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10 Day - Floriade & Sydney Highlights
Departure Date: Sunday, 12th September 2010
Tour Cost: from $2969 per person twin share
Place yourself in the picture with this fragrant spring holiday that combines sensational Sydney highlights with the floral delights of Canberra's Floriade. In Sydney there's so much to explore, the Opera House, Darling Harbour, the Botanic Gardens, the Art Gallery and of course no trip to Sydney would be complete without a Sydney Harbour Cruise and we have the best, a superb Showboat Dinner Cruise! In Canberra's annual Floriade the splendid massed gardens add to many other ACT highlights, including the War Memorial, National Zoo, Parliament House, Lake Burley Griffin Cruise, Cockington Green and more! You'll revel in the contrasting scenery and inclusions and a varied route through New South Wales is sure to please. A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED HOLIDAY!
DAY 1 HERVEY BAY—COFFS HARBOUR (D)
Sunday, 12th September 2010: An early start for passengers joining between Hervey Bay and Caloundra. Brisbane passengers join at Roma Street Transit Centre at 9.00am with Gold Coast passenger pick ups enroute as required. With all onboard travel over the NSW border at Tweed Heads (advance watches one hour) for travel to Ballina. Free time for lunch in this beautiful seaside resort. Enjoy the scenic beauty of the Northern Rivers as we continue to Maclean and an afternoon break at the Visitor Information Centre. On to Coffs Harbour and our comfortable overnight accommodation. Stay Sanctuary Resort.
DAY 2 COFFS HARBOUR—SYDNEY (BLD)
Monday, 13th September 2010: All aboard our coach this morning for the drive to Sydney. Travel along the scenic coastal road through Nambucca Heads, Kempsey, the picturesque Macleay Valley, Taree and Raymond Terrace before crossing the beautiful Hawkesbury River into Sydney for our two night stay at Darling Harbour.
3 Night Stay Hotel Ibis.
DAY 3 HARBOUR CRUISING & FREE TIME (B)
Tuesday, 14th September 2010: After a relaxing breakfast, collect our Harbour Express tickets and the rest of the day is at your leisure . Hop on and hop off at up to seven famous harbour attractions aboard the Harbour Express (entry fees apply). Or simply take the 1½ hour round trip cruise and see all the main harbour sights with commentary, then spend the rest of the day exploring Darling Harbour and surrounds. Take advantage of the monorail service which runs from the Central Business District to Darling Harbour and skirts the harbour, making stops at points around the harbour. Stop at the City Centre Station and take a short walk to Centrepoint Tower to take in the breathtaking view of Sydney. The choice is yours.
DAY 4 SYDNEY SIGHTSEEING (BD)
Wednesday, 15th September 2010: Start our morning with a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House. See inside the world's most recognisable sails. Experience this miracle of architecture and engineering. A work of art that came into existence against impossible odds - to become one of the busiest performing arts centres in the world. Next, explore the natural beauty of the Royal Botanic Gardens, before making our way to The Art Gallery of New South Wales. The Art Gallery is the leading museum of art in New South Wales and Sydney, and one of Australia's foremost cultural institutions. It holds significant collections of Australian, European and Asian art, and presents nearly forty exhibitions annually. Mid afternoon return to our motel to rest up for tonight’s exciting Showboat Dinner Cruise and Show. See the spectacular Harbour by night, enjoy a 3 course a la carte menu with your choice of wine, beer or soft drinks, plus an International Cabaret Show including Magician and Singer.
DAY 5 SYDNEY—CANBERRA (BLD)
Thursday, 16th September 2010: Resume our journey along the Hume Highway to the town of Bowral for morning tea in the beautiful Corbett Gardens. On leaving Bowral we head south to Goulburn where we stop for lunch at the award winning Bakery of Goulburn. Continue on to Canberra for an afternoon break at the miniature garden villages of Cockington Green, before settling into our accommodation for the next 3 nights. 3 Night Stay The Statesman Hotel.
DAY 6 CANBERRA SIGHTSEEING (BD)
Friday, 17th September 2010: We start our day with a guided tour of New Parliament House then on to the chief attraction of the day—Canberra Floriade. The massive springtime displays at Commonwealth Park provide an unrivalled spectacle of fragrance and colour. After lunch visit the beautiful Tulip Top Gardens, a private garden which is only open to the public at Floriade time. On to the Australian War Memorial featuring many emotion stirring displays and tributes. Time to watch the closing ceremony before returning to our motel for dinner and a well earned rest.
DAY 7 CANBERRA SIGHTSEEING (BD)
Saturday, 18th September 2010: Enjoy a visit 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 a grand tour of Canberra’s Embassies and High Commissions 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 8 CANBERRA—BATHURST (BLD)
Sunday, 19th September 2010: We say farewell to Canberra as we journey northward to the town of Young. While catapulted into history with the discovery of gold in 1860, Young is now widely known as the ‘cherry capital of Australia’. Enjoy a delicious morning tea of cherry pie & cream at JD Jam Factory, then on to Cowra to enjoy lunch and a wander through the beautiful Japanese Gardens. Not far to Bathurst where we visit one of Australia’s finest stately homes, Abercrombie House (1870-78). This large, three-storey, forty-room mansion sits upon the first land grant west of the Macquarie River. Abercrombie House also houses a large collection of paintings, antique furniture, ceramics and woodwork. Finish the day with a circuit of Australia’s most famous car racing track, Mount Panorama, before settling into our motel. Stay The Governor Macquarie.
DAY 9 BATHURST—ARMIDALE (BLD)
Monday, 20th September 2010: Our journey now heads north through a ‘land of wine and honey’; the thriving township of Mudgee. Discover the many attractions unique to the area including the town buildings and the boyhood home of Henry Lawson. More intriguing history is ours to enjoy a little further up the track at Gulgong—a town whose charm and character has ensured its survival after the gold rush days. From Gulgong admire the pastoral countryside through the small country towns of Coolah and Tambar Springs. Join the Oxley Highway near the important pastoral and agricultural centre of Gunnedah where we pause for lunch, then head east to Armidale, renowned for its prestigious parks, gardens and churches.
Stay Country Comfort Armidale.
DAY 10 ARMIDALE—HERVEY BAY (B)
Tuesday, 21st September 2010: This morning from Armidale’s Memorial Lookout take another look at this ‘City for All Seasons’ before continuing along the New England Highway through Glen Innes and Tenterfield. Cross over the border into Queensland (retard watches one hour) with farewells after a holiday filled with outstanding sightseeing and new friendships. Travel through Stanthorpe and Warwick to arrive in Brisbane. Northbound passengers stay on board the coach. Arrive in Maryborough and Hervey Bay early evening.