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Australia's Coastal South & Tropical North
Australia

Australia's Coastal South & Tropical North

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  • Grant (Buster) St. ClairGrant (Buster) S.Oceania
  • Kathryn McCueKathryn M.Africa, Oceania

Overview

Fourteen days trace a line from vineyards to the reef, with plenty of Australia in between. Along the way, meet the wildlife of Kangaroo Island, eat your way through Melbourne, and follow the rainforest to the Coral Sea. Three states, three very different sides of Australia.
Australia's Coastal South & Tropical North
Day by day

Your journey, day by day

  1. Day 1

    Arrival in the Adelaide Hills

    Your first look at Australia is from high in the Adelaide Hills. Settle into Sequoia, overlooking the Piccadilly Valley, where just 14 suites share the hillside. The vineyards are close, but for now, soak in the spring-fed hot pools, walk through the surrounding bush, or see what is overhead through the property's telescope.

  2. Day 2

    Into the Barossa

    A private driver takes you through Torrens Gorge into the Barossa, Australia’s best-known wine region. Stop for German pastries in Lyndoch, taste at cellars like Peter Lehmann and Torbreck, and wander the shops of Tanunda. Take in the valley from Menglers Hill before lunch, then continue to Yalumba or Henschke, with time for a stop at Maggie Beer’s farm shop.
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch

  3. Day 3

    A Day at Sequoia

    A day with nothing on the schedule but what you choose. Sequoia's Experience Hosts offer a rotating slate of options: a sunrise yoga session over the valley, a guided walk along the Heysen Trail with a good chance of spotting wallabies, or a private tasting with the House Sommelier and a local winemaker. After dark, peer through the property's telescope for stargazing over the Piccadilly Valley.
    • Breakfast

  4. Day 4

    Adelaide to Kangaroo Island

    Leave the hills for the coast. A short flight from Adelaide crosses to Kangaroo Island for a stay at Sea Dragon on Dudley Peninsula. Your suite has its own deck facing the water. From here, walk down to the secluded beach or follow the property’s trails, where wildlife sightings are common.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner

  5. Day 5

    Flinders Chase & Seal Bay

    Cross the island to Flinders Chase National Park, where Admirals Arch overlooks long-nosed fur seals in the rock pools below and the wind and sea have shaped Remarkable Rocks above the Southern Ocean. Watch for echidnas, goannas and kangaroos along the way, and see the resilience of the bush since the 2019 fires. Lunch is either a picnic at a private sheep shearing shed or a whiting burger at Vivonne Bay General Store. In the afternoon, walk the dunes at Seal Bay with a ranger, home to one of the world’s largest colonies of Australian sea lions.
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner

  6. Day 6

    Sea Dragon at Leisure

    A second day with no set plan. Sea Dragon offers a rotating menu of activities on the property and nearby: a gin tasting, a visit to a sheep farm with a working Kelpie, a guided walk to Cape Willoughby Lighthouse, beach yoga, or birdwatching. Choose two or three, or none at all.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner

  7. Day 7

    Kangaroo Island to Melbourne

    Trade island time for the city as you travel on to Melbourne. The Park Hyatt puts you at the top of Collins Street, across from St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Fitzroy Gardens, with the city ready to explore from your doorstep.
    • Breakfast

  8. Day 8

    Foodies Journey Through Mornington Peninsula

    Drive south along Port Phillip Bay into the Mornington Peninsula, a stretch of coast known for its small farms and cool-climate wines. Lunch is either a picnic at a 27-acre working farm or a two-course meal at a local winery, followed by tastings at regional cellar doors. In Red Hill, the owner of one of the peninsula’s longest-running produce farms walks you through her land, with honey straight from the hive and a Devonshire tea of scones and jam to finish.
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch

  9. Day 9

    Lanes and Arcades Walking Tour

    A local guide leads you through back streets and arcades, past the street art, independent designers, and small cafés that Melbourne locals know and love. Morning tea and lunch are both included, leaving the afternoon open: browse the shops, find a glass of Victorian wine, or head out toward Melbourne's wildlife parks for a closer look at koalas and kangaroos.
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner

  10. Day 10

    Onward to Queensland

    Fly north to Cairns, then drive up the coast to Thala Beach Nature Reserve, set on its own peninsula between Cairns and Port Douglas. The 145-acre property backs onto rainforest and looks out over the Great Barrier Reef, with two secluded beaches and regular dolphin sightings offshore. Your private verandah faces the Coral Sea, and after dark, head to the property’s observatory for a closer look at the tropical night sky.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner

  11. Day 11

    Sailing the Outer Reef

    Set sail from Port Douglas Marina toward the Coral Cays, tracking the coastline and the Daintree mountains along the way. A marine biologist leads snorkeling over the reef, with a glass-bottom boat option for anyone who'd rather stay dry. Look for turtles, giant clams, and reef fish in the water below. A tropical lunch is served onboard, with time to swim or walk the white sand of the cays before heading back.
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner

  12. Day 12

    Daintree with an Aboriginal Guide

    Spend a full day in Kuku Yalanji Country, led by a local Aboriginal guide through the Daintree rainforest toward Cape Tribulation, where the reef meets the World Heritage-listed forest. Your guide shares how Kuku Yalanji people use and care for Country today: which plants serve as food or medicine, how to find bush tucker, and the history behind the sites you pass. Cool off with a swim in a freshwater stream before returning to Thala for the evening.
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner

  13. Day 13

    Thala Beach at Leisure

    A last full day with nothing required. Join one of Thala’s guided activities: walk through the property’s 145 acres of native forest and gardens, head out early to spot resident birds, learn about coconuts from husk to harvest, or return to the observatory for the Southern Cross and its neighbors. Spend the rest of the day on either of the two beaches, or simply stay put.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner

  14. Day 14

    Farewell

    It's time to say farewell to Australia, closing out fourteen days across three states, from the vineyards of the Adelaide Hills to the reef off Port Douglas.
    • Breakfast

Pricing

Package level

Deluxe

Prices are approximations and may vary with exchange-rate adjustments. Each itinerary can be customized around your interests, pace, and preferred hotels.
Twin Share
10/1/2026 - 12/31/2026$13,065 p/p
1/1/2027 - 1/31/2027$13,290 p/p
2/1/2027 - 3/31/2027$13,065 p/p
Single Traveler
10/1/2026 - 12/31/2026$23,300 p/p
1/1/2027 - 1/31/2027$23,300 p/p
2/1/2027 - 3/31/2027$23,300 p/p


Good to know

Terms and conditions

Prices are per person, twin/double share in USD. All highlighted savings are reflected in the price. Price does not include airfare unless otherwise stated. Travel may be limited to certain days of the week. Hotels and tours remain subject to availability. Cancellation penalties and other booking or alteration restrictions may exist. Please note blackout dates may apply to Christmas, New Year and local special event periods. Pricing may increase over Holiday and special event periods and may not be reflected in price grid. Prices indicated remain subject to change without notice. Prices are not guaranteed until full payment is received and processed. CST #2012413-20 See our full Terms and Conditions: www.swaindestinations.com/terms
From our Travel Journal

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  • Nina CalderonNina C.Oceania