Spring Tour 2015 -Barmera & South Australia’s Riverland A 7 Day Spring Tour Highlights 4 nights at the Barmera Country Club Motor Inn Daily “Happy Hour” in the Barmera Country Club Motor Inn Cruise on the Murray River Banrock Station & The Historic Overland Corner Hotel Renmark – Olivewood House and Angove Wines Loxton Historic Village Day 1 (D): Sydney to Narrandera (Saturday 19 Sep, 2015) Welcome to our 7 Day Spring Tour to the Riverland Region of South Australia. We will spend 4 nights at the Barmera Country Club Motor Inn so that we can enjoy some local touring, meet some local characters, and sample some local produce. So once we have completed our passenger pick up service and the coach is loaded we are ready to go. Sit back and enjoy the service and facilities aboard our Aussie Sights Touring Coach as we head south onto the Hume Highway. Our destination today is Narrandera in south western NSWwhich, like Barmera, is a river town – located on the Murrumbidgee River. We make several stops during the day, including a lunch stop, before our mid afternoon arrival. We take a look around town and then settle into our overnight accommodation. (Lunch own arrangements & cost/Dinner) Newell Motor Inn, Narrandera 02 69592877 Day 2 (BD): Narrandera to Barmera (Sunday 20 Sep, 2015) We head to Hay this morning for our morning tea stop at Shear Australia (The National Shearers Hall of Fame) before crossing the Hay Plain on our way to Mildura. From Mildura we continue west along the Sturt Highway towards the South Australian Border. Its 140ks from Mildura to Renmark – just inside the border – and just a little closer is the tiny village of Paringa (Paringa is from an Aboriginal word meaning “big bend in the river”). Its here we have our afternoon tea stop at Lock 5. Navigating the Murray River wouldn’t be possible without the series of locks and weirs dating back to the 1920s and 1930s. Fourteen locks are still in use today. Lock 5, just downstream from Renmark, is a great example of one of these locks. We will enjoy afternoon tea from the coach with some fantastic views of the river. We then cross the Paringa Suspension Bridge which was opened in 1927 and drive into Renmark. From here we continue to Barmera – our base for the next 4 nights. Our accommodation – surrounded by the Barmera Golf Club (every room has a fairway view), is all ground floor with walk in showers. Dinner will be in the motel restaurant each night and there will be Happy Hour in the bar each night from 5pm. (Breakfast/lunch own arrangements & cost in Balranald/Dinner) Barmera Country Club Motor Inn 08 85882888 Day 3 (BD): Exploring the Riverland (Monday 21 Sep, 2015) Barmera is a popular holiday resort town situated on the shores of Lake Bonney. This morning we will see a monument dedicated to Sir Donald Campbell who attempted to break the Australian water speed record on Lake Bonney in the 1960’s.We also call at the Country Music Hall of Fame before the short drive to Berri. Here we have arranged to join “Missy” – a 48 seat flat cruising boat for a river cruise on this wide section of the river. Great views and a great commentary will make for a fun morning! Back in Berri we have some free time to purchase lunch (the Berri Hotel is a good option) before heading to nearby Glossop and a visit to Bella Lavender Estate. We have arranged afternoon tea with time to take a walk in the garden and check out their range of products for sale such as homemade soap, shampoo lip balm and arthritis cream. After an interesting day we return to the Barmera Country Club Motor Inn. Happy Hour in the restaurant is from 5pm. (Breakfast/Lunch own arrangements & cost in Berra/Dinner) Barmera Country Club Motor Inn 08 85882888 Day 4 (BLD) The Historic Riverland (Tuesday 22 September, 2015) Today we have planned a visit to the award winning Banrock Station near Kingston on Murray. Banrock Station lies at the junction of the Banrock Creek and the Murray River. The property was purchased by BRL Hardy in 1994. The 1650 hectare property has just 250 hectares devoted to premium grape varieties such as Semillon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. The remaining land, including 12.5 kilometres of river frontage, adjacent to the Banrock Lagoon and wetlands, is being returned to its native state. We have arranged a visit which will include a talk on the winery and the wetlands, morning tea and the opportunity for a short walk along the wetlands boardwalk. We are then off for lunch! Our drive from here takes us over the Napper Bridge, which crosses Chambers Creek (the link from the Murray River to Lake Bonney) and onto the historic Overland Corner Hotel – a popular rest spot last century for drovers moving stock between NSW and South Australia. The hotel was built from sandstone cut from a nearby quarry and in the 1870′s it was not unusual for as many as 30,000 sheep and several mobs of cattle to be camped here overnight. We enjoy lunch here before the drive back to Barmera via Monash. (Breakfast/Light Lunch at the Overland Corner Hotel) Barmera Country Club Motor Inn 08 85882888 Day 5 (BLD): Loxton & Renmark (Wednesday 23 September, 2015) One of the other major Riverland towns is Loxton – and that is where we are off to this morning. Loxton on the Murray was first settled by people of (predominantly) German origin, who were escaping religious persecution. This proud German heritage is still evident today. Much of the town’s fascinating history is on display at the Loxton Historical Village. The town was not settled until Cobdogla Station was established in the 1850’s. A William Loxton was a stockman on the Station who lived, with his wife Mary, in a slab hut on the riverbank. A replica of this hut was built in 1970 on its original site and this was the beginnings of the Loxton Historical Village. Late morning we travel to Renmark. We park at the Renmark Paringa Visitors Centre and visit Paddle Steamer Industry, which is moored here. Commissioned in 1911, The Industry once worked for South Australian Water, keeping the Murray River open to traffic. Following a hectic work life the steamer was retired in 1969. There is a delightful short river bank walk to the Renmark Club where we have arranged lunch. Afterwards we return to Barmera for some free time. The golf course is right next door to the motel if anyone feels like a round. The motel has electric Golf Buggys available at discounted rates for our group. There is also a Leisure Centre with a pool table and other games. (Breakfast/Club lunch at Renmark/Dinner) Day 6 (BD): Barmera to Griffith (Thursday 24 September, 2015) We farewell our hosts at Barmera this morning and begin the drive home. Our destination today is Griffith. We travel back to Mildura and then once again cross the Hay Plain. Late afternoon we arrive in Griffith for our final night on tour. Like Barmera, Griffith is located in a magnificent food and wine producing area – the Riverina (as opposed to the Riverland). It is also heartland for one of the world’s most successful rice industries. Developed as a model settlement, the town was planned by Walter Burley Griffin who also designed Canberra. On arrival we check in and enjoy dinner before heading home tomorrow. (Breakfast /Lunch own arrangements & cost/Dinner) Econolodge Motor Inn Griffith 02 69621800 Day 7 (B): Griffith/Sydney (Friday 25 September, 2015) We head home this morning arriving into Sydney early afternoon to complete a sensational 7 day tour. (Breakfast/Lunch own arrangements & cost) All itineraries are subject to change due to occasional restrictions in opening times/days of some attractions, e.g. churches, wineries etc. We cannot be held responsible for any changes due to closures, inclement weather etc. Tour Cost $1375 per person twin share $300 single supplement Tour Inclusions 6 nights’ accommodation 6 cooked breakfasts, 6 dinners and 2 lunches Shear Outback – entry (Day 2) Shear Outback – morning tea (Day 2) Balranald – Lunch own arrangements & cost (Day 2) Paringa – Lock 5 – A/T from coach (Day 2) Sir Donald Campbell Memorial, Lake Bonney (Day 3) Rocky’s SA Country Music Hall of Fame (Day 3) BMS Tours – “Missy” – 2 hour river cruise (Day 3) Berri – Lunch own arrangements & cost (Day 3) Bella Lavender Estate – afternoon tea (Day 3) Banrock Station Wine & Wetland Centre – talk, walk & M/T (Day 4) Overland Corner Hotel – Lunch (Day 4) Loxton Historical Village – entry (Day 5) Loxton Historical Village – M/T (Day 5) Renmark Paringa Visitor Centre – PS Industry (Day 5) Renmark Club – light lunch, desert, T/C (Day 5) Please Note All itineraries are subject to change due to occasional restrictions in opening times/days of some attractions, e.g. churches, wineries etc. We cannot be held responsible for any changes due to closures, inclement weather etc. A NON REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT OF $100 PAYABLE ON BOOKING TRAVEL INSURANCE IS SUGGESTED ALL ENQUIRIES TO: AUSSIE SIGHTS COACH TOURS 02 96449005 0407 924487 [email protected] PO BOX 177 GRANVILLE 2142
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 09:34:44 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015