Australia on the road

Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city after Sydney – of which is the long-standing rival. Unlike its old nemesis, Melbourne cannot boast a stunning location; however its subtle charm and vibrant cultural scene makes it a pleasant place to be. The city is also a foodie heaven, thanks to its multi-ethnic population. Modern high-rises and historic Victorian buildings, gardens, parks and garden and tree-lined avenues add to the elegance and charm of the city
Laid out in a grid, the streets of Melbourne’s CBD are highly easy to navigate. A hidden gem in Melbourne is 333 Collins Street, an unassuming office building from the outside but housing a beautiful lobby and dome. From here, walk to the Block Arcade and Royal Arcade, a duo of historic shopping centers dating back from the Victorian era. As you are window-shopping anyway, might as well catch a ride on the free tram and head northwards to the Queen Victoria Market (open daily except Mondays and Wednesdays), the most well-known market in the city. If you are there at around noon, grab lunch in one of the specialty food stalls. Alternatively, if you’d like to explore more of Melbourne’s markets, you can check out Prahran Market or the South Melbourne Market. Make your way down via tram or foot to the State Library of Victoria: the building is known for its highly instagrammable La Trobe Reading Room which has an octagonal shape.Head south via the Swanston Street tram to Flinders Street Railway Station, a city landmark. Other notable attractions such as the St. Paul’s Cathedral and Hosier Lane are within reach from here. The latter is especially known for its graffiti and at any given time, you’ll find people spraying paint all over the walls – making for a new scene with every visit. While Hosier Lane is probably the most well-known, Melbourne has several interesting lanes and some other examples include the following: Centre Place – very photogenic due to its many neon signs lining either side of the narrow path that mimick busier places like Tokyo or Hong Kong. You’ll find plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars here. Hardware Lane – atmospheric area filled with restaurants and cafes, giving off an European vibe. AC/DC Lane – tribute to the Australian rock band. You’ll find some bars and night clubs here dedicated to rock and roll. For dinner, I would recommend heading to Rice, Paper Scissors (19 Liverpool Street). It is a Southeast Asian restaurant with a distinct Australian twist

We do not provide shuttles at any of our locations. We advise our guests to rent a car, Phillip Island is connected to the mainland by a bridge and is one of Australia's most famous tourist destinations, thanks mainly to the hundreds of little penguins that return to their burrows at Summerland Beach every evening - the so-called Penguin Parade, with a large audience of visitors every night. Don't miss the excellent Penguin Parade Visitor Centre. However, the island is also worth visiting for its beautiful coastline, surf waves, beautiful beaches, and natural parks. The main town is Cowes, on the inner bay, a lively and pleasant town. Other smaller towns worth seeing are San Remo, on the mainland just before the bridge, Newhaven, Rhyll, and Ventnor. In addition to the famous penguins, you can also observe a large colony of seals and numerous koalas on the island. Every year at the end of October, the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix takes place on Phillip Island. The best riders in the world compete in the Phillip Island MotoGP, on motorcycles up to 1000cc in displacement and with top speeds of 320 km/h. You can take boat trips to observe seals and dolphins. Don't miss the visit to the Otama submarine and the visit to French Island, the largest island in the state of Victoria.

Car rental from Apollo Bay to Adelaide. Ease into your road trip with the leisurely drive from Melbourne to Torquay, just over an hour's drive. Home to some of Australia's best-known surf beaches, Torquay marks the official beginning of the Great Ocean Road. Dose up on surf culture at the Australian National Surfing Museum before visiting Bells Beach, host of the annual Rip Curl Pro. Stop at nearby Anglesea and take a detour to the golf course, famous for the kangaroos lounging under the trees surrounding the greens. Magnificent coastal views will dominate the next 30 kilometres as you drive to beach town Lorne, the perfect spot for lunch – fish and chips on the beach is a must. Another twenty minutes winding along the coastal road will bring you to Kennett River and its most famous locals: koalas. Take some birdseed for their flighty friends then follow the 'koala walk' with your camera ready. As you make your way to Apollo Bay, you'll travel up along cliff-tops offering incredible views and alongside wild beaches – take time to stop at the lookouts for photos, or beachside for a stroll.

A day dedicated to discovering one of the most beautiful scenic roads in the world: the Great Ocean Road. It starts from the charming coastal town of Apollo Bay and continues along the Otway National Park, a lush tropical forest where you can walk surrounded by greenery, waterfalls, ancient trees, and magnificent giant palms. The next stop can be along the infamous "Shipwreck Coast", followed by the legendary "Twelve Apostles", once less nobly called "The Sow and Piglets". Descend into the cave where the only two survivors of the most dramatic shipwreck along the coast of Victoria, the Loch Ard, sought shelter towards the end of the 1800s. Continue on to the remains of the London Bridge and the Grotto. Proceed through the spectacular Port Campbell National Park, Port Fairy, and in the evening, arrive in Mt Gambier. (Approximately 350km / 5 hours)

Long day of travel. We suggest a stop in Kingston, a town famous for its lobsters: that's why a Giant Lobster has been placed in the fishermen's port. Then, you will drive along the Coorong National Park until you reach the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula in the town of Victor Harbor. (Approximately 500KM/5 hours).
The stop in Victor Harbor is strategic in order to be able to take the first ferry in the morning to Kangaroo Island for those coming from the Great Ocean Road, or the last ferry in the evening from the island to enjoy a full day on Kangaroo Island and continue safely to the next stop the following day.

Short transfer to Cape Jervis to board the first ferry. Arrive at least one hour before boarding (Kangaroo Island is a remote area and driving in the dark is not allowed). Arrive at Kangaroo Island after approximately 50 minutes of crossing. (60KM approx / 1 HOUR + FERRY)
Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third-largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. It boasts a spectacular coastline, forests, lots of wildlife, with koalas, kangaroos, echidnas, platypuses, penguins, fur seals, sea lions and occasionally southern right whales. And it’s still unspoilt, in spite of being one of Australia’s premier tourist destinations
You can start your visit to Seal Bay with a memorable walk on the beach among the sea lions (at a safe distance!). With a bit of luck, you will see some lazy koalas resting on the ancient eucalyptus trees. In the western part of the island, explore Flinders Chase National Park with a walk in search of kangaroos, wallabies, and the numerous varieties of birds; from August to November, the park is covered in wildflowers, a fantastic sight. At Cape du Couedic, around the impressive Admirals Arch cave, over 10,000 southern fur seals rest, and you can also see the curious rock formations of Remarkable Rocks, perched on the cliff above the turbulent waters of the ocean.

We do not provide shuttles at any of our locations. We advise our guests to rent a car, we visit the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park , home to over 150 species of Native Australian wildlife, with koalas, wombats, kangaroos and wallabies, reptiles and birds.
If the ferry is booked for the afternoon, take some time to visit the rest of the island. Transfer to Penneshaw and depart on the ferry to Cape Jervis (last ferry at 7:30 pm, but be careful of the darkness. It is dangerous to drive a regular car at night). Continue along the Southern Expressway and arrive in Adelaide late in the evening (approximately 110 km).
Despite being a big city, Adelaide is a pleasant and easy place to live, with spacious avenues and squares, ringed with parks that stay green even in the hot, dry summer. Italians make up the city’s biggest non-Anglo group, lending the city a vaguely Mediterranean air

Car rental from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock. “Alice”or “The Alice” is the unofficial capital of the Red Centre and not just your gateway to Uluru. A few attractions should not be missed: the Araluen Arts Centre with works by a famous Aboriginal artist, the Museum of Central Australia showing local fossils and meteorites, the Central Australian Aviation Museum, the Royal Flying Doctors Service Tourist Facility, with guided tours every half-hour; the out-of-town Desert Park, that with an easy 1.6 km (1-mile) trail through three reconstructed natural habitats, shows you 120 or so of the animal species that live in the desert around Alice but that you won’t spot too easily in the wild, including kangaroos, but especially small marsupials like the rare bilby, reptiles like the bizarre thorny devil lizards, and birds. Don’t miss the excellent Birds of Prey show. You need at least 2 hours to see it. The centre of town occupies a compact area between the Stuart Highway and Leichhardt Terrace, along the almost perennially dry Todd River. Todd Mall, a pedestrian thoroughfare lined with cafés and galleries, bisects downtown. Get an overview of Alice’s going up Anzac Hill for a 360-degree view over the town and the MacDonnell Ranges. Take several hours to explore the many facets of this interesting grouping of attractions, all within walking distance of one another. The Museum of Central Australia mostly shows local fossils, natural history displays, and meteorites. Some impressive Aboriginal and contemporary Aussie art is on display at the Araluen Arts Centre ([tel] 08/8951 1122; www.araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au), the town’s performing-arts hub, which incorporates the Albert Namatjira Gallery, with works by this famous Aboriginal artist, as well as a display of the Papunya Community School Collection, a group of 14 paintings from the early 1970s. Check out the “Honey Ant Dreaming” stained-glass window in the foyer. Aviation buffs may want to browse the old radios, aircraft, and wreckage in the Central Australian Aviation Museum, which preserves the territory’s aerial history. You can buy stylish crafts, and sometimes catch artists at work, in the Central Craft gallery. You may also want to amble among the fabulous outdoor sculptures, including the 15 m (49-ft.) Yeperenye caterpillar, or among the gravestones in the cemetery, where “Afghani” camel herders (from what is now Pakistan) are buried facing Mecca.

We recommend the visit/excursion, OUTBACK BALLOONING - The hot air balloon adventure begins before dawn from your hotel in Alice Springs. Upon arrival at the launch site, the crew will begin inflating the balloon. Gas burners shoot flames that illuminate the MacDonnell Ranges. Once in flight, you can appreciate the vastness of the Australian outback, the wildlife, especially large red kangaroos and flocks of parrots in flight. After landing, there will be a toast with Australian sparkling wine accompanied by a variety of muffins, cookies, cheese, and fresh fruit before returning to the city.
Driving from Alice Springs, it takes over five hours to get to Watarrka via the Lasseter Highway and Luritja Road

Kings Canyon, in Watarrka National Park, is an area of cultural importance for Aboriginal people for tens of thousands of years. The site doesn't attract the crowds like Uluru/Ayers Rock, but those who make it here will take home equally unforgettable memories. For the "Rim Walk," you climb the side of the cliff along steps carved into the rock (in about half an hour); once at the top, you proceed through a maze of limestone boulders called "The Lost City," beyond a bridge that leads to a group of springs surrounded by ferns ("The Garden of Eden"), and then descend on the other side among more boulders. Along the way, there are splendid panoramic viewpoints. If you visit the park in the southern winter, don't leave too early because the sun doesn't illuminate the canyon walls until mid-morning. In total, it's a 6 km hike that takes about 3-4 hours round trip with some effort. The Rim Walk should be avoided in summer (between September and May) because it gets too hot. Alternatively, you can follow the trail at the bottom of the canyon (2.6 km) in the dry bed of Kings Creek.
Driving from Alice Springs, it takes over five hours to get to Watarrka via the Lasseter Highway and Luritja Road Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park includes Uluru and Kata Tjuta (once respectively known as Ayers Rock and the Olgas), a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Uluru/Ayers Rock is arguably one of the world's natural wonders; Kata Tjuta is just as magical, a groupof rounded domes divided by narrow valleys
We recommend the visit/excursion, New and evocative art installation in the Red Center desert. Approximately 50,000 stems light up after sunset for about a kilometer, a short distance from the resort, with the silhouette of Uluru in the background, creating enchanting atmospheres. Designed by English artist Bruce Munro, it is powered exclusively by solar energy, thanks to approximately 3,290km of optical fibers. There are several opportunities to admire it: - Field of Light base pass: includes transfers and entrance to walk along the various paths, informative brochure. Departure possible 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 2 hours after sunset - duration approximately 2 hours. - Field of Light Star Pass: includes transfers and entrance to walk along the various paths, access to an elevated panoramic area, English-speaking guide, drinks and sandwiches, informative brochure. Departure 30 minutes before sunset - duration approximately 2 hours (children from 6 years old and up). - A Night at Field of Light: includes transfers and entrance to walk along the various paths, English-speaking guide, drinks and canapés on top of a dune to see the structure light up, three-course Aboriginal dinner, cultural performance, informative brochure. Departure 1 hour before sunset - duration approximately 4 hours (children from 10 years old and up). Advance booking is required.

Arrival at, The quintessential Aussie city, Sydney with its surroundings is truly a world in itself and the only city in Australia to show its two hundred years of European history in the old stone walls of The Rocks. A unique city that lives beyond its sparkling harbour and beaches, and shows its true soul in the diverse neighbourhoods, with a sophisticated cosmopolitan population, but also the largest Aboriginal community of any Australian city

Short on time? Want to see the best Sydney has to offer in just one day? Follow our handy guide for making the most of your time here, and taking in all the quintessential Sydney sights. - 9 AM—THE CLASSIC SITES Wake up in Sydney the right way, with a delicious breakfast to start your day. If you are in the Central Business District head to Pablo & Rusty's at 161 Castlereagh St. for quality coffee and a delicious menu in a relaxed setting. Wide awake now, walk down to Circular Quay and check out the hustle and bustle of the ferries departing. Wander around the famous Sydney Opera House and discover this incredible architectural landmark building. You can even take a tour and learn more about this unique structure. From here walk around the Royal Botanic Gardens to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. You’ll have picture perfect views of both the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Follow the walk around the water, through to The Domain and onto the Art Gallery of NSW, where you can view an extensive range of Australian art. - 11:30 AM—CITY VIEWS Walk back into the city and head up to the Sydney Tower Eye observation deck for magnificent 360-degree views across the city. - 12:30 PM—ZOO OR AQUARIUM? If you would like to see some of our native wildlife, then head down to Darling Harbour to visit SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium or WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo. You can catch a ferry to Taronga Zoo, which showcases more than 3,000 animals from around the world. - 2:30 PM—BONDI BEACH Catch a train to Bondi Junction, then jump on a bus from the Bondi Junction Interchange to Bondi Beach and grab lunch at one of the world’s most famous beaches! Enjoy the array of fabulous cafés and restaurants, then go for a walk along the beach—or if you have some spare time, why not try out the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. - 5 PM—SUNSET FROM THE HARBOUR BRIDGE Catch a beautiful Sydney sunset from atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge on a BridgeClimb. - 6 PM—DINNER IN THE ROCKS Head to The Rocks, Sydney’s historic precinct, for an afternoon cocktail and dinner. Grab a drink at The Argyle in its gorgeous cobbled-stone courtyard, followed by dinner at New York inspired steakhouse The Cut, or modern Japanese at Sake Restaurant and Bar. - 8 PM—SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE Head back to the Sydney Opera House to experience a special live performance. There’s always something on to suit everyone’s tastes from theatre and live music to ballet, opera and comedy. - 10:30 PM—SKY-HIGH COCKTAILS Finish your perfect Sydney night with a drink in hand and to-die-for city views. Head up to 360 Bar for views of Sydney’s skyline and a tempting champagne or two, or head to The Glenmore for harbour views and a Rooftop Royale cocktail.

We recommend the visit/excursion, BLUE MOUNTAINS DELUXE - The Blue Mountains Deluxe Day is a journey into the heart of a unique World Heritage Region. Our first stop of the day is at Calmsley Hill a working farm also home to Kangaroos, Emus, Wombats and Koalas. Enjoy morning tea and time to wander at leisure. We will travel through picturesque villages, see spectacular views and waterfalls. Enjoy a short walk to a lookout point and hear about the unique Australian forest species. Our lunch venue at the Boiler House Café at Hydro Majestic Hotel offers magnificent valley views you can enjoy your choice of tastes from our special menu. The afternoon is spent visiting a selection of scenic lookouts. The view from Govett’s Leap is one of the most famous lookouts in Australia. Here the magnificent waterfall drops a whopping 180m to the base of the cliff. The last stop is the delightful Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens where we stop briefly to enjoy the sweeping views and enjoy a glass of sparkling wine or orange juice before travelling back to your hotel. to arrive back at your hotel approximately 4.30 - 5.00pm..

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