Canberra Floriade Tour 2024

Experience the wonder of Spring on our tour to Canberra Floriade and Tulip Time in the Southern Highlands. Experience a kaleidoscope of colour and bursting blooms that scent the spring air. Be inspired by the beautiful landscapes and vibrant exhibitions.

8 Day Tour

Monday 30 September - Monday 7 October 2024

Tour Cost (GST inclusive):
$3,495 per person twin share
$740 single supplement

Inclusions

  • Luxury Coach Travel in our Business Class Coach
  • Lunch at The Campbelltown Arts Centre Cafe
  • Guided tour of Parliament House
  • Lunch at Queen’s Terrace Café at Parliament House
  • Entry to Australian War Memorial
  • Entry and morning tea at Tulip Top Gardens
  • Entry to Floriade
  • Guided tour of National Arboretum Canberra
  • Guided tour and lunch at Museum of Australian Democracy
  • Guided tour of National Museum of Australia
  • Entry, talk and morning tea at Fairground Follies
  • Entry to Corbett Gardens for the Tulip Time Festival
  • 7 nights accommodation
  • 7 cooked breakfasts, 7 two course dinners, 4 lunches

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: (D)

Brisbane to Old Bar

Mon 30 Sep 24

Welcome to our Canberra tour featuring the wonderful Floriade Festival. Departing Brisbane, we have a travelling day on the coach so sit back, relax and get to know your fellow travellers. We’ll be stopping for convenience breaks and to purchase lunch. We arrive in Old Bar for our first dinner together.

Day 2: (BLD)

Old Bar to Canberra

Tue 1 Oct 24

Continuing our journey south, we stop for lunch at the Campbelltown Arts Centre Café. The café overlooks the Japanese Gardens and there is a lovely pond with Koi fish to look at. This afternoon we head towards the Nation’s Capital, Canberra. On arrival we make our way to Mt Ainslie Lookout for breathtaking views across Lake Burley Griffin and the Canberra surrounds before arriving at our hotel. Unpack and relax before dinner in our hotel restaurant.

Day 3: (BLD)

Discover Canberra

Wed 2 Oct 24

This morning we travel along Embassy Drive, home to nearly 80 embassies and high commissions of countries from around the world. See the spectacular traditional design of the Chinese Embassy and look out for the United States Embassy built in a modified Georgian style. We head to Capital Hill, the focal point of Canberra where we are introduced to the meeting place of the nation, Parliament House. Listening to our guide as they lead us through this political powerhouse, we will be enlightened to the daily life of democracy. After lunch, the remainder of our afternoon is spent at the Australian War Memorial. Combining a shrine, world class museum and extensive archive, the memorials’ purpose is to commemorate the sacrifice of Australians who have died in war or on operational service and those who have served our nation in times of conflict. Wander the impressive exhibitions and sombre ceremonial areas including the Hall of Memory, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Pool of Reflection. We are farewelled with the Last Post Ceremony featuring the national anthem, piper’s lament and individual story, ode recited by a defence force personnel and ending with the Last Post. What an incredible experience.

Day 4: (BD)

Canberra Floriade

Thu 3 Oct 24

It’s festival day! After breakfast, we visit Tulip Top Gardens where acres of stunning world class gardens bloom to life. Hundreds of blossom trees nestle between flowers and provide a magic pathway to the cascading waterfall and watercourse with classic music wafting through the air in the hidden valley. Then it’s off to Commonwealth Park, the centre of the Floriade Festival! The flower display is the largest of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. Explore the impressive array of inspiring flowerbeds, horticultural exhibitions and unmissable entertainment. After a wonderful day taking in the spring flowers, we return to our hotel for dinner.

Day 5: (BLD)

Exploring Canberra

Fri 4 Oct 24

We visit the internationally renowned National Arboretum Canberra. Created as a place of breathtaking beauty, we’ll experience the world’s largest living collection of rare, endangered and significant trees. The views are also sensational from here. The Museum of Australian Democracy (formally Old Parliament House) is our next stop. The museum was home to Australia’s Federal Parliament for more than 60 years and is now a much-loved heritage building offering a unique glimpse into our nation’s fascinating past. Our final visit today is to the National Museum of Australia where Australia’s stories come alive. The museum’s stunning architecture provides an extraordinary place to explore the remarkable stories of Australian life, history and culture.

Day 6: (BD)

Canberra to Southern Highlands

Sat 5 Oct 24

Departing Canberra this morning we make our way to the Southern Highlands. Here we’ll be enchanted by the sights and sounds of Fairground Follies, akin to visiting an old-fashioned amusement park with its collection of self-playing instruments and antique mechanical music, fair organs, street organs and a 100-year-old steam carousel. We enjoy morning tea here before making our way to Corbett Gardens. During the Tulip Festival over 100,000 tulips and 25,000 annuals are planted each year to transform Cobbett Gardens and other parks across the shire into stunning displays of sweeping spring colour. We spend the afternoon enjoying the festival with all its stunning colour and entertainment before checking into our motel.

Day 7: (BD)

Southern Highlands to Armidale

Sun 6 Oct 24

We begin our journey home, taking the inland route. We’ll stop enroute for lunch before arriving in Armidale for our final night on tour together.

Day 8: (BL)

Armidale to Brisbane

Mon 7 Oct 24

Today our drive takes us through Glen Innes, Tenterfield and Stanthorpe before stopping in Warwick for our lunch. We continue home this afternoon after a fantastic Canberra Floriade tour.