Bright Autumn Festival

Days: 7 Days

Activity: 3. Active Moderate

Transport: Drive

$2,995.00

Tour description








Experience the spectacular colours of autumn on this wonderful seven-day journey through regional New South Wales and Victoria’s magnificent High Country. Combining brilliant seasonal scenery, charming country towns, fascinating history and breathtaking alpine landscapes, this tour showcases the region at one of the most beautiful times of year.


Travel south through Yass, Cootamundra and Junee to Wagga Wagga before continuing to picturesque Bright, your base for four nights. Discover Bright with a local guide, sample local produce at Nightingale’s Orchard and enjoy the golden autumn canopy of Centenary Park before travelling into the dramatic landscapes of Mount Buffalo.


Step back in time in historic Beechworth, with stories of gold miners and bushrangers, and explore the beautifully preserved village of Yackandandah. Journey into the Victorian Alps to Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain, enjoy lunch at Red Stag Deer Farm and visit Bright Art Gallery.


The adventure continues through the Snowy Mountains, visiting the Man from Snowy River Museum and travelling via Thredbo to Jindabyne. A visit to historic Cooma Gaol and a final stop in Canberra complete a memorable autumn escape filled with magnificent scenery, history and country hospitality.



Tour Highlights



  • Four nights in beautiful Bright

  • Guided tour of Bright

  • Spectacular autumn colours and Centenary Park

  • Nightingale’s Orchard local produce tasting

  • Mount Buffalo and High Country scenery

  • Guided heritage tour of Beechworth

  • Visit charming Yackandandah

  • Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain

  • Lunch at Red Stag Deer Farm

  • Bright Art Gallery

  • Wagga Wagga sightseeing and Botanic Gardens

  • Cootamundra Captain’s Walk

  • Man from Snowy River Museum

  • Scenic journey through Thredbo and the Snowy Mountains

  • Overnight stay in Jindabyne

  • Historic Cooma Gaol

  • Canberra city orientation

  • All experiences, meals, accommodation and luxury coach travel as listed in the itinerary











Itinerary

Our autumn adventure begins as we journey south from Sydney, pausing at Nepean Dam for morning tea amid tranquil bushland and crisp country air. We continue to Yass, where we enjoy lunch and time to explore the town before travelling through the rural landscapes of Harden and Cootamundra. Here we pause to discover the Captain’s Walk, an impressive collection of bronze statues honouring Australia’s Test cricket captains. Continuing via the railway town of Junee, we arrive in Wagga Wagga where we check in to the Mercure and enjoy a welcome dinner together.

Overnight: Mercure Wagga Wagga Meals Included: Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, we enjoy a sightseeing tour of Wagga Wagga, taking in some of the city’s highlights including the Botanic Gardens, Wagga Beach and several notable heritage buildings. Morning tea is served amongst the beautiful surrounds of the Botanic Gardens before we travel south through the Riverina towns of The Rock, Henty and Culcairn. After a brief orientation tour of Albury, we enjoy lunch before continuing via Myrtleford and the famous Phoenix Tree to the picturesque alpine town of Bright. We settle into our accommodation before dinner this evening.

Overnight: Bright Chalet

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This morning we meet our local guide for a fascinating town tour of Bright, where heritage streets, tree-lined avenues, and alpine history bring the town’s story to life. We then visit Nightingale’s Orchard to sample local produce before enjoying morning tea in Centenary Park beneath a canopy of golden autumn leaves. After lunch, we travel to Mount Buffalo, where crisp mountain air and sweeping alpine vistas create a truly unforgettable afternoon among the high-country landscapes.

Overnight: Bright Chalet Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, we travel to the beautifully preserved gold rush town of Beechworth, where we meet our local guide for a fascinating tour sharing stories of miners, bushrangers and the town’s remarkable heritage. Following lunch at the famous Beechworth Bakery, there is time to browse the boutique shops, galleries and historic streets at your own pace. This afternoon, we visit the charming village of Yackandandah, renowned for its beautifully preserved streetscape, historic buildings and welcoming country atmosphere, before returning to Bright for dinner together.

Overnight: Bright Chalet Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today we venture into the spectacular Victorian Alps, climbing steadily towards Mount Hotham, where we pause to admire breathtaking mountain views and the crisp alpine air. Continuing through snow gum country, we pass the picturesque village of Dinner Plain, renowned for its distinctive alpine chalets and mountain charm. After lunch at the Red Stag Deer Farm, where we can wander the scenic grounds and see the resident deer and other farm animals, we visit the Bright Art Gallery, home to an inspiring collection of works by talented local and regional artists. We then enjoy some free time back at our accommodation before gathering for dinner this evening.

Overnight: Bright Chalet Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, we farewell Bright and journey through the spectacular Snowy Mountains, pausing at Tallangatta for morning tea overlooking the peaceful waters of Lake Hume. Continuing to Corryong, we visit the Man from Snowy River Museum, where fascinating displays celebrate the legendary horsemen of the High Country and Banjo Paterson’s famous poem. After lunch, we travel through the alpine landscapes of Tom Groggin, Dead Horse Gap and the picturesque village of Thredbo before continuing to Jindabyne. We settle into our accommodation and enjoy dinner together this evening.

Overnight: Rydges Horizons Resort, Jindabyne Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, we travel to Cooma for a fascinating visit to the historic Cooma Gaol, where we discover stories of its colourful past and the people once housed within its walls. We then continue to Canberra, where a brief city orientation showcases some of the nation’s most recognisable landmarks, including Parliament House and Lake Burley Griffin. Following our farewell lunch, we begin our journey back to Sydney, taking with us wonderful memories of brilliant autumn colours, alpine scenery and the charm of Victoria’s High Country.

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Activity Levels

  • 1. Easy
  • 2. Moderate
  • 3. Active Moderate
  • 4. Adventurous

Testimonials

Blessed with marvelous weather, all enjoyed the tour tremendously. I’d like to thank Sean, he was well liked by all, drove carefully and chatted happily. He had interesting facts to share. Love to have him as our driver again in the future.

Regards, Alison

Dear John Thank you and your team for arranging our Melbourne cup and King Island holiday. I enjoyed everything we did. Top accommodation and delicious meals. Your commentary was excellent. As was the way you looked after us all. King Island was as I anticipated plus the bonus of Michael Hill who made the day very interesting with his great stories and good humour. The meals on King Island were just super. Kerry did a magnificent job as the nicest “mother hen”. She capably looked after her “chickens”, especially this old “rooster”. Kerry made the delay at the Melbourne airport bearable by constantly providing updates and free vouchers. A special thank you to her. I must also mentioned the delightful Debbie. She is an excellent ambassador for your company. A very competent driver. Very pleasant and professional on the phone and in person. From the above, I trust you will appreciate I had a very very good trip. I look forward to again travelling with On Course (of course!) Cheers. Peter. I look forward to again travelling with On Course (of course!).

Cheers. Peter