The Great Victoria Explorer

This morning after breakfast and checkout, we begin our drive across to the Gippsland Lakes Region. In Yallourn, we enjoy a cuppa before a tour of the Old Brown Coal Mine Museum which holds an extensive display of memorabilia depicting the early days of the old town and open cut, both known as Brown Coal Mine prior to 1947. Our next stop is across in Rosedale for our lunch stop at the delightful Victoria Rose Tea Rooms and Gardens. Our last stop for the day prior to arriving in Lakes Entrance is in Bairnsdale to view the stunning St Mary’s Church murals painted by Italian artist Francesco Floreani during the Great Depression. From Bairnsdale, its a leisurely 30 minute drive down into Lakes Entrance to check into our centrally located motel. After settling into our rooms, we gather for dinner in the on-site Albert and Co Restaurant.

Overnight Lakes Entrance: Bellevue on the Lakes

Daily: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast, there will be time to take a stroll along the WW1 Avenue of Honour Memorial Tree Statues before boarding our Gippsland Lakes Cruise. Our morning cruise takes us through the Reeves Channel, Bancroft Bay and into Lake King then along the shores of Metung before arriving at the Metung Hotel for lunch. Following lunch, we return by coach to Lakes Entrance via the historic Nyerimilang Park Homestead which overlooks the Gippsland Lakes and is surrounded by semi-formal gardens and lawns. A display featuring the history of Nyerimilang and the natural resources and history of the Gippsland Lakes can be viewed in the homestead. Back in Lakes Entrance there will be time to take a stroll along the main street and maybe drop into the Griffiths Sea Shell Museum for a look. After a relaxing day and freshen up back at the motel we meet for dinner.

Overnight Lakes Entrance: Bellevue on the Lakes

Daily: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today we head off early on our way to the Victoria High Country and the picturesque village of Bright. Along the way we stop by the pioneering township of Omeo, renowned for its gold mining history, high country cattle grazing and historic buildings. From Omeo, we travel along Australia’s highest year-round accessible sealed road, the Great Alpine Way to the Alpine Village of Dinner Plain for our lunch break. This afternoon we pass by the Mount Hotham Ski Resort and take in some amazing views while travelling and also stop by a couple of major Lookouts. In Harrietville we stop by Shady Brook Cottages and Garden, a spectacular 14-acre garden of which over 5 acres are landscaped, bounded by the Ovens River and a mountain backdrop of natural forest. Exotic trees, along with hundreds of Camellias, Viburnums, Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Australian native plants are there to admire as we amble along the tracks and enjoy the prolific bird life, plants, and water features. Then enjoy the scenic drive across to Bright for check in and dinner.

Overnight Bright: Bright Colonial Motel

Daily: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today in Bright we take a browse through the Bright Alpine Visitors Centre before we are joined by our local guide, who will take us for a highlights tour of Bright and Porepunkah. Our tour also includes a look through the Bright and District Historical Society Museum situated in the heritage listed old Bright Railway Station. Up at the majestic Red Stag Deer and Emu Farm we receive an introduction talk on the 70-acre farm before lunch while taking in the stunning alpine views including the beautiful Mount Buffalo National Park. After lunch, take a stroll and chance to feed, touch and learn about the red deer, emus, ostriches, and goats before browsing the shop. Back down in Bright we spend some leisure time to browse the shops, including Making Spirits Bright, a world of perpetual Christmas joy all year round. After a delightful day out, we return to our motel to rest up before dinner at the Alpine Hotel.

Overnight Bright: Bright Colonial Motel

Daily: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This morning, we travel up to Beechworth visiting the historic Beechworth Courthouse for a Ned Kelly trial reenactment based on actual court transcripts, as well as a guided tour and talk in the Burke Museum. After taking a coffee break, we tour the Old Beechworth Gaol, one of Australia’s most significant post-European cultural sites. Its role in the chain of events that led to the execution of Ned Kelly is significant as it housed Ned’s mother, Ellen Kelly, many of the Kelly sympathisers and Ned himself, alongside his brother Dan and the rest of the Kelly gang. After a break for lunch, we travel the Kiewa Valley Hwy to the village of Mount Beauty, along the way taking in the beautiful vistas of the valley and surrounding mountains. On arrival, we take in the scenery from the shores of the Mount Beauty Pondage before calling into the Mount Beauty Information Centre and Museum for a talk on the history of the Kiewa Valley Hydro scheme, then self-guided tour through the museum. We then make our way along the Tawonga Gap Road enjoying stops at Sullivans Lookout and Tawonga Gap Lookout to take in the magical vistas. Our day is complete as we arrive back at our motel to enjoy a rest before meeting up for dinner.

Overnight Bright: Bright Colonial Motel

Daily: Breakfast & Dinner

After checkout and breakfast, we head across to Myrtleford to catch up with our local historian for an overview of the tobacco growing industry. Starting at the Old School Museum that provides an interesting insight into the township and tobacco industry which was driven mostly by the large number of Italian migrants who settled down in this region in the 1920’s. Our next stop is up in the renowned Milawa gourmet region, home to the Milawa Cheese Co which specialises in soft and washed rind cheeses. Our visit includes a short presentation on the history of Milawa Cheese, and the cheese production followed by a seated tasting and talk in our own indoor seated section, where we get to enjoy 8 Milawa sample cheeses, grapes, walnuts, and biscuits with detailed tasting notes. We also enjoy time to browse through the Cheese Shop, Wood Park Wines, and Wattle Tree Collection. From Milawa, we travel across through Murchison to Colbinabbin to view arguably the most stunning set of silo murals in Australia. Later in the afternoon we arrive in Bendigo to check into the Quality Hotel Lakeside. Once settled into our rooms, we catch up in the Lakeside Restaurant for dinner.

Overnight Bendigo: Quality Hotel Lakeside

Daily: Breakfast & Dinner

Our first stop this morning is at the Central Deborah Gold Mine for an opportunity to explore the surface of the mine which contains original buildings and equipment that were essential to the operation of Central Deborah in its mining days. Next, we cover 100 years in just one hour on the famous Bendigo Historic Vintage Talking Tram. Once aboard the meticulously restored tram the expert commentary explains the history and significance of the buildings and locations as they pass us by. We travel past and hear the story of the Majestic Sacred Heart Cathedral, The Alexandra Fountain, The Grand Beehive Store, and the world-famous Shamrock Hotel. After disembarking the tram, we visit the Golden Dragon Museum for lunch and a guided tour through the museum and beautiful gardens. The museum houses the world’s best collection of Chinese processional regalia and features the world’s longest and oldest dragons, which includes Sun Loong and Loong, who have been in the annual Easter Monday procession for over 100 years. The exhibition called “The Bendigo Chinese Community - A Unique History” depicts the history of the Chinese Community since the famous gold rush days. We take some time to wander through the displays of items that have been either donated or loaned by individuals and organisations. It’s then onto Bendigo Pottery for a self-guided tour with an introduction by the staff. At Australia’s oldest working pottery, we watch a demonstration of hand throwing and wander the interpretive museum and gallery of works by local potters. After our tour wraps up, we have time to browse the Pottery shop and taste some wines from the Glenwillow Winery. Our day complete we return to our motel with time to relax before enjoying dinner in the restaurant.

Overnight Bendigo: Quality Hotel Lakeside

Daily: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast and check out this morning we enjoy some leisure time along View Street which has been the beating heart of Bendigo’s arts and cultural offerings since 1890. Check out the exhibitions at Dudley House, Valentine’s Antique Gallery and across the road at La Trobe Arts Institute, just to name a few plus the much loved cafés for a coffee. We then travel out to the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion where we will view an introductory film before exploring the interfaith Peace Park with our friendly and knowledgeable guide before stepping inside the Great Stupa to learn about Buddhist culture and future plans for the project, all while viewing beautiful statues and relics. It’s now time to depart the Bendigo region and head back down to Melbourne Airport for check in and late afternoon flight back home after our wonderful journey through parts of Victoria with Trade Travel.

Flight Details: VA0000 Melbourne - Homeport 0000/0000 (flight details TBA)

Daily: Breakfast & Lunch