The Man From Snowy River Bush Festival 2020

Flights will be arranged to arrive at Tullamarine Airport where we join our luxury ‘Gold Class’ coach and make our way north through the vineyards and grazing plains, arriving at the Euroa Golf Club to break for lunch. Our afternoon takes us on to Glenrowan, the gatekeeper of Ned Kelly history. It is the site of the final siege and capture of the Kelly Gang in 1880. We then take a short journey finishing our day at Albury on the northern side of the Murray River.

1 Night Stay: Hovell Tree Inn, Albury

After a leisurely start this morning, we board the coach and make our way onto the Murray Valley Highway skirting the famous Hume Weir passing through the new township of Tallangatta. The old mining township of Tallangatta was moved to make way for the increased capacity of the Hume Weir. We continue along the Murray Valley Highway to Corryong for our first taste of ‘The Man from Snowy River Bush Festival’. A unique bush gathering of mountain riders, poets, rodeo action and various horse events. We arrive in time to witness the re-enactment of Banjo Patterson’s famous poem ‘The Man from Snowy River’. After the event, we travel the short distance to Khancoban to check-in to our motel located in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains. 3 Night Stay: Alpine Inn, Khancoban  

**Please note: Accommodation in this country region is very limited and basic. Rooms are en-suited.

**Lunch & dinner is at own expense today.

The Man from Snowy River Challenge is the showcase event of the festival, which endeavors to find the modern day Man from Snowy River. When it comes to the test of good all round horsemanship, the Man from Snowy River Challenge is second to none. The festival has something for everyone and the next two days and nights are yours to do as you please. There’s the Entertainment Marquee with the Bush Poetry Comedy Show, the Working Cattle Dog Championships – a highly competitive event that brings out the best in owners and their dogs, the Ute muster, ‘Ol Foz’ dog jump, ‘Aussie Bush Idol’ talent quest, busking competition and street markets, just to name a few. Witness the outstanding horsemanship and skill of today’s Australian stockmen and women. All their skills will be on display as they compete in the six gruelling preliminary events set to challenge the most skilled and professional rider and horse teams. The top ten scoring riders move forward from the preliminary events to take centre stage on Sunday and earn their place in the two final events, Paterson’s Brumby Catch and the Kosciusko Stock Saddle Buckjump.

**Saturday lunch and dinner, & Sunday lunch is at own expense.

Today we travel along Alpine Way into Kosciuszko National Park to admire its rugged alpine landscape and limestone gorges, arriving in Thredbo. We take the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift to the Express Terminal where we lunch at the Eagles Nest Restaurant. Enjoy panoramic views of Mount Kosciuszko and Thredbo village below. After lunch, we join the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift to return to Thredbo before we take a thrilling luge ride. Guaranteed to bring a smile to your face, twist and turn down a 700m track through the Thredbo wilderness. This afternoon, we arrive in Jindabyne, located at the foot of the Kosciuszko National Park and check-in to our accommodation. 1 Night Stay: Rydges Horizons, Snowy Mountains  

Today we depart the Alpine region and make our way to Cooma, stopping for a visit to the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre. Learn about this incredible engineering feat via a self-guided tour which will allow you to view the extensive photographic collection, models, displays and hands on exhibits; learn how the hydroelectricity scheme was constructed and powers peak-load power for the ACT, NSW and Victoria. Back on the road, we journey to Canberra, stopping for lunch and then taking a drive by tour of some of Canberra’s major landmarks. Departing Canberra, we travel to Bowral, where we bed down for the night.

1 night Stay: Gibraltar Hotel, Bowral  

Departing the Southern Highlands, we skirt Gosford and make our way to the harbour city of Newcastle. We break for lunch on Newcastle’s harbourside before taking one of the most spectacular coastal walks in Australia. The Newcastle memorial pedestrian bridge is constructed over a clifftop overlooking Merewether and Bar Beach with historical references to commemorate the First World War. We check-in to our accommodation and take time this afternoon to relax by the pool or go for a walk on the Honeysuckle harbourfront where the hotel is situated.

2 Night Stay: Rydges, Newcastle  

Enjoy a free day today to get to know Newcastle. You may like to take a tram ride around the city, or visit Fort Scratchley, a former coastal defence installation which is now a museum. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure, perhaps wandering the shops of downtown Newcastle.

**Lunch is at own expense today.

Departing Newcastle, we are back on the road taking a cuppa break at Bulahdelah before continuing on to Port Macquarie for a sneak peek and lunch. Our afternoon takes us on to Grafton via a short leg stretch and comfort stop at Coffs Harbour. Tonight, we bed down for the night in Grafton.

1 Night Stay: Quality Hotel, Grafton

Today we head for home, breaking for lunch and returning to Brisbane Transit Centre at approximately 4:30pm.