Welcome to our special Autumn Tour including a 4 night stay in Canberra. Once the coach is loaded we will be on our way. Sit back and enjoy the service and facilities aboard our Touring Coach as we make our way southwest towards Warwick and then along the New England Highway to Tenterfield and onto Glen Innes for our first night on tour.  

New England Motor Lodge, Glen Innes  – 1 night
(Meal inclusions: Light lunch/Welcome dinner)

Glen Innes is known fondly as the ‘Land of the Beardies’. Gazetted at the height of the goldrush in 1852, Glen Innes was settled by the Scots and regard themselves as the Celtic Capital of New England.

This morning we collect our local guide from the Visitor Information Centre for a brief local sightseeing tour. We will be introduced to the heritage main street including the parklands and the Australian Standing Stones. In 1988 the Celtic Council of Australia developed the idea of erecting a national monument to honour all Celtic people who helped pioneer Australia

In 1992 the Australian Standing Stones were officially opened and are now well recognised as being the gathering point for Celtic descendants and clans. From Glen Inness we travel south to Armidale – home to the University of New England. We stop for lunch before following Thunderbolt Way into the Hunter Valley.

Harrigan’s Irish Pub, Hunter Valley  – 2 nights
(Meal inclusions: Breakfast & dinner in the motel/Light Lunch)

Our touring this morning takes in McGuigan Village. At the Cheese Factory we can taste their range of fine handmade and preservative-free cheeses.

The cheeses are available for purchase, as are their preserves. The village also houses the Chocolate and Fudge Shop and we have arranged a wine tasting at the McGuigan Wines Cellar Door. Then we are off to the Hunter Valley Gardens. Nestled at the foothills of the Brokenback Ranges, in the heart of the Hunter Vineyards, there are over 25 hectares of spectacular international display gardens. Sensational sights, colours and fragrances dominate the twelve stunning feature gardens. In the Rose Garden there are more than eight thousand roses on display. Take a walk above the 10 metre waterfall for some superb views from the lookout and don’t miss the fairy-tale characters in the Storybook Garden.

(Meal inclusions: Breakfast & dinner in the motel)

We have a spectacular drive ahead of us today as we make our way into the Blue Mountains. We travel through Dungong and Singleton before joining the iconic Putty Road which will take us to the Bells Line of Road through the major towns in the Blue Mountains. We will make several sightseeing stops along the way including Everglade Gardens at Leura which is one of the most important historic gardens in Australia and is considered by many to be unparalleled in the country for its unique design and historic significance.

Lithgow Workies Motel Tank Street Lithgow – 1 night
(Meal inclusions: Breakfast & dinner in the motel/Light lunch)

We are off to Bathurst this morning. We couldn’t miss the opportunity to visit the National Motor Racing Museum while we are in Bathurst. The displays cover the history, personalities and achievements of Australian Motor Sports including speedway, solar, drag, rallying, open wheeler, sports and touring cars.

Late morning, we travel south with a stop for lunch at the Taralga Hotel. From here we continue via Goulburn to Canberra.

Canberra Rex Hotel 150 Northbourne Ave Braddon- 4 nights
(Meal inclusions: Breakfast & dinner in the motel/Pub lunch)

On Capital Hill, overlooking Lake Burley Griffin and facing the Australian War Memorial, is Parliament House. It’s not the original Parliament House of course – that building sits just below Capital Hill and is now the Museum of Australian Democracy – the ONLY museum that celebrates democracy and our place within it. Our first morning is spent – first with a guided tour of with its renowned architecture, impressive art collection and amazing rooftop views of Canberra. Then we are off to the iconic “Old Parliament House” to experience Australian history firsthand.

This afternoon we have an appointment at the High Court. It’s all very well for our politicians to make the law but who upholds them? The High Court of Australia is the highest court in the judicial system. It was established in 1901 by Section 71 of the Constitution. The functions of the High Court are to interpret and apply the law of Australia; to decide cases of special federal significance including challenges to the constitutional validity of laws and to hear appeals, from Federal, State and Territory courts.

(Meal inclusions today – Breakfast & dinner in the hotel)

Apart from the political leaders Australia has been well served by the military – and today the main focus of our touring will be around the Australian War Memorial.

But — first we have planned a visit to the National Museum of Australia. On the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, the museum’s stunning architecture creates an extraordinary place in which to explore the rich and diverse stories of Australia and its people. After an interesting morning we transfer across to the Australian War Memorial. This memorial commemorates the sacrifice of the Australian men and women, who have served in war, through its ceremonial areas, extensive exhibitions, and research facilities. After a light lunch at Poppies Restaurant, we will take a look around. Over the past few years, the Memorial has undergone extensive redevelopment resulting in new galleries and displays. The largest of these is the very impressive Anzac Hall which has a number of must-see exhibits. One is G for George – a stunning re-creation of a night operation over Berlin in 1943, featuring the famous Lancaster bomber “G for George”. Another is Submarine featuring the Memorial’s famous midget submarine, assembled from sections of two of the three submarines that raided Sydney in 1942. Later in the afternoon we move to the focus of the commemoration – the Hall of Memory together with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Pool of Reflection and the Roll of Honour that lists the names of over 102,000 Australian servicemen and women who have died in war. It is here we’ll hear the last post and closing ceremony.

(Meal inclusions today – Breakfast & dinner in the hotel/Light lunch at Poppies Restaurant at the Australian War Memorial)

This morning we are off to Cockington Green Gardens .The miniature buildings of Cockington Green have been attracting crowds for decades but the gardens surrounding them are a major attraction in their own right. Each year almost 35,000 flowers are planted here.

Next stop is the National Arboretum – a 250 hectare site featuring rare and iconic tree species from around the world. Located at the western end of Lake Burley Griffin it contains one of the world’s largest living collections of rare, endangered and significant trees. Winner of the World Architecture Festival for landscape, the National Arboretum surrounds visitors with panoramic views, stunning architecture and the natural beauty of trees and gardens from Australia and around the world.

After a light lunch in The Village a guide will join the coach to show us the Bonsai Collection and the spectacular views of Canberra and Queanbeyan from the top of the hill.

Our final visit today is to the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex at Tidbinbilla. For 40 years, the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex has played a key role in the exploration of space as part of NASA’s Deep Space Network. Learn about the amazing work being done by Australians, and the incredible missions that are revealing the secrets of the Universe. The Canberra Space Centre is a unique and informative learning environment for all ages. See Australia’s largest permanent exhibit of flown space hardware and memorabilia. See a piece of the Moon over 3.8 billion years old. Check out what the well-dressed astronaut wears and the types of food they eat. Learn about the important role that Australia plays in the exploration of space. It will be most interesting!

(Meal inclusions today – Breakfast & dinner in the hotel/Light lunch at The Arboretum)

Is our tour over already??

We complete our check out formalities before the transfer to Canberra Airport for our flight back to Brisbane to complete a sensational 9 day tour.

(Meal inclusions today – Breakfast in the hotel)