Avalon Wine Tours in Australia

AUSTRALIA's 2007 Harvest, March 30 - April 11

ITINERARY OUTLINE - Email us for full details

Day 1 ARRIVE SYDNEY
Arrive Sydney and transfer to hotel. Free to recover from your travels or to start to explore Sydney.

Day 2 SYDNEY / HUNTER– DAY TOURING
Depart your hotel and drive up to the Hunter Valley for a day of wine tasting, a delicious lunch and a tour of this famous and beautiful valley. Return to Sydney in the late afternoon in time to freshen up before dinner.

Day 3 SYDNEY TO ADELAIDE
Morning transfer by shuttle to the airport for your flight to Adelaide. Upon arrival transfer by private car to your accommodation, with an introduction to the charm of the city, including the best places for shopping and dining.

Day 4 MCLAREN VALE
Depart the hotel and travel to McLaren Vale, a small town nestled between the Southern Adelaide Hills and the sea. The area’s hot summer growing season is tempered by cool afternoon sea breezes. The region is known for ‘old fashioned’ full-bodied reds that have as much to do with a mild, temperate climate and complex soils as with the winemaking technique. The region’s white wines also have a certain full-flavoured intensity about them. The region is best known for Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and, more recently, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc.
Enjoy tastings at some of the region's boutique wineries such as Coriole, d'Arenberg and Fox Creek.

Day 5 BAROSSA VALLEY
This morning depart for the Barossa Valley, approximately 1 hour's drive north of Adelaide. The Barossa is one of Australia’s most famous wine regions, settled in the 1840’s by German Lutherans who also brought the first vines to the Valley.
Many of the nation’s largest wine companies have their roots here, and many Shiraz, Grenache and Semillon vines are between 50 and 100 years old, producing wines with exceptional depth of fruit. Other grape varieties produced in the region include Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, as well as Semillon and Pinot Noir in the slightly cooler Eden Valley, nearby.
Overnight at a luxury lodge in the vineyards for tonight and tomorrow.

Day 6 CLARE VALLEY
This morning depart the hotel for the Clare Valley a region that has a number of elevated vineyards producing wines with distinct cool-climate characteristics and intense varietal fruit flavours. The best example of this is the Clare Valley Riesling, which presents itself with a crisp and fragrant bouquet, steely herb and lime flavours on the palate, and a long dry finish.

Day 7 KANGAROO ISLAND DAY TOUR
Early transfer to Adelaide airport to fly to Kangaroo Island. Enjoy a full day of wilderness touring in 4WD vehicle, viewing birds, koalas, kangaroos, sea lions and other animals in their natural habitat, dramatic rock formations and lovely vistas. Overnight on a working farm where you enjoy lovely guesthouse accommodation and delicious cooking as you are hosted by the owners of this historic homestead.

Day 8 KANGAROO ISLAND
After breakfast enjoy more of Kangaroo Island with another tour of your choosing from several themes of wildlife or sightseeing. At the end of the day take the half-hour flight back to Adelaide and upon arrival transfer by private car to your hotel.

Day 9 ADELAIDE TO MELBOURNE
Today transfer by private vehicle to the airport for your flight to Melbourne. Upon arrival transfer to your accommodation. Remainder of day at your leisure to explore this lovely city.

Day 10 MELBOURNE
Today enjoy a morning city sights tour of Melbourne's historical buildings, beautiful gardens, and shopping areas famous for their restaurants and fashion. Travel past the sporting precinct that became famous in the 1956 Olympic Games and now roars to the cheers of Aussie Rules football crowds each weekend. See the nearby Rod Laver Tennis Centre that hosts the Australian Tennis Open each year. Melbourne is home to people from all over the world and this cultural diversity is expressed in the food and fashion centres.
This evening depart your hotel by private car to board the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant for diner, the fleet of historical trams that have converted into a very unique restaurant. These glossy, burgundy restaurants on wheels are the first travelling tramcar restaurants in the world and as they cruise the scenic streets of Melbourne, diners can enjoy the fine cuisine and drink the very best of Australian wines. Dining aboard the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is not only a culinary delight, but also a trip into a little piece of Victoria's history.

Day 11 YARRA VALLEY
This morning depart for your small group tour to the Yarra Valley. With a rich history stretching back to the first settlers, the Yarra Valley is not only one of Australia’s oldest wine producing regions, but also one of the most diverse, containing large commercial enterprises and small boutique producers. Less than an hour’s drive east of Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is home to over 40 wineries and is best known for its success with pinot noir, fine chardonnays and also cabernet sauvignon and shiraz varietals.

Day 12 MORNINGTON PENINSULA
This morning depart your hotel for a day visiting the Mornington Peninsula, Australia's newest and fastest growing boutique wine district, featuring over 100 vineyards and 35 cellar door facilities, many of which include restaurants with breathtaking views over sea and countryside. The region is blessed with sandy beaches and tranquil rolling green hills and is within 1½ hours drive from Melbourne.
Mornington Peninsula is best known for its medium-bodied dry table wines. Its marginal maritime climate means that its most successful wines are the chardonnays and pinot noirs, with Pinot Gris winning acclaim.
Visit two of the top wineries, followed by lunch at a unique and beautiful Vineyard and Olive Grove, a spectacular 50-acre natural amphitheatre incorporating 23 acres of premium vines, 1500 olive trees, extensive wetlands and bird life and a fruit and nut grove and kitchen gardens to provide self sustaining produce for their restaurant. Enjoy the innovative provincial food in the highly acclaimed restaurant, taste award winning wines and olive oil in the cellar door or take a stroll through the wetlands. Conclude the afternoon with visits to the cellar doors of two more excellent wineries.

Day 13 DEPART MELBOURNE
Transfer to airport for departure flight.
Optional continuation to Tasmania for a 2 or 3 nights please contact Avalon Wine Tours for details.

TOUR COST in US$ per person sharing twin $4630 US
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT $1620 US                      
Email for full details, included meals, vineyard visits and other activities.