{"id":1233,"date":"2017-03-02T11:27:14","date_gmt":"2017-03-02T00:27:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns?p=1233&#038;preview=true&#038;preview_id=1233"},"modified":"2019-03-25T16:30:29","modified_gmt":"2019-03-25T05:30:29","slug":"the-best-long-weekend-breaks-in-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/the-best-long-weekend-breaks-in-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"The best long weekend breaks in Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"\/theme\/short-breaks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Long weekends<\/a> \u2013 those blissful times of year when you get an extra day or two tacked on to your regular weekend. It can be sweet&#8230;but there\u2019s always a bittersweet moment when you remember that an extra day or two isn\u2019t going to be quite enough time to jet off to Bali for a yoga retreat, or the US for a schlep around New York. We can&#8217;t\u00a0slow down time to make 24-hour flights a viable option, but we <em>can<\/em> help you plan a trip that\u2019s close enough to your city to not take up all your relaxation time \u2013 while still feeling a million miles away.<\/p>\n<h3>From <a href=\"\/melbourne\">Melbourne<\/a>: Great Ocean Road and Halls Gap<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-version=\"7\">\n<div style=\"padding: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 62.48665955176094% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;\">\n<div style=\"background: url(data:image\/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc\/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5\/p8\/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo\/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli\/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif\/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BYbu9uRjzks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Melbourne (@visitmelbourne)<\/a> on <time style=\"font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;\" datetime=\"2017-08-30T21:39:35+00:00\">Aug 30, 2017 at 2:39pm PDT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async defer src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>At just over an hour\u2019s drive from Melbourne, Torquay marks the official start of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/great-ocean-road\">Great Ocean Road<\/a>. As you drive there are a host of small towns to stop at for views, accommodation and food. Apollo Bay offers clifftop views, and is a short drive to the nearby Otway National Park. Set up camp beachside, but not before sampling some local seafood. A must-see along the road is the Twelve Apostles (well, eight now, thanks to erosion). Be sure to check out Port Fairy before you hit the end of the road at Warnambool. Port Fairy was voted one of the world\u2019s most liveable small cities a few years back, and offers good food and a lively arts and culture calendar.<\/p>\n<p>The Great Ocean Road is 664 kilometres long, and can easily be completed in three days \u2013 but we suggest heading north after you reach the end of the road. It\u2019s about a two-hour drive to Halls Gap in the Grampians National Park. This is the epicentre of the park, and an excellent base from which to explore its historic mountains and waterfalls. There\u2019s plenty of Aboriginal art to see in the area, and it\u2019s a fairly easy three-hour trek back to Melbourne once it\u2019s time to return to reality.<\/p>\n<h3>From <a href=\"\/adelaide\">Adelaide<\/a>: Kangaroo Island<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-version=\"7\">\n<div style=\"padding: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 60.64814814814815% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;\">\n<div style=\"background: url(data:image\/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc\/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5\/p8\/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo\/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli\/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif\/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BWOJyTfj7ou\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by South Australia (@southaustralia)<\/a> on <time style=\"font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;\" datetime=\"2017-07-06T22:01:48+00:00\">Jul 6, 2017 at 3:01pm PDT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async defer src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>While a tropical island getaway sounds ideal, it\u2019s not realistic for a long weekender from Adelaide. But you know what is? Kangaroo Island, an easy one-and-a-half-hour drive and 45-minute ferry ride from the South Australian capital. Known for its expertly prepared local produce and well-maintained spread of national park, it\u2019s ideal for languorous long weekends. Sample local cheese from Island Pure sheep dairy and world-class oysters at American River, and cap it all off with a bottle or two from the island\u2019s first winery, Dudley Wines. Head to Bales Beach to catch a glimpse of sea lions, and play spot-the-koala (the island is home to more than 13,000 of them).<\/p>\n<h3>From <a href=\"\/alice-springs\">Alice Springs<\/a>: Uluru and Kings Canyon<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-version=\"7\">\n<div style=\"padding: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 37.5% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BRFkMuEAm7t\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Amy Mundye (@amymundye)<\/a> on <time style=\"font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;\" datetime=\"2017-03-01T07:22:27+00:00\">Feb 28, 2017 at 11:22pm PST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async defer src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>A mere one-hour flight, or five-hour drive from Alice Springs lies Uluru, perhaps one of Australia\u2019s most notable landmarks, and a jaw-dropping <a href=\"\/australia\/3-day-uluru-adventure-ex-yulara-basix-111268\">long weekend getaway destination<\/a>. Watch the sun rise and set around this sacred Indigenous monolith and eat dinner under the stars as it towers before you. Make time to visit the lesser-known Olgas \u2013\u00a0a set of stones similar to Uluru, which are thought to have once been one large rock, almost double the size of its more famous neighbour. On your way back to Alice Springs, stop at Kings Canyon for a hike along the top of its sheer sandstone walls, as you look down on dense palm forests and waterways \u2013 a nice change from the red desert sand of the outback. Of course these days, with flights from capital cities into nearby Yulara, Uluru makes a<a href=\"\/australia\/3-day-uluru-adventure-original-110689\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> great long weekend escape<\/a> no matter where you&#8217;re coming from.<\/p>\n<h3>From <a href=\"\/darwin\">Darwin<\/a>: Kakadu National Park<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-version=\"7\">\n<div style=\"padding: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 62.42187500000001% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;\">\n<div style=\"background: url(data:image\/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc\/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5\/p8\/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo\/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli\/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif\/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BYfXrqvFKY9\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Northern Territory &#8211; Australia (@ausoutbacknt)<\/a> on <time style=\"font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;\" datetime=\"2017-09-01T07:33:06+00:00\">Sep 1, 2017 at 12:33am PDT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async defer src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The natural splendour of Australia\u2019s Top End is within easy reach of Darwinians, and Kakadu is really a must-visit for its unique floodplains, deep gorges and waterfalls, and flourishing wildlife. About a three-hour drive from Darwin, it\u2019s the perfect distance for a long weekend escape into the wilderness. Catch a boat down the Mary River to try and spot a crocodile, and plonk yourself in the middle of the Nardab Floodplain to take in swathes of grassland and rocky escarpments. Later, go swimming in one of the nearby waterholes (just check and make sure there\u2019s no crocs sharing the water with you). The park is also home to ancient Aboriginal rock paintings in Ubirr \u2013\u00a0some of which have been dated back to 30,000 BC.<\/p>\n<h3>From <a href=\"\/broome\">Broome<\/a>: Cape Leveque<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-version=\"7\">\n<div style=\"padding: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 62.4537037037037% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BRF9vYBBzMI\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by SALTY WiNGS (@saltywings)<\/a> on <time style=\"font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;\" datetime=\"2017-03-01T11:05:39+00:00\">Mar 1, 2017 at 3:05am PST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async defer src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Though Cape Leveque, on Western Australia\u2019s Dampier Peninsula, is only a little over 200 kilometres from Broome, it can take up to six hours to traverse the road, which is unsealed in large parts (we recommend borrowing a mate\u2019s 4WD and buckling up\u2026). A stunning expanse of natural beauty, the Dampier Peninsula plays host to turquoise waters perfect for snorkelling, red stone formations lining white-sand beaches, and reefs exposed at low tide, creating mini waterfalls as the water funnels off the coral. Meet local indigenous communities at One Arm Point, and learn about the history of the area\u2019s people. You can see how they live day-to-day, and visit the famed Beagle Bay Church, where the altar is made from shimmering pearls. See how pearls are harvested at Cygent Pearl Farm, and admire the \u2018giant tides\u2019 \u2013 the world\u2019s largest tropical tides, where whirlpools and cascades are created as the water rises and falls up to 12 metres at a time.<\/p>\n<h3>\u00a0From <a href=\"\/perth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Perth<\/a>: Esperance and Margaret River<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-version=\"7\">\n<div style=\"padding: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 56.99177438307873% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BRHR3wNlXau\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Carlie Noakes-Madson (@townhousemargaretriver)<\/a> on <time style=\"font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;\" datetime=\"2017-03-01T23:20:47+00:00\">Mar 1, 2017 at 3:20pm PST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async defer src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Western Australia isn\u2019t a small state, and even the closest weekend getaways can be a solid seven-hour-plus drive. You could fly to Esperance to kick of your weekend adventure, but we recommend breaking your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia\/esperance-and-southwest-adventure-110222\">journey into parts<\/a>, making a pit stop at Margaret River on the way there, and Wave Rock on the return journey. Known as a centre for gourmands, Margaret River has plenty of breweries, chocolate and cheese manufacturers, and wineries to keep you sated. The nearby Ngilgi Caves are chock-full of ancient stalagmites and stalactites, and the caves and the surrounding vicinity have played an important part in the Dreamtime for more than 50,000 years.<\/p>\n<p>Hear all about it on a Koomal Dreaming tour, before setting off for Esperance. This coastal town is surrounded by five national parks on one side, and expanses of ocean on the other. Keep an eye out for kangaroos hopping along the beaches, and dolphins shooting out of the water. A close drive away are the Stirling Ranges, perfect for keen bushwalkers, wildlife spotters or those who just want to take a nice photo (for that, head to the peak of Frenchmen\u2019s Peak). You may have seen Wave Rock on Instagram, but we guarantee it\u2019s way better in real life. Carved out by millennia of erosion, this astounding formation truly does look like a wave that is on the verge of crashing. From there, it\u2019s just under four hour\u2019s drive back to Perth; you\u2019ll be fresh for work the next morning.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Ready for the ultimate long weekend? Check out our<a href=\"\/theme\/short-breaks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> short break adventure tours.\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Long weekends \u2013 those blissful times of year when you get an extra day or two tacked on to your regular weekend. It can be sweet&#8230;but there\u2019s always a bittersweet&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":1235,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[154],"tags":[218,163,51,234,272,47,285],"class_list":["post-1233","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","tag-adelaide","tag-alice-springs","tag-broome","tag-darwin","tag-melbourne","tag-perth","tag-short-break"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1233","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1233"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1233\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1840,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1233\/revisions\/1840"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1235"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1233"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1233"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}