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9 Days
$2,300 pp twin share
$2,650 sole use

(includes air & taxes* Ex Brisbane, Sydney & Adelaide at time of printing.)

*This package is subject to a fuel levy excise for air/coach.

 

Day 1 - (D)

Depart your home port arriving into Melbourne airport, where you will be greeted and taken on a city tour. Arrive and check in at the beautiful historic Hotel Charsfield for the next 2 nights. This 4 star boutique Hotel is a fine example of early Victorian architecture and is classified by The National Trust. Dinner tonight is fine dining in the A-La-Carte Hotel Restaurant.

Day 2 - (B, D)

Depart our motel and travel to the world heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building and surrounding South Carlton Gardens to visit the prestigious Melbourne International Flower Show, rated among the top five flower and garden shows in the world. Tonight for dinner we are treated to a special night dining in the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. Cruise the scenic streets of Melbourne, enjoy fine cuisine and drink the very best of Australian wines or make a selection from the fully stocked bar (all inclusive). The atmosphere is cosy, the service friendly and the dŽcor as inviting as the colonial period these trams reflect. Overnight: Hotel Charsfield.

Day 3 - (B, L, D)

This morning we take a leisurely drive out to Werribee for the day. On our first visit, we take a step back in time touring the superbly restored 19th century mansion at Werribee Park, exploring the exquisite formal gardens, coach house and blacksmith's shop before heading over to the Meerkat Bistro at Werribee Zoo. Here we have a light lunch which has a special bonus of adjoining the Zoo's Meerkat enclosure. This gives us a wonderful opportunity to watch the antics of the animals whilst dining in climate controlled comfort. After lunch we undertake a guided wildlife safari which provides a superb opportunity for close up animal encounters. To compliment this tour the African walking trail allows visitors to come face to face with a range of smaller African species. Before heading to Geelong you may have time for a visit to the nearby shopping precinct. Overnight Chifley on the Esplanade, Geelong.

Day 4 - (B, L, D)

Hot Breakfast in the dining room and then we depart Geelong via the waterfront towards the Bellarine Peninsula as we start on our 1st leg of the Great Ocean Road which hugs the contours of Victoria's rugged south-west coast and is one of Australia's most inspiring coastal drives. (Fort Queenscliff dates from 1882 and includes guard room & cells as well as the 1863 black lighthouse & original wood & brick signal station. Nearby see the "white" lighthouse along with its "black" companion form a line by which ships navigate their way into Port Phillip Bay.) Guided tour of Fort Queenscliff before rejoining the coach, travelling to Point Lonsdale Look-out we overlook the rip into Port Phillip Bay. Lunch at picturesque Barwon Heads then back onto the Great Ocean Road to Apollo Bay via icon towns Torquay, Bells Beach, Anglesea, Lorne and Wye River. Overnight Skenes Creek Motel Apollo Bay.

Day 5 - (B, L, D)

Depart for Port Campbell National Park via the Otway Forests then back to the coast and the Stunning Natural attractions of the 12 Apostles; Loch Ard Gorge the former London Bridge and the many other spectacular scenic attractions. Travelling onto Warrnambool for a visit to the museum where pride of place belongs to the famous Loch Ard Peacock, the magnificent porcelain bird was headed for the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880 when the Loch Ard struck Muttonbird Island. Before heading to our accommodation for the night. Overnight Country Comfort Motel, Warrnambool.

Day 6 - (B, L, D)

Depart for Tower Hill Nature Reserve to view the Crater Lake & Birdlife before visiting the Historical Town of Port Fairy fishing village. Here we collect a local guide for a tour of this quaint fishing village. We then continue on to discover the town of Hamilton, the Wool Capital of the Western District. Next we visit the picturesque town of Dunkeld for lunch. We then depart from the coast to head into Grampians' country as we head towards Halls Gap which truly takes in the natural beauty of the Grampians. Overnight Grampians Motel or Pinnacle Holiday Lodge.

Day 7 - (B, L, D)

This morning we travel to Ararat where we visit the Chinese Cultural Centre which tells the history of the discovery of gold in the area before heading into Ballarat, Australia's largest inland city. The approach, 'The Avenue of Honour', is lined by trees for twenty-one kilometres Ð one tree for every enlisted soldier from Ballarat in the first world war. Ballarat also has a world wide reputation for beautiful begonias - a must on our list today. After checking into our motel on our finale night, we are transferred for dinner and show at the "Blood on the Southern Cross". This spectacular $2 million sound and light show depicts the dramatic story of the 1854 Eureka uprising by Ballarat's miners against the corrupt colonial rulers. Overnight & dinner at the Belltower Motel.

Day 8 - (B)

Today we step back in time with a visit to the recreated gold mining town of Sovereign Hill where we can be part of history and experience the life of people in the 1850's . After lunch we then return to Melbourne for our flight home.

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B = Hot Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner

2009 Departure Dates: 31 March; 2 April

Deposit required to secure booking - $400pp

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