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5 Day - Northern Rivers Interlude
Departure Date: Monday, 23rd August 2010
Tour Cost: from $1532 per person twin share
Looking for a relaxing “interlude” in the heart of the Northern Rivers of NSW. Well look no further. The Northern Rivers is a holiday mecca and an ideal location to spoil yourself with a holiday interlude. Spend four nights in one motel, no packing and unpacking, just relax every evening with your Down Under crew and new found friends. Enjoy panoramic views, beautiful beaches and interesting sightseeing and attractions from our base in Casino. Come on…Spoil yourself, you deserve it!
DAY 1 HERVEY BAY–CASINO (D)
Monday, 23rd August 2010: Feel special as you set out on this delightful Northern River Interlude. Welcome aboard passengers joining between Hervey Bay and Caloundra. Brisbane and Gold Coast passengers join at Brisbane Roma Street Transit Centre at 12.00noon. This afternoon we travel inland along the Cunningham Highway to Warwick before we turn east again and cross the border into World Heritage National Park country. Enjoy the scenery as we travel through the small towns of Woodenbong and Kyogle before reaching our destination and accommodation in Casino. Enjoy a relaxing four night stay, no packing and unpacking just relax every evening with your Down Under crew and new found friends. 4 Night Stay Casino Motor Inn.
DAY 2 LISMORE & NIMBIN SIGHTSEEING (BD)
Tuesday, 24th August 2010: An interesting and varied day lies ahead of us as we tour through Lismore and up to Nimbin, renowned as the sister city to Woodstock. The town is filled with unusual craft shops and the colourful street facades are an attraction in themselves. We visit Djanbung Gardens where Robyn will guide us through this model permaculture farm and teaching centre and provide us with a welcome cuppa.
Our second attraction is to the Rainbow Power Company, the famous alternative power company that supplies energy to the national grid. Enjoy the tour of the mud brick solar powered factory before we move on to the Nimbin Candle Factory. The Nimbin Candle Factory is another alternate lighting source, which is located in the Old Butter Factory – see candle wicks being dipped and other processes. They sell to over 200 specialists’ shops around Australia and you have the chance to make your own emergency lighting purchases before we leave.
Enjoy some lunch in town (own expense) and there is time to make your own explorations. This afternoon we return through Lismore and call in at Christmas All Year Round, which is housed in a beautifully restored church in Alphadale. There is lots to amuse and admire in this curious shop and you learn all about the local macadamia nut industry. On then the short distance to the pretty little town of Alstonville and Summerland House, the wonderful facility run for and by disabled people. Enjoy some afternoon tea and an escorted tour before we return to our accommodation in Casino in time to relax before we freshen up for dinner.
DAY 3 CASINO ATTRACTIONS (BLD)
Wednesday, 25th August 2010: Enjoy a leisurely country breakfast before we meet our guide for a short familiarisation tour of the town. Casino is promoted as the “Beef Capital of Australia”, an indication of the strength and success of the industry in the area and our guide will no doubt defend this claim as he shows us around. We call in at the Casino Folk Museum, which showcases the local history of the Casino district. The friendly volunteers will provide us with morning tea before we meet the dedicated train buffs of the Casino Mini Railway.
All aboard for a fun ride through Richmond Park and the Jabiru Geneebeinga Wetlands before arriving at the Old Casino Station, which has been developed into a railway museum. We can get a glimpse of Casino’s rail roading past before our return trip. Lunch today has been arranged just out of town at the Windara Nursery and Tea Rooms. The Nursery offers employment for local people with intellectual disabilities and has beautifully landscaped gardens as well as a maze we can get lost in.
This afternoon, if road conditions allow, our coach captain and intrepid leader will take us west of Casino for a Cambridge Plateau scenic drive to enjoy the rainforest scenery. The Cambridge Plateau Picnic area is a good spot for short strolls before we make an early return to Casino in readiness for a good dinner.
DAY 4 BALLINA TOURING (BLD)
Thursday, 26th August 2010: This morning we travel down to Ballina on the banks of the Richmond River and then tour north the short distance to Knockrow and Macadamia Castle. This popular attraction offers a wide range of gourmet macadamia products and tastings of hot, roasted nuts. We can indulge and stock up on some goodies to take home.
On our way back to Ballina we make a quick call into the Thursday Plantation to discover the numerous healing properties associated with tea tree oil. On return to Ballina we board the MV Richmond Princess for a delightful cruise along the Richmond River, the lifeblood of this region from the days of the first settlement until the 1950’s. So relax and enjoy the environment while the crew dispense old-fashioned table service and the skipper relates a light hearted commentary that brings to life the vibrant history of the river.
Back on shore it’s on to the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum, which offers a comprehensive display of the marine history of the North Coast. It also houses the Las Balsas raft, one of three that made the epic journey from Ecuador to Australia in 1973. We return to Casino with time to relax before our last dinner together on tour.
DAY 5 CASINO–HOME (B)
Friday, 27th August 2010: We are farewelled by our Casino hosts and start on our journey back home. Follow the Pacific Highway to the border at Tweed Heads for a morning break. Back home in Sunny Queensland travel up to Brisbane (passenger drop offs as requested). Northbound passengers stay on the coach as we continue up the Bruce Highway passing the Sunshine Coast to Gympie and finally arriving back on the Fraser Coast and the end of our happy Northern Rivers Interlude.