Great Ocean Road And Kangaroo Island Escape (7 Days)

Want an adventure that starts with a bang? This is it. We advise arriving early for a Melbourne laneway tour, taking in the city’s eye-popping alleys filled with colourful art. Then you’re on your way from Melbourne on a Great Ocean Road tour, enjoying a snaking coastal route that is one of the world’s most epic journeys. Across a dramatic 240 kilometers you’ll take in limestone stacks like the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge. Then traverse through World Heritage listed rainforest, skirting untouched coastal coves, and pausing in sleepy towns like Lorne and Apollo Bay, where bare feet and boardshorts are the dress code. We wouldn’t blame you for following suit…

Emus, kangaroos, koalas, echidnas… oh my! These are just some of the animals you’ll likely spot as you drive through Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve – housed in a dormant volcanic crater. 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.

Nature rules large again today as you weave along South Australia’s wild and wonderful Fleurieu Peninsula to Victor Harbor. After rolling hills, sandy beaches and rugged cliffs, you’re greeted with the charms of this seaside town – the gateway to Kangaroo Island. Fun fact: it still has a steam train. But you’re boarding the ferry for your journey toward Australia’s ‘mini Galapagos’ to tour Kangaroo Island. Kangaroo Island deserves its moniker, as you’ll discover tomorrow. But today, a well-deserved tasting of craft beer awaits at a boutique brewery, the only one on the island. How does Indian Pale Ale sound or a Mexican inspired brew made using a combination of malted barley and flaked rice?