Day 1 (L,D) MELBOURNE, HORSHAM, MILDURA
Departing Melbourne we travel the Western Highway, with morning tea at Beaufort. Lunch at Horsham before joining the Henty and Sunraysia Highways to Mildura. Home tonight is the Sandors Motor Inn.

Day 2 (B,D) MILDURA, RENMARK, BERRI, KAPUNDA, CLARE
Today we travel along the Sturt Highway to Renmark, with morning cuppa at Berri. On to Waikerie with lunch at Kapunda. Visit the Kapunda Museum, which includes a history of Australia’s cattle king, Sir Sidney Kidman and the story of our first successful mining venture. On to the beautiful Clare Valley, home tonight the Clare Valley Motel.

Day 3 (B,L,D) CLARE, BURRA, PETERBOROUGH, PORT AUGUSTA
Travel to the National Trust classified copper mining township of Burra – enjoy a guided tour here. Lunch today is in nearby Peterborough, one of only two places in Australia where three railway gauges meet. On to Port Augusta, the “Crossroads of Australia”. Visit Wadlata Outback Centre, an award-winning centre depicting early days in the area and the Ghan railway. Home tonight, Standpipe Golf Motor Inn.

Day 4 (B,L,D) PORT AUGUSTA, WUDINNA, GAWLER RANGES
Today we journey west into Gawler Ranges country, visiting Iron Knob and its historic ”Iron Knob” mine and mineral and gemstone display. Travel the Eyre Highway to Wudinna. Join Gawler Range Wilderness Safaris, travelling through country which witnessed one of the world’s largest single volcanic eruptions some 1,500 million years ago. Spectacular country! Home tonight, Gawler Ranges Motel at Wudinna.

Day 5 (B,D) WUDINNA, STREAKY BAY, ELLISTON, COFFIN BAY, PORT LINCOLN
From Wudinna we continue along the Eyre Highway to Poochera and Streaky Bay, on the western shores of the Eyre Peninsula on the Flinders Highway. Time to enjoy this beautiful coastal area before visiting Murphy’s Haystacks, huge ancient windblown granite rocks. A photographers delight. On to Elliston, also on the coast. View the largest mural in the southern hemisphere, depicting early local history. Visit Coffin Bay prior to arriving at Port Lincoln, home to a huge tuna fishing industry. Our home for two nights, the Hilton Motel.

Day 6 (B,D) PORT LINCOLN
Visit the Axel Stenross Maritime Museum and enjoy an aqua culture and sightseeing cruise, visiting a sea lion colony and the huge local tuna farm – hand feed the tuna if you wish. During the afternoon we visit Whalers Way, the southern tip of Eyre Peninsula and home to simply magnificent scenery. A photographer’s delight. Cliffs, blowholes and golden beaches! Or, you may prefer browsing in town or walking along the Esplanade.

Day 7 (B,L,D) PORT LINCOLN, COWELL, WHYALLA, PORT PIRIE
Travel north to Cowell, home of Australia’s only commercial jade mine. View local jade at Cowell Jade and Gemstones (purchase if you wish), morning tea here. We continue to Whyalla, home of the huge steel works established by BHP who built a smelting works here in the 1890’s to refine ore from Iron Knob, transported around 50 kilometres on a tram line system. Lunch here today. Visit the Flinders and Freycinet Lookout, with sweeping views of upper Spencer Gulf before continuing to Port Augusta and Port Pirie. Home tonight, the John Pirie Motor Inn.

Day 8 (B,L,D) PORT PIRIE, ADELAIDE
This morning we journey to Adelaide, arriving around lunch time. Some free time in the city. An afternoon city sights tour gives us a brief insight into this vibrant city prior to visiting the seaside suburb of Glenelg. Home tonight is the Comfort Inn on Anzac Highway.

Day 9 (B,L,D) ADELAIDE, CAPE JERVIS, KANGAROO ISLAND, AMERICAN RIVER
From Adelaide we travel to Cape Jervis where we board the Sea Lion II, a large passenger and car ferry for the 45 minute journey across Backstairs Passage to Kangaroo Island, noted for its rugged coastline, pristine beaches, disease-free native animals and flora and the Ligurian bee. The KI population is believed to be the only remaining pure stock of these bees in the world. Lunch on arrival. During the afternoon we visit Kingscote, Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery and Island Pure Sheep Dairy as we travel to American River and our home for two nights, Kangaroo Island Lodge (Feb 27 departure – Ozone Seafront Hotel).

Day 10 (B,L,D) KANGAROO ISLAND
Today we visit Pandana Wildlife Park, a large collection of rare and unusual birds and animals, then continue to the south coast and Seal Bay. A guided tour from the cliff takes us onto the beach and within great viewing range of the famous sea lions. (Good views for those unable to negotiate the walk to the beach.) Lunch on route to the Remarkable Rocks, huge rocks carved into artistic outlines by millions of years of almost constant wind. At Admirals Arch view a large colony of the smaller New Zealand fur seals. Some free time in Kingscote prior to dinner together at our hotel.

Day 11 (B,D) KANGAROO ISLAND, CAPE JERVIS, VICTOR HARBOR
We return by ferry to Cape Jervis, and then through the Inman Valley to Victor Harbor. Some free time in this popular holiday destination, once a major whaling station. An easy afternoon, enjoy a visit to Urimbirra Wildlife Park plus a ride on the horse drawn tram across the causeway to Granite Island, home to a penguin colony and the Granite Island Recreation Park. Home tonight, the Apollon Motor Inn.

Day 12 (B,L,D)  VICTOR HARBOR, GOOLWA, STRATHALBYN, MININGIE, KINGSTON, ROBE
This morning we journey via Goolwa and the historic township of Strathablyn on route to Wellington, where we cross the Murray by punt. Join the Princes Highway as we travel south to Miningie on the shores of Lake Albert. Lunch here today. During the afternoon we travel along the Coorong, part of the drought-affected Younghusband Peninsula, to Kingston and Robe. Our home tonight, the Robe Haven Motel.

Day 13 (B,D) ROBE, MILLICENT, PENOLA, MT GAMBIER
An easy day today as we journey to Millicent, morning cuppa at the award-winning museum. Visit Penola, and the Mary McKillop Centre, enjoy lunch in this quiet village. During the afternoon we continue to Mt Gambier, city of the “Blue Lake” and enjoy a tour of some of the highlights of South Australia’s largest country city. Home tonight, Quality Inn International.

Day 14 (B,L) MT GAMBIER, HAMILTON, BALLARAT, MELBOURNE
The final day of our journey takes us along the Glenelg Highway to Casterton, Hamilton and Ballarat. Lunch in Ballarat and a short journey on the Western freeway via Melbourne Airport to Melbourne. Thus concludes a most enjoyable 14 day holiday exploring South Australia.