MELBOURNE TO THE SUNSHINE COAST

Welcome to our holiday to the beautiful Sunshine Coast. With chauffeured pickup from home, we travel to Melbourne Airport.  Here we’ll be greeted by an O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours representative who will assist us with check in, and see us onto the plane for our direct flight to the Sunshine Coast. Upon our arrival, we will be welcomed by our coach crew who will assist us with our luggage, before we board the coach for a relaxing drive to Peregian Beach and our accommodation for the next seven nights. Time to unpack and settle in before meeting for our first dinner together.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement / Refreshments inflight

OVERNIGHT:  Essence Peregian Beach Boutique Hotel, SUNSHINE COAST

BLACKALL RANGE

This morning we take the scenic drive via Landsborough up the beautiful Blackall Range. Our first stop is at the new Information Centre at the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve. The viewing point overlooks the unique formations of the Glasshouse Mountains – spectacular – don’t forget to bring the camera. For those who like some exercise, you can take a short stroll through the beautiful rainforest. Our next stop is the Maleny Cheese Factory for some tastings.  Only fresh local milk from boutique farms on the Hinterland supply their cheese and yoghurt making. We continue to enjoy the views over the coastline as we traverse along the top of the Blackall Range to Montville. Montville is probably the most well-known village along the top of the Blackall Range. First established in 1887, Montville today is a place to step back in time and enjoy the tranquility of village life in a streetscape unique to any other tourist centre in Australia. After lunch, we head to the Big Pineapple. In its heyday, it was the nation’s most popular tourism attraction, and it has now made a come-back. It has been restored and repainted, as well as recommencing the famous Big Pineapple Train. Our last stop today is right next door at Sunshine & Sons Distillery for a little tasting of their local gin. Maria and Sarah are their gleaming 6,000 and 2,500 litre pot stills that were hand-made in Tasmania. Made from the finest German copper, they’ve been meticulously designed to create stunning and complex flavors. After a great day, we return to our Resort in time for dinner.

OVERNIGHT: Essence Peregian Beach Boutique Hotel, SUNSHINE COAST

EUMUNDI MARKETS, POMONA AND NOOSA

The famous Eumundi Markets is our first stop today. The twice weekly street markets held every Saturday and Wednesday “rain, hail or shine”, are as popular with the locals as they are with visitors to the Sunshine Coast. 300 stalls of various handcrafts and produce are controlled by a strict market policy – you can sell your goods if you “can make it, bake it, sew it or grow it”.  From here we head to the small township of Pomona to watch a Silent Movie at the World’s Longest Running Silent Film Theatre. The Majestic Theatre is a small community run theatre and cinema that has been in operation for over 100 years. Our Silent Movie is often accompanied by the resident organist Ron West on the 1937 Compton Organ – a unique authentic experience. At the completion of the film, we enjoy a picnic lunch together. This afternoon, we drive back to the coast to the heart of Noosa Heads – Hastings Street - voted the Best Main Street in Australia!  Loved for its wonderful mix of beachside luxury and laidback holiday vibes, you can enjoy some time walking the main street or beach front before returning to our accommodation in time to relax before dinner.

OVERNIGHT:  Essence Peregian Beach Boutique Hotel, SUNSHINE COAST

THE GLASSHOUSE MOUNTAINS

Today we head south to the area of Glasshouse Mountains & Caboolture North. The Caboolture Historical Village takes us back to an era before computers and air conditioners – where milk was delivered to your door. Explore the Village and immerse yourself in the past. The street with the old Post Office, barber, butcher shop and general store is a wonderful look into times past. From here, we drive a short distance up to the Glasshouse Mountains Lookout, then on to Bankfoot House & Mary Grigor Centre. The Centre is named in honour of Mary Grigor, who together with her husband William, established Bankfoot House in 1868 as a lunch stop for Cobb & Co Coaches on the Brisbane to Gympie route.

OVERNIGHT:  Essence Peregian Beach Boutique Hotel, SUNSHINE COAST

AUSTRALIA ZOO

No visit to the Sunshine Coast would be complete without a visit to Australia Zoo in Beerwah. The Zoo is a tourism award facility on the Sunshine Coast that has a reputation for conservation work, due mainly to the popularity of the documentary series “the Crocodile Hunter”. Many millions of dollars have been invested in the park so that it is an ever changing and growing attraction. It is a journey of discovery and adventure with giant snakes, majestic elephants, colourful birds and prehistoric crocs. At 11am we take our seats in the “Crocoseum” for all the action in the centre stage. The keepers will bring the Crocodiles into the clear water so we can see them. There are many other scheduled demonstrations during the day, including the chance to be photographed with a giant python or tigers. A people mover is available to access various parts of the park. Mid-afternoon we drive back to our accommodation.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement

OVERNIGHT: Essence Peregian Beach Boutique Hotel, SUNSHINE COAST

MOOLOOLABA

We take a scenic drive down to Mooloolaba this morning to visit Sea Life Sunshine Coast – the largest oceanarium in the Southern Hemisphere. View the amazing aquarium by riding on moving footways through clear underwater tunnels and watch the tropical fish, huge stingrays and sharks. We go diving without getting wet! Next door is the Mooloolaba Wharf, where we board the M.V. Mudjimba for our canal cruise passing the largest long line fishing fleet in Australia and enjoy the sights of the Minyama mansions along Millionaires row. Take in the breathtaking view of the coastline from Mooloolaba Beach right up to Noosa Heads, before we head back to the dock for lunch. This afternoon, we visit the Queensland Air Museum. There are more than 75 historic aircraft and many aviation related displays. Your guide will explain the displays and tell the stories behind the exhibits.

OVERNIGHT:  Essence Peregian Beach Boutique Hotel, SUNSHINE COAST

MARY VALLEY RATTLER, GYMPIE

This morning we take a three-hour return trip on the Classic Rattler Run in a C17 Steam Train from Gympie. You are about to travel back in history, to a time when everything was slower, a time when everybody living along the Mary River saw life through the prism of the river, and the railway line was a very important part of the community. After a lunch break, we visit the Gold Mining and Historical Museum, learning about the early gold mining era, as well as displays showcasing rural, military, hospital, transport, communications and steam development in Australia.  After a great day, we return to our accommodation.

OVERNIGHT: Essence Peregian Beach Boutique Hotel, SUNSHINE COAST

SUNSHINE COAST TO MELBOURNE

It’s time to pack our bags and head to the Sunshine Coast Airport for our flight home to Melbourne. Upon arrival, our chauffeurs will be waiting to transport us home with many interesting stories to tell of our Sunshine Coast holiday.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement / Refreshments inflight