MORNINGTON PENINSULA & DANDENONGS

Our southern capital is a beautiful and sophisticated city and a delight to visit year round, but especially so in autumn when it is cloaked in a rich veil of reds and golds. The prosperity generated by the gold rushes of the 1850’s is evident at every turn. Fabulous heritage buildings line beautiful, wide, tree lined boulevards. Its wonderful parks and gardens are unsurpassed, it has a rich vibrant culture and is the undisputed sporting capital of Australia. No matter how many times you have visited Melbourne there is always something new and exciting to discover.

We will commence our tour with 2 nights at Rye and explore the Mornington Peninsula taking in many picturesque bay side villages including Mount Martha, Dromana, Rosebud, Sorrento and Portsea. The Peninsula has a distinctly Mediterranean feel with outstanding vineyards & olive groves, strawberry farms and market gardens in the hills above the shoreline, offering stunning views over Port Phillip Bay. It also has some of the best gardens in Victoria and has been a favourite holiday destination of Melbournians since the 1880’s. We will also visit Arthurs seat, one of many landmarks on the Peninsula, which rises 314 meters above sea level. 

Our next destination is the Holiday Inn at Dandenong, which has become a major commercial centre in south east Melbourne. Our night here allows us to explore the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley, there are more superb gardens to be found amongst the towering mountain ash and stringy barks that are such a feature of the ranges. We will visit charming villages such as Emerald, Olinda and Monbulk and drop down into the Yarra Valley. The road from Healesville to Marsyville, through the Border Ranges National Park is truly memorable and the vineyards of the Yarra Valley have more beautiful gardens and fabulous views.

Our 2 nights in Melbourne will include a city highlights tour but has also been designed with some flexibility to avoid duplication from previous tours. A choice will be offered including Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens, Federation Square and Victorian Gallery with its extensive collection of Australian art, the Eureka Skydeck for panoramic views from level 88, tour of the MCG, City Circle Tram, the Science Works Museum and Planetarium, the Immigration Museum in Old Customs House, Victoria Markets, the Shrine of Remembrance and St Pauls Cathedral, Old Melbourne Gaol, Carlton, Fitzroy & Treasury Gardens.

Our journey north will see us detour into Benalla where we will visit the excellent botanic gardens and art gallery and see many of town’s murals. We will then head to historic Beechworth for lunch and a guided tour including May Day Hills and Lake Sambell. 

Our final night is at Albury, which will also be resplendent with a vivid show of autumn colour. Heading along the Hume, we will detour into Gundagai for morning tea and enjoy a late lunch at Goulburn.

Highlights include:

*   Seawinds Gardens at Arthurs Seat

*   The Briars at Mount Martha

*   Picnic Lunch at Sorrento

*   Point Nepean Quarantine Station

*   Rye Back Beach

*   Cranbourne Botanic Gardens

*   Emerald Lake

*   Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens

*   Cloudehill Garden at Olinda

*   Domaine Chandon Vineyard

*   Bruno’s Sculpture Garden at Marysville

*   Melbourne City Sights including Federation Square, Southbank, St Kilda

     Port Phillip Bay, Albert Park, Fitzroy Gardens & Queen Victoria Markets

*   Melbourne Botanic Gardens

*   Benalla Botanic Gardens & Street Art

*   Albury Town Tour & Botanic Gardens

*   Gundagai & Goulburn

Cost per person is $2,590.00 which includes accommodation, all admissions, 6 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 7 Dinners, luxury coach travel and Sydney to Melbourne flight. Single supplement is $545.00.