The South-Eastern (Shipwreck) Coast and Kangaroo Island

This section covers the coast between Melbourne and Adelaide, which offers some of the most spectacular ocean scenery in Australia, especially at the Port Campbell National Park.

The Fleurieu Peninsula, just south of Adelaide, is one of the best places to visit with fine beaches and inland there are vineyards. Offshore you can visit the more remote splendours of Kangaroo Island. East of here lies the Coorong National Park, where the Murray River meets the sea. It is renowned for its pelicans. Between Port Fairy and Cape Otway lies the notorious Shipwreck Coast, with superb cliffs and more good beaches. Geelong, just south-west of Melbourne, was frankly a bit of a disappointment but in 2004 a new airport was built and millions invested in improving the city making it a match for its neighbours Lorne and Apollo Bay.

 If you want to cover the entire stretch you should allow three to four days. However, you’ll need at least a week if you want to explore.

TRANSPORT

All the main towns along this route are connected by regular trains (http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/trains/the_overland/). Kangaroo Island can be reached by plane (30 min flight Regional Express; www.rex.com.au) or ferry (SeaLink runs a twice daily coach service between Penneshaw, American River and Kingscote; www.sealink.com.au)