The Block Arcade, Melbourne8VICTORIATemperate Victoria presents an endless varietywith 'four seasons in one day' blowing in fromthe Southern Ocean. Melbourne is relaxed andcivilised, with excellent restaurants, galleries anda cultural vibe. Drive out to discover excellentwildlife, with fairy penguins along the coast andan array of native wildflower species burstinginto life each spring amongst the caves and rockart sites of the Grampians; this route can alsotake in the Yarra Valley vineyards, a selection ofspas in Daylesford and the arts scene of theMornington Peninsula. Alternatively, head westalong the Great Ocean Road, tracking thedramatic coastline towards Adelaide. Thoughmost people rush along this route, it is worthtaking longer to explore the historic towns andnational parks along the way. Walhalla, Wilson'sPromontory and Lakes Entrance are among thestate's more secret highlights. Less humid thanthe other states, Victoria is hot and dry in thesummer, fresh and beautiful in spring andautumn, and damp in winter.SOUTH AUSTRALIA Driest of all Australia's states, South Australiahas an easy-going capital city, temperatenational parks, dramatic deserts and quirky,remote communities. Adelaide is a friendly,bookish place ideally explored on foot, nearbyKangaroo Island is one of the country's mostsignificant wildlife reserves, while the coast isdotted with national parks including Coorong'smagnificent waterbird haven, the orchids, ferns,bandicoots and whales of the FleurieuPeninsula, and the sealions, koalas, echidnasand platypus of Baird Bay. Head inland and -unless you get no further than the Barossa orClare Valley wineries - the landscape dries intothe little-visited but spectacular Gawler andFlinders ranges, the strange opal-mining townof Coober Pedy and vast Outback stations. Thesummer from November to March is the besttime to visit the coast, though the Outback willbe hot and fly-blown, while cool winter monthscan see rain along the coast but a morecomfortable and relaxed Outback.The Remarkable Rocks, Kangaroo Island

AUDLEY IN AUSTRALIA9TASMANIA Compact and unspoiled, Tasmania is oftenoverlooked by travellers but offers stunninglandscapes, diverse wildlife and some ofAustralia's finest trekking. The main city, Hobart,is a sleepy place, rich in convict settler historyand Victorian architecture, but bursts into lifefor the December yacht race from Sydney beforesubsiding again into a somnolent charm. Fromhere it is easy to reach superb national parksincluding Freycinet, Cradle Mountain, the Bay ofFires and Maria Island, with terrain ranging fromglaciated mountains to dense forest teemingwith wallabies, echidnas, Tasmanian Devils andquolls, while seals and dolphins frolic offshore.Small settler towns are ideal hubs to explore thenatural world, with heritage cruises or four andeight-day guided walks for breaths of Tasmania'scool clear air. The best - but busiest - time tovisit is through the Austral summer: the climateis almost British, so spring and autumn can bebeautiful but winter days are short and chilly.tailor-made travelAll our travel arrangements are on a private,individual basis to offer you complete freedom ofchoice. The itineraries and accommodation optionsthroughout the brochure are designed to give you aflavour of what is possible and can be tailor-made tosuit your preferences. Prices vary according toselected accommodation and season. Please callour Australia specialists on 01869 276 345 todiscuss your individual requirements.WESTERN AUSTRALIA This is Australia's largest state, but much of it isunpopulated. A vast landscape inhabited only bya scatter of residents stretching up to the north.The state capital is Perth, a friendly oasis ofsophistication where gleaming skyscrapersoverlook quiet colonial suburbs on the banks ofthe Swan River. A short drive to the west is therestored port town of Fremantle and a chain ofbeautiful surf beaches, but it is a long drive tothe next settlement inland - the gold-miningtown of Kalgoorlie. The Margaret River area hasbeautiful national parks, friendly wineries anddeserted beaches, cooling towards temperateforest regions and the remote southern coast.Go north and you pass the weird rockformations of the Pinnacles, the visiting dolphinsof Shark Bay and the pearl farms of Broome. Weknow the best places to visit: the whales thattrack past Albany from May to October, theremote Kimberley and the awesome wildernessof Cape Leveque. Perth and the south west canbe visited year-round, though it can be chillyfrom June to August. The north is best in the'dry', from April to October, as the 'wet' can bevery humid even if not always wet.Cradle Mountain, TasmaniaTasmanian DevilTHEBOOMERANGIf you are returning to Australia for a second or thirdtime then this trip includes a wealth of highlightsthat you may have initially missed. Consisting of self-driving, private touring and train travel, this journeycan be tailored to your preferences.Day 1:Arrive in Perth. Spend the day at leisure. Day 2:Full day to enjoy the heritage sights,perhaps take a cruise along the SwanRiver to Fremantle. Day 3:Drive south to Margaret River passingthrough the lively port of Bunbury. Day 4:Spend the day in Margaret River, explorethe vineyards and beaches for which thearea is renowned. Day 5:Head east into the karri forests thatsurround the charming town ofPemberton. Day 6:Take the 'Valley of the Giants' treetopwalk before heading to Albany. Day 7:Explore the lovely Albany coastline. Day 8:Return to Perth. Day 9:Depart Perth aboard the Indian Pacific. Day 10:Cross the Nullarbor Plain into SouthAustralia.Day 11:Arrive into Adelaide, spend the rest ofthe day at leisure. Day 12:Fly to Angorichina Station in the FlindersRanges. Join Ian Fargher on a tour of thisvast Outback station. Day 13:Tour the station in the company of one ofthe local Aboriginal people. Day 14:Return to Adelaide and fly to KangarooIsland, joining a tour of this wildlife haven. Day 15:Explore Seal Bay Conservation Park andthe famed Remarkable Rocks. Day 16:Return to Adelaide and fly to Melbourne. Day 17:Spend the day exploring and later dine inone of the countless fine restaurants forwhich this cosmopolitan city is known. Day 18:Explore the Mornington Peninsula and itsthriving arts and craft scene. Day 19:Fly to Hobart. Spend the day at leisure. Day 20:Enjoy a guided tour of Port Arthur. Day 21:Drive to Freycinet National Park. Day 22:Spend the day exploring Wineglass Bay. Day 23:Drive to Launceston and explore theTamar wine region. Day 24:Depart Launceston.EXTENSIONSExtend your trip and drive from Adelaide toMelbourne along the Great Ocean Road, or fly atthe start of your journey to Broome and take a tourto the tip of Cape Leveque.Perth