Tour Description
Southern Highlands
(Combined Departure)
Three Days: 8th – 15th May 2024
Twin Share: $3799 per person. Sole Use: $4409 per person.
- Home pick-ups & set downs (most metro areas – please contact us for details)
- Picnic-style morning teas & all meals
- All accommodation & admissions to all attractions
- Experienced & informative tour driver/guide.
Join us for for a relaxing and scenic getaway in the Southern Highlands NSW. The region is known for its scenic landscapes, historic towns, wineries, and cultural attractions. Our tour will take you to the charming village of Jugiong, where you can enjoy a guided tour of the historic buildings and scenery. You will also visit the beautiful Sutton Forest and Red Cow Farm, where you can explore the stunning gardens and admire the seasonal flowers. If you love nature, history and culture, this is the perfect tour for you.
Day One – WEDNESDAY 8 MAY 2024
After completing our home pickups, we depart through the Adelaide Hills, making our way to Tailem Bend for our morning tea break.
Reboarding the bus we travel a short distance before joining the Mallee Highway and making our way towards the Victorian Border. Before crossing we stop in the small town of Pinnaroo where we enjoy lunch.
Commencing our afternoon journey we cross into Victoria and travel through a number of small country towns, stopping in Ouyen to stretch our legs.
We detour onto the Calder Highway to reach Swan Hill, our final destination for today. Swan Hill is an historic riverport located on the Murray River and on arrival, we check-in to the Swan Hill Resort (Ph: 03 5032 2726) where we will be staying overnight.
We have time to freshen up and relax before dinner. This evening we make our way to the Pioneer Settlement for the Heartbeat of the Murray, a sensational sound and light show set on the banks of the river. This award-winning, state-of-the-art show is the first of its kind in the world to use a natural river environment and setting as the background.
Day Two – THURSDAY 9 MAY 2024
Following breakfast, we are back on the road travelling to the town of Deniliquin, set on the Edward River, an anabranch of the Murray, Deniliquin is bordered by a series of lagoons that snake into parkland and State Forest. At one time Deniliquin was the southern depot for the “Sunbeam” – the original Cobb & Co. coach that travelled between Deniliquin and Wilcannia on the Darling River. Today it is a town of around 8000 people that lies in the centre of the largest area in Australia under irrigation. Rice in particular but dairy, wool and seed processing all contribute to the local economy.
Mid-morning, we visit the Peppin Heritage Centre with its story of the wool industry. In the centre, we will find displays, exhibitions, and the original Wanganella lock-up which features a Headless Horseman sound and light show. We enjoy our lunch here at the Crossing Cafe.
Our touring this afternoon takes us to Jerilderie, the only NSW town raided by bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang.
We make our way east, travelling through Urana and Lockhart before arriving at Wagga Wagga. Located on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, Wagga, as it is commonly known, is the largest inland city in NSW. We check-in to our accommodation for the night at the Quality Hotel Rules Club Wagga Wagga (02 6931 2000).
Day Three – FRIDAY 10 MAY 2024
This morning we enjoy our breakfast, before checking out of our accommodation. We take a scenic drive around town this morning, viewing the beautiful Lake Albert and Botanic Gardens, before joining the Sturt Highway and making our way towards the Southern Highlands.
We arrive in Jugiong, where we are joined by a local tour guide. Jugiong has a rich history and a charming country atmosphere. Our guide will lead us through the town, showcasing its many attractions such as the Murrumbidgee River and various historic buildings, including the bush school where cricket legend Richie Benaud once attended, as well as sharing stories of the area’s bushranger past. The tour includes a delightful morning tea and warm country hospitality.
Continuing our journey east along the Hume Highway, we’ll take in breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes, stopping enroute to enjoy our picnic lunch.
This afternoon we continue our travels, bypassing small villages and towns before arriving at Mittagong, in the Southern Highlands. We check into our accommodation at the Springs Mittagong (02 4871 3133) where we will be staying for the next three nights.
Day Four – SATURDAY 11 MAY 2024
Following breakfast we start our exploration of the beautiful Southern Highlands. This stunning region of New South Wales is known for its natural beauty, heritage and quaint villages, surrounded by picturesque landscapes of pastural areas, national parks and wilderness.
We commence our day at the unique attraction of Fairground Follies in Bowral. The experience evokes childhood memories of visiting an old-fashioned amusement park, complete with self-playing instruments, mechanical music, street organs, fair organs and a magnificent 100-year-old steam carousel. We enjoy a tour of the museum, where we learn about the history and mechanics of the instruments, as well as see them in action. While here we will stop to enjoy our morning tea.
Travelling through Burradoo and Moss Vale, we journey to Sutton Forest to savor the beauty and tranquility of Eling Forest Winery. We relish the cool climate wine and lunch in the stunning countryside setting.
This afternoon, we visit Red Cow Farm, a picturesque six-acre property divided into various garden areas or “rooms.” Every corner of this garden presents new vistas and surprises, making it a haven for anyone with a green thumb.
After a busy day of exploring, we make our way back to our accommodation and have time to freshen up before dinner.
Day Five – SUNDAY 12 MAY 2024
This morning after breakfast, we have some free time in Mittagong to relax at the hotel or explore the main street.
We then make our way to Berrima which is a great remaining example of a small Australian town of the 1830s. Here we have the opportunity to enjoy a self-guided tour of the Berrima Courthouse Museum. It was built in 1838 from local hand-hewn sandstone in a regency style and until 1900, was the venue for convicting criminals ranging from cattle thieves to notorious bushrangers and even murderers. A highlight of visiting the museum is the spectacular Son et Lumiere (sound and light show) titled ‘Treachery Treason and Murder’, a dramatic and moving audio-visual experience that depicts the most infamous trial of the 1840s.
From here we head to our lunch venue, The Surveyor General Inn which is Australia’s oldest continually licensed pub.
Leaving Berrima, we return to the pretty township of Bowral to visit the Bradman International Cricket Hall of Fame. Inspired by the greatest cricketer of all time, Sir Donald Bradman, this is the place of cricket dreams. It houses rare and priceless items that tell the story of the Boy from Bowral who went on to become a great Australian icon.
We then have some time in Bowral to wander the shops and cafes at leisure, before making our way back to our accommodation.
Day Six– MONDAY 13 MAY 2024
This morning we have an early start, travelling along the Hume Highway towards Gundagai, stopping enroute for morning tea.
Continuing to Junee, we visit the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory, a historic landmark built in 1935 that was originally the Junee Flour Mill. Now the factory produces organic licorice and chocolate products under the brand Green Grove Organics – one of only three certified organic liquorice manufacturers in the world. We will take a tour through the factory and see how the delicious treats are made. The factory also has a beautiful cafe where we will enjoy our lunch today and have the opportunity to purchase some scrumptious chocolate treats.
From Junee, our journey west takes us through Coolamon and Ardlethan where we will stop to stretch our legs.
Continuing our drive this afternoon we come to today’s destination of Griffith. This vibrant, cosmopolitan city was designed by Walter Burley Griffin, the same architect who designed Canberra. The similarities are evident in the wide tree-lined streets, radial patterns and parks.
Our accommodation tonight will be at the Kidman Wayside Inn, Griffith (02 6964 5666).
Day Seven – TUESDAY 14 MAY 2024
Leaving Griffith, we set off along the Sturt Highway. We arrive in Hay, situated on the picturesque Murrumbidgee River, where we will stop for morning tea.
Continuing through the Hay Plains and the Murrumbidgee Valley we reach Balranald. Here the wetlands meets the outback and we stop to enjoy our light lunch at a local cafe.
Back on the road we sit back and watch the changing scenery as we travel through Euston and cross the border into Victoria in the late afternoon. We arrive in Mildura, the largest settlement in the Sunraysia region and a major horticultural centre. It is primarily noted for its grape production, supplying 80% of Victoria’s grapes. The other key crops produced in the district include citrus, almonds and dried fruit.
Our accommodation for tonight is the Mildura Inlander Resort (Ph. 03 5023 3823) and we have the chance to relax and freshen up before our final dinner on tour.
Day Eight– WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2024
After a good night’s sleep, we embark on the last leg of our journey home. Not long after leaving Mildura, we cross the border into South Australia and drive to Renmark, where we enjoy morning tea by the Murray River.
From here we travel along the Goyder Highway to the historic river port of Morgan, the largest of the river ports during the height of the steamer trade between 1877 and the 1900s. The Morgan Wharf, built in 1878, was the hub of all the activity in the town. Our lunch venue is at the historical Terminus Hotel.
This afternoon we continue into Adelaide via the Thiele Highway, named after well known author Colin Thiele.
It’s not long before we arrive in Adelaide and are on our way back to our homes, reflecting on the wonderful trip away exploring the picturesque Southern Highlands with its charming villages and scenic countryside.
