Sydney and the Great Ocean Road Vacation Package Itinerary

Welcome to Sydney, the oldest and grandest of Australia's big cities. Dynamic, cosmopolitan and surrounded by stunning natural attractions, Sydney is the ultimate big city getaway. Set on one of the most beautiful harbours in the world and with famous architectural icons such as the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge to explore, Sydney offers plenty of excitement at any time of the year.

Settle in with a stroll along Circular Quay. With the Harbour Bridge at one end and the Opera House at the other, is there any more iconic place to begin your Australian dream vacation?

Accommodation: Sydney - 3 Nights

Sydney is a wonderland of beautiful beaches, historical sites, fantastic restaurants and much more, Sydney is brimming with memorable experiences from the majestic Sydney Opera House on one of the world's great natural harbours to iconic Bondi Beach you'll find incredible things to do in Sydney all year round.

Sydney also has an abundance of outstanding natural attractions, from the harbour and golden beaches to national parks and lush botanic gardens. There are championship golf courses, harbour cruises, scenic coastal walks, surfing and cycling tours.

Dining Highlights Include: Quay, Marque, Momofuku Seiobo, Rockpool and Sepia.

This Blue Mountains day tour showcases little-visited areas away from all other tourists. The first stop is Euroka Clearing, home to an abundance of birdlife and wild kangaroos. After a refreshing morning tea a highlight today is a one and a half to two-hour exhilarating walk giving you access to the area's most stunning views.

Enjoy a picnic-style lunch with world-class views. Continue down into Hartley Vale. Packed with history you will be looking for kangaroos, emus, and more birdlife in the beautiful farmland valley. The journey takes you onto the Mt Banks area for a refreshing glass of Australian sparkling wine before heading to the last stop on your day at Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens before your return to Sydney.

Crowned "The World's Most Liveable City" for seven years in a row, friendly Melbourne is the perfect place to begin your Australian self-drive adventure.

This compact, diverse metropolis is begging to be explored after settling into your comfortable accommodation. There are hidden charms around every corner, beautiful Botanic Gardens and chic city squares where you can soak up the atmosphere to your heart's content.

Accommodation: Melbourne - 2 Night

When looking for things to do in Melbourne, it's all too easy to find yourself with a very long list and nowhere near enough time to do it all! From good food to retail therapy, from a reflective bushwalk through tranquil surrounds to a thorough exploration of the city's thriving arts and culture scene.

Melbourne is packed with attractions, from laneways and street art to lush parks and grand galleries and museums. Get adventurous try skydiving in St Kilda or V8 driving at Sandown Raceway, try hot air balloon ride - so much to see and do!

Collect your rental car and get ready to embark on one of the world's greatest coastal drives: the Great Ocean Road.

The Great Ocean Road Touring Route has a number of scenic lookouts all the way from Torquay to the border of Victoria and South Australia. Make your way along the coast to Bells Beach to check out the amazing surf and capture some spectacular views of the coastline and the Southern Ocean.

Be sure to stop at the town of Anglesea and visit the golf course: it's famous for the kangaroos lounging under the trees and hopping across the greens!

Apollo Bay: Paradise By The Sea

Tonight you will stay in the beautiful village of Apollo Bay. The Bay is referred to as the “Paradise by the Sea” and is a great place for those who love the beaches and water sports.

Approximate Distance: 200 km | 124 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 45 mins

Accommodation: Apollo Bay - 1 Night

Continue along the Great Ocean Road for a scenic 2.5-hour drive, pausing at Port Campbell to view the magnificent 12 Apostles.

The 12 Apostles

Witness the rugged splendour of the famous 12 Apostles, magnificent rock stacks that rise up majestically from the Southern Ocean on Victoria's dramatic coastline. Created by constant erosion of the limestone cliffs of the mainland beginning 10–20 million years ago, the stormy Southern Ocean and blasting winds gradually eroded the softer limestone, forming caves in the cliffs. The caves eventually became arches and when they collapsed rock stacks up to 45 metres high were left isolated from the shore. View the 12 Apostles at sunrise and sunset as they change colour from dark and foreboding in shadow to brilliant sandy yellow under a full sun.

Approximate Distance: 160 km | 99 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Warrnambool - 2 Nights

A free day to relax and enjoy Warrnambool however you desire.

Surrounded by such spectacular coastline, fantastic beaches and ocean views, you may want to spend a lazy day strolling the beautiful parks and gardens or exploring the beach and bike trails. For a more active day, here are our favourite suggestions:

Suggested Activity: Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum & Village

At Flagstaff Hill you'll travel back in time and experience what life was like for the Shipwreck Coast’s first European settlers.

As you wander this replica village you'll learn the stories of hundreds of ships, crewmen and passengers who succumbed to the Shipwreck Coast in the 19th Century. Discover how the Coast got its name and see the many treasures reclaimed from the ocean floor by divers.

Suggested Activity: Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve

Koalas, emus, kangaroos and native waterbirds roam freely in Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, which sits inside a 30,000-year-old extinct volcano. There are over 200 koalas and kangaroos living here, and you're guaranteed to meet a few!

Bird-lovers can take advantage of the boardwalks, nesting boxes and bird-hide where you can spy on fabulous natives such as the chestnut teal and the awkward-looking Spoonbill.

Bid farewell to the coast and venture inland to Halls Gap, the gateway to Grampians National Park.

Grampians National Park and Halls Gap

Rising up from Victoria's Western Plains, the Grampians is a series of sandstone mountain ranges and lush forests filled with wildlife. It's home to one of South-East Australia's richest Aboriginal rock art sites.

Halls Gap is a delightful village nestled at the heart of the Grampians National Park. The village is home to many popular annual events, from the Grampians Grape Escape Food & Wine Festival to the Grampians Jazz & Blues Festival. It's the perfect base from which to explore. There is no light pollution at Halls Gap, meaning you can see the stars shining in all their glory when the sun goes down. Grab a torch, head outside and look to the skies for fantastic light shows on a clear night.

Approximate Distance: 160 km | 99 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours

Accommodation: Halls Gap - 2 Nights

Spend a fabulous free day in the Grampians National Park: cascading waterfalls, beautiful walking trails and sacred Indigenous sites are just a short walk or drive away.

You could enjoy an afternoon at Halls Gap Zoo with over 160 native and wild animals including cheetah, giraffe, meerkats, koalas and kangaroos. Or hike to the top of The Pinnacle for sensational views over a huge expanse of western Victoria.

You may wish to hike the downhill trail to Mackenzie Falls, the largest waterfall in Victoria. Or visit the Brambuk Cultural Centre for insights into local culture through traditional stories, art, music, dance, weapons, tools and photographs. Try some native Australian flavours at their cafe, such as grilled emu or kangaroo pie.

However you choose to spend your day, don't forget to catch a last glimpse of the starry skies before you go to bed.

Hit the road once more and head for Ballarat, Victoria's largest inland city. Here you will visit Sovereign Hill where you can try your luck at panning for gold!

Visit Sovereign Hill

Sovereign Hill's amazing outdoor museum re-creates Ballarat’s first ten years after the discovery of gold in 1851. Thousands of international adventurers rushed to the goldfields hoping to make their fortune. You can see a spectacular $160,000 gold pour, take a fully guided underground gold mine tour, or ride around the old town in a horse-drawn coach. See steam-driven machinery in action and chat with the wheelwrights, candlemakers and confectioners as they ply their trades. At the Red Hill Gully you can pan for real gold and keep any that you find!

Continue on to Melbourne

Approximate Distance: 260 km | 162 miles   Total Driving Time: 3 hours 15 mins

Accommodation: Melbourne - 1 Night

Today we say farewell. There may be time for some last-minute excursions or shopping before you head home. We know you will enjoy your holiday and our promise to you is to make your travels through Australia as hassle-free and hospitable as possible - ensuring that today you leave with a camera full of photos, and huge smiles on your faces when recalling your holiday!