Tastes of Southern Australia: Self-Launched Edition (Sydney to Adelaide)
11 days · Southern Australia
Trafalgar charges £3,250
No-markup version: ~£1,390 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 11-day independent version of Trafalgar's "Tastes of Southern Australia" coach tour, covering Sydney, Canberra, Beechworth/Wangaratta, Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road, Budj Bim, Naracoorte Caves, Kangaroo Island and Adelaide — done solo on public transport, budget flights, a hop-on hop-off Great Ocean Road bus and self-booked day tours. Expect comfortable hostels, motels and budget hotels instead of Crowne Plazas, and self-booked tours (GetYourGuide/Klook or direct) instead of a tour director. All costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP; Australia is not a cheap destination, so budget carefully.
Day-by-day
Sydney to Canberra
Canberra
Take an early Murrays or Greyhound coach from Sydney Central to Canberra (roughly 3.5 hours, ~£18-25), or the NSW TrainLink Xplorer if you prefer rail. Drop bags at your hostel, then self-guide the day: free entry to Parliament House (free guided tours run on the hour — book online), and a stroll around the grounds. Near Canberra you can book a small-group farm/station experience with sheep shearing or a barbecue lunch independently via GetYourGuide if you want the Gold Creek Station-like experience (from ~£45-60).
🚌Murrays/Greyhound coach Sydney to Canberra, ~£18-25
🛏Budget hotel or hostel private room, Canberra CBD (~£45-70)
- →Parliament House free guided tour
- →Mount Ainslie lookout (optional self-guided)
- →Self-booked farm/station experience via GetYourGuide (optional)
Canberra to Wangaratta via Beechworth
Wangaratta
Morning climb (or short rideshare) up Mount Ainslie for the 360-degree city views — free. Then take a coach/train combination south to Wangaratta (V/Line train Canberra–Melbourne line change at Albury, roughly 4-5 hours, ~£20-30). If you have time, stop at Beechworth — a well-preserved gold rush town — en route by local bus or a short taxi from Wangaratta; the historic main street, old jail and bakery are free to wander. Grab an afternoon drink at one of Beechworth's heritage pubs.
🚌V/Line coach/train via Albury, ~£20-30; local bus Wangaratta–Beechworth ~£5
🛏Motel or pub hotel, Wangaratta (~£50-75)
- →Mount Ainslie lookout
- →Beechworth historic town walk
- →Heritage pub stop
Wangaratta to Melbourne
Melbourne
V/Line train from Wangaratta to Melbourne Southern Cross (about 3 hours, ~£15-20, book ahead for cheap fares). Check into a hostel or budget hotel in the CBD. Do a self-guided Melbourne city walk: Parliament House, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and Southbank along the Yarra. For the Aboriginal cultural content of the original tour, join the Koorie Heritage Trust's own guided walking tour (Birrarung/Yarra walk, ~£20-30, book direct) and visit their free gallery at Federation Square.
🚌V/Line train Wangaratta–Melbourne, ~£15-20; free CBD tram zone
🛏Hostel private room or budget hotel, Melbourne CBD (~£45-70)
- →Koorie Heritage Trust gallery (free) and Birrarung walking tour (self-booked direct)
- →Self-guided city walk: Parliament House, Botanic Gardens, Southbank
Melbourne free day (Phillip Island or Dandenong Ranges)
Melbourne
Pick your own Melbourne day. Classic self-launched options: a GetYourGuide/Klook Phillip Island Penguins day tour (typically ~£70-95, cheaper if you book direct with a small operator), a Puffing Billy + Yarra Valley wineries day tour (~£90-130), the Lanes and Arcades self-guided audio walk with a coffee stop, or the Eureka Skydeck (~£12 online). Public transport to St Kilda, Fitzroy and the Queen Victoria Market is cheap and easy.
🚌Metro/tram day pass ~£5; day tour pickup included
🛏Hostel private room or budget hotel, Melbourne CBD (~£45-70)
- →Phillip Island penguin parade day tour (self-booked)
- →or Puffing Billy + Yarra Valley wine tour (self-booked)
- →Queen Victoria Market and Fitzroy walk
Great Ocean Road to Warrnambool
Warrnambool
Book a one-way Great Ocean Road hop-on hop-off or small-group day tour from Melbourne to Warrnambool (GetYourGuide offers one-way options from ~£70-90, which is far cheaper than a private transfer). You'll stop at Torquay, Apollo Bay, the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge — all free to visit. Alternatively take the V/Line train Melbourne–Warrnambool (~£20) and book a half-day Twelve Apostles tour from Apollo Bay or Port Campbell. Overnight in Warrnambool near the beach.
🚌One-way Great Ocean Road small-group tour ~£70-90 (or V/Line train ~£20 plus local tour)
🛏Motel or holiday park cabin, Warrnambool (~£55-80)
- →Twelve Apostles
- →Loch Ard Gorge
- →London Bridge
- →Apollo Bay village stop
Warrnambool to Naracoorte via Budj Bim and Mount Gambier
Naracoorte
Hire a car in Warrnambool for two days (about £35-50/day plus fuel) or use a mix of V/Line coach to Mount Gambier and a taxi/rideshare for Budj Bim. The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape (Tae Rak/Lake Condah) is UNESCO-listed Gunditjmara country — book the eel-trap and aquaculture cultural tour directly with Budj Bim Tours (~£35-50). Continue to Mount Gambier to see the Blue Lake (free), then a short drive to Coonawarra for a cellar-door tasting (~£10-15, often waived on purchase). Finish at Naracoorte and self-guide Alexandra Cave through National Parks SA (~£15).
🚌Rental car ~£40/day + fuel ~£15; or V/Line coach ~£25
🛏Motel, Naracoorte (~£50-75)
- →Budj Bim cultural aquaculture tour (book direct)
- →Blue Lake, Mount Gambier
- →Coonawarra cellar door tasting
- →Alexandra Cave, Naracoorte Caves NP (~£15)
Naracoorte to Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island (Kingscote)
Drive or coach to Cape Jervis via the Fleurieu Peninsula, stopping at Victor Harbor to walk the pier. Book the Sealink ferry foot-passenger ticket Cape Jervis–Penneshaw (~£30-40 one way) and a shuttle or hire car on the island. Overnight in Kingscote or Penneshaw in a hostel or holiday unit. Note: on Kangaroo Island a car is almost essential — hire from ~£40-55/day, or join a two-day small-group tour instead.
🚌Coach to Cape Jervis ~£15; Sealink ferry ~£30-40; island hire car ~£45
🛏Hostel or holiday unit, Kingscote (~£40-65)
- →Victor Harbor pier walk
- →Fleurieu Peninsula drive
- →Penneshaw and Kingscote wander
Kangaroo Island full day
Kangaroo Island
Self-drive or join a small-group island tour (GetYourGuide/Klook, from ~£90-120 including park entry). Highlights: Seal Bay Conservation Park guided boardwalk with a ranger (~£20), Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch fur seal colony (free with Flinders Chase park pass ~£12), Vivonne Bay for a beach lunch, and a tasting at Kangaroo Island Brewery or a local distillery (~£12-18). Watch for koalas, echidnas and kangaroos on the roads at dusk.
🚌Island hire car ~£45 or small-group tour ~£100
🛏Hostel or holiday unit, Kingscote (~£40-65)
- →Seal Bay ranger-guided boardwalk
- →Remarkable Rocks
- →Admirals Arch
- →Flinders Chase National Park
- →KI brewery tasting
Kangaroo Island to Adelaide
Adelaide
Morning visit to Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery (free entry, small tasting fee ~£5) and Cape Willoughby Conservation Park lighthouse (~£8 entry on foot, or view from the trail) before catching the afternoon Sealink ferry back to Cape Jervis (~£30-40). Take the bus or a pre-booked shuttle to Adelaide (~£15-20) or return the hire car in Adelaide. Check into a hostel or budget hotel in the CBD.
🚌Sealink ferry ~£35; coach Cape Jervis–Adelaide ~£18; KI hire car dropped in Adelaide or one-way fee
🛏Hostel private room or budget hotel, Adelaide CBD (~£45-65)
- →Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery
- →Cape Willoughby lighthouse and wildlife walk
Adelaide and Hahndorf
Adelaide
Self-guided Adelaide day: the Art Gallery of South Australia and South Australian Museum are both free; take an Adelaide Oval roof climb or stadium tour (from ~£25, book direct) or simply walk the free Riverbank and North Adelaide heritage trail. In the afternoon, take the Adelaide Hills bus or a 30-minute Uber to Hahndorf (~£5 by bus) for German-heritage pubs and bakeries. Dinner at the Adelaide Central Market or a rooftop restaurant — book Koomo or a similar skyline spot direct if you want the splurge (~£35-50).
🚌Adelaide Metro day pass ~£5; bus to Hahndorf ~£5
🛏Hostel private room or budget hotel, Adelaide CBD (~£45-65)
- →Art Gallery of South Australia (free)
- →South Australian Museum (free)
- →Adelaide Oval tour (~£25)
- →Hahndorf village
- →Adelaide Central Market
Adelaide departure
Adelaide
Breakfast and a final walk through the Botanic Gardens or along the Torrens, then take the airport bus or a rideshare to Adelaide Airport (~£4-15). If you're flying back to Sydney, Jetstar/Virgin fares are often ~£45-70 one way booked in advance. Alternatively, extend with a Barossa Valley wine day tour (~£80) before flying out.
🚌Airport bus or rideshare ~£4-15
🛏—
- →Botanic Gardens walk
- →Final market breakfast
Self-launched vs. Trafalgar
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Trafalgar | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,390 | £3,250 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,860 per person (57%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Trafalgar-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,390
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Tastes of Southern Australia: Self-Launched Edition (Sydney to Adelaide) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,390 per person for 11 days in Southern Australia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Trafalgar?+
Yes — Trafalgar charges around £3,250 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,390 — a saving of roughly £1,860 (57%) per person.
How long is the Southern Australia trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Southern Australia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, foodie trip through Southern Australia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.