6 Day Ballina Christmas Wish
Departs: Sunday 21st December 2008
SUPER SAVER FARE: $1399 pp twin share
Are you looking for a relaxed Christmas Holiday in the heart of the Northern Rivers of NSW, then look no further! From our base in Ballina enjoy five nights in this wonderful ‘holiday mecca’, an ideal seaside location for a festive break where all your Christmas wishes can come true. Enjoy a lovely balance of coastal and hinterland sightseeing. Explore the townships that lie in the shadow of Mt Warning: Murwillumbah, Mooball and Mullumbimby, with visits to Crystal Creek Miniatures, Rainforest Secrets and Crystal Castle.
Enjoy a visit to Macadamia Castle, Thursday Plantation and a cruise on the Richmond River. Revel in stunning coastal scenery including a visit to Cape Bryon Lighthouse. Visit the quirky ‘Christmas All Year Round’ and the quaint villages of Eltham and Clunes. Christmas Day is a highlight with morning touring to spectacular Minyon Falls and for lunch a superb buffet at Ballina RSL. Come and let your Down Under Crew make your wishes come true this Christmas!
DAY1 HERVEY BAY - BALLINA (D)
Sunday 21st December: An early start for travelling companions joining between Hervey Bay and Caloundra. Brisbane passengers join at Roma Street Transit Centre at 10.00am and Gold Coast passengers join enroute. All on board our luxury coach for our first day of our Ballina Christmas Wish holiday to the northern rivers area of New South Wales. Travel across the border at Tweed Heads and enjoy the lush coastal scenery as we cruise further south through rolling hills to Macadamia Castle. This well known landmark contains all sorts of treasures including fresh hot macadamias. Take your time here before we complete the day’s tour into Ballina and our comfortable accommodation for the next five nights, the Ballina Island Motor Inn.
DAY 2 HINTERLAND SIGHTSEEING (BLD)
Monday 22nd December: Today become acquainted with some of the natural delights of the hinterland areas surrounding Ballina. After breakfast tour north to a unique stud farm, Crystal Creek Miniatures. Set on the banks of magnificent Crystal Creek, this farm features some of the world's smallest horses and cattle. Enjoy the informative tractor train tour around the property followed by a delicious morning tea in the Rainforest Verandah Café. On board our coach once more we tour the short distance to the hinterland town of Murwillumbah set in the middle of the Mount Warning Caldera, with nearby Mount Warning commanding almost every view.Time to explore the town where the main street features a number of historic buildings in the art deco or federation style. If you like you may visit the World Heritage Rainforest Centre to gain an insight into the wonders of the local environment.
Next, travel to the quaint town of Mooball, where cow-puns feature everywhere! You can't miss the black and white cow prints painted on the electricity poles, general store and other buildings. At Rainforest Secrets meet the Marshall family, descendants of early pioneering farmers, who have reforested their banana and cattle farm and created a special eco-friendly place. Enjoy a catered lunch that features some of their locally grown bush tucker and then tour the various farm trails to learn about bush food, bush medicine and other sensory secrets. Our last stop for the day is at Mullumbimby where we visit Crystal Castle. Here, set high in the hills, you will find a treasure trove of natural crystals, one of Australia’s largest collections. Browse among the glittering displays and enjoy the glorious scenery before we return to our motel to freshen up before dinner.
DAY 3 BALLINA CRUISE & SIGHTSEEING (BLD)
Tuesday 23rd December: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before we visit Thursday Tea Tree Plantation. Started in 1979, this is a great Australian success story and the company now has an annual turnover of $22 million. During our visit discover the numerous healing properties associated with the tea tree oil, wander in the Sculpture Garden and explore the Tea Tree Maze. Return to Ballina for a morning tea break (own expense) before we board the MV Richmond Princess for a delightful lunch cruise along the Richmond River.
The river has been the lifeblood of this region from the days of the first settlement until the 1950s. Relax and enjoy the environment while the crew dispense old-fashioned table service and the skipper relates light-hearted commentary that brings to life the vibrant history of the river. Back on shore call in at the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum where the maritime history of the North Coast is displayed. It also houses the Las Balsas raft, one of three that made the epic journey from Ecuador to Australia in 1973. Return to our motel to relax before dinner is served.
DAY 4 COASTAL SIGHTSEEING (BLD)
Wednesday 24th December: Linger over breakfast before we travel the short distance to Alstonville to visit Summerland House with No Steps. This is a wonderful facility run for and by disabled people. Undertake an escorted tour and then enjoy morning tea in their café. A little further on call in at ‘Christmas All Year Round’. This interesting tourist attraction is situated in a restored church and has the largest range of macadamia products in Australia and an enticing range of local arts and crafts. Some last minute shopping perhaps? Travel north criss-crossing the countryside through the picturesque village of Eltham to Clunes.
It was here that the North Coast dairy industry was first established and there are many beautiful examples of North Coast houses and some fine early Australian church architecture. Time to admire the streetscape before reboarding our coach for the popular tourist destination of Byron Bay. Enjoy a catered lunch at the Services Club. The afternoon is yours to shop, take a walk along the beach, enjoy the café scene or just relax. Later time to absorb the coastal scenery with a visit to Cape Bryon, the most easterly point of mainland Australia. See the lighthouse and take advantage of the outstanding panoramic views...a must for keen photographers! Tour south, back to Ballina via the coast road where we have time to wash off the sand and salty sea air before dinner is served. It’s Christmas Eve, keep a watch out for Santa in the night sky!
DAY 5 CHRISTMAS DAY IN BALLINA (BLD)
Thursday 25th December: Happy Christmas! Exchange festive greetings over a leisurely breakfast, but don’t eat too much as we have a sumptuous Christmas lunch planned! Arrangements will be made for those wishing to attend early morning Christmas services. Enjoy a morning scenic drive into the hinterland with a visit to Nightcap National Park. From Minyon Falls Lookout watch the water tumble 97 metres down sheer cliffs into the beautiful gorge below where on clear days there are views to the ocean from the waterfall's edge.
The area is also a well-known koala habitat so keep your eyes peeled. Back on board the coach wind our way back to Ballina with time to freshen up before a fabulous Christmas Buffet at Ballina RSL Waves Bistro, with views out over the Richmond River. There will be all the traditional favourites to enjoy and much more! When we simply can’t eat another morsel it’s time to return to our motel to rest or perhaps take a digestive stroll before a light supper is served.
DAY 6 BALLINA - HERVEY BAY (B)
Friday 26th December: Time to farewell our friendly hosts and begin our journey home across the border back to Queensland. Travel up the coast and across the border at Tweed Heads for a morning break. Gold Coast and Brisbane passengers depart enroute as required. Passengers enroute to Hervey Bay have the option of lunch at Noosa Harbour at the Harbour Master Restaurant (own expense), where harbour views can be enjoyed on one side and riverfront views on the other or passengers can choose free time (please advise option at time of booking). The final leg of your Christmas Holiday sees us arrive back in Maryborough at 5.30pm and Hervey Bay at 6.15pm after a wonderful Christmas tour. Thank you for joining us this Christmas and we trust you will return home with many cherished memories of your Ballina Christmas Wish.