Sapphire Coast to the Melbourne Cup 2023
It’s the horse race that stops the nation, and this year we will be right there where the action is to see the Melbourne Cup live! It’s not just about the destination; the journey to get there is full of adventure and discovery. Spend your days exploring charming towns and spectacular scenery as we travel down the magnificent Sapphire Coast to Melbourne.
10 Day Tour
Monday 30 October - Wednesday 8 November 2023
Tour Cost (GST inclusive):
$5,160 per person twin share
$755 single supplement
Inclusions
- Luxury Coach Travel in our Business Class Coach
- Entry and Reserved Seating at Flemington Racecourse for the Melbourne Cup
- Entry to Shoalhaven Regional Gallery
- Entry to Fleet Air Arm Museum
- Entry and tasting at Tilba Real Dairy
- Guided tour and lunch at Cobargo Farm
- Guided tour at killer Whale Museum
- Cruise Twofold Bay with Cat Balou Sealife Bay Cruises
- Entry and talk at Orbost Exhibition Centre on the Snowy River
- Guided town tour of Lakes Entrance
- Lakes Entrance to Metung with Peels Ferry Service
- Entry to Operation Bunker
- Tasting at Wyanga Park Winery
- Entry to Nyerimilang Park
- Lunch and demonstration at Beloka Kelpies
- Entry to ArtVo 3D Gallery
- Guided tour and afternoon tea at Living Legends (Woodlands Historic Park)
- Economy flights from Brisbane to Sydney and Melbourne to Brisbane
- 9 nights accommodation
- 9 cooked breakfasts, 9 two course dinners, 7 lunches
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: (LD)
Brisbane to Nowra
Mon 30 Oct 23
Welcome to our incredible tour to Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup. Our journey will feature spectacular regions including Nowra, Eden and Lakes Entrance. We meet our friendly crew and fellow travellers as we board our morning flight to Sydney. We stop for lunch before heading to the beautiful Shoalhaven region. We have the chance to stretch our legs in Kiama and to see the famous blowhole. This natural phenomenon is a fine example of nature showing off! We continue to Nowra where we check in before dinner at Worrigee Sports Club.
Day 2: (BLD)
Nowra
Tue 31 Oct 23
We start our day at the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery which serves as an exciting artistic hub for the region. Each year, it welcomes vibrant exhibitions featuring both contemporary and traditional works and a diverse range of touring and community exhibits. Next, we visit the Fleet Air Arm Museum which has one of the finest collections of historic military aircraft in Australia and a superb collection of engines, aviation equipment, model uniforms and memorabilia. For lunch we are in for quite a treat as we visit Coolangatta Estate – a 300-acre estate situated on the foothills of Mt Coolangatta. Alive with history, the convict-built village is now surrounded by sprawling vineyards and landscaped grounds that we can wander through. Our final stop is to the charming village of Berry, where we visit The Treat Factory for a delicious, sweet treat and a cuppa. A vast array of tempting goodies awaits us, many made on site. After a fantastic day we return to our motel.
Day 3: (BLD)
Nowra to Eden
Wed 1 Nov 23
Today we make our way to the sparkling Sapphire Coast. This morning we pop into the Tilba Real Dairy, located in the heritage village of Central Tilba. Taste their delicious award-winning cheese and honey. Next, we visit Cobargo Farm, a unique garden farm on the outskirts of the village. Not only does the farm produce fresh fruit and vegetables, but also stocks a large variety of ferns, plants and seedlings to beautify your own garden. After enjoying lunch, we spend time with the animals and explore the beautiful gardens. We continue to Eden, a natural paradise with an interesting whaling history.
Day 4: (BLD)
Eden
Thu 2 Nov 23
This morning we take a look through the Killer Whale Museum and view the skeleton of “Old Tom” the killer whale, plus many other items of interest and history. A light lunch awaits us at the Seahorse Inn in nearby Boydtown before we board the Cat Balou for our Twofold Bay Cruise. Surrounded by the Ben Boyd National Park and state forest, we’ll take in the stunning scenery and pristine bays. The cruise takes in the historical sights of this whaling port including Boyd’s Tower, Edrom Lodge, the Naval/multipurpose wharf and local mussel farms.
Day 5: (BLD)
Eden to Lakes Entrance
Fri 3 Nov 23
After breakfast, we travel to the pretty coastal town of Mallacoota. Here we visit Operation Bunker, a World War II RAAF operations bunker that has been restored by the Mallacoota RSL. It is of considerable significance in Victoria’s military history and was the headquarters of the RAAF coastal intelligence activity in the region as well as an important link in the chain of defence installations along the southeast of Australia. After lunch in Cann River, we make our way to Orbost where we have a look at the Orbost Exhibition Centre. Located on the Snowy River, the exhibition is all about timber and includes the National Collection of Wood Design, which is permanently on display here. Designed on several levels we have time to enjoy a retail showroom, gallery for professional artists and a top level for views over the Forest Park. From here we continue to Lakes Entrance. For anyone who likes a walk before dinner, take a stroll along the promenade to see some unique sculptures. A local wood carver has taken the stumps of trees and carved them into images of Australia at War, including Simpson and his donkey and a nursing sister caring for wounded soldiers.
Day 6: (BLD)
Lakes Entrance
Sat 4 Nov 23
A local expert will join us on the coach and will introduce us to the town and surrounding lake system. Later we enjoy a sensational cruise along one of Australia’s great inland waterways to the peaceful town of Metung. Disembarking at the Metung Hotel, a delicious lunch will be waiting for us. Our final stop is to the oldest vineyard in East Gippsland, Wyanga Park Winery. Located on the banks of the North Arm, try some excellent wines or enjoy the exhibition of local artists displayed throughout. We return to our motel after a wonderful day exploring Lakes Entrance!
Day 7: (BLD)
Lakes Entrance to Melbourne
Sun 5 Nov 23
This morning we visit a special place – Nyerimilang Park – a lakeside homestead that was used in the late 1800s as a base for fishing and shooting holidays. Today the homestead features the history of Nyerimilang with semi formal garden and lawns, with views to the water, containing an interesting collection of exotic and native species. We enjoy a self-guided tour before making our way to Bairnsdale, for morning tea at a local café. From here we travel to South Gippsland where we meet a true Gippsland identity at Beloka Kelpie Stud. Paul Macphail has been breeding and training dogs since the early nineties and here you’ll get to witness him and his four-legged co-workers in action. From veterans to pups it will be a fun and intriguing afternoon. We continue into Melbourne, the vibrant Victorian capital city, for our three-night stay.
Day 8: (BD)
Melbourne
Mon 6 Nov 23
This morning we visit ArtVo, where nothing is quite as real as it looks! These incredible artworks are presented in three-dimension and specifically designed so that we can “blend” into the images. Take your time as you walk through various zones taking as many pictures as you please and see how these paintings come alive. ArtVo gives us the chance to experience art in a whole new way – by simply striking a pose in front of the camera, you can become part of the art itself. We have some free time in Melbourne to purchase lunch before a visit to Woodlands Historic Park, home to Woodlands Homestead and Living Legends racehorses. Woodlands Homestead is a unique and treasured heritage building that now houses an extensive art collection, historic artefacts and horse racing memorabilia. Living Legends is home to some of Australia’s finest retired champion racehorses including Melbourne Cup winners, Might & Power (1997), Rogan Josh (1999) and Efficient (2007). We enjoy an afternoon tea before heading back to our hotel.
Day 9: (BD)
Melbourne Cup
Tue 7 Nov 23
Australia’s greatest sporting and cultural icon, the Melbourne Cup, is a must do sporting spectacle. We make our way to Flemington Racecourse for a fantastic day ahead. The excitement of being part of the grandstands filled to the brim, the silent audience waiting in anticipation and the joy of the horse to cross the line first is a feeling like no other. While racing is the main event, Cup Day also combines with fashion and entertainment for a fantastic day at the races. We have organised pre-paid entrance to the course and booked premium seating. We will arrange a pick-up and drop off at a designated time.
Day 10: (B)
Melbourne to Brisbane
Wed 8 Nov 23
Our fantastic tour has come to an end. Today we board our flight back to Brisbane where we arrive home mid-afternoon.
