14 Day Epicurean Australia Vacation

Trip Itinerary

Days 1-3: Yarra Valley

Day 1 - Arrive at Yarra Valley

Upon arrival at the airport, you are met by your private driver to be transferred to the phenomenal Yarra Valley, the first wine growing district in Victoria. This beautiful region is infused with 180 years of history, its establishment having kickstarted the export of wine to British and European markets throughout the 1800s.

Stretching back another 30,000 years is the region’s indigenous heritage, as the sprawling banks of the Yarra River have for much longer been occupied by the Wurundjeri people.

Your luxury hotel for the first two nights is the Chateau Yering Hotel, the heritage-listed mansion which was the main vineyard property in the 19^th century. Indulge in the manor’s antique-dressed lounge areas and classically beautiful suites decorated with fine art, and perhaps treat yourself to a glass of local wine.

Day 2 - Yarra Valley Tour & Dandenong Ranges

This morning, get picked up with a full day around Yarra Valley, providing a once-in-a-lifetime peer into one of the leading wine regions in Australia. This tour is one for food lovers and wine enthusiasts alike, enjoyed with the sensational backdrop of the Yarra Ranges.

The wine tour will be tailored to your desires but will include the unmissable Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary, where over 200 species of endemic birds and other animals wander across pristine bush. Along your journey, stop for a 3-course lunch, paired with a local wine or beer, in one of the region’s best vineyard restaurants, and take part in several tasting experiences at local boutique wineries.

*Note: Tour does not operate on Christmas Day.

Days 3-4: Melbourne

Day 3 - Yarra Valley to Melbourne/Narrm

Following a delicious breakfast, you are picked up for todays private tour around Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary and the stunning Philip Island – an Australia wildlife tour not to be missed!

Begin with a 2-hour VIP tour of Healesville, one of the best places to see wildlife in Australia, whilst your ranger recounts stories about the koalas, kangaroos and more which wander the bushlands around you. Showcasing the park’s aviary tapestry, a VIP seat at the Spirits of the Sky bird show gives time to relax and take it all in.

The next stop on today’s Australia wildlife tour is at Philip Island, where you will come up close and personal with Australia’s most iconic marsupial at the Koala Conservation Centre. This intimate and eye-opening experience transports you along tree-top boardwalks which look out at their natural habitat. More sightings await at Seal Rocks, home to Australia’s largest fur seal colony, and Summerland Beach, where crowds of Little penguins waddle to their burrows from the sea.

Day 4 - Melbourne Half Day Arcades Tour

Today offers an exclusive insight into the world-famous buzz of Melbourne, beginning with a three-hour walk around the city’s most beautiful back streets, stopping at some places which are held at the heart of locals. Encounter quirky cafes, stylish boutiques, street art gems, and a wide array of architecture which embodies the character of Melbourne.

A delicious lunch, paired with a glass of local wine or beer, helps you wind down before you head back to your glorious city hotel: Park Hyatt Melbourne. Spend the afternoon at leisure, indulging in the modern facilities of your luxury abode.

Day 5: Great Ocean Road

Day 5 - Great Ocean Road Tour

This morning, you are picked up for a12-hour Great Ocean Road tour, one of the best places to visit in Victoria and perhaps the most beautiful coastal road in the world. Spell-binding scenery stretches along the 243 kilometer route, from colossal cliffs and roaring seas to tranquil coves and remote beaches facing endless blue.

Quaint seaside towns are dotted along the route, offering some peaceful stop-offs along the way, like Lorne, the most popular town due to its stunning beach. Stop to see koalas by Kennett River, tuck into some freshly prepared seafood dishes by Apollo Bay, and head to Port Campbell National Park for your closing spectacle.

Here, the legendary ‘Twelve Apostles’ rise 65-metres above sea level in incredible stacks of flat-bedded limestone, offering an insight into some of the mystical tales which lay behind Australia’s natural beauty.

Days 6-8: Barossa Valley

Day 6 - Transfer to Barossa Valley

It is time for your transfer to Barossa Valley, beginning with a private car transfer to the Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne. A short flight brings you to Adelaide, from where you will embark on an hour long private car journey to your final destination.

Barossa Valley is one of the best wine regions in Australia, consisting of a collection of small towns which ooze with character. Your hotel in Barossa, Le Mas Barossa, epitomizes this charisma, located in Rowland Flat between the Para River and valley vineyards. Here, you are completely encased by luscious, green scenery, whilst the hotel itself offers a blend of contemporary styles and old-fashioned hospitality.

Day 7 - Australia Wine Tour at Barossa

Be picked up this morning for a 6.5-hour wine tasting experience, spotlighting the best produce in the Barossa Valley. Begin as you mean to go on in one of Barossa’s most historic wineries, before embarking on a sensory escapade which represents the entire spectrum of wines found in the region.

Seek new varieties, old blends, and uncommon techniques before tucking into a seasonally inspired multi-course lunch at restaurant FINO, where a special glass of Barossa’s best Shiraz awaits. The rest of the evening is yours to enjoy at leisure – make sure not to waste the exceptional hotel grounds!

Day 8 - Exploring Adelaide

A tasty breakfast fuels you for a transfer back to Adelaide, the wine and festival capital of Australia, where culture is infused into a wide range of historic buildings, shops, street cafes and restaurants.

Here, you can visit the largest undercover market in the southern hemisphere, where endless South Australian delicacies are on offer, before taking the tram to the vibrant beachside suburb of Glenelg.

You are welcomed into your next luxury Australia hotel, the Mayfair Hotel, a comfortable stay which embraces local tradition and overlooks Rundle Mall, an iconic modern hotspot of Adelaide.

Days 9-11: Kangaroo Island

Day 9 - Transfer to Kangaroo Island & Island Life Tour

A private car transfer brings you to the Adelaide Airport this morning, ready for your flight to Kingscote on Kangaroo Island, your next exciting destination. Renowned as the Galapagos of Australia, you are in for a wild ride packed with nature’s best during your two-night stay here!

Kickstart your adventure with an ‘Island Life Tour’, an exceptional Australia wildlife tour guided by an expert. Traverse the bush, past strangely shaped trees, where animal tracks indicate the routes of wallabies and kangaroos.

Enjoy lunch at a private bush camp, spotlighting delicious King George whiting (a local sea fish) and some South Australian wines, before heading to Seal Bay Conservation Park. Here, large groups of Australian sea-lions bask on a sandy beach – pups play and old bulls splash aggressively as your guide teaches you about their unique breeding biology.

Day 10 - Flinders Chase Focus Tour

Wake to the unparalleled comforts of your Kangaroo Island hotel, Providence Guest House, before heading on your second tour of the island, named the ‘Flinders Chase Focus Tour’.

Today brings a fascinating yet somewhat tragic journey around the fire-affected landscapes of Kangaroo Island. Trace the area, discovering the hopeful existence of native flora species which only flower following fire, and learn about the island’s ecological strength.

Travel to Flinders Chase National Park and discover Remarkable Rocks, a natural sculpture which resembles something of diving creation, perched on top of a granite dome. Stop here for a picnic lunch, choosing your favorite setting (perhaps dependent on the weather), before heading over to Admirals Arch, where a large colony of Long-nosed fur seals swim about the crashing waves.

Days 11-14: Sydney

Day 11 - Transfer to Sydney

Wave goodbye to Kangaroo Island this morning as you head on your final transfer to Sydney. Following a tasty breakfast, you are driven to Kingscote Airport for a return flight to Adelaide, from where you will hop onto a connecting flight to Australia’s most famous city.

Sydney welcomes you with open arms into its scenic habor, the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge glowing with a particularly welcoming appeal as the sun gleams down on the waters below.

The Four Seasons Hotel Sydney invites you in for an evening of bliss as you are transferred privately to its front doors, through which elegant spaces and stylish furnishings await. Expect the highest quality of amenities and hospitality as you sink into pure comfort, waking up to the best city views and a fresh coffee each morning.

Day 12 - Blue Mountains Tour

You are picked up this morning for a 9-hour tour of the Blue Mountains, stopping at Calmsley Hill along the way. Calmsley Hill is a working farm that homes the Kangaroo, Emu, Wombat, and Koala – you are free to explore the farm at leisure for the morning, soaking up its fresh air.

Next, Eaglehark Lookout welcomes you for unmissable views of the Three Sisters, a sight which shifts throughout the day along with the sunlight. Lunch at Echoes Restaurant invites you to enjoy a magnificent view of the Blue Mountains in style, where monolithic cliff edges and lush rainforests resemble a scene from a fairytale.

Following lunch, stop at the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens for a tour of the local flora, including the rare ancient Wollemi Pine, before returning back to your luxury Sydney hotel.

Day 13 - Sydney Opera House & Luxury Cruise

Your final guided tour leads you around the most iconic building in Australia, the Sydney Opera House, designed 60 years ago by John Utzon. This one-hour tour guides you through the turbulent journey behind its construction – you will discover that Utzon was not just an architect, but an architect of change.

*Note: Tour does not operate on Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and on in-house events.

Following this cultural tour, is time to discover a new meaning to the word ‘serenity’. A 4-hour luxury cruise on the iconic Sydney Harbour is your key to the best scenery of Sydney. See the city’s best landmarks, beginning at Watson’s Bay, before stopping at Balmoral for a three-course lunch. Crown the tour with a cheese platter and wines as you pass by the Spit Bridge.

To make the most of Sydney, this evening’s tour is optional and only for those who aren’t faint of heart! A three-hour journey, completed by thorough safety precautions and an on-hand guide, takes you along the top arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge all the way to the summit. There, an other-worldly view of Sydney and the distant Blue Mountains is at your fingertips.

Day 14 - Departure Home

Sadly, your Australian adventure has come to an end. A final private car transfer brings you to Sydney International Airport, from where you will take your flight home, a journey fit for reminiscing. Luckily, Wayfairer is on-hand to help you plan your next trip - where will we take you next?

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