Adelaide to Melbourne Coastal Route

Welcome to Adelaide! This laid-back city is a great place for a stroll in the parks, or a spot of shopping in the markets and stores. Sample the delights of the city’s Central markets on your included Insiders Market Culture Walking Tour, taking you through secret tunnels to cheese shops and quirky Chinatown cafés. While you’re here, you’ll also head into the Barossa Valley for a day spent tasting some of Australia’s best food and wine at the beautiful wineries and boutique cellars.

Leaving Adelaide behind, call in at McLaren Vale, dotted with gourmet restaurants and vineyards, on your way to the Kangaroo Island car ferry. Once on the island, you’ll have two full days to explore this vast wildlife sanctuary, home to sea lions, koalas, wallabies, echidnas and the unique Kangaroo Island kangaroo. Spend your days getting to know the locals as well as the rugged landscapes. The Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch are must-sees, located in Flinders Chase National Park.

Return to the mainland and continue to the peaceful fishing port of Robe, where you can explore the area’s lakes, wetlands and sand dunes, or just relax and soak up the sun on the beach. Be sure to try the local lobster, some of the country’s finest, or perhaps watch the world go by from Mahalia Coffee, a fabulous roastery offering an assortment of blends, served up with decadent desserts, and a tasting menu for those who can’t decide.

Follow the rugged coastline to Warrnambool on Australia’s Shipwreck Coast. Breathe in the fresh sea air as you wander down the promenade and gaze up at the lighthouses, perhaps popping in to the heritage museums, cute cafes and bustling bars along the way. Come July to October it’s all about the whales, and you don’t even have to take a boat to have a chance of spotting them, as there’s a viewing platform at Logans Beach.

Stop off at the Great Ocean Road’s most iconic sight – the Twelve Apostles. These eight limestone stacks protrude from the turquoise sea and are the most popular stop on the route. Later, continue to Apollo Bay, a water sports hub and gateway to the magnificent Otway ranges. This picturesque spot is unsurprisingly popular with local artists, and you only need head a little way from town to find petrified forests, gushing waterfalls and glittering fireflies.

Finish your road trip in the multicultural metropolis of Melbourne, one of Australia’s most loved cities. Blessed with boutique ships, quirky cafes and an attractive cityscape, Melbourne is popular with international and domestic tourists who flock to its vibrant arts and food scene and chill out on its beaches. While you’re here, be sure to head to the vibrant suburb of St Kilda and indulge in a sweet treat or two in the tempting cake shops.