Melbourne & Eastern Australia Tour Package

Things to do:

• Morning city sights with Yarra Rivercruise. Explore Fitzroy Gardens, including Captain Cook’s Cottage, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Shrine of Remembrance.
• Travel over the Westgate Bridge, drive along the Grand Prix Track and see the Melbourne Cricket Ground, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Arts Centre, Crown Casino and Port Phillip Bay.
• Hop on board with Melbourne River Cruises and take in the sights of Melbourne from the beautiful Yarra River.
• Cruise past Melbourne’s picturesque gardens, parklands and some of the famous sporting arenas.
  
  1. The tour departs daily at 8.10am from Federation Square, Corner of Flinders & Russell Streets.
  2. Price: AUD 90 per adult/ AUD 45 per child
  3. The tour can be booked at http://guidedtours.aatkings.com/
• Visit the Melbourne Cricket Grounds and the National Museum including the Cricket Found me Gallery dedicated to Shane Warne.
• Reach for the sky with a ride on Melbourne’s newest star attraction, Melbourne Star Observation Wheel.

The Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, located in Melbourne’s waterfront precinct of Docklands, takes visitors on a 30‐minute ride in fully enclosed glass cabins and offers extraordinary bird’s‐eye views of the city and surrounds, including Port Phillip Bay and as far away as Mount Macedon and the Dandenong Ranges.

Distance: 56 km/35 miles | Driving Time: About 1 hour
Farewell Melbourne’s rooftops and subterranean drinking dens, boutiques, galleries and coffee culture. It’s time to hit the road for the Yarra Valley, an easy drive less than an hour east of the city, where life’s great pleasures of food, wine and nature are justly revered.
Rolling hills laced with grape vines whet the appetite for vineyard visiting and wine tasting. Check in to your accommodation and get started. Accommodation options range anywhere from Yering Gorge Farm Cottages on the banks of the Yarra River, to Balgownie Estate with its sleek rooms, day spa and cellar door.

Things to do:

• Visit the Healesville Sanctuary ‐ Healesville Sanctuary, in the heart of the Yarra Valley, is worldrenowned as the best place to see Australian wildlife in their natural habitat. The Sanctuary is 30 hectares of 70 acres of bushland that offers a distinctly Australian setting for visitors to experience unique close‐up encounters with some of Australia’s unique and endearing wildlife, including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, emus, dingoes, birds of prey and platypus. It is also an ideal place to enjoy the best food and wine the Yarra Valley has to offer. Do not miss seeing Spirits of the Sky, a free flight presentation featuring Australian raptors such as the Wedge Tailed Eagle, and colourful parrot species. Come face‐to‐face with Healesville Sanctuary’s most iconic species in a world‐first interactive Platypus show. Observe Platypus as they interact with keepers, play in the water and even enjoy having their tummies tickled.
• Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and the Ice Creamery ‐ Enjoy abundant free chocolate tastings. Watch our European Chocolatiers hand craft over 250 different chocolate products. Indulge in a delicious selection of ice creams. Relax at our café specialising in decadent sweet treats and let the children run and play in our expansive lawns and gardens.
• Spend the day exploring the wineries in the valley ‐ The Yarra Valley has over 65 cellar doors, plus many more vineyards. Along with the famous Domaine Chandon (Moet & Chandon’s Australian Winery), De Bortoli, Yering Station, there are many other mid‐size and boutique cellar doors that provide an intimate wine experience, unlike many other wine regions.

Accommodation in Yarra Valley:

• Best Western Yarra Valley
• Sanctuary House Resort Motel
• The Tower Motel
• VIBE Marysville
• Warburton Lodge
• Wild Cattle Creek Estate
• Yarra Gables Motel
• Yarra Valley Grand Hotel
• Balgownie Estate Vineyard Resort & Spa
• Black Spur Inn
• Chateau Yering Historic House Hotel
• Healesville Hotel
• Yarra Valley Lodge
• York on Lilydale

Distance: 140 km/87 miles | Driving Time: About 1.5 hours

Things to do in Sydney:

• Hot Air Ballooning ‐ Enjoy a view of the vineyards and the valley from up in the air. Take a joyride on the Puffing Billy Train ‐ Puffing Billy is Australia’s favourite steam train and is one of the finest preserved steam railways in the world. This century old steam train is still running on its original 25 kilometre mountain track from Belgrave to Gembrook, through the beautiful forests and fern gullies of the Dandenong Ranges.
• Take a helicopter ride to see the island ‐ See magnificent Phillip Island from the air on a Phillip Island Helicopter Tour. Fly in comfort aboard a modern helicopter for amazing aerial views of Australia’s most varied coastline. See Cape Woolamai, Seal Rocks, the Australian Grand Prix track, Summerland Bay, home of the Phillip Island Penguin Parade and miles of gorgeous coastline.
• Wildlife Coast Cruises ‐ Come aboard this spectacular two hour coastal wildlife cruise, and experience an up‐close encounter with thousands of seals at Australia’s largest fur seal colony! Seal Rocks is situated 2kms off the rugged south west coast of Phillip Island. The boat drifts within meters of the seals, enabling you to witness them in their natural environment first hand. It is impossible not to be captivated by these naturally playful and inquisitive animals, as they regularly approach the boat for a closer look at you! Along the way you’ll be enthralled by the beautiful coastline and learn all about the history of Phillip Island’s western shoreline.
  1. Departure Location: Cowes Jetty, Phillip Island
  2. Duration 2 hours | Departure: 2 pm daily (except August) / 4.30 pm during the summer season
• The Penguin Parade ‐ The Penguin Parade attracts more than half‐a‐million visitors annually to see the little penguins (Eudyptula minor), the world’s smallest, and probably cutest of their kind. The penguin complex includes concrete amphitheatres that hold up to 3800 spectators who come to see the little fellas just after sunset as they waddle from the sea to their land‐based nests.

Accommodation in Phillip Island:

• Comfort Resort Kaloha
• Silverwater Resort Phillip Island
• Phillip Island Apartments
• Oceanic on Thompson
• RAMADA RESORT PHILLIP ISLAND

Distance: 105 kms /65 miles | Driving Time: About 1 hour

Things to do

• Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit ‐ Even when the motorbikes aren’t racing, petrol‐heads love the Grand Prix Motor Racing Circuit , which was souped up for the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in 1989. The visitor centre runs guided circuit tours , or check out the History of Motorsport Museum. The more adventurous can cut laps of the track with a racing driver in hotted‐up V8s. Drive yourself in a go‐kart around a scale replica of the track with Champ Karts.
• Panny’s Chocolate Factory ‐ Like Willy Wonka’s, Panny’s place has a few surprises. As well as free samples of handmade Belgian‐style chocolate, there’s a walk‐through tour of the chocolatemaking process, including a remarkable gallery of chocolate sculptures, from Michelangelo’s David to an entire model village! Naturally, you can buy chocolate penguins, but most of the chocolate is pre‐packaged.
• Koala Conservation Centre ‐ Stroll through this eucalypt woodland and come ‘face‐to‐face’ with koalas in their natural habitat. The Koala Conservation Centre’s unique tree top boardwalks and close viewing areas allow visitors to see how truly amazing koalas are. The new koala boardwalk provides exceptional koala viewing and features amazing views of a beautiful natural wetland area.
• Phillip Island Helicopter Tour with Bass Valley Estate Winery Lunch ‐ Indulge in a day of luxury and treat someone special to an amazing food and wine experience. Fly from Phillip Island Airport to Bass Valley Estate Winery by helicopter and take in the amazing aerial views of Phillip Island and the surrounding region that only a helicopter flight can provide! Located in the extremely picturesque Bass Valley, the Bass Valley Estate Winery is a small, family run boutique winery. Enjoy a scrumptious ploughman’s lunch, a personal tour of the vineyard, wine tastings and there is also the opportunity to purchase some wine to take home.
• Await sunset on the beaches of Dromana, Rosebud or Rye.
• Set off for a lantern‐lit tour of Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park. See owls, endangered gliders, quolls, bettongs and even wallabies frolic in the night.

Accommodation in Phillip Island:

• Best Western Plus Brooklands of Mornington
• The Royal Hotel Mornington
• Best Western One Four Nelson
• The Rye Hotel
• Flinders Hotel
• Mornington On Tanti

Distance: 105 kms /65 miles | Driving Time: About 1 hour

Things to do:

• Dolphins in Port Phillip Bay ‐ Swim alongside playful dolphins and seals, or take a Port Phillip Bay cruise and watch as these frisky, friendly mammals frolic beside your boat. Stand on the shore of the bay and get a glimpse of dolphins that you won’t see anywhere else, including bottlenose dolphins along with the common variety. If you’re after a closer look, join a bay cruise run by specially licensed operators.
• Water Sports ‐ Launch yourself into Mornington Peninsula’s welcoming waters with a range of aquatic activities for both the adrenaline junkies and the serenity seekers. Discover Mornington Peninsula from a different angle as you dive down deep into the Octopus’ Garden, old shipwrecks, bottomless holes and living reefs. Celebrate Mornington Peninsula’s spectacular beaches by hitting the surf. Tackle the waves on your own if you have the skills or with an instructor if you’re a grommet.
• Peninsula Hot Springs ‐ Inspired by Japan’s hot springs, a couple of brothers made a 637 meter deep bore hole to create their own natural hot mineral waters springs. This place offers more than beautifully set pools filled with water from the hot spring, they also offer other bathing experiences and spa treatments. It’s the perfect place to head to when you want to wind down or simply indulge in some luxurious feeling relaxation.
• Horse Riding and Trail Rides ‐ Hop on a horse and ride in the hoof prints of the Peninsula’s early farming pioneers. Much of the hinterland is still farming country, and trail ride operators know all the best bridle paths and bush tracks for a great day in the saddle.
• Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Gardens ‐ Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens is home to Australia’s oldest & most famous traditional hedge maze set among 25 acres of world acclaimed gardens. The 3 metre high Cypress hedges have been sculpted into a shapely challenge that will delight and inspire.
• One Big Zip at the Enchanted Adventure Garden ‐ It’s pure adrenalin. At heights of 20m and spanning 300m with 2 ziplines, The Big Zip will take you on an exhilarating ride across the stunning parklands at the Enchanted Adventure Garden. The ziplines will fly over 20 formal gardens and an ornamental lake offering an unforgettable view of the hinterland valley at Arthurs Seat. The Big Zip is only available for adults and children over 135cm in height and bookings are recommended. See the website for activity inclusions and information.