• Home pick-ups & set downs (most metro areas – please contact us for details)
• Picnic-style morning teas & all meals
• All accommodation & admissions to all attractions
• Experienced & informative tour driver/guide.

Join us for this brand new tour to the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival. This annual event follows the Coonawarra vintage and is a celebration of the rich art and cultural heritage, as well as the fine wines of the region. This vibrant festival encompasses all forms of art and showcases local and national talent. Don’t miss this chance to discover the beauty and charm of regional South Australia.

Day One – FRIDAY 17 MAY 2024

After completing our morning pickups, we take a moment to unwind and meet our fellow travellers before commencing our exciting tour.

Our first destination is the Coonalpyn Silo, where we’ll admire the stunning artwork of Guido van Helten, an internationally acclaimed artist. Guido spent several weeks capturing the essence of the town’s residents before choosing five primary school children to paint, symbolizing the community’s “hope for the future.” Our morning tea break is at the Silo Café, which is conveniently located across the street.

After our visit, we make our way to Keith, where we stop to enjoy our lunch at the Keith Hotel Motel. Later in the afternoon, we travel through Naracoorte before arriving at Mount Gambier. The town of Mount Gambier is set in a unique landscape of volcanic craters, lakes, limestone and mysterious underground waterways.

Our accommodation for the next two nights is at The Henty Mount Gambier (Ph: 08 7725 4100) and after our group check-in, there will be plenty of time to relax and freshen up before dinner.

Day Two– SATURDAY 18 MAY 2024

This morning we journey to the delightful village of Penola. Here we visit the Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre and Woods MacKillop Schoolhouse, which commemorate the lives of Blessed Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods. These two special people founded the first free Catholic school for children of the poor and we learn about this legacy through the displays, photographs and artefacts at the Interpretive Centre. The schoolhouse is a heritage-listed building which is now exhibited as a schoolroom of the 1860s with living quarters at the rear. We enjoy our morning tea here and have time to wander the centre at our own pace.

After enjoying our lunch at the Royal Oak Penola, it is time to make our way to the 2024 Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival. The festival showcases the best of local and national artists, musicians and performers, as well as the renowned Coonawarra wine region. The theme for the 2024 festival is “In Autumn – Terre and Soul”. We can enjoy a variety of activities, such exploring the art galleries, museums and exhibitions, as well as tasting the award-winning wines.

Late afternoon, following a fantastic day of celebrating local art, we make our way back to our accommodation and another delicious dinner.

Day Three – SUNDAY 19 MAY 2024

After breakfast we farewell our hosts at Mount Gambier and start our journey back to Adelaide.

Travelling on the Princes Highway, we make our way through Millicent, before stopping at Kingston SE, a town nestled on the shores of picturesque Lacapede Bay. It is here where we enjoy our morning tea.

Before departing Kingston SE, we enjoy a drive around town and visit the Cape Jaffa Lighthouse. Originally built over 20 kilometres away on Margaret Brock Reef off Cape Jaffa, it was deactivated in 1973. The lighthouse tower was moved to its present location in 1976 where it became a museum.

From here we continue our journey on the Princes Highway towards the southern end of the Coorong. The long, shallow lagoons of the Coorong stretch for more than 130 kilometres. The wetland ecosystem protects a number of endangered species and is a national park, wetland of international significance, as well as a place of enormous cultural significance to the Ngarrindjeri people. We then reach Meningie, where we enjoy our lunch at the Meningie Hotel.

This afternoon’s drive takes us to Tailem Bend where we can stretch our legs, before continuing along the freeway towards home. We arrive back in Adelaide relaxed and revived after a wonderful break enjoying the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival.