Drive from Adelaide to Cape Jervis to catch the ferry to Kangaroo Island.

For your trip to Kangaroo Island, you can drive straight down the coast to Cape Jervis. But if you have the time, we recommend taking the long way through Adelaide Hills to see some of the sights. Click Here for the fastest route (1hr 30min)

• Mount Lofty summit, rising over 710m above sea level, provides a picturesque panoramic view over Adelaide’s city skyline, as far as Kangaroo Island and Yorke Peninsula on clear days. For a more accessible view, check out Mount Lofty House.
• The Lane Vineyard offers one of Adelaide Hill’s most unqiue wine experiences with 360 degree Hilltop Tasting. Work your way through a flight of seven premium wines and chef-prepared goodies in The Lane’s unique tasting room with retractable walls, opening-up to stunning 360-degree views of the rolling Adelaide Hills.
• Hahndof Main Street is a contemporary village proud of its German heritage still visible in its traditional streetscape with smallgoods, bakeries, cuckoo clocks, wooden folk art and German-style pubs. Stroll the tree-lined main street and discover shops, galleries and studios, a cheese maker, leathersmith, jeweller, candle makers, a craft brewery, winery cellar doors, gin distillery, chocolatier, traditional sweet shops, restaurants and cafes.

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Discover Australia as you travel by rental car for six days.

As part of your vacation self-drive Australia and explore our stunning landscapes, coastlines, regional towns and wildlife. Stop and meet the locals, maybe enjoy a counter meal at a local Aussie pub, or relax on the beach while sampling some takeaway fish & chips from the local deli or servo. During one of your rest stops try to spot a kangaroo, emu or even a Koala in the wild.

Please bring a valid American driver’s license with you and be aware that the Australians drives on the left hand side of the road.

Base rate only paid by About Australia. GPS, Insurance, Premium Location Surcharge, Fuel and Fees to driver’s credit card.

Ferry Transfer with rental vehicle from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw and return.

Travel to your accommodation on Kangaroo Island, Australia, where you will be staying whilst on vacation for 2 nights.

Your vacation accommodation has just 27 rooms. Why not take some time out and laze away the hours by our sparkling solar heated pool, spa and sauna. Wander through our gardens at sunset and you will probably meet one of the little penguins that waddle up from the beach for a visit. The Kangaroo Island vacation accommodation is a stylish and very welcoming property and is the perfect base for you to enjoy all the natural beauty that Kangaroo Island has to offer. Organise adventures with the friendly and professional staff that know and love the Island. Whether it is deep sea fishing, 4WD wilderness tour, or horse riding, it is up to you. Or what about a walking tour, food tour, swimming, snorkeling, diving, climbing and of course there are wonderful national Parks to explore. In fact, everything the Island has to offer is just a short drive away.

Kangaroo Island is a natural wonder with native bushland, wildlife, adventure & exploring. Pristine beaches, local wines and produce, dramatic cliffs and sunsets are on your doorstep. Your self drive exploration of this magnificent island is truly the experience of a lifetime.

From Cape Jervis you will hop on the ferry to Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island. We want you to make the most of Kangaroo Island, so we recommend a morning ferry. After checking into your vacation accommodation in Penneshaw you can head out to explore the wonders that Kangaroo Island has to offer. Koalas and Kangaroos, platypus and seals, these are just a few of the amazing wildlife you can experience on Kangaroo Island. All of the wildlife is in it’s natural habitat and you can see them in their natural habitat. Fresh produce and wines are also in abundance on Kangaroo Island, be sure to pick up some snacks and go for a picnic lunch.

Flinders Chase National Park is a must see. Visit the Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, these are some amazing geological formations. You can even spot fur seals lazing on the beach at West Bay. There are plenty of walking trails to choose from, where you can discover the abundance of flora and fauna.

Kelly Hill Caves and Conservation Park is just outside of the Flinders Chase National Park. This outstanding destination provides a peek into a stunning maze of caves. There are guided tours offered here. For those wanting to stay above ground, you can choose one of the many walking trails. From 1.25km to 18km hikes there is something here for everyone.

Seal Bay Conversation Park is another highlight of Kangaroo Island. Here you can join a guided tour to spot the endangered Australian Seals lounging in their natural environment on the beach. You can opt to explore the self-guided boardwalk where you can see the seals and the majestic coastal scenery that only Kangaroo Island has to offer.

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Drive from Kangaroo Island to Adelaide, approximately 2.5 hours.

This is a beautiful and scenic drive through the small towns and villages of the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Discover nature’s playground and charming towns. The region is home to the internationally renowned McLaren Vale – boasting sustainable wine production, world-renowned labels and unparalleled gastronomic experiences.

If you take this drive around dusk, you will likely see hundreds of Kangaroo mobs in the fields along the side of the road. Drive carefully!

Choose one or two of these suggested stops to stretch your legs and explore the local culture.

Second Valley Heritage Walk
Starting at the historic Leonards Mill in Second Valley, this self-guided heritage walk is brimming with fascinating history. Download a copy of the brochure beforehand, which complements the onsite information display boards.
As you walk, soak up the story of Leonards Mill which was formerly an operational flour mill, the old Finniss Vale Hotel which was established in 1856 and burned down in 1928, as well as the blacksmith’s shop and cottage and various war memorials.

The walk also passes by the site of two old steam-operated sawmills, and explains the history of the heritage-listed causeway and jetty. Allow 2 Hours.

Find out more.
 

Normanville
Known affectionately to locals as ‘Normy’, Normanville is a popular seaside resort town with long sandy beaches. Stroll along the white sands to nearby Carrickalinga or Lady Bay. Take a walk down Main Streets and check out the local shops. If you’re missing American comfort food, try South Bound Diner for an Australian take on Retro American Diner food. A few blocks down the street look for a HUGE tree and you might just spot thousands of cockatoos!

Aldinga Beach
Aldinga Beach is one of the few beaches in Australia where cars are permitted to drive on sections of the broad sand, making access to the beach especially easy. It is renowned for its safe swimming and impressive surf, which sees the population in the local area boom come summer.

The D’arenberg Cube
The d’Arenberg Cube in McLaren Vale is a five storey multi-function building set among Mourvèdre vines.

The building has the optical illusion of floating in a vineyard, each level with spectacular views overlooking the rolling hills of Willunga. Inside is the winery’s Tasting Room, a restaurant, private function areas and numerous artworks and features throughout, detailed in the company’s new smart phone application, ‘The Alternate Realities Museum’
Advance reservations are recommended.

The restaurant offers degustation dining with optional wine pairings, an extensive list featuring a selection of imported wines, and both current vintage and museum releases from d’Arenberg. Open for lunch Thursday to Sunday, bookings are required in advance.

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Travel to your accommodation in Adelaide, Australia, where you will be staying whilst on vacation for 2 nights.

Your 4 Star boutique style hotel, is located in the heart of Adelaide’s central district. The hotel is within walking distance to the city’s major cultural attractions, shopping precinct’s and entertainment centres.

Adelaide is known as the city of food and wine, a place to experience the buzz, culture and convenience of a big city without big city frustrations. The city centre, surrounded by parklands, is a charming blend of historic buildings, wide streets, numerous shops, street cafes and restaurants.

South Australia’s capital city, Adelaide, is a cosmopolitan city with a blend of European and modern architecture, offering a wealth of experiences including great food and wine, arts and culture, and world-class sporting events. This tour is an ideal introduction to see the best of Adelaide and learn more about its history on a friendly and relaxed tour.

In the morning, board your coach for your tour. Your guide will introduce you to this delightful city, which is surrounded by parklands with a blend of historic buildings, wide streets, cafés and restaurants. Your morning will include a drive past Adelaide’s cultural precinct – North Terrace, Adelaide Botanic Gardens and the beautiful Botanic Park, home to the Bicentennial Conservatory and the Adelaide Zoo. Drive through the historic North Adelaide, where you’ll see tree-lined streets, mansions and historic buildings. A stop will be made at the National Wine Centre of Australia, located on the edge of Adelaide’s stunning Botanic Gardens where you will have free time to explore the Wine Discovery Journey Museum. Your morning will also include a visit to the iconic St Peters Cathedral (subject to availability) or the newly developed Adelaide Oval precinct.

Operates
Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday (excluding Good Friday, Anzac Day, Boxing Day, and Christmas)
Departs 9:15am from Adelaide Central Bus Station or selected Adelaide hotels and returns 12:15pm (approx.)

Includes
– Half day tour
– Pick up and drop off
– Expert commentary from local driver/guide

Need to Know
Itinerary subject to change.

Travel to South Australia’s premium wine region the Barossa on this delightful food and wine tour. Take time to sample some of the Barossa’s finest wines and gourmet food that makes this wine region so special. On this tour we will visit 5 cellar doors including the world famous Wolf Blass Visitor Centre where we will enjoy a Barossa gourmet lunch and wine tastings at this spectacular cellar door facility.

Along the way to Barossa, stop at at TeAro Estate in Williamstown to enjoy some morning tea and tastings. Next will be a stop in Kellermeister in Lyndoch for a delicious wine tasting. Upon arrival to the Barossa Valley region, stroll around Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop. For lunch enjoy a delectable Barossa platter lunch with wine tasting at the Wolf Blass Visitor centre. Then you’ll be off the Saltram Wine Estate in Angaston to enjoy a cellar door tasting and learn the ‘Saltram Story.’ Before returning to Adelaide, relax at your final stop and wine tasting at the Pindarie Cellar Door in Gomersal. Throughout the tour sit back and your expert driver/guide will give you insightful commentary about Adelaide, Barossa Valley and all the lovely stops inbetween.
Operational Days: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday (excluding Christmas Day and Good Friday)
Departs: Approximately 9:15am to 5:15pm
Operates: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday (excluding Christmas Day and Good Friday)

Be sure to visit the Adelaide Central Market, the largest fresh produce market in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Adelaide Central Market is a community of people: traders, artisans and shoppers, who share a passion for food. It buzzes with life and colour all year round.

The range of fresh food is extensive! You can find fruit & vegetables, meat & poultry, seafood, gourmet cheeses, cakes and more all under one roof. People love to return again and again for the delicious aromas, vivid colours and atmosphere of this international and cultural melting pot.

Hours of Operation: Closed Sunday & Monday; Tuesdays – 7:00am to 5:30pm; Wednesdays* – 9:00am to 5:30pm; Thursdays – 9:00am to 5:30pm; Fridays – 7:00am to 9:00pm; Saturdays – 7:00am to 3:00pm

*Be sure to visit their website for their most update to date hours and current events: https://adelaidecentralmarket.com.au/

Photo Credit: Adelaide Central Market

Be sure to see the world’s largest display of Aboriginal culture and artifacts in the South Australian Museum and Tandanya (National Aboriginal Cultural Institute).

As a visitor to Tandanya, you can meet Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, walk through diverse and exciting exhibitions in the art galleries, watch a cultural presentation and yidaki (didgeridoo) or dance performance (Tuesday – Sunday at 12pm) and browse in the colourful award winning shop. On Thursdays at 11am join in learning more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history on a free guided cultural tour.

Free Entry (Cultural Performance is an additional cost)
Open Daily: 10am to 5pm & Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day

The best place to experience the Murray River is in Renmark, South Australia.

Day 1: Adelaide to Renmark

From Adelaide you will head north east towards Gawler. Once at Gawler, if you are a wine connoisseur, don’t miss this opportunity to detour through the famous Barossa Valley wine region home to Penfolds, Peter Lehmann, Seppeltsfield, Bethany and Wolf Blass wineries to mention a few. Most wineries are open daily for wine tasting and cellar door sales. Continue on to Truro where the environment changes from vineyards and gardens into the farming lands which cover the Adelaide Hills. Lush and green during the rains, or very stark & dry when in drought. In Truro, maybe stop at the local Sunrise Bakery for lunch and try some of their yummy local fare: eat a meat pie or sausage roll and wash it down with a cold iced-coffee (our favorite is “Farmers Union Iced Coffee”).

Leaving the Adelaide Hills is marked by the drive down Accommodation Hill where you are presented with another abrupt change in landscape to flat sparse farm lands which stretch as far as the eye can see. Both the fences separating the fields and the roads are framed with a smattering of small gum trees and salt bushes. Before you reach Blanchetown is home to the Brookfield Conservation Park, which is a breeding ground for the southern hairy-nosed wombat.

The first crossing of the Murray River is at Blanchetown where the Murray River’s system of weirs and locks begin. Lock 1 can be viewed on the left as you cross over the bridge. The locks were constructed along the entire length of the Murray River in the 1920s and 1930s to help control water levels for the then thriving river transport system. The historic paddle & steam boats of those early years were the only life source for commodities and trade for developing communities along the Murray River. Some of these boats have since been restored and can be seen throughout the Murray River towns. As you cross the Blanchetown Bridge you’ll also see many original River Red Gum (Eucalyptus) trees that drowned when the locks & weirs were commissioned and the surrounding lands were flooded.

Further along, as you enter Waikerie, the Murray River will be on your left. Stop to appreciate the view of the river because here, it’s a great lookout point to see the windy river curving around the landscape. Impressive rusty golden limestone cliffs line the river and are brightly contrasted with green trees and bamboo at the river’s edge. Continue on to Barmera, which is a small township on Lake Bonney, then onto Monash – home to Monash Playground built for both adults and kids. Continue to Renmark. There’s plenty of accommodation here in the form of hotels, motels, houseboats and caravan parks with fully self-contained cabins. The BIG 4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park is a favorite spot with fantastic river views, big shady trees, convenient location, lovely cabins and lots of facilities for both adults and kids. Stay 1 Night.

Day 2: Tour The Riverland

While in the region there are lots of things to see and do. River activities include houseboat cruises, camping, boat hire, skiing (learn to ski), fishing, canoeing, kayaking, catch yabbies (like crawdads), swimming and BBQs.

Wildlife spotting is a fun activity. Many Koalas have made their home in the gum trees lining the river. They are a little tough to find, but if you are determined you’ll have a good chance of spotting a Koala in the wild here. It’s easiest to spot them when you are in a boat that cruises slowly along the river banks. The best place to spot Kangaroos in the wild is at the Renmark Golf Club. Plan to have dinner at the Golf Club Bistro one night and enjoy true Aussie fare along with a glass of local wine as you watch 10 or more Kangaroos come out onto the golf course at dusk. Also after it gets dark one night, take some apples or carrots to hand feed the local possums that live in the big palm trees along the river out front of the Renmark Hotel.

Experiencing the river environment is a must, and the best way to do it is from the water. Murray River houseboat cruises showcase the jaw-dropping beauty of the river’s diverse & contrasting sun-burnt yet lush landscapes. With all the modern conveniences at your fingertips you can explore the region at your leisure. One minute you’re close to civilization the next you’re incredibly remote. It’s truly a unique Australian experience not yet discovered by the tourist masses. It’s hard to describe the feeling of being so close to nature in this peaceful and beautiful environment. There’s something very special about being near the water that allows you to quickly wind down and reconnect with yourself, family and friends.

If you’re short on time and unable to hire a houseboat for a few days, then a day trip cruise or a two hour river cruise is a must. A boat ride along the river is sincerely the only way to get a true appreciation of the stunning and distinctive beauty of the Murray River and surrounds. If you are unable to get on a boat, a fantastic view of the Murray River and its spectacular cliffs can be found at Headings Cliffs Lookout which is located off Murtho Road north of Paringa (small town near Renmark).

The McCormick Centre for the Environment is worth a look too, it’s a public facility designed to support environmental education, research & nature based tourism. Here they have a small number of local wildlife including the unusual Blue Tongue Lizard which you can see up close and personal. Renmark’s Ruston Rose Garden is the largest rose garden in the southern hemisphere, with modern and heritage roses of all kinds and colors. In October the town celebrates the ‘Rose Festival’.

If travelling on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday, make sure you dine at the “Mallee Fowl Restarant” a truly Australian themed outback country treat. It is located in the middle of the sticks, literally. It’s hidden amongst a bunch of gum trees and salt bushes and is so isolated that it is not on the power grid (it’s actually powered by a generator). The food is exceptional and has received awards for best themed restaurant in Australia.

The Murray River is one of Australia’s oldest living cultural landscapes. Aboriginal tribes still reside along the more isolated regions of the Murray River. If your touring the river by boat and look hard enough, you can find Aboriginal artifacts such as canoe trees, fish traps and boundary markers.

Enjoy the walking trails at National & Conservation Parks such as Banrock Station Wine & Wetland Centre. Experience the self guided walking trails through the wetlands (seasonal), or relax on the spacious deck and enjoy local cuisine with a glass of Banrock Station wine.

Local museums and historic sites that showcase the heritage of the region include Olivewood in Remark and the award winning Historical Village in Loxton. The village is home to over 45 buildings and exhibits that enable you to stroll down memory lane and experience the lifestyles of the early settlers. Three times a year staff and volunteers dress in period costume bringing the village ‘alive’ so visitors can experience the life of the regions pioneers. Also in Loxton is Lock 4 and the ‘Tree on Knowledge’ which has date markers for the Murray River flood levels over the years. Be sure to see the resorted paddle steamer “PS Industry” at Renmark. It was built in 1911 and was re-commissioned in 1995. Stay 1 Night.

Day 3: Return to Adelaide

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Stay in Renmark at your vacation accommodation for 2 nights.

Your vacation accommodation in Renmark is within walking distance to the main shopping area and the Murray River, offering fishing, water skiing and boating. This Renmark hotel is minutes from the Almondco Almond Hut, the Chaffey Theatre, the Goanna Hill Gallery and Bulyong Island.
If visiting in October, the city of Renmark hosts the Renmark Rose Festival. The city is known for its cultivation of grapes, citrus fruits, tomatoes, vegetable, wheat and wool. Several orange groves and vineyards are located minutes from the hotel.
Nearby recreational activities include river cruises, biking and hiking. A variety of restaurants and cocktail lounges are located in the surrounding area.
Laundry facilities available onsite.

Remember, this road trip is fully customizable. Combine it with other destinations, add accommodation, sigthseeing tours and flights (international &/or domestic).

Just let us know what you want and our Travel Experts will design your complete itinerary with a ‘no-obligation’ quote.