Upon arrival in Melbourne, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

In the afternoon, head to Phillips Island in plenty of time to get in a good position for the nightly penguin parade. Your unforgettable day will commence with a visit to Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park where you are guaranteed plenty of close encounters with an array of Australian native animals like kangaroos, wombats, and echidnas. Traveling further west to the Nobbies, you will stroll along the boardwalk to experience the waves crashing along this dramatic coastline and perhaps spot a few seals and some penguin nests. On to the Penguin Parade where you will see the little penguins come ashore, decked out in their tuxedos as they hurry off to find their burrows. Your qualified ranger will provide detailed commentary about the penguins via headset.

Return to your hotel in Melbourne in the late evening.

The  Great Ocean Road is often described as the world’s most breathtaking coastal drive. Experience this majestic coastal drive in style and enjoy time to relax and fully appreciate the wonders of this world-famous route. Stay on the lookout for some very special animals including whales, dolphins, echidnas, and bandicoots. You will have time to stroll along the wild beaches or stop for a coffee at the striking Split Point Lighthouse and take in the awe-inspiring scenery. You will stop at Apollo Bay, a tranquil seaside town set amongst the soft rolling hills, offering a great selection of cafes and restaurants where you can stop for lunch (not included). Following this, you will enjoy a walk in the forest in the Otway Ranges. A truly unique day out capped off by a visit to the ancient rock formations of the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.

This morning, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Adelaide and connecting to Kangaroo Island where you’ll settle in for a three-night stay. (Flight not included)

Kangaroo Island—or K.I.—is 100 miles long and 35 miles wide at its widest point. This island “broke” from the mainland 10,000 years ago, and evolution has created a number of endemic subspecies. Because the island is free from feral predator pests such as rabbits and foxes, many wildlife species flourish here as they do nowhere else. More than one-third of the island is a National or Conservation Park. Koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, goannas, platypus, snakes, bats, sea lions, whales, sharks, penguins, and a population of about 6,000 New Zealand fur seals all thrive on the island.

Settle into the hotel and get ready for tomorrow’s adventure!

After breakfast, you will be collected by your tour guide and small group for your day of touring. Get an introduction to Island Life – where things take time, drivers wave as they go by or even stop for a chat.

Travel out through Wisanger – past salt lakes first exploited by sealers in the 1800s’. Travel through back roads to Emu Bay – seeking out wallabies, kangaroos, and other creatures in the bush as we traverse the landscape. Break for a home-baked morning tea at Emu Bay – a long white sand beach that is the center of community life through the summer and a welcome slice of solitude in winter.

Travel inland to Cygnet River – the largest drainage basin on the Island which morphs from a dry river bed in summer to a broad flood-out in winter. This region provides habitat for koalas, many parrots, and bush birds in a setting first settled in 1819. Learn about the history of the Eucalyptus oil industry – perhaps the most original Australian product.

Visit a private property among the redgum forest and enjoy a barbeque lunch. After lunch check out the feeding and breeding habitat of the critically endangered Kangaroo Island glossy black cockatoo before continuing to Seal Bay. Here you’ll take a private guided tour into the colony of Australian sea-lions where you can learn about the feeding and breeding behaviour of these photogenic creatures. The experience has been likened to that in the Galapagos, where people and animals enjoy “shared space”.

End the day at D’Estrees Bay where opportunities include looking for osprey or other seabirds, learning about Wreckers’ Beach or taking a walk around the marine lagoon at Wheaton’s Beach.

At the conclusion of the tour, drop off at your accommodation.

After breakfast, you will be collected by your tour guide for your day of touring. Flinders Chase National Park is a protected wildlife habitat and also features important geological features and cultural heritage sites.

At Cape du Couedic visit a fur seal colony, and observe them at rest on the rocks or frolicking in the surf under Admirals Arch – a spectacular coastal grotto. Enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch with wine in the bush before exploring more of the Island. Depending upon the season, the afternoon might include a visit to “Grassdale” in the heart of Kelly Hill Conservation Park, the secluded pools of the Rocky River, or a rugged South Coast cove.

Today your adventure takes you to the state of Tasmania. From Kangaroo Island, fly to Adelaide where you’ll connect to Launceston, Tasmania. (flight not included)

From here, the open road is yours! Pick up your rental car, then enjoy the second half of your trip on your own. All of the lodges we’ve chosen offer a variety of activities that are included in the cost of your trip (note that some activities do require additional fees; inquire for details.)

In your rental car, head out from Launceston and enjoy a fantastically scenic drive to Cradle Mountain in the World Heritage National Park of the same name. If you prefer not to drive, we can make arrangements for you to have a van and driver (not included in the land cost.)

Enjoy a full day exploring the Cradle Mountain area on your own. The walking tracks are well cared for and you have many to choose from, including Pencil Pines Falls and Dove Lake. You are likely to see pademelons (a smaller relative of the wallaby) and wombats near your cabin and out on the trails. Guided walks and nighttime wildlife excursions are offered by the lodge. Depending on the time of year, there also may be options to bike, horseback ride or canoe.

This morning drive approximately five hours from Cradle Mountain to the rugged and beautiful Freycinet Peninsula, which juts out into the sea on Tasmania’s east coast. Freycinet National Park, where you’ll spend your afternoon, consists of granite mountains, azure bays, and picture-perfect white-sand beaches.

Freycinet is a great place for bird watching, as well as many other optional activities, such as surfing, sea kayaking with dolphins, or 4WD to a historic lighthouse. This afternoon, take a walk to Coles Bay or the pass overlooking the perfectly shaped Wineglass Bay, which some say is the most beautiful bay in the world. Later, drive to the lodge for a restful evening.

Today is a full day to explore Freycinet National Park on your own. Enjoy any of the activities you didn’t have time for the day before. There’s plenty to do, so you’ll be content whether you prefer strenuous trekking, beach strolls, swimming, snorkeling, birding, or searching for wildlife.

Say goodbye to Freycinet National Park and begin your drive to Hobart, Tasmania’s capital city and the second oldest capital in Australia after Sydney. Here you’ll have two days to explore. With its captivating colonial history, pristine waterways, rugged mountains, and gourmet experiences, the city has something for everyone. Enjoy the contrast of elegant heritage sandstone alongside modern architecture. Explore Salamanca Place, a short walk from the waterfront, with its galleries, theatres, craft shops and restaurants.

The itinerary is very flexible based on your preferred activities, so be sure to ask your Adventure Specialist for options.

Some favorite things to do are:

• Take a day cruise to the pristine waters of Bruny Island
• Experience the mesmerizing history of Port Arthur
• Visit the attitude-challenging Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)
• Explore the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
• If you are lucky enough to be in Hobart on Saturday, be sure to spend some time at the weekly Salamanca Market.

Alas, your Australian adventure has come to an end. Today you’ll head to the airport to drop off your rental car and check-in for your flight to Sydney or Brisbane and onward.

Not ready to go home? Consider connecting to Brisbane and on to Fraser Island—the largest sand island in the world—for a very different island experience.