Canberra Floriade, Bowral & Hunter Valley

Touring Tweed Valley, Yamba, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Gosford, Bowral, Fitzroy Falls, Kangaroo Valley, Canberra Floriade, Moss Vale, Central Coast, Hunter Valley, Tamworth, Armidale,
Tenterfield, Glenn Innes
Price
$2420pp Twin Share |  Sole use $3160  Luxury 'Gold Class' Coach ex Brisbane
Departure
dates 2012		 2nd October 2012
Tour overview & inclusions • Luxury `Gold Class’ coach ex Brisbane
• Plantation House morning tea
• Travel the scenic northern rivers region onto Yamba
• Overnight Quality Sails Resort at Port Macquarie
• 2 nights Briars Country Lodge at Bowral
• Corbett Gardens or Don Bradman Museum
• Red Cow Farm, Sutton Forest, Fitzroy Falls
• Big Merino at Goulburn, Surveyor’s Hill Winery
• 3 nights Best Western Garden City Motel, Canberra
• Floriade, War Memorial, Parliament House
• Southern Cross Cruise on Lake Burley Griffin
• Overnight Mercure Resort Hunter Valley
• Guided train tour of Hunter Valley Gardens
• Upper Hunter Horse Stud
• Quality Hotel Powerhouse at Armidale
• Tenterfield, College of Wine & Tourism Stanthorpe




Sail Resort Port Macquarie





Corbett Gardens





Red Cow Farm





Canberra Floriade





Woodlands Stud





Hotel Powerhouse






Day 1 – TUESDAY 2ND OCT 2012 (MT,L,D)

Departing from Roma Street, Brisbane city, we travel south through the picturesque Tweed Valley. After morning tea at Plantation House we continue down the coast to Yamba for lunch, before making our way through Coffs Harbour to Port Macquarie for an overnight stay at Quality Sails Resort.
 

Day 2 – WEDNESDAY 3RD OCT 2012 (B,MT,L,D)

This morning we leave beautiful Port Macquarie, take a break at Buladelah for morning tea, we continue on arriving at Gosford for lunch. Travelling through Sydney’s western suburbs we head up into the Southern Highlands for a two night stay at Briars Lodge, Bowral.

Day 3 – THURSDAY 4TH OCT 2012 (B,L,D)

During spring, Bowral’s annual Tulip Time event is one of the Highland’s biggest annual attractions becoming one of Australia’s leading floral festivals. We visit Corbett Gardens, found smack bang in the middle of Bowral, displaying a huge array of Tulips, as well as other bright and vibrant springtime bulbs, shrubs and trees. (A visit to the Don Bradman Museum is an alternative option to Corbett Gardens). We then visit Red Cow Farm in the picturesque rural village of Sutton Forest. The garden features 20 rooms with an exuberant cottage garden, monastery garden, abbess’s garden, a stunning collection of rare and unusual perennials, woodland, old fashioned roses and clematis, beech walk, lake, bog garden, orchard and kitchen garden. Enjoy a casual lunch at the Sutton Forest Inn before our afternoon takes us to Fitzroy Falls, situated at the head of the escarpment leading down to the tranquil Kangaroo Valley.

Day 4 – FRIDAY 5TH OCT 2012 (B,MT,L,D)

Leaving Bowral we make our way to Goulburn visiting the Big Merino and breaking for morning tea at Trappers Bakery. Heading to Canberra we visit Surveyor’s Hill Vineyard which is located on the remains of an ancient volcano more than 360 million years old, rising to 736 metres above sea level. Indulge in fine wine and excellent food surrounded with character. Arrive and check-in at the Best Western Garden City Motel for a 3 night stay.

Day 5 – SATURDAY 6TH OCT 2012 (B,L,D)

This morning we visit Floriade, the biggest flower festival in Australia, set in Canberra’s Commonwealth Park. Lunch at the Deck Restaurant followed by an afternoon visit to the National Capital Exhibition and the War Memorial. We tour through the Hall of Memory, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Pool of Reflection and the Roll of Honour, finishing with a moving closing ceremony.

Day 6 – SUNDAY 7TH OCT 2012 (B,L,D)

This morning we take a drive tour around the many International Embassies, before visiting Parliament House. We then board Southern Cross Cruises for a lunch cruise on Lake Burley Griffin with full commentary while cruising.

Day 7 – MONDAY 8TH OCT 2012 (B,MT,L,D)

Departing Canberra we backtrack slightly stopping for a cuppa at Moss Vale, then continuing onto to Gosford to break for lunch. Leaving the Central Coast we head for the Hunter Valley arriving at the beautiful Mercure Resort, Hunter Valley for an overnight stay.

Day 8 – TUESDAY 9TH OCT 2012 (B,L,D)

This morning we visit the magnificent Hunter Valley Gardens for guided train tour and
commentary through parts of the 25 hectares of International Garden. We leave the
Hunter Valley and travel through the Upper Hunter arriving at Denman for lunch. Our
afternoon is spent with a local guide visiting Woodlands Thoroughbred Stud (home to
‘The Big O’ - Octagonal) and Pukara Olive Farm. We wind down our afternoon travelling through Tamworth, Moonbi Range, Uralla into Armidale to check-in at the Quality Hotel Powerhouse.

Day 9 – WEDNESDAY 10TH OCT 2012 (B,L)

Today we travel through Guyra, Glenn Innes and on to Tenterfield. We cross the border at Wallangarra and into Queensland, breaking for lunch at the College of Wine and Tourism and learn how to match food with wine, dining on 3 small courses accompanied by wines suited to the dishes.

  

Deposit required to secure this booking $400pp.