Wild South to Island North

Arrive in Adelaide and settle into EOS by SkyCity, a sophisticated riverside retreat combining contemporary design with personalised service. With the first day intentionally unhurried, spend the afternoon exploring Adelaide’s acclaimed dining scene or retreat to the hotel’s spa and wellness facilities. This relaxed opening provides time to recharge before venturing into the wildlife-rich landscapes, wine country and tropical wilderness that define the journey ahead.

Leave Adelaide behind and fly to Kangaroo Island, where rugged coastlines and abundant wildlife introduce a wilder side of South Australia. Your base for the next three nights is Southern Ocean Lodge, spectacularly positioned above the island’s dramatic shoreline. Settle into your suite, designed to showcase uninterrupted views of the Southern Ocean, and begin experiencing a retreat where refined hospitality, exceptional regional produce and immersion in nature are woven seamlessly together.

Leave Adelaide behind and fly to Kangaroo Island, where rugged coastlines and abundant wildlife introduce a wilder side of South Australia. Your base for the next three nights is Southern Ocean Lodge, spectacularly positioned above the island’s dramatic shoreline. Settle into your suite, designed to showcase uninterrupted views of the Southern Ocean, and begin experiencing a retreat where refined hospitality, exceptional regional produce and immersion in nature are woven seamlessly together.

Continue discovering Kangaroo Island with another day shaped around its wildlife, coast and conservation landscapes. Expert-led touring allows the experience to respond naturally to conditions and wildlife activity rather than following a rigid schedule, creating opportunities to explore secluded beaches and dramatic coastal trails. Back at Southern Ocean Lodge, settle into the tranquillity of the clifftop setting and enjoy the lodge’s focus on local produce and warm Australian hospitality.

Return to mainland South Australia and continue into the Adelaide Hills for a two-night stay at Sequoia Lodge. This intimate adults-only retreat overlooks the surrounding valleys and places some of the state’s leading wine regions within easy reach. After the raw wilderness of Kangaroo Island, the emphasis shifts towards slower pleasures: exceptional wines, serene landscapes and the restorative atmosphere of your private suite.

Spend the day exploring South Australia’s celebrated wine country, visiting boutique cellar doors, meeting local winemakers and discovering the cool-climate varietals for which the region is known. Long, leisurely lunches complement the relaxed pace of the experience. Back at Sequoia Lodge, choose between a guided nature walk, time in the artesian hot pools or simply enjoying the sweeping valley views from your retreat — a restorative interlude before travelling north to tropical Queensland.

Fly north to Queensland and enter the ancient landscapes of the Daintree Rainforest. Settle into Silky Oaks Lodge, surrounded by dense tropical canopy above the clear waters of the Mossman River. Your treehouse-style accommodation creates an immediate connection with the rainforest, while open-air dining and the lodge’s nature-focused surroundings introduce an entirely different Australian environment after the open landscapes of South Australia.

Explore the Daintree through the knowledge of Kuku Yalanji guides on a cultural walk through Country, learning about traditional foods, medicinal plants and stories connected to this ancient landscape. The surrounding rainforest offers further ways to experience the environment, from swimming in the spring-fed Mossman River and exploring forest trails to river drift snorkelling. Alternatively, slow the pace at Silky Oaks Lodge and visit its Healing Waters Spa, whose philosophy draws inspiration from the river and its significance to local First Nations culture.

Leave the rainforest behind and continue to Lizard Island, an exclusive retreat surrounded by the extraordinary marine landscapes of the Great Barrier Reef. White-sand beaches and clear tropical waters frame your island hideaway, while fringing reefs begin remarkably close to shore. Settle into the effortless rhythm of island life and spend the afternoon swimming, snorkelling or simply enjoying the seclusion of one of Queensland’s most spectacular reef destinations.

Spend the day immersed in the underwater world surrounding Lizard Island. Snorkel directly from shore among coral gardens and giant clams, or venture farther into the Great Barrier Reef to discover its extraordinary marine biodiversity. Experienced divers can explore the world-famous Cod Hole, while those preferring to remain closer to the surface can enjoy the reef through snorkelling and other marine adventures. Return to the island for an evening of fresh seafood and uninterrupted ocean views.

Enjoy a final full day surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef, with the freedom to experience Lizard Island at your own pace. Take a private dinghy to a secluded beach for a picnic, return to the island’s coral gardens or elevate the experience with a helicopter flight revealing the immense scale, colour and intricate patterns of the reef from above. As evening approaches, settle back into the relaxed sophistication of the island for fresh seafood and one last sunset over the tropical waters.

Enjoy a final morning amid the white beaches and coral-fringed waters of Lizard Island before beginning your onward journey. The adventure concludes after an exceptional progression through contrasting Australian landscapes: from Adelaide’s contemporary energy and Kangaroo Island’s wildlife-rich shores to the vineyards of the Adelaide Hills, the ancient Daintree Rainforest and finally the spectacular marine wilderness of the Great Barrier Reef.