Canberra Floriade Escapade

Day 1 - Thursday 3 October 2024

Melbourne- Tumut (L, D)

Welcome to Sisterhood Womens Travel!

This morning after boarding our coach (meeting point in Melbourne CBD to be advised) we sit back and relax as we begin our journey to Canberra.

Along the way, we enjoy a cuppa and comfort before crossing the mighty Murray at Albury. We continue up to Holbrook for lunch at the Submarine Cafe and look through the Submarine Museum and discover how the HMAS Otway’s final resting spot came to be in Holbrook.

We then continue through to Tumut where on arrival we tour of the Tumut Broom Factory, the last original Millet Broom Factory in Australia.

It's then time to check into our motel with time to refresh before enjoying dinner in the restaurant.

Overnight Tumut Valley: Tumut Valley Motel 

Day 2 - Friday 4 October 2024

Tumut - Cooma - Canberra (B, L, D)

After breakfast and checkout, we make ourselves comfortable back on-board the coach and head into Talbingo to view the Tumut 3 Power Station, Talbingo Dam and the T3 pipeline inlet structure.

In Cooma we step inside the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre and explore the past, present and future of the mighty Snowy Scheme in the state-of-the-art immersive theatre. After enjoying a light lunch in the Discovery Cafe we sit back and enjoy the drive down to Canberra.

Our final stop for the day is at the National Capital Exhibition which tells the Story of Canberra as the capital city of Australia. An essential first stop on any tour of Canberra with displays featuring the people, events, history and design of this unique, modern, planned city. A short drive away we arrive at our accommodation for the next 4 nights, unpack and relax before a buffet dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Overnight Canberra: Mercure Belconnen

Day 3 - Saturday 5 October 2024

Canberra (B, D)

Our day in Canberra starts at Queen Elizabeth Terrace where we board our Lake Burley Griffin sightseeing cruise with our skipper Jim providing an interesting introduction to Canberra, her monuments, museums and political battlegrounds.

After our cruise, we tour Parliament House which takes us into the Senate and the House of Representatives Chambers. The Members Hall, Great Hall Tapestry, Magna Carta 1297, Forecourt and the iconic “Big Picture” by Tom Roberts of the opening of the first Federal Parliament in 1901 are also covered.

After our tour we take a break and enjoy some free time to purchase lunch. This afternoon on our way to the Australian War Memorial we stop by the Changi Chapel at Duntroon which was salvaged in 1945 and then reconstructed in 1988 as a National Memorial to over 35,000 Australian Prisoners of War. At the Australian War Memorial, we engage in a conducted tour followed by a moving Last Post Ceremony.

We then make our way back to our motel to refresh before dinner.

Overnight Canberra: Mercure Belconnen

Day 4 - Sunday 6 October 2024

Canberra (B, D)

This morning we visit Old Parliament House where decades of politics and passion echo through the corridors of the Museum of Australian Democracy making it one of Australia’s most memorable heritage attractions. We experience an atmosphere steeped in history, revisit dramatic events and enjoy the 1920’s architecture and fine design.

We then take a drive along Embassy Row where almost 80 embassies and high commissions are located, and see both traditional and modern architecture representing the many countries. We then arrive at Commonwealth Park to spend some time wandering the magnificent Canberra Floriade to enjoy the magical charm of one million blooms and an exciting program of entertainment, activities, workshops and events, as we celebrate all things flowers, food and gardens.

We then make our way up to the Mount Ainslie Lookout where one can appreciate the complexities of Canberra and see in panorama the design concepts translated into tangibles by Walter Burley Griffin. It's then back to our motel to relax before enjoying a buffet dinner.

Overnight Canberra: Mercure Belconnen

Day 5 - Monday 7 October 2024

Canberra (B, L, D)

Today we travel up to the Canberra Space Centre at Paddy’s Creek, located on the grounds of the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex. On arrival enjoy an interesting presentation covering all things space and communication and time to look around the exhibits and to ask questions.

Next stop is the National Arboretum, home to amazing views and one of the largest collections of rare, endangered and symbolic trees in the world plus the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection. Our visit includes a welcome garden walk, Bonsai Collection Tour, lunch and magnificent views.

This afternoon we visit the National Film and Sound Archive which provides a piece of nostalgia, Australia’s ‘living’ archive - the custodian of over 2.3 million items that are not only collected but preserved for future generations.

This evening we celebrate our last night on tour with a pre-dinner drink before our Canberra farewell dinner.

Overnight Canberra: Mercure Belconnen

Day 6 - Tuesday 8 October 2024

Canberra - Bowral (B, D)

Today we depart Canberra and make our way up to Bowral enjoying a stop along the way at the Gold Creek Village and Cockington Green. On arrival, we enjoy a stroll through the two charming displays capturing the essence of England with its quirky buildings, landmarks and spectacular garden and floral display.

Up in Bowral we stop by Corbett Gardens strolling alongside the spectacular displays of 75,000 mass-planted tulips. A short distance away is the Bradman Museum and The International Cricket Hall of Fame which provides a cricket experience like no other and nearby we are free to stroll onto the Bradman Oval and take a selfie alongside Bradman's ‘The Final Salute’ Statue.

Overnight Mittagong: Spring Resort Mittagong

Day 7 - Wednesday 9 October 2024

Harden – Junee – Wagga Wagga (B, D)

After early breakfast and checkout, we depart the Southern Highlands and begin our drive down to Albury.  We head across to the historic village of Harden/Murrumburrah, where on August 30 1897, the very first call-up muster and enrolments to the First Australian Horse took place.

We take a look at the Flour Mill Silo Mural and WWI Light Horse Memorial before catching up with sculptor Carl Valerius to view his stunning life-sized bronze sculpture of ‘Bill the Bastard’, and hear of his heroics as Australia’s greatest war horse.

Following our tour we break for the chance to purchase lunch before travelling across to Junee, home to the Junee Liquorice and Chocolate Factory, immersed with the delicious aroma of licorice and chocolate. We have one of the chocolatiers talk us through the process of licorice and chocolate production and witness it being made before our own eyes.

On our arrival into Wagga Wagga we check into our motel with time to freshen up before dinner at the RSL Club.

Overnight Wagga Wagga: Wagga RSL Club Motel

Day 8 - Thursday 10 October 2024

The Rock – Glenrowan - Home (B)

Following breakfast and checkout we depart for home as we travel down past The Rock, through Albury and Glenrowen. Near the Rock we take in the story of the Marrocka Emu Farm, enjoy a guided tour, breathtaking views of The Rock, some great photo opportunities, light refreshments and time to snap up some of the emu products.

After crossing the Murray River at Albury Wodonga we head to Glenrowan to purchase lunch and to take a look through the Ned Kelly Museum and replica homestead before a group photo next to Big Ned himself.

From Glenrowan, it’s a relaxing drive back down the Hume Highway to Melbourne.

Thanks for travelling with Sisterhood Womens Travel and we hope to see you again soon!