State: Victoria
Operator: Australian Eco Adventures
Minimum Price: AUD $ 2,395 An Eleven day tour to Eastern Victoria, including rugged mountain country, caves, coastal lakes and beaches, rainforest, hisotric settlements and rich farmland. Abundant wildlife and bird life
DAY 1 Wednesday 16 November
Heading south from Sydney we will leave the Hume Highway to visit historic Berrima (morning tea). We leave the highway again at Goulburn and travel via Bungendore (lunch) and the old copper mining town of Captains Flat to Cooma (Overnight Sovereign Motor Inn) 403km
DAY 2 Thursday 17 November
From Cooma we continue south through the forestry and grazing centre of Bombala to Delegate (morning tea, visit to historic settlers hut). We cross the Victorian border at Delegate River and wind through rugged grazing country and forests in the Snowy River (lunch); this dry “rainshadow” area is in stark contrast to the rich farmland we see later in the day. After a tortuous climb we pause briefly at spectacular Little River Gorge lookout (short walk) before heading south to Buchan Caves. After a visit to one of the impressive caves our route takes us through farming and forest country to Lakes Entrance (next two nights at Banjo Paterson Motor Inn) 330km; several short, easy walks.
DAY 3 Friday 18 November
Time for a walk over the footbridge to Ninety Mile Beach before joining a two hour cruise on the beautiful Gippsland Lakes, travelling as far as Lake King and the pretty settlement of Metung. After lunch we will visit Nyerimilang Heritage Park with its historic homestead, gardens and outbuildings and glorious views over Reeve Channel and the lakes. We will return to Lakes Entrance via Lake Tyers State Park for an easy rainforest walk and view remains of early forestry activity. 50 km; 3 km of easy walking.
DAY 4 Saturday 19 November
Leaving Lakes Entrance we follow the Princes Highway through rich farming country around Bairnsdale to Sale (morning tea and inspection of wetlands park). We continue to the Strzlecki Ranges, enjoying spectacular mountain and ocean views from the Grand Ridge Road. We will enjoy lunch and some walking in the beautiful rainforests of Tarra-Bulga National Park before descending to the coastal plain at Yarram. The South Gippsland Highway takes us through some of Australia's best dairying country to Foster (next two nights at Wilsons Promontory Motel) 26 km; 4 km of easy walking
DAY 5 Sunday 20 November
Off to the rugged and beautiful Wilson's Promontory today. Plenty of time to enjoy the fascinating geology, vegetation and wildlife and glorious scenery. We will enjoy several walks and the exhibitions at the Visitors' Centre. 125km; 5-6km of easy to medium difficultly walking.
DAY 6 Monday 21 November
Today we discover that Phillip Island is more than penguins! We start our day with a visit to historic Churchill Island, site of Victoria's earliest European landings and agriculture. We then move on to the marine visitors' centre at The Nobbies, which focuses on the nearby fur seal population, the largest in Australia. We then visit the Koala Conservation Centre; timing our arrival for the afternoon feeding. Time to relax before an early dinner and departure for the Penguin Parade at sunset (overnight at Banfields in nearby Cowes). 170km; 3km of easy walking.
DAY 7 Tuesday 22 November
Leaving Phillip Island we travel through the rich farmland of South Gippsland, the forests of the Strzlecki Ranges and the Latrobe Valley to the historic gold mining village of Walhalla in the foothills of the Great Divide. Our first experience is to travel the spectacular Walhalla Goldfields Railway. The recently restored line clings to the side of the Thomson River Gorge. After lunch we move to Walhalla for a guided tour of the Long Tunnel Extended Mine, one of Victoria's richest. The rest of the afternoon is available to enjoy the gardens, historic buildings and scenery of the village area before returning to nearby Rawson (overnight Rawson Village). 206km; some easy to medium difficulty walking around Walhalla.
DAY 8 Wednesday 23 November
A beautiful drive today via Tanjil South, Noojee (morning tea at Torongo Falls) and then through the mountain ash forests of the Yarra Ranges to our overnight stay at Marysville. Time to visit Steavenson Falls (floodlit at night) and enjoy the ambience of this beautiful little town (overnight Mountain Lodge).
DAY 9 Thursday 24 November
We follow Lady Talbot Drive enjoying waterfalls and walks among the old growth beech forests before heading through the Strathbogie Ranges on our way to historic Beechworth. Time also spent in the Milawa gourmet region and the King Valley. (Overnight Carriage Motor Inn) 244km; easy walking around Beechworth.
DAY 10 Friday 25 November
An early morning exploration of Beechworth before heading to the historic village of Yackandandah for morning tea. Our route then follows the Murray Valley Highway through Tintaldra, Tumbarumba, Batlow and Adelong (afternoon tea at the old gold workings) before reaching our overnight stay in Gundagai (overnight Poets Recall Motel). 400km; 2 km easy walking
DAY 11 Saturday 26 November
From Gundagai we travel through rugged forest country to the pretty village of Wee Jasper on the upper reaches of Burrinjuck Dam, then onto Yass. Here we will inspect Cooma Cottage, home of explorer Hamilton Hume. After lunch we join the freeway for our return to Sydney. 400km
Notes: Tour Code: A15
Special Departure Dates: 16 November 2005 – SEATS STILL AVAILABLE
Trip Duration: 11 days
Departs from: Sydney Central Station
Tour Ends: Sydney Central Station
Departure Time: 8.00 a.m
Return Time: 5.30 p.m
All Prices: $2395.00 per person twin $315.00 single supplement
