MELBOURNE TO LAKES ENTRANCE

Welcome to our tour to the spectacular Canberra Floriade Festival. With chauffeured pickup from home, we are transferred to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew. Our journey today has us travelling through the Latrobe Valley and across Gippsland. After a morning tea break to stretch our legs and take in the scenery, we reach Sale where the friendly folk from the Star Hotel will be waiting to greet us for lunch. We continue on to beautiful Lakes Entrance with plenty of time for a stroll along the Esplanade to inspect the nearby WW1 Memorial Sculptures – carved from the original Cypress trees planted as an Avenue of Honour for the servicemen that gave their life during World War 1. We check into our accommodation with a little time to relax before dinner.

OVERNIGHT:  Bellevue on the Lakes, LAKES ENTRANCE

CANN RIVER - SNOWY MOUNTAINS - CANBERRA

This morning we travel through Eastern Gippsland. We cross the Snowy River and take a drive through the little town of Orbost before our morning tea stop at Cann River. A scenic drive takes us north into NSW and to the Monaro Plain in the Snowy Mountains region. We enjoy an afternoon break in Cooma, set amongst rolling plains, legendary rivers and snow-capped peaks. Cooma is known as the capital of the Snowy Mountains and the administrative centre for the Snowy Mountains Scheme. We’ll take a wander through the Charles Davis Gallery – home to the award-winning photographic work of Charles himself. We reach our accommodation in Canberra late afternoon with time to relax before dinner.

OVERNIGHT:  Novotel Canberra, CANBERRA

CANBERRA SIGHTSEEING

This morning we get to know Canberra. We’ll start our day with a drive up to Mt Ainslie Lookout where we can take in the spectacular views over Canberra and see how Walter Burley Griffin’s vision for the city has been brought to life. We will learn of the International Embassies and High Commissions as we pass by in the coach.  After our morning break, we’ll visit the Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House). Our tour will have us exploring the ideas, individuals and events of Australian democracy, in the very places where they occurred. We now head over to New Parliament House where we discover the must-see highlights of this iconic building. We’re enjoying our time here so much we decide to stay on for a late lunch at the Queen’s Terrace Café. The remainder of our day will be spent at the Australian War Memorial. Wander at your own pace through this sombre and uplifting memorial, unveiling the sacrifices made by the women and men who served in war. We stay on for the very moving Last Post Ceremony before returning to our hotel for dinner.

OVERNIGHT:  Novotel Canberra, CANBERRA

CANBERRA FLORIADE

With a leisurely start we spend the morning at Floriade where Commonwealth Park on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin is ablaze with colour, beauty and vibrancy. Be inspired and get ideas from experts in the field, peruse the market stalls, catch a live music performance or simply explore the stunning garden bed displays – the choice is yours. We are free to enjoy lunch from one of the market stalls - there will be something on the menu for all taste buds! This afternoon is at leisure, or alternatively, we have time to visit the National Gallery, home to the most valuable collection of art in Australia. The national collection comprises over 155,000 works of art, including the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. The significant collection represents the whole of Australian art, modern art worldwide, particularly from Europe and America, and art from across Asia and the Pacific. The collection includes some of the finest examples in Australia of French Impressionism, Dada and Surrealism, the Russian avant-garde, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimalism and Conceptual Art.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement

OVERNIGHT:  Novotel Canberra, CANBERRA

CANBERRA TO ALBURY

This morning, we make our way to the Tulip Top Gardens. The 10-acre garden of magnificent tulips, daffodils, and other spring flowers creates a spectacular display. Hundreds of blossom trees nestle between the flowers and provide a magic pathway to the cascading waterfall and watercourse with classical music wafting through the air in the hidden valley. Next, we travel to the famous world in miniature “Cockington Green Gardens”. Cockington Green is one of Canberra’s landmark attractions and offers visitors a unique experience. We will see a delightful display of meticulously crafted miniature buildings set within beautifully landscaped gardens. Farewelling our Nation’s capital, we travel down to Albury for our final evening together.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement

OVERNIGHT:  Quality Resort Siesta, ALBURY

ALBURY - BENALLA - MELBOURNE

Sadly, our tour is coming to an end! Taking our last opportunities to celebrate Spring today, we visit the Albury Botanic Gardens. Meeting our guide, we begin meandering under the towering trees that line the inspiring gardens, uncovering the impressive plant collections of both native and exotic origins. Arriving into Benalla we take time to enjoy the town’s wonderful display of roses. Strolling along the many pathways of beautiful roses at the Benalla Rose Garden - see how many you can identify before reading the labels! Pause at the Sir Weary Dunlop statue and take a moment to reflect his compassion and perseverance during his time as a prisoner of war on the Burma-Thailand railway. Our final lunch today will be at the Benalla Golf Club, before making the return to Melbourne to complete a wonderful tour. As always, our chauffeurs will be on hand to take us straight to our door – all part of the O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours superior service.