10 Day - Spring Time Canberra & Floriade Delights
Departure Date: 8 September 2009
Tour Cost: from
$2268
per person twin share
Floriade” – this premier Canberra drawcard is unlike anything else in Australia…a Spring Festival of Flowers at its festive, colourful best, a spectacular and inspiring salute to spring!
Come with us on this special holiday and be enticed by Canberra’s fabulous Floriade where splendid massed gardens add to the many other ACT highlights. Included in your four night stay; the exciting National Zoo and Aquarium (where a lucky few will have the opportunity to feed a tiger, giraffe or an otter), the National Museum of Australia, Parliament House, Black Mountain Tower Lookout, The War Memorial, Lake Burley Griffin cruise, Cockington Green, Tulip Top private garden tour, plus a grand sightseeing tour of the Embassies and High Commissions and not to be forgotten is the wonder of Canberra by night from the heights of Mt Ainslie.
Our homeward journey is via the Jenolan Caves and the Blue Mountains; their natural beauty compliments this delightful itinerary. Explore the awe-inspiring Jenolan Caves and then time to “come up for air” and discover the Blue Mountains heights with touring of the distinctive Three Sisters, the grand Jamieson Valley and Govett’s Leap views. Scenic coastal sightseeing through Gosford and Coffs Harbour brings us home. We invite you to place yourself in the “picture” and join us for this fragrant, magical spring holiday.
DAY 1 HERVEY BAY—MOREE D
Tuesday 8th September 2009: An early start for passengers joining between Bundaberg and Caloundra. Brisbane and Gold Coast passengers join at Brisbane Roma Street Transit Centre at 9:00am. Travel west to Toowoomba and across the border at Goondiwindi. The Newell Highway takes us through vast agricultural areas to Moree. Stay Burke and Wills Motor Inn.
DAY 2 MOREE—DUBBO BLD
Wednesday 9th September 2009: Resume our Newell Highway drive to Coonabarabran Visitors Centre to view the fascinating display of the remains of the largest known marsupial, commonly known as Diprotodon. On leaving Coonabarabran we head west to the Siding Spring Observatory, home to some of the largest optical telescopes in the Southern Hemisphere. View the Anglo Australian Telescope, the largest of its kind in Australia, and browse through the Exploratory. After lunch settle back in your seats to enjoy the wondrous sight of the Warrumbungles as we take a scenic drive through the National Park before heading for our overnight stop at Dubbo. Stay Country Comfort Ashwood Resort.
DAY 3 DUBBO—CANBERRA BLD
Thursday 10th September 2009: Today take the Mitchell Highway south, passing the interesting Wellington Gateway Sculpture. See colourful Orange nestled in the shadow of Mount Canobolas. On to Cowra to enjoy lunch and a wander through the beautiful Japanese Gardens. Next, journey towards our Nation’s Capital Canberra, to begin our sightseeing. Visit the Black Mountain Tower and experience the amazing view. 4 Night Stay Statesman Hotel.
DAY 4 CANBERRA SIGHTSEEING BD
Friday 11th September 2009: We start our day with a grand tour of Canberra’s Embassies and High Commissions then on to the National Zoo and Aquarium for a unique and exciting guided tour of the zoo. Learn fascinating facts about the species and individual animals at the zoo. Get up close and personal with native and exotic animals, and for a lucky few, hand feed a tiger, giraffe or perhaps an otter. After the tour, free time is allowed for you to purchase lunch and explore the zoo and aquarium at your leisure. After lunch visit the National Museum and mid afternoon board the MV Southern Cross for a wonderful trip around Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin, the perfect way to see most of the major buildings, beautiful parks and the foreshore areas of the Parliamentary Triangle Area. An informative commentary given by our Captain provides an insight into the history, culture and ecology of the National Capital.
DAY 5 CANBERRA SIGHTSEEING BD
Saturday 12th September 2009: The chief attraction of the day is Canberra Floriade. The massive springtime displays at Commonwealth Park provide an unrivalled spectacle of fragrance and colour. On to the Australian War Memorial featuring many emotion stirring displays and tributes. Return to our motel after a wonderful day of sightseeing our Capital to enjoy dinner before driving to Mt Ainslie to view the spectacular sight of Canberra by night.
DAY 6 CANBERRA SIGHTSEEING BD
Sunday 13th September 2009: This morning we visit the miniature garden villages of Cockington Green before moving on for a chance to ’tip toe through the tulips’ while visiting Tulip Top Gardens, a private garden which is only open to the public at Floriade time. After lunch enjoy a visit to Canberra’s ‘Sunday Best’, the Old Bus Depot Markets. Be delighted by the flavour, fun and atmosphere of Canberra’s national award winning markets!
DAY 7 CANBERRA—KATOOMBA BLD
Monday 14th September 2009: We say farewell to Canberra as we continue our journey northward through the historic town of Taralga arriving at the Jenolan Caves with time for lunch before a guided tour of the caves. Then on to our overnight stop at Katoomba. Stay Echo Point Motor Inn.
DAY 8 KATOOMBA—GOSFORD BD
Tuesday 15th September 2009: This morning enjoy a tour of the Heritage listed Blue Mountains as we take in such sights as Govetts Leap, Blackheath and Cliff Drive then enjoy some free time at Scenic World where you have a choice of the Skyway, Cableway, Walkway and Railway or you may simply decide to sit and look at the magnificent view of the Three Sisters from the comfort of the café. Then after lunch (own expense) we continue on to Gosford with time to settle in before enjoying dinner at the adjoining Gosford RSL Club. Stay Galaxy Motel.
DAY 9 GOSFORD—COFFS HARBOUR BD
Wednesday 16th September 2009: Today join the Pacific Highway to travel through Raymond Terrace, and Taree to picturesque Macleay Valley, Kempsey and Nambucca Heads. In Coffs Harbour visit The Clog Barn—a Dutch Village in miniature complete with operating windmills and model trains. Stay Country Inn Big Windmill.
DAY 10 COFFS HARBOUR—HERVEY BAY B
Thursday 17th September 2009: After ten days filled with a variety of marvellous highlights and springtime sightseeing, enjoy the last day of our holiday with a leisurely drive through Ballina to the Gold Coast where passengers depart enroute as requested. Arrive into Brisbane at approximately 3.00pm. Passengers north enroute to Hervey Bay stay on board the coach.