Coastal Swell Sculptures
Days:
7 Days
Activity:
3. Active Moderate
Transport:
Fly/Drive
$3,495.00
Tour description
Celebrate spring on a colourful 7 day journey through Brisbane, Toowoomba, the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales, combining magnificent gardens, art, coastal scenery and wonderful regional produce.
Begin with a flight to Brisbane and time to discover the city before travelling through the Lockyer Valley to Toowoomba. Known as Queensland’s Garden City, Toowoomba is at its most beautiful in spring. Explore Boyce Gardens, Newtown Park State Rose Garden, Laurel Bank Park, Queens Park and the Japanese Garden, along with the city’s cultural attractions and time to enjoy its relaxed atmosphere.
From the gardens we travel to the Gold Coast via Tamborine Mountain, where rainforest scenery provides a beautiful change of landscape. The focus then turns to art by the sea as we experience the Swell Sculpture Festival, discovering creative installations positioned along the coastline at Currumbin and other Gold Coast locations.
Our journey continues into Northern New South Wales with a visit to Tropical Fruit World, followed by time in Yamba before travelling to Coffs Harbour.
With spring gardens, spectacular coastal scenery, fascinating art, fresh regional produce, comfortable accommodation and thoughtfully planned sightseeing, this tour offers a wonderfully diverse spring escape.
Tour Highlights
• Fly from Sydney to Brisbane
• Brisbane city sightseeing
• Travel through the picturesque Lockyer Valley
• Discover Toowoomba, Queensland’s Garden City
• Visit Boyce Gardens
• Explore Newtown Park State Rose Garden
• Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery
• Wander through Laurel Bank Park and Queens Park
• Visit Toowoomba’s beautiful Japanese Garden
• Tamborine Mountain rainforest experience
• Experience the Swell Sculpture Festival
• See sculptures along Currumbin Beach
• Discover additional sculpture installations on the Gold Coast
• Tropical Fruit World tour and lunch
• Free time in Yamba
• Visit Ricardoes Tomatoes
• Lunch at The Artisan Farmer in Nabiac
• Comfortable accommodation and meals as detailed in the itinerary
Itinerary
Our spring escape begins with a flight from Sydney to Brisbane. On arrival, we enjoy a sightseeing drive around the city, including the South Bank cultural precinct, home to some of Queensland’s major arts and cultural institutions.
We stop for lunch before leaving Brisbane and travelling west through the scenic Lockyer Valley towards Toowoomba. Arriving in the late afternoon, we settle into our accommodation before coming together for dinner.
Accommodation: Comfort Inn Grammar View Toowoomba or Platinum International
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we begin exploring the beautiful gardens for which Toowoomba is renowned. Our first visit is Boyce Gardens, before enjoying a volunteer guided experience showcasing some of the city’s private gardens.
There is free time to choose your own lunch before we visit the Newtown Park State Rose Garden, where beautifully maintained displays provide another taste of Toowoomba in spring.
Our afternoon continues at the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, followed by our return to the hotel. Tonight we enjoy dinner together.
Accommodation: Comfort Inn Grammar View Toowoomba or Platinum International
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Lunch: Own choice
Following breakfast, we spend another day enjoying Toowoomba’s colourful spring landscapes. We begin at Laurel Bank Park, one of the city’s much loved garden spaces.
Next is Queens Park and Botanic Gardens, where there is time to appreciate the seasonal displays before lunch.
This afternoon we visit the impressive Japanese Garden on the University of Southern Queensland campus. With beautifully landscaped gardens, peaceful waterways and traditional design influences, it provides a tranquil conclusion to our sightseeing.
There is then free time in Toowoomba or time to relax at the hotel before dinner.
Accommodation: Comfort Inn Grammar View Toowoomba or Platinum International
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we check out and leave Toowoomba, travelling towards the Gold Coast.
Our journey takes us to Tamborine Mountain, where we pause for morning tea before enjoying a rainforest walk amongst the lush subtropical surroundings. Lunch follows before we continue towards the coast.
As we make our way to our Gold Coast accommodation, we enjoy our first glimpses of sculptures associated with the Swell Sculpture Festival.
We check into The Sebel Twin Towns before gathering for dinner this evening.
Accommodation: The Sebel Twin Towns
Meals: Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch, Dinner
Today is dedicated to the creativity and coastal scenery of the Swell Sculpture Festival.
After breakfast, we travel to Currumbin Beach, where we walk along the beachfront and discover sculptures positioned against the beautiful backdrop of sand and sea. There is time for morning tea before we continue our exploration of the Gold Coast.
We enjoy a picnic lunch at a foreshore park before travelling to Chevron Island to view more sculptures. Later, we continue to Helensvale for another opportunity to experience festival installations.
We return to The Sebel Twin Towns in the afternoon. Tonight is free, allowing you to choose your own restaurant and enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Accommodation: The Sebel Twin Towns
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch
Dinner: Own choice
After breakfast, we check out and travel to Tropical Fruit World. Set amongst the fertile countryside, this fascinating attraction showcases an extraordinary selection of tropical and exotic fruits.
Our visit includes a tour and lunch before we continue south into New South Wales.
This afternoon we arrive in Yamba, where there is time to enjoy this relaxed coastal town before continuing to Coffs Harbour.
We check into Opal Cove Resort in the late afternoon and come together for dinner.
Accommodation: Opal Cove Resort, Coffs Harbour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After our final breakfast, we check out and begin our journey south towards Sydney.
Our first visit is Ricardoes Tomatoes, where we enjoy a tour and have the opportunity to purchase morning tea from the café.
We then continue to The Artisan Farmer at Nabiac, where lunch is included. Showcasing the produce and flavours of the region, it is a fitting final stop on our spring journey.
After lunch, we continue towards Sydney with a comfort stop along the way, arriving at approximately 5.15pm.
Our arrival marks the end of a wonderful seven days filled with spring gardens, art, coastal scenery and memorable regional experiences.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Activity Levels
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1. Easy
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2. Moderate
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3. Active Moderate
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4. Adventurous
Testimonials
Dear Kerry and staff Thank you for organising the Temora airshow and Wagga tour for our club. We all enjoyed the four days away. The tour length was just right for us ‘oldies’. The Mercure Wagga was very comfortable and centrally located, and there was plenty of free time to explore the galleries, gardens Riverina Museum, and shops on offer in Wagga. The Tamora airshow was an opportunity to view old planes and to see an aviation display for novices to aviation displays. We learnt so much about the RAAF presence in Wagga and Temora during WWII. A highlight of the Junee Rail Museum was the dedicated locals who told us all about trains and privatisation of New South Wales rails. A special bouquet of thanks to Paul , our wonderful coach driver and Marie, our friendly tour guide. Nothing was a problem for them. Both Marie and Paul worked as a great team and put us all at ease. We greatly appreciated all their work, effort, fun and friendship to make our trip memorable. Thanks Guys! It was great to be travelling with Oncourse again. Our club is looking forward to seeing what tourism plans you have in store for 2024. Again, many thanks for your help. Best wishes to all the On Course team.
Regards, Elizabeth
Dear John and Kerry, Debbie and Steve, thank you all so much at On Course Tours for the hugely successful and absolutely wonderful trip to South Australia. Tricia and I loved every moment and were amazed and delighted by how much South Australia has to offer in so very many ways, food especially and of course very many superb wines and wineries – topped off, as John rightly said, by Max’s selection of a delightful crowd of good club friends! John, you and On Course Tours are certainly a class act. You always try very hard, and you succeed, in going that ‘extra mile’. We could not have had better service, right from being picked up at the gate by Kerry, then enjoying your nearly 4,000km of safe, always careful but wonderfully exploratory driving, your delicious picnic provisioning, your excellent selection of accommodation and eateries and your very broad knowledge of all we saw, right thorough to being delivered safely home last night. With our best wishes and so many thanks to you all at On Course Tours for another truly wonderful holiday. We look forward with keen anticipation to the next!
