Australia - beyond the Checklist 👌

Australia is the wind along dramatic ocean cliffs, the silence of wild trails, the moment a kangaroo pauses and looks at you… and that unmistakable feeling of being somewhere incredibly far away — and wonderfully real!

This journey is NOT about checking off Australia's famous sights.

It is about experiencing the country deeply, one unforgettable moment at a time.

A land once imagined: ⛵️🌏

For centuries, explorers dreamed about Terra Australis Incognita - the mysterious southern continent that existed only on maps of imagination.

Today, you have the rare opportunity to step into that once-mythical land - not simply as a visitor, but as a traveler making discoveries of your own.

Along the way, another question naturally emerges:

How did this distant and little-known continent become one of the world's most prosperous, livable, and fascinating countries?

This journey won't just tell you the story.

It invites you to experience it!

From Melbourne's vibrant laneways to the legendary Great Ocean Road, and to the untamed wilderness of Tasmania, every part of this adventure reveals a different face of Australia! 🇦🇺

Why Tasmania? 🏔️

If mainland Australia is bold and expansive, Tasmania is unique, ancient, and wild. Remote, rugged, and refreshingly uncrowded, it feels like a world of its own. You'll discover the island from different perspectives:

• Hike scenic trails through mountains, forests, and pristine beaches

• Stand above dramatic bays and alpine lakes

• Experience the unique nature that makes Tasmania unlike anywhere else in the world

February in southern Australia and Tasmania is peak summer, characterized by warm to hot, dry, and sunny weather, making it ideal for outdoor activities, beaches, and hiking.

Melbourne & Southern Coast:

Warm sunny days and comfortable, mild evenings. Expect average daytime highs around  25-28 C (77-82F). While generally dry, Melbourne can experience rapid weather changes, including afternoon coastal breezes or rare showers.

Sea temperature around 20C (68F)

Tasmania:

February is the warmest month and best for hiking activities.

Daily highs range from 20 to 24 C (68-75F). Evenings are cooler, dropping to roughly 11-13 °C (52-55F).

Long sunny days are common, though the weather can change rapidly. The sea water temperature is approx.  18C (64C), feeling chilly but still swimmable

🎉 Explore vibrant Melbourne—its cafés, culture, hidden laneways, and incredible food scene.

🌊 Drive one of the world's most scenic coastal routes along the legendary Great Ocean Road.

🌅 Watch the Twelve Apostles glow at sunset.

🤠 Step back into Australia's frontier Gold Rush history locations

🦘 Discover the rugged mountain ranges, dramatic lookouts of Grampians National Park, Australia's most beautiful wilderness areas. Spend the night in a luxury glamping site, surrounded by grazing kangaroos!

🥾Hike through the spectacular wilderness of Tasmania (Level: moderate hikes, suitable for most active travelers )

🐾 Encounter Australia's unique wildlife in its natural habitat—kangaroos, koalas, wombats, wallabies, echidnas, and penguins.

🏘️ Stay in carefully selected boutique lodges, stylish accommodations, and glamping inside national parks and Australia's most beautiful locations!

🥂 Travel in a small group with a relaxed pace, allowing time to connect with nature, local culture, and one another

Your journey is led by Ivan - destination expert, storyteller, and passionate Australia specialist.

Traveling with Ivan means seeing far more than famous landmarks. Through local legends, history, nature, and personal insight, Australia becomes a place you'll begin to truly understand, and perhaps, even fall a little in love with!

👉🏽 Registration deposit is NON-refundable, but transferrable to another participant from the Waitlist

👉🏽 Cancellation earlier than 90 calendar days before departure – up to 50% of the trip cost is non-refundable 

👉🏽 Cancellation 89 to 0 days - Up to 100% of the trip cost is non-refundable

CANCEL ANYTIME IF PLANS CHANGE with a Protected Travel Insurance Plan

CFAR (Cancellation For Any Reason) - an add-on benefit to standard travel insurance that lets you cancel travel plans for reasons other than those listed as "covered reasons" on a policy. This type of policy is available ONLY if purchased within 24 hours of the initial deposit being paid for the trip.

Safarika Travel Inc. has successfully undergone a compliance review with the California Business & Professions Code conducted by the State of California in 2024

Safarika Travel Inc. is registered with the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund (TCRF) 

That means that, under specific circumstances, California residents may recover up to USD 5000 in funds paid for travel services not provided by a registered travel seller.

California Seller of Travel Registration: 2112795-40 

Travel Consumer Restitution Fund (TCRF) registration ID #709454,

Arrive in Melbourne on a morning flight (typically, before 8 AM).

Melbourne unfolds slowly:
hidden laneways filled with street art and tiny cafés, elegant old arcades, seaside promenades, rooftop bars, and neighborhoods where every corner seems to have its own personality.

There’s an effortless rhythm here — people lingering over coffee, live music drifting from somewhere nearby, trams rattling through the streets, the ocean breeze mixing with the scent of fresh espresso.

We arrive, adjust, wander… and gently ease into the rhythm of Australia before the bigger adventures begin.

Overnight in a 4* hotel with the best location to city highlights

This morning, we leave vibrant Melbourne behind and head inland - toward landscapes that feel quieter, older, and more grounded.

Our first stop is the historic town, an open-air museum where Australia’s gold rush era comes vividly to life. The streets feel like a scene from the "WestWorld" series— locals in 19th-century dress, soldiers marching, and policemen chasing the occasional outlaw.
Here, the past isn’t behind glass - it surrounds you! 🤠

After lunch, we continue toward Grampians National Park — a place of dramatic rock formations, sweeping viewpoints, and abundant wildlife.

As the day softens into evening, keep an eye out — kangaroos and wallabies often emerge at dusk.

Upon arrival, we head out for one of the iconic sunset hikes in the park.

This spectacular trail winds through narrow rock canyons, natural stone platforms, and eucalyptus forest, leading to one of the most impressive viewpoints in Australia!

This moderate-level hike takes about 2-3 hrs (sections of stone steps, rocky terrain, and narrow passages between towering sandstone formations).

We will reach the lookout in time for sunset. The reward at the top is unforgettable — sweeping views over the rocky gaps and ranges, and the vast open landscapes of Victoria!

One of the most memorable parts of this experience is the incredible abundance of Australian wildlife right around you.

You may spot:

• cockatoos and colorful parrots

• rosellas and blue wrens

• emus and deer

• echidnas

• and, of course, countless kangaroos

Watching kangaroos is surprisingly captivating — you can sit and observe them for hours, completely absorbed in their calm, unhurried presence.

They roam freely across the grounds, completely at home.

Kangaroos gradually descend from the surrounding valleys into the open parkland, creating what feels like a gentle, natural migration at sunset.

A moment that doesn’t feel like a “sight” —
but something you simply experience!

Tonight, you’ll stay in a unique glamping site nestled within the park, surrounded by nature, yet with comfort and ease.

Today, we set out along the legendary Great Ocean Road — one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world.

Our journey begins inland, before reaching the dramatic coastline of the Southern Ocean near the iconic Twelve Apostles.

Here, we take time to walk, explore, and fully absorb the scale of these towering limestone formations rising from the ocean — shaped by wind and waves over millions of years.

We then continue along the coastline, following the curves of the Southern Ocean.

Along the way, we stop for short walks and viewpoints, discovering endless wild beaches, dramatic cliffs carved into surreal shapes, and eucalyptus forests, home to wild koalas, kangaroos, and cockatoos.

By the afternoon, we arrive in the coastal town, a place deeply connected to Australia’s surfing culture, where some of the country’s most iconic surf brands were established.

Stay in an upscale 5* Oceanview resort

The morning is yours to enjoy at a relaxed pace.

For those interested, there is a chance to take an optional surf lesson on one of Australia’s iconic beaches — a fun and energizing way to connect with the ocean (not included & paid directly).

Later, we make our way back toward Melbourne by ferry — a scenic transition from coastline to bay.

After arrival, we will stop at the award-winning ethical wildlife sanctuary, and have an opportunity to feed koalas by hand, and participate in fascinating encounters with a variety of colorful birds, mesmerizing reptiles, playful dingoes, and other captivating creatures.

We continue to Phillip Island, known for its rugged beauty and abundant wildlife.

Here we can witness an extraordinary moment, when hundreds of little penguins emerge from the ocean… then, in small groups or on their own, begin their journey across the beach toward their burrows.

They pass by surprisingly close - unhurried, focused, completely in their world.

After the penguin parade, we return to Melbourne.

Evening is free to have dinner in town.

Overnight in a 4* hotel in Melbourne.

We take a morning flight from Melbourne to Hobart, Tasmania (1hr 15 min)

Tasmania feels different from the rest of Australia.

Wilder. Older. Quieter.
A place where nature is still in control — and where every day brings a new kind of experience.

Over three days, we will explore the island from multiple perspectives — history, ocean, rainforest, and coastline — each revealing a different side of this remarkable land.

Upon arrival in Hobart, begin your Tasmania adventure with a scenic drive toward the spectacular Tasman Peninsula — one of the island’s most dramatic coastal regions, where towering sea cliffs meet the wild Southern Ocean.

Driving distance: approx. 95 km / 60 mi
Driving time: approx. ~1.5 hours.

Along the way, visit several famous natural formations carved by the ocean over thousands of years, and short scenic stops offer breathtaking views of Tasmania’s rugged coastline.

Continue with a wilderness cruise along the Tasman Peninsula coastline. This experience is considered one of Tasmania’s true highlights, offering a chance to see some of the tallest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere, sea caves, rock arches, fur seals, dolphins, and abundant seabird life.

An optional visit to Port Arthur Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage site where Australia’s convict past comes to life among atmospheric ruins and coastal scenery. **Ghost tours are also held here around 7 PM on Wednesdays.

Drive back to Hobart, overnight in a hotel.

After breakfast, drive toward Freycinet National Park — famous for its white sand beaches, turquoise bays, pink granite mountains, and coastal hiking trails.

Driving distance: approx. 250 km / 155 mi
Driving time: approx. 4 hours

Today’s highlight is the iconic Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach loop hike, widely considered one of Australia’s most scenic coastal walks. The trail leads to panoramic viewpoints overlooking the perfectly curved bay before descending to the beach itself and continuing through diverse coastal landscapes and eucalyptus forest. The hike is of a moderate level and rewards travelers with some of Tasmania’s most famous scenery and inspiration view-point, especially in the softer afternoon light.

Walk Distance: ~10–11 km loop | 3.5–4.5 hrs |

Level: Moderate

In the evening, arrive at our Lodge, beautifully located within the national park among native forest and coastal bushland. Wallabies are frequently seen around the property at dusk, adding to the atmosphere of this unique wilderness stay.

Accommodation style: premium eco-lodge immersed in nature.

Today, the journey continues inland across Tasmania toward the legendary Cradle Mountain region. The changing scenery along the drive showcases Tasmania’s remarkable diversity, transitioning from coastal landscapes to rolling farmland, forests, and alpine wilderness.

Driving distance: approx. 320 km / 200 mi
Driving time: approx. 4 hours with a few stops on the way at the glowworm cave and the Tasmanian devil sanctuary.

By afternoon, arrive at Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park — one of Australia’s most iconic wilderness areas and part of the UNESCO-listed Tasmanian

Wilderness World Heritage Area.

In the evening, explore one of the best locations in Tasmania to observe wild wombats in their natural habitat. Around sunset, wombats, wallabies, and pademelons often emerge peacefully into the open alpine meadows, creating unforgettable wildlife encounters in one of Tasmania’s most atmospheric settings!

Depending on timing and weather conditions, there may also be an opportunity for a short scenic walk near Dove Lake.

Accommodation style: cozy premium-style wilderness lodge surrounded by forest and mountain scenery.

Begin the day with the famous Dove Lake Circuit walk beneath the dramatic peaks of Cradle Mountain, offering constantly changing views of one of Tasmania’s most photographed landscapes.

The walk is considered easy to moderate and is one of the island’s best “high reward for moderate effort” hikes.

Distance: approx. 6 km loop
Duration: 2–2.5 hrs
Difficulty: Moderate with stairs and gradual elevation gain

Drive to Launceston airport (~2hrs), departure to Melbourne on the late afternoon flight (4:45 PM, 1 hr 05min).

Overnight in the 4* hotel in Melbourne.

Enjoy free time in Melbourne before your departure flight back home.

Arrival in the United States on the same day.