Highlands & Canberra including Floriade

• Day 1: Sunday, 20 September — Launceston to Brisbane

  Flight Details: VA1361 & VA819 Launceston - Sydney 0610/0925 (flight details subject to change)

  After our morning flights to Sydney, we board our coach and make our way down to the Illawarra and Southern
  Highlands. Enjoy the stunning views as our journey takes us via Grand Pacific Drive, Bald Hill Lookout and the Sea
  Cliff Bridge with a stop for lunch along the way. Our journey then continues down to the award-winning Fitzroy Falls
  Visitor Centre. From the centre it's a short walk to the magnificent Fitzroy Falls. After leaving the falls we head up
  to Mittagong for check in at the Springs Resort Mittagong. After settling into our room’s we enjoy dinner at the RSL
  Club next door to the resort.
  Overnight Mittagong: Spring Resort Mittagong

  Meals: Lunch & Dinner

• Day 2: Monday, 21 September — Bowral Tulip Time Festival

  We begin our day at the Bradman Museum and The International Cricket Hall of Fame which provides a cricket experience like no other and near-by we are free to take a stroll onto the Bradman Oval and take a selfie alongside Bradman ‘The Final Salute’ Statue. Next stop is at Corbett Gardens, home of Tulip Time featuring tulips, entertainment and stalls. The spectacular displays of 80,000 mass planted tulips pay homage to the enigmatic tulip – its range, shape, colour, and allure. After some free time in Bowral to purchase lunch, we head out to the heritage Retford Park House and Garden. After a guided tour of James Fairfax’s former home, we can stroll the spectacular heritage gardens. This concludes our day before a relaxing dinner back at the RSL Club.

  Overnight Mittagong: Spring Resort Mittagong

  Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

• Day 3: Tuesday, 22 September — Canberra

  This morning after checking out we begin our drive down to Canberra for our Floriade Discovery Tour that will have us visiting some of our nation’s iconic landmarks. We travel via Red Cow Farm Garden where the 1820’s cottage is

  surrounded by an abundant cottage garden of roses and perennials. Down in Canberra we arrive on the shores of for our check in, freshen up and our welcome buffet dinner.
  
  Lake Burley Griffin for a light lunch in the Walter Cafe before touring 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 its displays feature
  the people, events, history, and design of this unique, modern, planned city. 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. After a good introduction to the capital, we travel around to our motel

  Overnight Canberra: Mercure Belconnen
  Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

• Day 4: Wednesday, 23 September — Canberra

  Our day in Canberra starts at Queen Elizabeth Terrace where we board our 90minute Lake Burley Griffin sightseeingcruise with our skipper providing an interesting introduction to Canberra, her monuments, museums and political battlegrounds. After our cruise we tour Parliament House and experience Australia’s robust democracy in action. Visit the Senate and House of Representatives Chambers, Members Hall, Great Hall Tapestry, Magna Carta 1297, Forecourt and the iconic “Big Picture” by Tom Roberts. 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 1988 as a National Memorial to over 35,000 Australian Prisoners of War. At the Australian War Memorial, we are free to take in a self-guide 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
  Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

• Day 5: Thursday, 24 September — Longreach

  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. We then arrive at Commonwealth Park to spend some time wandering the Canberra Floriade Display. The Floriade Village provides us with crafts, gourmet foods, fashion, jewellery, and garden gifts creating a friendly carnival atmosphere. This afternoon we spend some time up at the Gold Creek Village and Cockington Green for a stroll through the two charming displays capturing the essence of England with its quirky buildings, landmarks and spectacular garden and floral display. Its then back to our motel to relax before enjoying a buffet dinner.
  Overnight Canberra: Mercure Belconnen
  Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
  

• Day 6: Friday, 25 September — Canberra

  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 1hr welcome guided coach tour, Bonsai Collection Tour, lunch, and magnificent views. This afternoon we tour the newly renovated Royal Australian Mint, taking in the history of coins in Australia before visiting the Mint Coin Shop. This evening, we celebrate our last night on tour with a pre-dinner drink before our farewell dinner.

  Overnight Canberra: Mercure Belconnen
  Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

• Day 7: Saturday, 26 September — Canberra - Launceston

  After breakfast and check out we make our way just north of Canberra for one last colourful highlight at the Tulip Top Gardens. This 10-acre garden is a world class exhibition of half a million tulips, daffodils, blossom trees, and other spring flowers creating a spectacular display. Later in the morning we transfer down to Canberra Airport for check in and our return flight home to Launceston after a wonderful few days away with Trade Travel.

  Flight Details: VA274 & VA1374 Canberra - Launceston 1515/1855 (flight times subject to change)
  Meals: Breakfat

Tour Highlights

• Fitzroy Falls
• Corbett Gardens
• Bradman Museum & Cricket Hall of Fame
• Milton Park
• Red Cow Farm Garden
• National Capital Exhibition
• Mount Ainslie Lookout
• Lake Burley Griffin Cruise
• Parliament House
• Chagi Chapel
• Australian War Memorial & Last Post Ceremony
• Old Parliament House
• Embassy Row
• Canberra Floriade
• Cockington Green
• Canberra Space Centre
• National Arboretum & National Bonsai
• Royal Australian Mint
• Tulip Top Gardens