Departs 8:15am to 12:5pm Experience the beautiful architecture of some of our most famous landmarks including the Melbourne Town Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral, Victorian Parliament, Flinders Street Station and Federation Square. Visit the beach and café cultures of St Kilda and Williamstown. Stop at the amazing Eureka Skydeck 88 for superb views over Melbourne and surrounds. Travel past other Melbourne icons including the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Queen 7Victoria Market, Melbourne Tennis Centre and Melbourne University. Indulge in a delicious morning tea. See some of our beautiful gardens including the Fitzroy Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens and the Flagstaff Gardens. Your tour finishes at Eureka Skydeck to allow ample time for viewing.
 MELBOURNE SKYLINE While there you should do the Edge Experience. The Edge is located on Level 88 and the cost is additional to Skydeck Admission. 'The Edge' - a glass cube which projects 3 metres out from the building - with you in it - suspended almost 300 metres above the ground! Nothing you have ever experienced will prepare you for the awe inspiring view of Melbourne from the Southern Hemisphere's highest viewing platform. An experience above all else.
Full day tour operating on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Just over an hour's drive from Melbourne lays the beautiful Mornington Peninsula. It offers visitors a huge variety of natural and manmade attractions and a magnificent wine region with more than 170 wineries. Nowhere in Australia are the vineyards back dropped by such breathtaking seascapes. The climate and rich soil have combined to make the Peninsula one of Australia's great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay regions. Combined with a visit to sample handmade cheese and other delights, the glorious surrounds of the Mornington Peninsula make this a relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable day out. Enjoy great views along the coastline to the Mornington Peninsula. Stop for a delicious morning tea. Sample some of the regional gourmet food and produce the Peninsula has to offer. Travel to Arthurs Seat Lookout, the highest point on the Peninsula with panoramic views. Enjoy a tasty lunch at one of the delightful wineries. Sample superb wines at other local wineries. Taste some of the well known locally produced cheeses. Be decadent and taste delicious handmade chocolates made from fresh local ingredients. Return approx 5:30pm.
INCLUSIONS Hotel pick up and drop off, highly qualified and knowledgeable guide, travel in luxury air - conditioned vehicles, home-made afternoon tea, sumptuous dinner, entry to Koala Conservation Centre and Penguin Parade.
ITINERARY
Recognized as a world leader for environmental conservation, Phillip Island’s sandy and rocky shorelines team with wildlife including over 200 species of birds. Time permitting we can view the local fisherman cleaning their catch of the day whilst battling amongst the fight of gulls and pelicans. Have a quick distant view of Churchill Island, home to Victoria's oldest garden and crop of wheat. On Phillip Island's northern side, look out for masked lapwings, spoonbills, ibis, herons and black swans. We then visit the south-side and check out some local surfers on a pristine beach overlooking the highest point of the island. It's now time to visit the Koala Conservation Centre. This is one of the few areas in Victoria where you can see a protected koala colony. Walk amongst the treetops in nature reserve bushland and see wild koalas within touching distance! We may spot a wild wallaby or two as well. Time permitting we pass Swan Lake, the island's largest fresh water lake, and head to the Nobbies. From this magnificent headland, the views stretch over Mornington Peninsula and Bass Strait. One and half kilometers offshore are Seal Rocks, home to Australia's largest Australian Fur Seal colony. Finally we get to the Penguin Parade. Each evening at dusk Little Penguins arrive in groups on the beach after a day of fishing. See them waddle their way into the dunes where their burrow nests are situated. We have access to the less populated boardwalks enabling you to gain close contact with the penguins without any hustle and bustle. Seeing, hearing and learning about the penguin behavior, and their daily routines is an amazing experience. Your evening finishes with dinner in the township of Cowes before returning to Melbourne late evening. Please note in summer you will dine before the Penguin Parade. This itinerary is subject to change depending on weather and time of the year. The itinerary lists many options and the guide will do the best to see all of this before sunset and the arrival of the penguins.
INCLUSIONS
ITINERARY We soon arrive at Geelong and take you down to Corio Bay. Corio Bay is a wonderful mix of old wharves, wool stores and a fully restored 1930s sea bathing complex. See wonderful examples of century old housing and the 100 brightly painted bollards dotted around the bay depicting some of Geelong's local historic characters, each having its own story to tell. At Torquay the Great Ocean Road starts. Known as the world’s most inspiring coastal drive, we follow its winding trail through the lush Otway rainforests, to the breathtaking, windswept drama of the Shipwreck Coast. For much of the way the road clings to the coastline, twisting and turning, every bend revealing a sight more spectacular than the last. At Lorne we will visit a lookout perched high on the hillside where you really get to see the Great Ocean Road from a bird like perspective. This will be followed by morning tea where we can possibly view some of the local surfers 'ripping it up.' Another highlight of the day is a stop at Kennett River. In this area, high in the trees is a colony of wild koalas. See these creatures in their natural habitat, hanging from trees and looking after their young, oblivious to their human onlookers. A sumptuous lunch is served at Apollo Bay before we make our way to the Shipwreck coast area of the Great Ocean Road; our first stop, The Twelve Apostles. The mighty Twelve Apostles are world-recognized icons of the Great Ocean Road. These giant rock stacks soar from the swirling waters of the Southern Ocean and are a central feature of the spectacular Port Campbell National Park. The dramatic and imposing limestone cliffs that are the backdrop to the Apostles tower up to 70 meters, while the tallest of the rock stacks is around 45 meters high. Venturing further west we arrive at Loch Ard Gorge. Your first view will be of towering cliffs, sparkling blue-green sea and a small, sandy beach. It’s hard to imagine that the drama of one of Victoria’s most tragic shipwrecks was played out at this very spot more than 120 years ago, giving its name to the gorge. Your guide will tell you the story and have you totally engrossed and mesmerized. Time permitting we get to see another one of the amazing rock formations that dot this coastline before heading inland through dairy farm country on the way back to the city.
Departs: Every Monday from Melbourne 8.00am Returns: To Melbourne on Wednesday 6.00pm
This is a journey visiting some of the best highlights the state of Victoria has to offer. We begin by experiencing the long sandy beaches and amazing rock formations along the magnificent Great Ocean Road. Heading north we view spectacular lookouts, lakes and waterfalls in the beautiful Grampians National Park. Continuing this fascinating journey we visit the 1850's historic township of Ballarat and Sovereign Hill and relive some of the gold rush fever of the 1800's. Travel through the coastal townships of Lorne and Apollo Bay. Look for koalas in the wild. Stop along the Shipwreck Coast for superb photo opportunities. Take a walk through the magnificent rainforest at Maits Rest. Drive through the beautiful Otway National Park. View the famous Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. Visit Halls Gap - gateway to the Grampians National Park. Spectacular views from Boroka and Reids Lookouts. Walk along "The Balconies" escarpment, experience the Jaws of Death and McKenzie Falls. Explore the city of Ballarat with its beautiful historic buildings. Experience life as it was in the 1850's at Sovereign Hill - a recreated gold mining settlement . Tour an underground mine and visit the Gold Museum. Combine traveling in a small group and luxury vehicle, excellent accommodation and meals, fascinating history and stunning scenery and you will get the ultimate experience - personalized touring at its best.
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