11 Day NSW Golden West & Magical Riverina Experience
Departs: Friday 28th March 2008
TOUR COST: from $2466 pp twin share
Experience first hand the wonders of the New South Wales' Golden West; there's Moree, the Warrumbungles, the Pilliga Scrub, “The Dish” Telescope, bushranger country, Dubbo Gaol, the Forbes Museum and the vast unending Hay Plains, where our country's history was “built on the sheep's back”. In the Riverina towns of Griffith, Leeton and Narrandera new attractions will be revealed by local identities. So much wonderful sightseeing; Riverina Grove, Pioneer Park,Bell Armour Gardens, Catania Farm visit, historic Bynya Homestead, Leeton SunRice, Narrandera Fisheries and Aurora Clydesdale Stud. But there's more... the homeward journey is through the historic central NSW towns of Cowra, Bathurst, Sofala, Hill End and Gulgong...so much fascinating history to be absorbed! Come with us and share a wonderful holiday experience...you'll love this opportunity to explore the Golden West and Riverina, alive with heritage, scenic, natural and tourism attractions.
DAY 1 HERVEY BAY — BRISBANE — GOONDIWINDI (D)
Friday 28th March: All aboard for the first day of our Magical Riverina Experience! An early start for travelling companions joining between Hervey Bay and Caloundra. Brisbane and Gold Coast passengers join at Roma Street Transit Centre at 10.00am. Travel west to Toowoomba and then to Warwick for lunch, with time to explore the town. The Cunningham Highway takes us to the border town of Goondiwindi, the commercial hub of vast agricultural regions which produce cotton, grain, wool, beef, lamb and pork. Settle into the Country Road Motor Inn for overnight.
DAY 2 GOONDIWINDI — COONABARARAN (BLD)
Saturday 29th March: Before continuing our journey be photographed beside the famous statue of Gunsynd “The Goondiwindi Grey”. Off across the vast fertile Moree Plains where high quality grain and cotton crops and new crops such as pecan and olives are flourishing in the Mediterranean climate. At Moree time for a quick dip in the town's Hot Mineral Baths known for their therapeutic value. Suitably energised continue our journey to Narrabri to visit the Australian Cotton Growing Centre for lunch and an informative tour. Travel the Pilliga Scrub Country and just outside of Coonabarabran, visit Wattagan Estate Winery to enjoy samples of 'Bungles' Mountain Merlot, 'Pop's Pilliga Piss', Pilliga Tawny Port and Bungles Bubbly! Suitably fortified a quick visit to the Minerals of the Warrumbungles display, then into our motel, the Coachman's Rest Motor Lodge, Coonabararan.
DAY 3 COONABARAN — WEST WYALONG (BLD)
Sunday 30th March: Our travel today is along the scenic Newell Highway. Pass through Gilgandra for a morning tea stop at the Old Dubbo Gaol. Experience prison life as it was over the last two centuries! On to Parkes to visit “The Dish”, made famous in the movie of the same name. Satisfy your curiosity about the radio telescope and astronomy and enjoy lunch. Travel through bushranger country to Forbes. At the Forbes Museum see the relic displays from the bushranging days, antique machinery and an excellent display of Aboriginal artefacts. Time permitting we may visit the graves of bushranger Ben Hall and Ned Kelly's sister, Kate Foster. Travel to West Wyalong for overnight at the Club Inn Resort.
DAY 4 WEST WYALONG — GRIFFITH (BLD)
Monday 31st March: Enjoy a town tour of West Wyalong including the Douglas DC3 Dakota and the Mining Poppet Head at Cooinda Park. Travel through vast, open treeless plains on the way to Hay; it is one of the flattest sections of land in the World. On arrival in Hay enjoy a guided tour including the area's history that was "built on the sheep's back". Visit Shear Outback Centre, which tells the story of our Aussie shearers. Lunch and a shearing demonstration is included in our visit. Next, spend time at the Hay Prisoner of War Museum. Photographs, exhibits and music bring the experiences of the townsfolk and the 'Dunera boys', and Japanese and Italian prisoners, to life. Late afternoon travel to Griffith, the regional centre of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation area. Two night stay at the Bag Town Motor Inn.
DAY 5 GRIFFITH SIGHTSEEING (BLD)
Tuesday 1st April: A full day to explore the many scenic delights of Griffith. Start our exploration with an introductory tour by a local guide. Griffith is the 'oasis' of the Riverina and the heart of Wine and Food Country. At Riverina Grove we sample the gourmet produce from this local company which produces delectable sauces, olives and jams for sale. Next, time to enjoy a guided tour of Bell Armour Garden, revel in the perfumed roses, arbours, arches, exotic plants and fountain features. At Pioneer Park step back in time and gain an understanding of the unique character of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, from prehistory, through the sparsely settled 19th Century, to the multi-cultural oasis of today. There are a variety of displays and artefacts to explore including the newly opened Italian Museum. Enjoy lunch in the unique Bynya Homestead. Conclude our day with a visit to Catania Farm. See firsthand the irrigation system, how harvesting is done and how fruits are dried. Taste the sweet Riverina sun ripened peaches, apricots, oranges and grapes when in season and share a wine with Joe, in the traditional Italian way. A wonderful conclusion to our day.
DAY 6 LEETON & NARRANDERA SIGHTSEEING (BLD)
Wednesday 2nd April: Farewell to Griffith but still lots more Riverina sightseeing in store. At Leeton a local guide show us why the town is a major Tidy Town winners. The town designed by Sir Walter Burley Griffin features tree lined streets, well tended parks with weirs, canals, irrigated rice fields, orchards, vineyards and vegetable farms. Tour the Leeton SunRice Centre which explains the 'paddock to plate' concept of our Australian Rice Industry. A short journey to another unique Riverina town, Narrandera. Narrandera is an elegant town with abundant water that hugs the banks of Lake Talbot and the Murrumbidgee River. Free time in Narrandera for lunch and sightseeing, then at Narrandera Fisheries inspect this research centre that offers live exhibits, audio visual displays on the freshwater fish species that inhabit the Murray, Murrumbidgee, Lachlan and Darling River Systems. Travel to Wagga Wagga for a two night stay at the Astor Motor Inn.
DAY 7 WAGGA WAGGA SIGHTSEEING (BD)
Thursday 3rd April: Wagga Wagga is at the centre of NSW's food bowl. Begin our exploration with a guided tour; learn the origin and meaning of the town's plural name. Enjoy morning tea in the impressive Botanic Gardens, featuring a museum and small zoo and many extensive themed gardens. Time to visit the area's Sporting Hall of Fame that celebrates many of the champions originating from NSW's biggest inland city. Free time in the city centre for lunch before a visit to Aurora Clydesdale Stud. Enjoy the atmosphere of a real working farm! Late afternoon an optional visit to the Regional Art Gallery to see the National Glass Collection can be undertaken, before returning to our motel.
DAY 8 WAGGA WAGGA — BATHURST (BLD)
Friday 4th April: Journey north today through Junee to Cootamundra, the birthplace of Sir Donald Bradman. Time for a cuppa and a visit to the cottage that now houses cricket memorabilia. Follow the Olympic Way through the Cherry Capital of Australia, Young. At Cowra view the Peace Bell, then visit the tranquil Japanese Gardens with lunch at the garden café. A little further along the track lies the unspoilt historic village of Carcoar, where well preserved buildings are a testament to a bygone era. See the Court House, village school, the Stoke Stable Museum and old churches. Leave Carcoar and travel through undulating cattle and sheep country to Bathurst, where a local guide joins us for an informative afternoon tour, including the Mt Panorama Circuit. Stay at the Governor Macquarie Motel.
DAY 9 BATHURST — HILL END - GULGONG (BLD)
Saturday 5th April: Our journey north today features the rich gold mining history of the villages of Sofala and Hill End. Sofala is a picturesque historic village where the main street has retained its unique ageing character with original two story wooden gold rush buildings in a narrow street. While you explore, your crew will 'boil the billy' for morning tea. Further along the track is Hill End where the gold boom lasted two decades from the 1870's to 1890's. The most remarkable thing about Hill End now is the virtual lack of development since the gold rush. Almost all of the buildings date back to the boom years around 1872. The village offers a general store, hotel, post office, police station and pub. The area is managed by National Parks and they offer us an enlightening guided tour of the town. At the Royal Hotel enjoy a light lunch before continuing our journey to Mudgee. Mudgee is a land of 'wine and honey' and this afternoon there is time for tasting the local wines. A short run to Gulgong for our overnight stay at the Ten Dollar Motel.
DAY 10 GULGONG — ARMIDALE (BD)
Sunday 6th April: Morning tour of the small town of Gulgong, where narrow streets, lined with clapboard and iron buildings with original iron lace, create a quaint atmosphere. Visit the award-winning Gulgong Pioneer Museum and purchase your morning tea from the nearby cafe. From here take to the backroads through many small country townships; Coolah, Tambar Springs and Mullaley to name a few. Relax back and enjoy the scenery on the way to Tamworth, Australia's "Country Music Capital". Appreciate the view from the city's lookout before ascending the Moonbi Range to the New England Plateau, passing Thunderbolt's Lookout south of Uralla. Continue north to Armidale to admire the tree-lined avenues of the city. Enjoy an introductory tour of Armidale, including the city's stately Cathedrals, University and the lovely parks and gardens. Our last night together is at the Country Comfort Inn.
DAY 11 ARMIDALE — BRISBANE — HERVEY BAY (B)
Monday 7th April: From this delightful 'City for All Seasons' resume our New England journey through Guyra and Glen Innes to view the Celtic 'Standing Stones'. From Tenterfield, continue northward through the granite strewn countryside to cross the border back into Queensland. At Stanthorpe a surprising diversity of vegetables, grapes, stone and pome fruit are produced and we take the time to stop at the roadside stalls for purchases to remind you of your Magical Riverina Experience. With happy memories and lots of 'juicy delights' continue to Warwick (Toowoomba on request) arriving in Brisbane at 5.30pm. Passengers north enroute to Hervey Bay stay on the coach. Gold Coast passengers return via express coach.