The Great Ocean Road and Kangaroo Island Adventure (Basix)

Leave Melbourne and hit the road west to Geelong and the famous surf town of Torquay. From there, begin the journey along one of Australia’s most beautiful and famous drives, the Great Ocean Road. Stop in at Kennett River for some koala spotting, then break for lunch in Apollo Bay. Continue on to the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, spending the night in Warrnambool.

Begin the day checking out more of the Great Ocean Road's wonders, then drive into the Grampians National Park – an area rich in Aboriginal culture and beautiful landscapes. Visit the Brambuk Aboriginal Culture Centre to learn about the period known as the Dreaming, then hike up to the Pinnacles for impressive views across the Grampians. Tonight enjoy a traditional Aussie barbecue in Halls Gap.

Hike up to McKenzie Falls, the highest waterfalls in the Grampians, and check out other sights such as The Balconies, Reeds Lookout and the Jaws of Death. Leaving the Grampians, pass through the town of Horsham before crossing the famed mighty Murray River and making the last leg of the journey into Adelaide.

After an early morning start from the Adelaide Central Bus Station (meet at the SeaLink desk at 6.15am for a 6.45am departure), travel along the picture-perfect Fleurieu Peninsula to Cape Jervis for the 45-minute SeaLink ferry ride to Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island. While crossing, it is not uncommon to have an escort of local dolphins that can be viewed from the dolphin deck on the boat. Once you disembark, stop in at Rob's Shearing and Sheepdogs to check out how sheep are shorn, then continue to Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery – the only commercial eucalyptus distillery in South Australia. Next up is a visit to the Seal Bay Conservation Park, where you'll have the opportunity to see rare Australian Sea-lions up close in a wild breeding colony. Travel on to the white sand dunes of the Little Sahara, where you’ll get the chance to give sand boarding a shot, then arrive at your exclusive accommodation in Vivonne Bay Lodge. Enjoy some free time to kayak on the Harriet River, go for a self-guided walk along the property’s tracks, head out trail bike riding or swimming, or simply kick back along Vivonne Bay Beach. Accommodation tonight is in eight-person dormitory rooms with shared bathrooms (bed linen provided).

After breakfast, pop into the Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and search for koalas lazing in the eucalyptus trees. Next up it’s Flinders Chase National Park, where you’ll find a collection of boulders that really live up to their name – the Remarkable Rocks. You’ll arrive ahead of the crowds that come to see this signature sight of giant weathered stones that guard the view over Kirkpatrick Point. Ramble across the rocky coastline, admire the seascapes, then stop in at Admirals Arch on Cape Du Couedic to see the resident fur seals frolicking in the ocean or basking on the rocks. Depending on the time and weather, make a few stops en route to Penneshaw, where you can purchase dinner (own expense) before arriving back in Adelaide.

Notes: Driving time whilst on the Island will be the majority of the day, with constant stops for sightseeing. The ferry Journey is approximately 45 minutes back to the mainland with a journey of 1.5 hours back to central Adelaide. Arrival time will be approximately 10:40pm. Walking distances are several hundred metres at each location.