MELBOURNE TO MOUNT GAMBIER

Welcome to our Autumn Tour to the beautiful Adelaide Hills. With chauffeured pickup from home, we are transferred to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew. Today we  follow the Princes Highway via Colac and Camperdown to Warrnambool where we have our lunch stop. This afternoon, our journey takes us across the border into South Australia to Mount Gambier for our first night.

OVERNIGHT: Presidential Motel, MOUNT GAMBIER

MOUNT GAMBIER TO HAHNDORF

Following breakfast, we briefly take in the sights of Mount Gambier. With a population of about 23,000 people, the water supply comes from the famous Blue Lake - the largest of the many crater lakes in the area.  Between November and April, the steely grey waters of the lake changes to a brilliant blue, almost overnight. Just 50 kilometres north of Mount Gambier is the delightful village of Penola. Here we’ll break for morning tea and visit the Mary MacKillop Penola Centre to hear the story of the Blessed Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods who co-founded the Institute of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart – initially to provide a Catholic education for poor, isolated and rural children. From here we travel to the coast and the township of Kingston SE and the newly revamped Big Lobster where we can stretch our legs and perhaps enjoy a photo opportunity. Kingston SE is also our lunch stop today. As we drive to Meningie on the shores of Lake Albert we’ll see a different view of the Coorong National Park on our left. The whole area is a superb natural bird sanctuary with vast numbers of waterbirds. The remake of 1976 movie Storm Boy, a film about a young boy’s friendship with a pelican, was filmed along the Coorong. We join the Dukes Highway and drive straight to Hahndorf – our base for the next four nights. The delightful Manna Inn is located right in the heart of the town.

OVERNIGHT: Manna Inn, Hahndorf, ADELAIDE HILLS

EXPLORING HAHNDORF

We’re in for a treat this morning! Making our way to the Hahndorf Inn where we join staff who will take us through the process of making our very own Apple Strudel! Once made, we’ll meet our local guide for a unique tour of Hahndorf locations not available to the general public. Inside the historic St Paul’s Lutheran Church, we’ll hear about the early settlers of Hahndorf and their flight from Prussia in 1838 to escape religious persecution, plus admire the pioneering women for their faith and entrepreneurial spirit after hearing the story of the Pioneer Women’s Walk. Following our tour, we have time to grab a bite to eat before re-grouping at the Hahndorf Inn to enjoy our very own Strudel served with vanilla bean ice-cream, cream and a hot beverage! The remainder of our afternoon is free to explore this wonderful Adelaide Hills village before dinner this evening at the Haus Restaurant.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement

OVERNIGHT:  Manna Inn, Hahndorf, ADELAIDE HILLS

MONARTO SAFARI PARK

Today we visit Monarto Safari Park, the largest open-range safari experience outside of Africa and is home to more than 50 species of exotic and native animals. The zoo plays a major role, nationally and internationally, in breeding programs for rare and endangered species. We’ll be joined on board our coach by a qualified guide for a safari tour of the park. After an early light lunch we’re in for a real treat! The Lions 360 experience, the only 360 degree lion experience in Australia. Walk through a tunnel and emerge within clawing range of one of Australia’s largest lion prides. Enjoy a jaw-dropping, absolutely safe encounter, giving a prey’s-eye view into the world of these awe-inspiring predators!  After some time to view the exhibits and a poke through the Zoo’s gift shop we return to Hahndorf with some free time before dinner.

OVERNIGHT: Manna Inn, Hahndorf, ADELAIDE HILLS

GOOLWA, THE COCKLE TRAIN AND VICTOR HARBOR

Today our travels take us firstly to Strathalbyn, well known for its antique shops set amongst some of the most historic buildings in South Australia. This is the perfect place to browse amongst the ambience of early South Australian settlement. Our morning tea stop is at the Strathalbyn Soldiers Memorial Gardens, the lawn area is beautifully presented with gardens of roses and enhanced by the historic features of the War Memorial and Rotunda. It is no wonder Strathalbyn is known as the prettiest town in South Australia! We continue to the historical township of Goolwa (an aboriginal word meaning ”elbow”). Situated on the bend in the Murray, near the mouth of the river, Goolwa initially grew with the developing trade along the Mighty Murray. We head to the historic Goolwa Wharf Precinct to board the Cockle Train for a run along the oldest steel railed railway in Australia dating back to 1887. The train gained its name from the early days of settlement when the local residents would take a horse drawn train to Goolwa to collect cockles from the sandy beaches near the mouth of the Murray River. Our 30 minute journey will take us via Middleton and Port Elliot before climbing the coastal cliffs overlooking Encounter Bay and into Victor Harbor. Originally a whaling centre, Victor Harbor had three whaling stations in the mid 1900s that virtually decimated the migratory southern right whales arriving into Encounter Bay each season. It is only in the last 20 years they have returned to the bay in increasing numbers. We have some free time in the town centre to buy lunch before returning to Hahndorf, taking the delightful sightseeing drive via Mount Compass, Willunga Hill, Meadows and Echunga.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement

OVERNIGHT: Manna Inn, Hahndorf, ADELAIDE HILLS

HAHNDORF TO HORSHAM

After a leisurely breakfast we make our way to Birdwood where we will spend some time admiring The National Motor Museum. The museum provides one of Australia’s finest collections of motor cars, trucks and motor bikes from the late 19th Century to the present day. After our visit we head to the delightful riverside township of Mannum for lunch at the Pretoria Hotel overlooking the Murray River. We have some time after lunch for a wander along the banks of the river. Travelling through Coonalpyn we stop to admire the incredible images painted on the towns grain silo by artist Guido Van Helten before we make our way to Horsham for our final night.

OVERNIGHT: Horsham International Hotel, HORSHAM

HORSHAM TO MELBOURNE

Before leaving Horsham this morning, we take a look at the silo art. “Walking on Country” artwork celebrates the life of a Wotjobaluk warrior, Yanggendyinanyuk. World renowned street artist Sam Bates 'Smug' was commissioned to transform Horsham's silo with the image of Yanggendyinanyuk.  His totem, the Black Cockatoo has been painted on the adjacent flour mill. After a photo opportunity, we head to Ararat where we'll visit the fascinating Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre, which tells the story of the miners from Southern China and their remarkable trek from Robe in South Australia to the Victorian Gold Fields. Back on the coach, we make our way to Ballarat where we stop for our last lunch together. From here we make our way home – no need for a taxi as our chauffeurs will be on hand to take us straight to our door – all part of the O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours superior service!