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
-
1. Easy
-
2. Moderate
-
3. Active Moderate
-
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 On Course, I was unable to thank you yesterday for a wonderful trip. Every aspect of the tour was first class, even the Weather! But I want to mention the drinks and trivia night that you arranged to make our time so pleasant. It is these elements which make On Course so much better than your competitors.
