limestone cliffs store a prolific volume of fossils from a 280 million-year-old sea bed including fully formed shell fossils. Arriving back at Darlington, it is common to see grazing Common Wombats, Forester Kangaroos, Bennett's Wallabies, Cape Barren Geese, and Tasmanian Native Hens, with a keen eye spotting pairs of beautiful Flame Robins darting around. Before boarding the boat to go back to mainland Tasmania and Hobart, walkers will enjoy a celebratory farewell lunch to reminisce about the amazing four days of walking across this beautiful Island. 

Accommodation: Flexible Options Available*

Hunter Valley and Southern Highlands - Private Tour

Day 11: Sydney. Take a flight from Hobart to the Harbour city of Sydney.

Accommodation: Flexible Options Available*

Day 12: Southern Highlands. After departing Sydney late morning or early afternoon, you'll journey to the tranquil Southern Highlands to encounter Australia's iconic wildlife, including eastern grey Kangaroos, Red-necked and Swamp Wallabies, Common Wombats, Emus, and Platypuses, along with vibrant bird species like Eastern Rosellas, Crimson Rosellas, King Parrots and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. You'll explore private farmland and pristine bushland, learning about the Great Western Wildlife Corridor's importance in connecting native species between the southern Blue Mountains and Morton National Park.

A visit to Fitzroy Falls will provide you with spectacular views and birdwatching, with a chance to spot the Superb Lyrebird, renowned for its incredible mimicry and fascinating mating display. At dusk, you will have the chance to search for the elusive Platypus, contributing to local conservation efforts. After dinner at Australia's oldest licensed inn, you will embark on a nocturnal spotlighting adventure to see Brush-tailed Possums, Wombats, and with some luck Tawny Frogmouths, before returning to Sydney in the late evening.

Accommodation: Flexible Options Available*

Day 13: Hunter Valley.  Located just two hours north of Sydney, the Hunter Valley is renowned for its exceptional Semillons and Shiraz, among other outstanding varietals. This region boasts some of the world's oldest vine stocks, with kangaroos often seen grazing alongside them, and award-winning wineries scattered along scenic country roads. Your day focuses on exploring some of the Hunter's historic wineries. Begin at Tyrrell's, a family-owned establishment for five generations. Enjoy a private, behind-the-scenes tour with a member of the winemaking team, featuring exclusive access, barrel tastings, and a guided tasting of Tyrrell's acclaimed Single Vineyard and Winemaker's Selection wines. Next, head to Audrey Wilkinson for breathtaking 360-degree views. Relish a private wine tasting followed by a picnic lunch in the picturesque grounds, overlooking the Brokenback Range, accompanied by a bottle of wine from your tasting. The day concludes at Brokenwood Wines, where you'll embark on a tasting journey of six wines paired with matched dishes. Finish in the Barrel Room with the unique chance to sample pre-release wines straight from the barrel.