Highlights
- Taste your way across Melbourne, from coffee to haute cuisine
- Dine and stay at Brae, one of the world's greatest destination restaurants
- Road trip to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road and the Grampians
- Sip and sample your way across Kangaroo Island in a day
- Soak up Sydney with a deluxe and private sunset dinner cruise
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Melbourne, Laneways & Alleyways Tour, Fine Dining Experience | Melbourne |
| Day 2 | Full-Day Mornington Peninsula City-to-Country Experience | Melbourne |
| Day 3 | Morning Yarra Valley Balloon Flight & Wine Tour | Melbourne |
| Day 4 | Café Culture Walk, Drive the Great Ocean Road, Dine & Stay at Brae | Birregurra |
| Day 5 | Drive the Great Ocean Road to the Grampians, Dinner at the Royal Mail | Grampians |
| Day 6 | Drive to Adelaide, City Sights Tour | Adelaide |
| Day 7 | Full-Day Kangaroo Island Sip & See Tour | Adelaide |
| Day 8 | Adelaide Market Tour, Fly to Sydney, Sunset Dinner Cruise | Sydney |
| Day 9 | Full-Day Sydney Sights Tour | Sydney |
| Day 10 | Burrawa Indigenous BridgeClimb, Depart Sydney |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Melbourne, Laneways & Alleyways Tour, Fine Dining Experience
G'day and welcome to Melbourne, the cultural capital of Australia! On arrival, meet your private driver, who will transfer you to the luxurious 5-star QT Melbourne. This edgy, industrial-chic hotel captures the city's creative side and vibrant spirit, making the perfect base for your three nights in the city. Drop your bags and refresh, then get lost in Melbourne's back streets, laneways, and arcades. This city is famous for its laneway culture, and on a three-hour private walk, you'll discover local designers and specialty retailers, quirky cafés, and cool street art.
Return to the hotel to change ahead of a self-guided culinary adventure, starting with a sky-high lunch at Vue de Monde. From the 55th floor, you'll soak up a breathtaking view of the city. After, sit down for a traditional high tea at the Hotel Windsor, then take a leisurely stroll along the Yarra River to prime your appetite. Finally, sit down for a stylish experience at Attica, one of Australia's top-rated restaurants, where chef Ben Shewry is known for creating innovative and cutting-edge dishes that tell a story about Australian culture.
Day 2: Full-Day Mornington Peninsula City-to-Country Experience
After breakfast, meet a private guide in the lobby for today's city-to-countryside adventure. Together you'll take to the backstreets of Melbourne for a coffee fix somewhere wonderfully local. Tour the streets of inner Melbourne, wandering a labyrinth of vibrant lanes and gorgeous Victorian arcades, before you travel to the colorful bayside neighborhood of St. Kilda to meet passionate local characters, artists, and business people. After, wave goodbye to the city as you make the short scenic drive to the Mornington Peninsula, one of Australia's prettiest coastal wine regions.
This region is renowned for farm-to-plate experiences at restaurants and cellar doors. Naturally, you'll taste a handful of classic pinots and premium chardonnay while enjoying the fresh country air and a casual café lunch. Spend the afternoon trekking along a coastal walking trail, meet kangaroos and koalas at a local wildlife sanctuary, or sample local wine and cheese with the makers. It's your choice! After, you'll return to Melbourne and be dropped at your accommodation.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 3: Morning Yarra Valley Balloon Flight & Wine Tour
This morning you'll start the day (very early) with a memorable balloon flight at Balgownie Estate, an award-winning winery with spectacular views. Climb aboard a hot-air balloon and ascend to the heavens as the morning sun bathes the lush vineyards and rolling hills of the Yarra Valley in a golden glow. Marvel at the incredible landscapes, where the mighty Yarra River weaves its way through Melbourne's esteemed wine country. Upon landing, return to the estate for a Champagne breakfast, celebrating the exhilarating flight and toasting to new heights reached.
Continue your day's explorations with a scenic drive to Yering Station Winery, where a guided tour awaits, unraveling the secrets of winemaking. Indulge in tastings at four premium wineries, savoring the region's finest vintages. End your enchanting day at Balgownie Estate, relishing a gourmet late lunch with paired wines, then return to Melbourne.
Day 4: Café Culture Walk, Drive the Great Ocean Road, Dine & Stay at Brae
Early this morning, you'll step inside Melbourne's world-famous coffee scene with a private, custom tour of the city's café culture. Meet your local coffee expert, who knows where to find the best sips and bites, and take a unique journey through the city's gastronomic hideaways, meeting dedicated artisans skilled in the art of tea, coffee, and gourmet food. After, you'll grab the keys to a rental car and make the scenic four-hour drive to Brae, one of Australia's top dining experiences.
You'll cruise along the famous Great Ocean Road route, pausing in Anglesea to stretch your legs, and then in Apollo Bay for lunch. Chris's Beacon Point Restaurant offers panoramic ocean vistas, or for something more relaxed, the Birdhouse serves fresh, local dishes in a cozy setting. Then turn inland, stopping at the dramatic Beauchamp Falls, where a short forest walk leads to the cascades. You'll reach Brae by early evening.
Why only dine at one of the world's top restaurants when you can also spend the night? Brae combines a highly awarded restaurant with architecturally designed guest suites and a thriving organic farm. Set on a hillside in countryside Victoria, check into your luxe suite, then take a walk through the gardens to connect food with nature. Brae embodies the essence of Australian cuisine with an ever-evolving set menu that's a tribute to nature, seasonality, and ethical sourcing. After an exquisite dinner, return to the suite, pop a vinyl record on, and enjoy the in-room cocktail bar.
Day 5: Drive the Great Ocean Road to the Grampians, Dinner at the Royal Mail
Rise slowly and gently at Brae, where an artisanal breakfast is served in-room. Sip freshly made coffee along with organic wood-fired sourdough and pastries with house-made preserves and seasonal produce, then step outside to wander the orchards, an olive grove, and flourishing vegetable beds. From Brae, you'll drive to the coastal Cape Otway National Park area and continue on the scenic Great Ocean Road. Today's drive time is around five hours.
Keep an eye toward the coast for whales and dolphins, or on the inland side, you might see echidnas and bandicoots as you wind along the famous route. Pause at the iconic Twelve Apostles, a group of ancient limestone rock formations rising up out of the sea, then continue to Port Fairy, once lauded as the world's most livable community. Refuel at Merrijig Kitchen, then turn inland toward Grampians National Park.
As you approach the southern base of the Grampians in Dunkeld, a farm-to-table dinner at the award-winning Royal Mail Hotel awaits. This classic country pub has been transformed into a gastronomic delight, with most of the fresh produce and meat sourced directly from the hotel's personal farm. Check into your luxe countryside suite, then sit down at the Chef's Table experience and watch the kitchen team in action.
Day 6: Drive to Adelaide, City Sights Tour
Hit the road early—there's a 5.5-hour drive ahead to Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. Pass through Dimboola, the gateway to the Little Desert National Park. Continue along the Western Highway and over the border. Take the National Highway to Murray Bridge, the largest Murray River town, and pause to stretch your legs with the 3-mile (5 km) Rail and River Walk. Closer to the city, pass Hahndorf, Australia's oldest surviving German settlement, where you can find quaint small goods outlets, bakeries, and pubs before pulling into Adelaide.
Day 7: Full-Day Kangaroo Island Sip & See Tour
Board a ferry to Kangaroo Island for a big gourmet day out with a private guide. Start with the "Free Flight" Birds of Prey Presentation at the Raptor Domain. Next, travel to Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery for a tasty two-course lunch, then hear about the history of the oil distillery and take a guided tour. Continue to Clifford's Honey Farm for an informative guided tour to understand the extraction process and taste a honey soft drink and honey wheat ale.
Carry on to Pennington Bay, a beach on Kangaroo Island's southern coast, for a beautiful photo opportunity. This full-day tour ends with a premium wine tasting at False Cape Wines Cellar Door on the Dudley Peninsula. Soak up the views while enjoying a structured tasting. Your beloved host will leave you at the Penneshaw Hotel with plenty of time for dinner before your return ferry to the mainland.
Day 8: Adelaide Market Tour, Fly to Sydney, Sunset Dinner Cruise
South Australia's culinary icon opened back in 1869, and this morning a private guide will lead you around the famous Adelaide Central Market. Go under the surface of the historic market, taste a delicious selection of foods from South Australian artisan food producers, and meet families who have traded here for generations. Sit down for a delicious market lunch, then return to your hotel to grab your bags, return the rental car, and board your flight to Sydney, Australia's most famous city.
On arrival, a private driver will transfer you to your accommodation, the elegant 5-star Shangri-La Sydney. Hovering high above Sydney's glittering icons, take in views of the harbor, Sydney Opera House, and Sydney Harbour Bridge from above. Refresh and get ready for this evening's deluxe private sunset cruise. Step aboard a 52-foot (16 m) motor yacht and enjoy a four-hour dinner cruise across Sydney Harbour, where you'll watch day turn to night and feast on a delicious Australian barbecue dinner paired with wine or beer.
Day 9: Full-Day Sydney Sights Tour
Today, a private guide will connect you with Sydney's greatest sights and tales, starting in The Rocks, Sydney's oldest suburb, where you'll learn about Australia's convict history. Learn the story of Mrs Macquarie and why she has a stone chair named after her, then journey past the Royal Botanical Gardens, the heritage State Parliament House, and the landmark St Mary's Cathedral. Hear about Sydney's seedy underbelly as you drive through the infamous Kings Cross, a former red light district, and continue out to the eastern shores, bays, and coves of Sydney Harbour.
Pause for tea and coffee with Tim Tams (a famous Australian cookie) at Watsons Bay, then say g'day to brilliant Bondi Beach, where golden sands and bronzed lifeguards await. You'll cross the heritage-listed Sydney Harbour Bridge, built in 1931, and venture over to Manly, a beautiful beachfront suburb that's popular for surfing. As a private tour, your guide can adjust the stops and sights to your interests and pace. You'll return to the city just in time to catch the sunset, then you could seek out a very special dinner at Quay or Aria, and find a cocktail bar for a nightcap.
Day 10: Burrawa Indigenous BridgeClimb, Depart Sydney
You've seen the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge arching across the bay—now it's time to climb it. On your final morning in Australia, you'll join the Burrawa Indigenous BridgeClimb, a unique way to experience Aboriginal Australia. An experienced Indigenous guide will lead a special climb filled with stories, legends, and tales of traditions that have been passed down through generations—all while you enjoy panoramic views over the city.
Once you're back on land, return to your hotel, where a private driver will collect you for an airport transfer with plenty of time to catch your flight home or onward. Safe travels!
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