3 Day Captivating Carnival Of Flowers
Departs: Tour Completed
SUPER SAVER FARE: $499 pp twin share
Every spring, in the heart of Queensland’s Darling Downs, Toowoomba celebrates the Carnival of Flowers, complete with floral street parade, garden competitions and the crowning of the floral queen. Capturing the colour of spring and its associated activities, the Carnival is the Garden City’s most famous event. After viewing the Grand Parade from your under cover seating enjoy a guided tour of the winning gardens. Visit Spring Bluff Railway Station one of Australia's prettiest and most historic railway stations nestled in a glorious hillside setting where the main rail line makes its winding way up the steep gradient of the Great Dividing Range to Toowoomba.
Browse through the Danish Flower Art Complex where the first thing you see when you arrive is the hundreds of unusual gourds lining the fence by the highway. Exploring further inside the complex you'll find gourds of every shape, colour and kind all over the place. During the course of the weekend experience such highlights as a visit to the Brindabella Rose Show and Rhododendron Festival and the St Paul’s Orchid Show. Wander through the Queens Park Craft Market and not to be missed is the Ju Raku En Japanese Gardens and lunch at the Cobb & Co Museum. If you’re looking for a short break why not join us for the Carnival of Flowers, a colourful weekend full of festivity and cheer.
DAY 1 HERVEY BAY—TOOWOOMBA [LD]
Friday 19th September: Depart home this morning - Hervey Bay at 6:15am and Maryborough at 7:00am. Travel through Nanango, Yarraman and Cooyar to the pretty township of Crows Nest. At Highfields enjoy a browse through the Danish Floral Art Centre with its enchanting mixture of art expressed through dried flowers, sculpted iron and fabulous homemade food before enjoying a welcome two course lunch at the Highfields Tavern. After lunch visit the historic and picturesque Spring Bluff railway station nestled in the hillside of the Great Dividing Range. Settle in for a two night stay at James Street Motor Inn.
DAY 2 CARNIVAL OF FLOWERS [B,D]
Saturday 20th September: Set off for the English style Brindabella Country Gardens, see the Brindabella Rose Show and Rhododendron Festival. The city centre is renowned for costumes at carnival time. See the city wide floral window display competition. Take some free time to enjoy the city centre and the magnificent St Paul's Lutheran Church Orchid Display. Gather at midday to experience the Grand Floral Parade, see hundreds of fresh blooms used to create spectacular floral floats. Sit back and relax in the undercover seating as the parade goes by. Grab a bite to eat and reboard our coach where an experienced local guide leads the way to a mixture of award winning gardens. Late afternoon we visit Picnic Point where we can admire the magnificent views. Return to our motel and relax before dinner.
DAY 3 TOOWOOMBA — HERVEY BAY [B,L]
Sunday 21st September: After breakfast we take a tour of the "Ju Raku En" Japanese Gardens. Mid morning enjoy free time to explore the Queens Park Craft Market set amongst the tall Bunya Pines of Queens Park. During Carnival of Flowers this market is abuzz with an array of finely crafted goods, homemade cakes, biscuits, jams, confectionary and relishes. A BBQ lunch is supplied for us at the Cobb & Co Museum. Feel free to explore the campus and admire Australia's finest collection of horse-drawn vehicles. Depart Toowoomba and travel home via Esk, Kilcoy and Beerwah. Return to Maryborough at 6:00pm and Hervey Bay at 6:45pm.