9 Days Bright Autumn Festival & Alpine High Country 2023

itinerary

DAY 1 – Flights to Melbourne, Albury (L,D)

Flying in to Melbourne, board our opulent ‘Diamond Class’ coach to make our way to the Euroa Golf Club to break for lunch. Our afternoon takes us via the Ned Kelly town of Glenrowan for a short break, before we arrive at Albury. 4 Night Stay: Best Western Hovell Tree Inn, Albury

DAY 2 – Mt Beauty & Surrounds (B,MT,L,D)

Today we head toward the High Country travelling through breathtaking Mount Beauty and ascending the mountain through Bogong and on to the High Plains at Falls Creek. Here we visit historic Wallace’s Hut – the oldest hut still standing in the Bogong Hight Plains. We enjoy lunch at Falls Creek before continuing on via Mount Beauty, stopping at Sullivan’s Lookout then returning to our hotel. (GGP)

DAY 3 – Beechworth, Albury (B,MT,L,D)

This morning we travel to Beechworth, breaking here to enjoy morning tea at the famous Beechworth Bakery. From here we take a short journey via Myrtleford to Bright, admiring the splendour of Autumn colours. Enjoy some time downtown before regathering and travelling to the Red Stag Deer Farm where we enjoy a gourmet lunch before feeding, touching and learning about these majestic animals. We take the scenic route via Yackandandah back to our accommodation. (GGP)

DAY 4 – Bright Autumn Festival Gala Day (B,D)

Today we head to Bright’s Gala Day at the Autumn Festival. The festival is a ten day celebration of the wonderful autumn colours and autumn produce of the valleys of Victoria’s Alpine High Country and today the main streets of Bright are closed off for all the fun of the festival. We’ll see brass and highland bands, street stalls, craft displays and the highlight Autumn Festival Parade at 1:45pm. Mid-afternoon, we return to our hotel. **Lunch is at own expense today and festival program is subject to change. (GGP)

DAY 5 – Gundagai, Goulburn, Sutton Forest (B,L,D)

This morning we travel through the township of Holbrook, often referred to as the ‘Submarine Town’, before breaking at Gundagai at the ‘Dog on the Tucker Box’. We continue via Yass, arriving at Goulburn, taking time here for a guided tour of the Goulburn Historic Waterworks Museum. Our afternoon takes us into the Southern Highlands where we check-in to our elegant country retreat. 1 Night Stay: Peppers Manor House, Sutton Forest

DAY 6 – Nepan River Paddlewheeler Cruise, Newcastle (B,MT,L,D)

Leaving the Southern Highlands we take a picturesque journey arriving at Tench Reserve. Boarding the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler, we experience incredible scenery of the Nepean Gorge while enjoying a delicious hearty lunch. Take in the stunning ascending rock formations carved out by the Nepean River – one of Australia’s beautiful and largely unknown, natural archaeological splendours at the base of the Heritage Listed, Blue Mountains National Park. Board the coach where we make our way to Newcastle. 2 Night Stay: Rydges Hotel, Newcastle

DAY 7 – Newcastle (B,D)

After a relaxed start to the day we board the famous tram, a replica of those in service in the 1920’s. Our 1 hour tram tour takes in the city, beaches and historical sites of Newcastle, with the driver detailing Newcastle’s life both past and present whilst we enjoy this nostalgic form of travel. The rest of the day is a free day to spend as you please. Perhaps visit Fort Scratchley, a former coastal defence installation which is now a museum, take in a long harbourside lunch, or wander the shops of downtown Newcastle. **Lunch is at own expense today.

DAY 8 – Maitland, Tanilba Bay, Port Macquarie (B,L,D)

Departing Newcastle, we travel a short distance arriving at Maitland to join a guided tour of the heritage listed Maitland Gaol, once housing some of Australia’s most hardened and notorious criminals. We then take a short journey via the Hunter Valley to Tanilba Bay where there lies a hidden treasure. We visit Tanilba House, one of the grand homes which helps form the rich fabric of the history of Port Stephens. We enjoy high tea lunch served in the conservatory and on the veranda, followed by a history talk and tour of this recently restored, convict built homestead. Our afternoon takes us to Port Macquarie for our final night together. 1 Night Stay: Sails Resort, Port Macquarie

DAY 9 – Return to Brisbane via Coffs Harbour & New Italy (B,MTL)

Homeward bound today, we break at Coffs Harbour for a morning cuppa and leg stretch before we continue on to New Italy, a surprise little stop which houses a café and museum that commemorate Italians who settled here. We return to Brisbane at approximately 5pm.

B = Hot & Continental Breakfast; MT = M/Tea; L = Lunch; AT = A/Tea; D = Two Course Dinner

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