Silo Art Trails & Goldfields of Victoria
Days:
8 Days
Activity:
3. Active Moderate
Transport:
Fly
$3,995.00
Tour description
Discover the best of regional Victoria on this fascinating eight day journey combining rich gold rush history, spectacular silo art, charming country towns and Melbourne’s iconic attractions. Beginning in Ballarat, explore the famous Sovereign Hill living museum, the Eureka Centre and historic streets where Australia’s gold rush story began.
Travel through the Grampians and Wimmera regions, visiting colourful country towns and one of Australia’s most impressive collections of giant silo murals. From Sheep Hills and Brim to Rosebery, Lascelles, Patchewollock, Sea Lake and Colbinabbin, each artwork tells the unique story of its local community.
Experience the heritage of Hill End with a visit to Creswick Woollen Mills, Murtoa’s Stick Shed, Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum and a relaxing paddle steamer cruise on the Murray River at Echuca. Discover Bendigo aboard the famous Talking Tram, visit Bendigo Pottery and enjoy time in the beautiful Botanic Gardens before travelling to Daylesford and Melbourne.
The tour concludes with a delightful Melbourne experience including the MCG and Australian Sports Museum, Fitzroy Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, Federation Square and a scenic Yarra River cruise. Throughout the journey enjoy quality accommodation, delicious meals and fully escorted touring while discovering the history, art, culture and natural beauty that make regional Victoria one of Australia’s most rewarding destinations.
Tour Highlights
• Flights Sydney to Melbourne return
• Ballarat sightseeing and historic town tour
• Sovereign Hill living museum
• Eureka Centre and Flag Story experience
• Creswick Woollen Mills
• Murtoa Stick Shed
• Wimmera and Mallee Silo Art Trail
• Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum
• Echuca Paddle Steamer cruise on the Murray River
• Bendigo Talking Tram tour
• Bendigo Botanic Gardens
• Bendigo Pottery
• Daylesford and The Convent Gallery
• Melbourne sightseeing tour
• Yarra River cruise
• Melbourne Cricket Ground tour
• Australian Sports Museum
• Fitzroy Gardens
• Queen Victoria Market and Federation Square
• Fully escorted touring throughout
Itinerary
Fly from Sydney to Melbourne where your Victorian adventure begins. Travel via Bacchus Marsh to historic Ballarat, enjoying lunch before meeting a knowledgeable local guide for an informative tour of this famous gold rush city. Learn about Ballarat’s remarkable history before checking into your accommodation at Sovereign Park Motor Inn. This evening enjoy a delicious welcome dinner.
Accommodation: Sovereign Park Motor Inn, Ballarat
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, spend the morning exploring the award winning Sovereign Hill, where costumed characters, traditional shops and demonstrations recreate life during the 1850s gold rush. Enjoy free time for lunch before visiting the Eureka Centre to discover the story behind the famous Eureka Stockade. Return to your hotel for dinner.
Accommodation: Sovereign Park Motor Inn, Ballarat
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel to Creswick for time at the renowned Creswick Woollen Mills before continuing through Beaufort and Ararat to Murtoa for lunch. This afternoon visit the remarkable Murtoa Stick Shed, one of Australia’s largest surviving timber buildings, before viewing the colourful Rupanyup Silo Art. Continue to Horsham for dinner.
Accommodation: Best Western Horsham
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today’s journey showcases Victoria’s spectacular Silo Art Trail. Visit the impressive murals at Sheep Hills, Brim, Rosebery, Lascelles, Patchewollock and Sea Lake before travelling to Nullawil and Swan Hill. Enjoy a picnic lunch beside picturesque Lake Lascelles before checking into your hotel. This evening visit Pioneer Settlement to experience the spectacular Heartbeat of the Murray laser light show.
Accommodation: Quality Inn Swan Hill
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit the fascinating Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum before travelling to Echuca. Enjoy free time for lunch followed by a relaxing paddle steamer cruise along the Murray River. Continue via Rochester and the Colbinabbin Silo Art before arriving in Bendigo for dinner.
Accommodation: All Seasons Bendigo
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Discover Bendigo aboard the famous Talking Tram before enjoying time in the beautiful Bendigo Botanic Gardens. After lunch visit historic Bendigo Pottery, Australia’s oldest working pottery, with opportunities to browse the gallery and shop before returning to your hotel.
Accommodation: All Seasons Bendigo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Travel to charming Daylesford and visit The Convent Gallery with morning tea. Continue to Southbank for free time and lunch before enjoying a scenic Yarra River cruise. This afternoon discover Melbourne’s famous landmarks on a city sightseeing tour before checking into your hotel.
Accommodation: View Hotel Melbourne
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast visit the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground and Australian Sports Museum before enjoying time in beautiful Fitzroy Gardens. Spend free time exploring Queen Victoria Market and Federation Square before transferring to the airport for your flight home to Sydney.
Meals: Breakfast
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
Ladies and Gentlemen, Our recent tour to Merimbula and the Sapphire Coast was enjoyable. We wish to have recorded our special thanks to John T, the driver of the week. Not only steered us through thick and thin but changed his hat throughout the days to become maitre de plaisir, Tea and Coffee director, Seniors supervisor, time keeper, convenience spotter, luggage handler and so the list goes on and on. John is a credit to the Company !!
Best regards, Helga
Dear On Course Tours Thank you so much for the wonderful 3 day trip to Oberon. It was great to go to Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens and “Bebeah” at Mt Wilson on the first day. Mayfield Gardens (the full gardens) did not disappoint and the weather was so kind to us. The rhododendrons and the crab apples were certainly on display for us. Jimmy did a great job looking after us all. The accommodation was great as well all the good food! Going to Everglades on the day we came home was an added bonus and some time in Leura was great as well. I was even home in time to plant out a replacement Daphne that I had got. l am now looking forward to the Yamba and Grafton trip – here’s hoping the weather will be kind to us. I would love next year’s program when it has been completed. I hear it is nearly finished.
