Important Notes
- Places on all days are limited and can only be increased if there are enough participants to do so.
- Times mentioned are indicative only and are not yet fully confirmed.
- Prices for these activities can be found on our Ticket page
Friday 21st August
Choose your own adventure – explore and discover Adelaide.
See our ‘Other Things to see and do’ page for some ideas
An optional extra activity on Friday afternoon will be a ride on a Redhen Railcar, operated by the SteamRanger railway.
Saturday 22nd August
Leaving the Hopgood Theatre at around 8:30am you are in for a day packed with travel and adventure starting with a bus trip through the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula.
Arriving at Victor Harbor (yes you read that correctly) at 9:15 a.m., spend an hour wandering around the picturesque coastal town, visit the local antique stores and see Australia’s only horse drawn tram. The main street is only a short walk away and the bakery is not to be missed!
Step back in time with Australia’s oldest horse-drawn passenger service, operating since 1894. The Victor Harbor Horse Tram offers a scenic ride across the Granite Island Causeway, pulled by gentle Clydesdales. We’re the only daily horse-drawn tram in the country (weather permitting). Check our website for daily times, as they vary with weather and horse wellbeing.
10.40 a.m. Meet at the Railway Station (a short walk from the heart of Victor Harbor) to catch the Cockle Train on Australia’s oldest steel railway line arriving in Goolwa at 11.30 a.m.
The Cockle Train is a heritage railway service that travels between the towns of Victor Harbor and Goolwa and on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, passing through Middleton and Port Elliot along the picturesque coastline, offering passengers scenic views of the Encounter Bay coast.
Enjoy some leisure time in historic Goolwa, check out the Steam Exchange Brewery, and if you are lucky see some paddle steamers.
Goolwa is the gateway to the wetlands of the Murray River Mouth and played a pivotal role in the early days of the Murray River Trade.
12:30 p.m. Meet at the Wharf ready to board the Spirit of the Coorong at 1.00 p.m. for 3.5-hour cruise through one of South Australia’s most beautiful natural waterways, the mighty Coorong.
Featuring
- Unique Wildlife Viewing: Spot fur seals, diverse bird life
- Learn the ‘Pipi-Shuffle’ at 90 Mile Beach the longest beach in Australia
- Marvel at the stunning Coorong scenery, Storm Boy locations & towering dunes
- Take a guided walk, visit cultural heritage & learn about flora fauna & bushfood
A delicious lunch is served on board (drinks at own expense) as we cruise downstream from the port of Goolwa along the historic wharf & towards the Goolwa Barrage. Travel through the lock chamber, down to sea level and spot a few lazy fur-seals lounging about. We then meander along the waterways of the Coorong, following the last kilometres of the mighty Murray River to the Murray Mouth and its opening to the Southern Ocean.
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes
Know before you go
- Special meals (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc) are available by prior request, please advise when booking
- Seasickness is very rarely a problem as cruising is in narrow sheltered waters
- Passengers must be sufficiently mobile to negotiate stairs and move about the vessel
Returning at approximately 4.30 p.m. you will once again board the bus for the return to The Hopgood Theatre, arriving between 5.15 – 5.30 p.m. This will be followed by the Gala Dinner and Awards night at St Francis Winery.
Sunday 23rd August
Unfortunately due to low uptake of the Sunday partner program, we have had to cancel this part of the partner program.
As an alternative, please see our “Other things to see and do” page.
Those people who have already purchased a ticket will be contacted shortly to arrange refunds.