a ’s Three Peninsulas Departs 6th July 2022

Itinerary correct as at 30 Jun 2021, but subject to change. ALL flights to be

$6,900 pp Twin-share, excludes domestic flights S ingle supp $1, 200

SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S THREE PENINSULAS TOUR WITH WHALE WATCHING IN THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BIGHT WHALE NURSERY

If you look at a map of the coastline of South Australia, you will see that it has three significant peninsulas.

The smallest, Fleurieu Peninsula, is crammed with great dining and wining destinations (it hosts the famous McLaren Vale wine region). It also has a great maritime history, once being the centre of the 1800s Murray River paddle steamer industry. The region boasts incredible natural features, including the and the Murray Mouth (where the Murray River enters Lake Alexandrina and onto the Southern Ocean).

The middle sized peninsula, which is similar in shape to the boot of Southern Italy, is our wonderful Yorke Peninsula. The Yorke is known for broad acre farming of high quality grains including barley, the key ingredient for making beer. The other feature of the Yorke Peninsula is its magnificent coastline. At the “foot” of the Yorke boot lies the scenic Innes National Park. We take advantage of this beautiful coast, staying in stunning beach houses with uninterrupted views over the water to Kangaroo Island. Every Australian should visit this spectacular national park at least once.

The final and largest peninsula is our famous Eyre, known for its amazing seafood and a rugged west coast. It is also know for adventure tourism where you can swim with dolphins, seals, and Great White sharks. We will stick to the more genteel pursuits of eating oysters and tuna, complemented with walks along the deserted white beaches of the national parks and coastlines. Our journey around the Eyre ends at the Great Australian Bight where we will be in time for the annual whale migration season. Each year, Humpback and Southern Right whales (and other marine beauties) head to the upper reaches of the Bight to calve and nurse their young before they head back into the Southern Ocean.

On our Three Peninsulas Tour, we will explore all three peninsulas and feast off the local produce. Our tour begins and ends in .

Itinerary correct as at 26 July 2021, but subject to change. ALL flights to be confirmed. www.bluedottravel.com.au Day 1, Wednesday 6th July Day 2, Thursday Yorke Peninsula – Foul Bay 7th July Morning flight to Adelaide aiming to arrive in the Yorke Peninsula late morning or early afternoon local time. Please & Innes have your lunch on the plane. You will be collected National Park at Adelaide Airport by Bill. Load up the van and Today we will head to the Yorke Peninsula (approx 3.5 hr). We’ll have a day trip to be stopping along the way for a break and if we are Innes National lucky and it is a non-production day we will stop at Park. We will Sunny Hill Distillery for a guided tour and tasting breakfast at the and to soak up their views from the deck. Sunny beach houses and be ready for departure at 9 am. Hill is a paddock to glass establishment, distilling Innes National Park is at the very bottom the Yorke their gins and whiskeys from the grains that they Peninsula. Innes National Park is famous for its grow surrounding the distillery. The Yorke Peninsula spectacular coastal landscapes, rugged cliffs and is Australia’s premier barley growing region. Our sandy beaches. There are ruins, shipwrecks and accommodation for the night is at the multi award- lighthouses to discover, and beaches and wildlife to winning Yondah Beach House and Seafire Beach enjoy. We will spend the day exploring the coastline House. These properties are stunning and doing short walks. We will take a picnic lunch architecturally designed deluxe beach houses with to enjoy at shelter or deserted beach with stunning sweeping views over the coastline and across to white sand and turquoise waters (or a more Kangaroo Island. Privately located on 150 sheltered area depending on the weather). On the oceanfront acres on the wild southern coast of way back to Yondah and Seafire we will stop at beautiful Yorke Peninsula, these beach houses are Marion Bay Tavern to freshen up before heading all about seclusion, space and simple elegance by back for dinner. B/L/D the sea. We will have our evening meal at the beach houses (the houses are separated by a 200m track). D

Itinerary correct as at 26 July 2021, but subject to change. ALL flights to be confirmed. www.bluedottravel.com.au Day 3, Friday restaurant located at the winery. The winery has 8th July great views over the vines and surrounding district. Yorke Peninsula We return to our accommodation in the late afternoon. The rest of the day is free time including Yondah and time to find yourself supper if you are still hungry. Seafire are too B/L beautiful to leave empty during the Day 6, Monday 11th July day so today we Yorke Peninsula – will have a rest Awake, breakfasted and ready to explore at 8.30 day staying at am. Today we have a trip to Coffin Bay. Coffin Bay the beach houses. Sleep in, eat, drink, walk along is a pretty coastal holiday area with beautiful bays the cliffs and the beaches, take extra naps, read a and beaches. The highlight of Coffin Bay is the book or play a board game. For the restless we ruggedly spectacular Coffin Bay National Park and may take an afternoon coastal drive. We will have the spectacularly delicious Coffin Bay oysters. The all meals at the beach houses. B/L/D oyster industry in South Australia was started not Day 4, Saturday 9th July long after the colony was first established. Native – Angasi oysters were wild harvested and taken to Adelaide for sale. Overfishing caused the decline in In winter they cut the ferry service linking the Yorke catches and the and the cessation of the industry Peninsula with the Eyre Peninsula to 1 per day. The by the late 1800s. In the late 60s Japanese Pacific remaining service is one that is not a friend of those Oysters were introduced and the industry was who like to sleep in. We need to be up at 6 am, rekindled. This morning we are joining Experience have a quick breakfast and on the road just after Coffin Bay Tours for their 10 am trip out on the 6.30 for our 2 hour drive to Wallaroo to catch the water to the oyster farms. Dress warmly, this tour is ferry for our 2 hour sea voyage across Spencer 3.5 hours. The tour is chilled and relaxed. You will Gulf to Cowell on the Eyre Peninsula. (9am experience all the beauty of the pure and pristine departure). On arrival at Cowell we will disembark coast line, spot seals at "The Brothers" islands and and drive on to Port Lincoln stopping along the way enjoy the dolphins if they appear along the at one of the beach holiday towns to buy lunch from way. The bay is surrounded by the Coffin Bay the local country bakery. For the next three nights National Park on one side and farming land on the we will stay at the Port Lincoln Hotel overlooking other. We motor out in the new boat approximately Boston Bay. Port Lincoln and more broadly the 16km out to the oyster lease at the entrance to the Eyre Peninsula is known as the seafood capital of Coffin Bay water way. You will up close see the Australia. Port Lincoln is renowned for its Southern vastness of the prime oyster growing area of the Bluefin tuna, King George whiting, Spencer Gulf world famous Coffin Bay oysters. At the oyster farm king prawns and Southern Rock lobsters. Port we learn about farming the oysters and pluck fresh Lincoln is home to a very large tuna fishing fleet. ones to open and enjoy. Can't get any fresher than We focus on eating seafood while we are on the that. If you would like to immerse yourself in the Eyre. Dinner tonight will be a seafood dinner Del experience then the option to walk around in the Giorni’s, an award-winning cafe restaurant on the water on the farm in waders (waders are provided foreshore of Port Lincoln, overlooking Boston Bay. but bring a towel). Your tour guide will be the oyster Del Giorni’s owners are committed to showcasing farmer who will happily share knowledge about Eyre Peninsula’s premium seafood and serving oyster aquaculture, with the history and local only locally-caught and farmed seafood on the knowledge of the area while exploring the Coffin menu (options are available for non seafood Bay waterways. The waders have in-built boots, so eaters). B/L/D just bring a pair of socks to wear, and dress for the Day 5, Sunday 10th July weather, in winter a wind proof jacket, beanie and Eyre Peninsula – Port Lincoln scarf are a good idea. After the tour we head to Coffin Bay National Park for a look at the Awake, breakfasted and ready to explore at 9.00 spectacular coastline. The beaches throughout am. Today, we will take a drive along the Whalers Coffin Bay National Park are truely epic. We will Way Scenic Drive. Whalers Way is privately owned visit Almonta Beach and the practically named land on the tip of the Southern Eyre Peninsula . Although it will be too cold for a swim approximately 32 km from Port Lincoln that offers we can walk along the coastline and enjoy the some of the most spectacular, accessible and rugged beauty of the area. Seafood dinner at dramatic coastal views in the state. It is an Sarrins the restaurant in the Port Lincoln Hotel explorer’s wonderland of cliffs, blowholes, overlooking Boston Bay. Menus change seasonally crevasses, caves and golden beaches. We’ll return but Sarrins pay homage to local produce including to Port Lincoln and reward ourselves with a late oysters and the region’s famed tuna when in lunch at Peter Teakle Wines’ Line and Label season. B/L/D

Itinerary correct as at 26 July 2021, but subject to change. ALL flights to be confirmed. www.bluedottravel.com.au Day 7, Tuesday 12th July Bight is rugged and spectacular. Stop along the Eyre Peninsula – Streaky Bay way for some amazing photo opportunities. Like many stretches of the Eyre Peninsula coastline, this This morning we will visit Port Lincoln National is a significant breeding habitat for raptors such as Park. Here, we will explore the vast sand dune the southern osprey, white-bellied sea eagle and system, rugged offshore islands and secluded peregrine falcon. We return to Streaky Bay for a white sandy beaches. The fit and willing will head lunch at the Bayfunktion Cafe before driving on to off on a hike to the top of the ridge for spectacular Coorabie for a two night stay. We will have a break views of the coast line while the unwilling can at Ceduna along the way. B/L/D wander the beach for an hour. We return to Port Lincoln for an early lunch at the Fresh Fish Place Day 9, before we hit the road and head to Streaky Bay. Thursday After about an hour and a half we will have a stop 14th July at Locks Well Beach for a coffee break while we Eyre Peninsula – soak up the spectacular views over the Great Fowlers Bay and Australian Bight. At Elliston we will follow the Whale Watching Elliston Coastal Trail which reveals yet more This morning we dramatic coastline of the Eyre Peninsula. If we are travel the short ahead of schedule we can squeeze in a quick stop distance to at Talia Beach and walk along the pathway to the Fowlers Bay for magnificent Woolshed Cave, or visit Murphy’s our 10am whale watching cruise. Southern Right Haystacks. More and different seafood is harvested Whales visit the upper reaches of the Great at Streaky Bay including green lipped mussels and Australian Bight each year to give birth, mate and abalone (both seasonal). Our accommodation is at socialise. They arrive in May and depart around Streaky Bay Motel and Villas. Dinner will be at a October. They spend the rest of the time travelling local restaurant, Drift, or the Streaky Bay Hotel. to or feeding well offshore in the Southern Ocean. B/L/D In June and July most of the whales you will see Day 8, are adults. You may be lucky enough to observe these 70 tonne mammals mating (look for groups Wednesday rolling around on the surface). By late August you 13th July can commonly see the mothers swimming along Eyre Peninsula the cliffs with their young calves at their side. At this – Coorabie time there are often 70 or more whales in the area. Farm By the time the whales leave in October the calves This morning we have grown and have become strong enough to will explore the join their mothers on the long migration south. Our rugged coastline tour will be taking in the rugged cliffs and around Streaky Bay and visit the only permanent magnificent little coves of Point Fowler. You’re likely colony of Australian sea-lions on mainland Australia to see playful interactions of the Australian Sea at . Point Labatt Conservation Park Lions. Fowlers Bay is home to an abundance of offers a unique opportunity to observe these rare endangered, vulnerable and protected species of and endangered marine mammals from a viewing marine mammals and oceanic bird life including: platform on the cliffs, 50 metres above the beach. Southern Right Whales, Humpback Whales, You will also be able to observe the sea-lions along Common Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Australian with New Zealand Fur seals dozing in the sun on Sea Lions, New Zealand Fur Seals, Little Penguins, the beach and rocks. If we’re lucky we may even Albatross, White Bellied Sea Eagles. In this see playful young pups learning to swim or interactive and informative cruise, you'll scampering along the beach. Pups are born every (expectedly, hopefully) see pods of whales, eighteen months; mid-winter one year, then mid- discover the fascinating yet brutal history of summer the next. Pups weigh around 7kg at birth. Fowlers Bay, learn about Whale Baleen Plate, hold They depend entirely on their mother’s milk for the some very rare Ambergris and listen to realtime first year. After that they start chasing and underwater acoustics - sing along to the Humpback occasionally catching fish. At about four weeks of Whale Song if you know the tune. We have lunch at age, baby sea-lions take to the sea for the first Fowlers Bay and in the afternoon if we have been time, sometimes with help from their mothers. unlucky spotting whales or want to see more then Young seal-lions play and frolic in this aquatic we will head further west along the coast to the reserve protected by the offshore reefs. We return Head of Bight whale observation deck. Alternately to Streaky Bay for a lunch at the Bayfunktion Café we can have a rest afternoon or do a short tour to following the Westall Way touring route. The Lake Macdonnell. The lake is famous for its half scenery along this section of the Great Australian pink half green water. High in salt concentration, the lake gives the impression of a salmon pink lake

Itinerary correct as at 26 July 2021, but subject to change. ALL flights to be confirmed. www.bluedottravel.com.au on clear days. One side of the causeway is Pink Day 12, Sunday 17th July Lake, the other side is Green Lake and further Fleurieu Peninsula - Middleton down over the small bridge is the Blue Lake. The This morning we head to the Fleurieu Peninsul Pink Lake is caused by salt loving algae called stopping along the way at Artview winery in the dunaliella salina and bacteria called halobacteria Adelaide Hills for lunch. The drive through the that secrete carotenoid red pigments, that turns the Adelaide Hills is very pretty even though we pass water bright pink.These unique waters are why the some of the regions that were devastated in the Lake is also known as Watermelon Avenue. Back to summer of national fires. From the Adelaide Hills our accommodation at Coorabie Farm. B/L/D we pass through the McLaren Vale stopping at Day 10, Ekidna wines for an afternoon tasting. Then on to Friday our accommodation booking into award winning 15th July Beach Huts at Middleton. Dinner is at Port Elliot. Clare Valley – B/L/D Mintaro Day 13, Today we have a Monday long drive as we 18th July commence our Fleurieu return journey Peninsula – east with a Goolwa couple of nights in the Clare Valley along the way. This morning we It is over 800 km but we will have a number of will board the breaks along the way. We leave the coast and Spirit of the travel through some real outback settlements and Coorong cruise landscapes. Breakfasted, packed and on the road to the Murray Mouth. Cruise downstream from the by 7:30 am. Our first break is at Ceduna and then port of Goolwa along the historic wharf and towards Pildappa Rock (a wave-like granite formation - the Goolwa Barrage. Travel through the lock similar to Wave Rock in WA) where we will have a chamber, down to sea level and spot a few lazy fur- picnic lunch weather permitting. After lunch we seals lounging about. We then meander along the drive on and have a short break at Kimba (the waterways of the Coorong, following the last midway point between Australia’s east and west kilometres of the Murray River to the Murray Mouth coasts). Then on to to stretch our legs and the its opening to the Southern Ocean. After at the beautiful Australian Arid Lands Botanic the cruise we will have a lite lunch at the wharf. In Gardens. Then on to Mintaro and our the afternoon we head into Victor Harbor to walk accommodation and dinner at the Magpie and around Granite Island and visit the local whaling Stump pub. B/L/D museum. If we are lucky we might see some Day 11, Saturday 16th July whales on their migration to the Australian Bight for Clare Valley – Mintaro the calving season. We have our farewell dinner tonight at Port Elliot. Light supper at our This morning we visit historic (the accommodation. Overnight at the Beach Huts. classical Georgian-Italianate mansion which was B/L/D used as the school in the film Picnic at Hanging Rock). Built in 1879–80 for Edmund Bowman Jr. Day 14, Tuesday 19th July at a cost of £30,000 it has 32 rooms and boasts a Departure large cellar of 7 rooms. Edmund surrounded the After breakfast at our accommodation we will head home with a polo ground, a racecourse, a boating to Adelaide airport for a late morning flight (about lake and a cricket pitch where the English 11 1hr). B played at least once. From Martindale Hall we will travel to Pikes Winery where we will sample a collection of their finest, accompanied by a small tasting plate of local produce. You will be guided through a series of wines learning about the vineyards where the fruit is sourced and the unique approach to crafting these world renowned wines. We then have a long lunch at either Reilly’s Winery or take the 6 senses Penobscot Farm tour and accompanying degustation at the Watervale Hotel. B/L/D

Itinerary correct as at 26 July 2021, but subject to change. ALL flights to be confirmed. www.bluedottravel.com.au