Southern Coastal Safari 9D8N

Start your cruise with a difference! Our coach will collect you from your Adelaide city hotel and then it’s just a short ride to Penfold’s Magill Estate.

Nestled in the foothills of Adelaide with views over the city, Magill Estate also offers breathtaking views of the Penfolds vineyard – the perfect setting to immerse one’s self in Australia’s most iconic wine label! Discover the historic Magill Estate – the birthplace of Penfolds with a rich history dating back to 1844 and, indulge in a luxurious experience of storytelling and tasting.

Then it’s onto the famed Barossa Valley wine region. Wine has been a way of life in the Barossa since 1842. The region incorporates both Barossa Valley and Eden Valley, making it one of the only areas in Australia to have neighbouring warm and cool climate growth conditions. There are some 750 grape growing families, many sixth generation, supplying quality grapes to more than 170 wine companies of all shapes and sizes. The best wines of the Barossa sit comfortably alongside the great wines of the world. Barossa Shiraz and Eden Valley Riesling have led the way as regional heroes, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Mataro, Grenache, Viognier, Semillon and Tawny all contributing to the Barossa’s standing as one the world great wine regions.

Our feature Barossa winery is Seppeltsfield – home to the worlds largest unbroken collection of fortified wines, a collection which dates back to 1878! The winery is a national treasure and a living museum of Australian wine history. Start your visit in the original 1851 family homestead and discover the history of the Seppelt family from immigration and settlement by the Para River to the modern era. In the Centenary Cellar, walk alongside the longest lineage of single vintage wines in the world! Enjoy a private tasting in the Trophy Cellar focussing on the “Paramount Collection” and the 100 year old Para Vintage Tawny.

Then enjoy a three course lunch at Fino which is located in Seppeltsfield’s original bottling hall. After lunch visit the Jam Factory, a contemporary craft & design studio, gallery and shop located in the Seppeltsfield estate and creating another layer to your Barossa experience. The Jam Factory incorporates both beautiful displays and visual galleries featuring artists in residence who interact with guests. The artists studios, gallery and shop are housed in a historic 1850s stable building which has been extensively renovated whilst maintaining elements of the original rural charm.

Then it’s time to welcome you aboard the luxury cruise! Enjoy a welcome aboard cocktail, settle into your cabin and indulge in more culinary delight as we begin the evening cruise to Kangaroo Island.

Kangaroo Island – one of the earth’s last unspoilt refuges!

Much of the islands native bushland remains undisturbed and more than a third of the island has been set aside for conservation. And the ‘locals’ include some of Australia’s most distinctive characters – koalas, platypi, echidnas, sea lions, penguins, goannas, kangaroos, emus and wallabies.

Kangaroo Island is also distinctly beautiful featuring pristine beaches, rugged coastal cliffs and sleepy seaside cottages.

Join a ‘road-trip’ to the island’s south-western tip and, the Flinders Chase National Park. The Remarkable Rocks are impressive natural sculptures and the boardwalk to the Admiral Arch delivers equally stunning vistas. There are several vantage points to view the local seal colonies.

Then rejoin your luxury cruise at Kingscote and savour a lunchtime cruise to American River. This quiet fishing village is neither American, nor a river. The village is named after a group of American sealers who landed here in 1803 and then mistakenly referred to a narrow inlet as a river. The area is renowned for bird- watching and it’s also a great spot to wet a line! Best of all – American River provides us with a stunning and tranquil overnight anchorage.

Today we explore Kangaroo Island's stunning north coast – where farmlands roll onto deserted sandy coves. Visit Emu Bay, Stokes Bay, Cape Dutton and Cape Forbes. Fill your day with snorkelling, beach combing and close encounters with seals and dolphins. Fishing for ‘monster’ whiting will also be a popular activity!

Have you ever wanted to cage dive with great white sharks – well this could be the opportunity that you have been waiting for! Join our experienced local operator for a once in lifetime opportunity to see huge white sharks up close and in their natural environment. An experience that you will not forget!

If diving with white sharks is not exactly your ‘cup of tea’ – there will be ample opportunity to engage in activities somewhat less confronting as we explore the Gambier Islands. Perhaps its time for a spot of fishing in a secluded bay! Our guides are practised at introducing local fishing techniques to both the beginner and expert alike! And with multiple expedition vessels at our disposal – take advantage of small groups and personal assistance. Target species in-close include delectable whiting and out deep, ‘double-headers’ of pink snapper are not uncommon.

Our schedule will also include morning and afternoon sightseeing excursions – our knowledgeable guides will be happy to introduce local history and geography.

Port Lincoln is a major tuna fishing area and in recent times the industry has generated vast wealth on the back of a lucrative Japanese market. The prices paid for high-grade tuna can be very spectacular indeed – fish prepared specifically for the sashimi trade can command in excess of $150,000 per tonne and as a result, many of the local fishermen have become millionaires.

Fish farming has also become an important local industry – tuna, kingfish, mussels, oysters, abalone and lobsters are all ‘grown’ locally and a visit to the area would not be complete without experiencing a ‘tuna rodeo’. Workers on the tuna farms are called “cowboys” and once you see their unique fish handling techniques you will understand why!

Our guides will provide an entertaining introduction to local commercial fishing and aquaculture and, don’t miss a unique opportunity to swim with giant southern blue-fin tuna!

In the afternoon join everyone ashore for a tour of Port Lincoln itself but make sure you’re back onboard just before sunset – a sashimi ‘tasting’ will be a fitting end to the day’s activities.

Wake this morning in beautiful Coffin Bay. The area is widely admired for its pristine beauty – endless tranquil bays fringed with brilliant sandy beaches and surrounded by national park. And more recently the area has also developed a reputation for producing succulent oysters!

Take a hike in the Coffin Bay National Park; visit the Coffin Bay town site, the fully restored Mount Dutton Bay woolshed and the Kellidie Bay oyster leases.

And something special again today! Join the crew ashore for a beach picnic on Gallipoli Beach – a beach with striking similarities to a far away coast and, setting for the film “Gallipoli”.

After lunch enjoy a leisurely cruise to Greeny Island – blue water home to schools of monster tuna, huge samson fish and giant yellow tail kingfish! Take a relaxing cruise around the island before indulging in some Coffin Bay oysters!

Welcome to the Pearson Islands – remote islands on South Australia’s west coast that have changed little since they were first discovered by Matthew Flinders in 1802. They are well known for producing giant whiting however big Australian salmon and flathead are also common inshore. Out in the deep, snapper, blue groper, bluefin and kingies will challenge the most determined angler! Explore the islands, have a swim on one of the many inviting beaches, visit the local seal colonies. At night the seals are known for catching fish attracted by the ship’s lights.

Today we visit the Franklin Islands and nearby Saint Francis Island. For something a little different, you might be interested in joining one of our chefs for the morning – see how to catch, cook and prepare the revered blue manna crab. The islands feature many sheltered bays and millions of shearwaters that nest in shallow burrows. Spend the day exploring, fishing, snorkelling and diving as you prepare for your last night onboard the magnificent cruise.

Early morning disembarkation in Ceduna and light aircraft transfer to Adelaide.

* This itinerary is provided as example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation. Helicopter flights can be purchased additional to the cruise tariff as a package or individually.