SWELL SCULPTURES & MARGARET OLLEY

This 7 day tour is not just for art lovers, it combines 3 fabulous destinations in Brisbane, on the Gold Coast and North Coast of NSW! Our accommodation is 4 star all the way with 2 nights at The Point, Brisbane, Sebel Twin Towns, Coolangatta & Opal Cove Resort, Coffs Harbour. While each of these regions offers spectacular coastal scenery, sparkling rivers and towering forest of the hinterland, each has its own unique character which we will explore at a leisurely pace.

Brisbane is a fabulous city to visit, our northern capital has certainly come of age and is now promoted as Australia’s newest world city.  It is a city of contrasts, dynamic yet laid back, with an ultra modern skyline interspersed with some fine heritage buildings.  The Brisbane River meanders through the city and is framed by many beautiful parks and gardens.  The city has become incredibly diverse in recent years and has developed an air of culture and sophistication which we will explore during our stay.  

Yamba sits at the mouth of the Clarence River and boasts some of the best surfing beaches in Australia. It offers a relaxed lifestyle and the quality of its seafood (especially its King Prawns) is unsurpassed. Kingscliff has seen a rapid expansion in recent years and during our stay we will take in the Tweed Coast as well as venture the short distance across the border to explore the Gold Coast and its beautiful hinterland. Apart from the Gold Coast beaches, from Coolangatta up to Southport, we will also visit Sanctuary Cove and Mount Tamborine.

2024 marks the 22nd annual Swell Sculpture Festival on Currumbin Beach. It features the inspiring works from local, national and international sculptures and attracts visitors from around the globe. It rivals Sculptures by the Sea in both the quality of its work and the beauty of its location. The Margaret Olley gallery forms the centrepiece of the Tweed Regional Gallery at Murwillumbah and features a recreation of parts of her Paddington home studio. The Hat factory and Yellow Room are filled with over 20,000 items Olley collected over many years as subject matter for her paintings. The home studio is on permanent display while the artworks are rotated through the gallery.

Other highlights of the tour include:

·      Comprehensive city sights tour of Brisbane

·      Mt Cootha Botanic Gardens

·      Brisbane River Cruise

·      Guided tour of City Hall & Museum of Brisbane

·      Southbank Cultural Centre including the Queensland Art Gallery

·      Sanctuary Cove

·      Gold Coast canal cruise & beaches

·      Seafood picnic lunch at Yamba

·      Cabarita & Fingal Beaches

·      Tropical Fruit World

·      Byron Bay & Cape Byron Lighthouse

·      Ballina & Lenox Head

·      Woodburn & Evans Head

·      Angourie, Iluka & Clarence River Cruise

·      Grafton & Maclean

·      Coffs Harbour National Marine Science Centre

·      Coffs Harbour Botanic Gardens & Marina

·      Coffs National Cartoon Gallery

·      Bellingen Arts & Crafts

·      Ricardoes Hydroponic Tomato & Strawberry Farm

·      Bulahdelah & Karuah Bui

·      Cassegrain Winery