Tour Highlights
- Sydney City Tour
- Harbour Lunch Cruise in Sydney
- Famous Kiama Blowhole and the Blue Lake
- Gippsland Lakes views
- Penguin parade on Phillip Island
- Geelong’s Surf Coast Highway
- Great Ocean Road’s world-famous scenic drive
Australia’s Southern Delights
Gallery
Days 1 - 9: Sydney to Batemans Bay
Days 1 - 5: Sydney
Fly from the UK and arrive in Sydney on day three, where you’ll be met and welcomed at the airport before being transferred to your hotel for a three-night stay.
During your time in Sydney, a morning tour of the city is included to provide a great introduction and help get your bearings. On the second day, a Sydney Harbour Cruise is included to see the city’s iconic skyline from the harbour. The remainder of your time is free to explore at your own pace.
For the remainder of your free time, visit the iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge, discover some of the city’s vibrant neighbourhoods, or head to the famous Bondi Beach. There’s plenty of time to enjoy Sydney before the next stage of your motorhome adventure begins.
Days 6 - 7: Kiama
Distance: approx 113 km / 70 miles
Collect your motorhome and head south along the Princes Highway, passing through Wollongong and Shellharbour before arriving in the picturesque coastal town of Kiama.
Kiama’s name is thought to derive from the Aboriginal word “kiaram-a”, meaning ‘where the sea makes a noise’, a fitting description when you watch the famous Kiama Blowhole with seawater propelled up to 60 metres into the air.
Take time to explore the beautifully restored historic timber terrace cottages on Collins Street. Once homes, these charming buildings are now home to a selection of craft and antique shops, making them a lovely place to browse and soak up some of Kiama’s character.
Days 8 - 9: Batemans Bay
Distance: approx 160 km / 99 miles
Continue south along the Princes Highway, with plenty of opportunities to explore along the way.
You might like to stop in the delightful town of Berry or take a short detour inland to Minnamurra Falls where you can admire the scenic waterfall and enjoy a stroll through the surrounding rainforest.
Set at the mouth of the Clyde River, Batemans Bay is renowned for its pristine waters, excellent local oysters and fishing. The nearby lakes of Durras and Tuross are popular for a range of water-based activities, while Lake Coila is particularly famous for its prawns.
For keen walkers, Pigeon House Mountain in Morton National Park is a popular choice. There are several scenic walking trails in the area, including the Corn Trail, which follows the historic route used by early settlers to transport produce down Clyde Mountain to the coast.
Days 10 - 16: Merimbula to Melbourne
Days 10 - 11: Merimbula
Distance: approx 175 km / 109 miles
Return to the Princes Highway today as you travel south to Merimbula, Sapphire Coast’s ‘holiday resort’.
Situated between Tathra and Pambula, Merimbula is situated around beautiful coastal waterways and Top and Back Lakes. These clean tidal lakes provide the perfect site for water sports which can be enjoyed on the lakes, which make Merimbula's waterways a major attraction for visitors.
Days 12 - 13: Lakes Entrance
Distance: approx 267 km / 166 miles
Travel via the towns of Orbost and Nowa Nowa as you make your way to Lakes Entrance, aptly named as it's the entrance to the Gippsland Lakes. It’s a popular destination due to its wonderful beaches as well as a spectacular hinterland featuring mountains, rivers and forests.
The local area is home to dolphins, waterfowl, kangaroos, wombats and koalas giving you the opportunity to spot these wonderful creatures. A short walk across a footbridge takes you to the Entrance and Bass Strait, with Ninety Mile Beach stretching away into the distance.
Optional activities nearby include a winery cruise or a visit to a nature sanctuary to see some of Australia’s native animals.
Days 14 - 16: Melbourne
Distance: approx 312 km / 194 miles
Arrive in Melbourne and spend a couple of days discovering the city and its surrounding area. Explore the laneways' vibrant street art and hidden cafés, visit Melbourne Museum and its Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre.
If you would like to venture beyond the city, to the north-east is the picturesque Yarra Valley, home to more than eighty vineyards. Heading south of Melbourne is Mornington Peninsula with arts, crafts and coastal walks.
A memorable experience is the world-famous Penguin Parade at Phillip Island. Learn more about the penguins in the visitor centre and gather at dusk to watch the colony crossing the beach to their home for the night.
Days 17 - 24: Apollo Bay to Naracoorte
Days 17 - 18: Apollo Bay
Distance: approx 200 km / 124 miles
Depart Melbourne to Geelong where you join the Surfcoast Highway to the pretty coastal resort town of Torquay. This marks the start (or end) of the Great Ocean Road - one of Australia's most spectacular drives. The road hugs the coastline for much of the route, revealing spectacular coastal scenery.
Your destination for this evening is Apollo Bay, a scenic little fishing port nestled in the picturesque foothills of the Otway Ranges. In the town you’ll find a range cafes, art galleries and interesting museums. In particular, the Bass Strait Shell Museum features a huge display of shells from around the world and information on shipwrecks that have occurred from the coastline.
Days 19 - 20: Warrnambool
Distance: approx 160 km / 100 miles
Drive via Port Campbell as you continue along the scenic Great Ocean Road, heading for Warrnambool. This is one of the most famous stretches of the Great Ocean Road, as it hugs the coastline and takes you past the famous formations of the Shipwreck Coast.
Along the way we recommend stopping at Port Campbell National Park, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge plus the recognisable Twelve Apostles, magnificent limestone stacks rising out of the sea.
Originally a sealing and whaling port, Warrnambool now thrives on tourism. There are good beaches and several historical attractions. Points of interest in this little town are the wrecks of the Loch Ard and the Schomberg, relics of which can be seen in the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village.
Days 21 - 22: Mount Gambier
Distance: approx 185 km / 115 miles
Set on the slopes of an extinct volcano, Mount Gambier is home to two of the region’s most famous attractions: the spectacular Blue Lake and the Cave Gardens in the heart of the city. These unique features have earned the town “Blue Lake City” and the “City around a Cave” aliases.
The Blue Lake is particularly famous for its dramatic change in colour. Each November, its waters transform from a winter grey to an intense cobalt blue, remaining this striking colour until late March.
Day 23 - 24: Naracoorte
Distance: approx 101 km / 63 miles
Travel inland towards Naracoorte today where you’ll discover the world heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves containing the skeletons of Australian megafauna dating back 500,000 years. Join a guided tour to feast your eyes on fascinating fossils and limestone formations or squeeze your way into parts of the Naracoorte Caves on the adventure caving tour.
Coonawarra is one of Australia’s most renowned wine regions, with a winemaking history dating back to the 1890s. Today, the region is celebrated for its exceptional wines and local produce. Why not join a wine experience and meet enthusiastic local hosts who can introduce you to the flavours of Coonawarra?
Days 25 - 29: Mount Compass to Adelaide
Day 25: Mount Compass
Distance: approx 340 km / 211 miles
Nestled between the renowned wineries of McLaren Vale and the coastal towns of Victor Harbor and Port Elliot, Mount Compass is a charming rural community on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
As you travel through the area, winding country roads lead through picturesque farmland and rolling scenery, with an abundance of seasonal produce grown locally to try.
Day 26 - 27: Adelaide
Distance: approx 68 km / 42 miles
Take the short drive to Adelaide this morning, where you’ll return your motorhome to the depot before checking into a city centre hotel for the next two nights.
For your free day in Adelaide, wander around the Oval sports stadium, Adelaide Central Market or visit a museum or art galleries in the city. Surrounded by vineyards and a rich agricultural region, Adelaide is also a foodie mecca so there is plenty of opportunity to sample some of the city’s finest cuisine.
Days 28 - 29: Adelaide to UK
Enjoy some last minute shopping before being transferred to Adelaide Airport for your journey home, arriving back into the UK the next day.
The holidays to New Zealand are provided by Alan Rogers Travel Ltd, a subsidiary of the Caravan and Motorhome Club. ATOL No.11309
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