Victoria - Australia
Day 1
Monday April 17th
Arrive Melbourne
We will meet at the Cullen Art Series Hotel later in the afternoon for an introduction and a glass of wine.
Pre- Dinner get together.
Dinner
Cullen Art Series Hotel
Commercial Rd
Prahran
Day 2
Tuesday April 18th
A Melbourne Day to be confirmed.
Dinner
Accommodation
Cullen Art Series Hotel
Commercial Rd
Prahran
Day 3
Wednesday April 19th
Melbourne - Dandenong Ranges – Yarra Valley
Olinda /Cloud Hill Garden Visit
Lunch – Japanese Tea House
Walk in the Dandenong Gardens
Wine Tasting and Dinner at Balgownie Estate in the Yarra Valley
Accommodation
Balgownie Estate
Melba Highway, 3777 Yarra Glen
Day 4
Thursday April 20th
Antique Perennials Nursery Visit
Marysville Visit
Marysville Sculpture Garden
Beautiful drive through the famous Black Spur Drive which winds through the Magnificent Mountain Ash forest between Marysville and Healesville
Meletos for Dinner
Accommodation
Balgownie estate
Melba Highway, 3777 Yarra Glen
Day 5
Friday April 21st
Chocolate / Cheese / Allowyn Garden
Healesville and a chance to wander through the interesting shops on offer
Late afternoon Gin Tasting and Early fun dinner - Four Pillars
Accommodation
Balgownie Estate
Day 6
Saturday April 22nd
Travel Day
Lancefield – Coffee
This is a quant classic old pastoral working village, with picture-perfect mid-18th century architecture along the main street of town and glorious deciduous trees putting on a serious Autumn display.
Kyneton - Charming Kyneton also has a wonderland of historic buildings and its character tells of the wealth of the gold rush. Sporting stunning bluestone buildings, charming gift shops, outstanding restaurants and cafes, and a superb, historic Botanic Gardens. We are having lunch at Botanik which is totally fun and unique
Dinner at Hotel
Accommodation
Bellinzona Daylesford - Bring your swim suits – hotel pool.
Main Rd Hepburn Springs
Day 7
Sunday April 23rd
Daylesford / Macedon
Morning coffee stop at Woodend. A town which is set under wide verandas along the boulevard of the Old Calder Highway. Another cute town full of country-style bakeries, cosmopolitan cafes and brilliant pubs. Surprisingly there is also a great selection of bookstores and shops with an eclectic mix of old and new wares.
Macedon Viewfield Garden –
Picnic Lunch Macedon is stunningly beautiful in Autumn The quiet, leafy country village on the base of Mount Macedon’s southern slopes has some of the most gorgeous houses and gardens you will see. It is also the result of the discovery of gold in 1851 and over the years, wealthy Melbournians flocked to Macedon, building large homes and grand gardens.
Many years ago I went to a master Class at the Melbourne Food and Wine festival. It was with Alla Wolf Tasker and I have never forgotten the simple rolled terrine she made and I still make it often. She is an icon in the food world and so is her restaurant and hotel. We can’t leave Daylesford without a meal here.
Dinner – Lake House
Bellinzona Daylesford
Day 8
Monday April 24th
Daylesford
Garden of St Erth
A warm Daylesford welcome from a family friend Tina. She owns and operates the amazing Convent overlooking Daylesford. With a glass of wine in your hand she wants to give you a back stage tour and you will be wowed with what you can do with an old convent.
Accommodation
Bellinzona Daylesford
Day 9
Tuesday April 25th
Daylesford
Garden Visit – Frogmore
Trentham
Lunch Annie Smithers – I wanted to book at Annie’s famous restaurant for lunch called Du Fumier. But after correspondence we are now going to her 9 ,acre farm Babbington Park where she harvests the produce for her restaurant and where she is going to provide lunch for us in her historic home.
Afternoon to enjoy at the healthy relaxing Hepburn Spring Bath house or book a spa treatment
Garden Visit to be confirmed
Dinner
Accommodation
Bellinzona Daylesford
Day 10
Wednesday April 26th
Dunkeld
Travel Day.
Stopping at my favourite garden nursery Lambley - where they are experts at gardening in dry arid conditions without watering.
Onto Streathem where you can find a café for lunch
We are heading to the southern end of the Grampian’s National Park to a small town called Dunkeld. Primarily so we can experience the magnificent natural Australian landscape but underlying is the acclaimed Royal Mail Hotel. They are world famous and it’s the home of fine-dining restaurant, Wickens. which was awarded 2 Hats in the 2019 Good Food Guide Awards,
Later in the afternoon Wine Cellar Tutorial - tasting and tour in the biggest wine cellar with their 28,000 bottles of wine.
First night we will eat casually at ‘The Parker Project ‘
Dinner – The Parker Room Project
Accommodation
Royal Mail Hotel
Day 11
Thursday April 27th
This morning we are going to be escorted through the hotels extensive gardens by the hotel chefs.
Afternoon choices: Visit to the local arboretum, wildlife viewing, self-guided walk
Fine-dining experience - Awarded 'two hats' Wickens has been rated as “undoubtedly enjoy one of the most memorable and delectable food experiences in Australia”.
So… with the stunning backdrop of the Grampians we will immerse ourselves in this incredible dining experience where they emphasize the celebration of food, wine, people and place.
Accommodation
Royal Mail Hotel
Day 12
Friday April 28th
From Dunkeld we are going to drive up through the Grampians to Halls Gap
Traditionally known as Gariwerd, the Grampians and the surrounding region has a fascinating Aboriginal history. We will stop at Brambuk – The National Park & Cultural Centre in Halls Gap.
Here you can explore what Gariwerd-Grampians means to Aboriginal people and find information about visiting the Grampians National Park.
Tonight we are in Ballarat
Dinner
Accommodation
Craig’s Hotel Ballarat
Day 13
Saturday April 29th
Ballarat is the fourth largest city in Victoria, Australia. Within months of Victoria separating from the colony of New South Wales in 1851, gold was discovered near Ballarat, sparking the Victorian gold rush. Consequently, we have a town with so…. much history, fabulous architecture with seriously good galleries, museums and lifestyle. For New Zealanders there is a link since many gold miners continued to Otago Gold fields.
Walking tour of Historical Ballarat
Your own time in the afternoon to explore, shop or take a walk around Wendouree.
Dinner
Accommodation
Craig’s Hotel Ballarat
Day 14
Sunday April 30th
Travel Day. Ballarat – Melbourne
Rorainan Nursery – Lara - Geelong
Dinner
Accommodation
Cullen Art Series Hotel
Day 15
Monday 1st May
Depart
Sadly, this planned tour to Victoria 2022 was unable to work given the Covid restrictions we have endured over the past years.
I did manage to get in and out of Victoria in late April 2021 and mustered all my inhibition’s, hired a car for 3 days, visited accommodation, met locals and ate at local restaurants. It has given me a basis for this first tour in Australia. The tour certainly has a gardening focus. However, we have many outstanding eating experiences and I have encompassed local history, native Australian countryside and wildlife.
We finally visited Melbourne this year to meet our new grandson Charlie and spend time with 3-year-old Mia, son Matthew and partner Kara. Although there was a little time for travel and yes … Philip did manage to get Covid. There seemed to be a lot of time trying to keep out of the way of everyone else. Perfect for family time.
I have completed the bookings, confirmed accommodation and paid deposits which means this tour will go ahead.
The programme still needs some tweaking as I confirm garden visits and restaurants.
My private special tours are based on unique accommodation and the best of regional kitchens and wines. I will be using local guides where appropriate and hopefully it provides a special 15 days full of unique experiences. I want this tour to provide a special memory. I have included the best hotels available in each region. Many unique visits - available only to our group. Although meals and wines are chosen to reflect our destination we do have a few that are the top of their game and “Why Not”
Hotel booking have proved to be tough. Consequently, this tour has spaces for 4 couples or twin sharing and 5 singles with the added single supplement.
The tour is all inclusive:
All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 12 dinners are provided including wine.
Bus transport: 29 seater bus with luggage trailer.
Accommodation.
Entries, visits, guides and excursions.
This itinerary does need more detail. However, it provides the tour route and accommodation . I have booked hotels which was very difficult. Consequently, if you are interested in this tour please get in touch. - I will send you the costings and can put your name down.
Sample Itinerary
2023
Victoria Wine Food and Gardens
17th April - 1st May
DinnerAccommodation - Cullen Art Series Hotel
Accommodation - Cullen Art Series Hotel
Day 2
Thursday March 24th
Melbourne
Flower Show and Garden Visits - Programme to be finalised
Dinner
Accommodation - Cullen Art Series Hotel
Day 3
Friday March 25th
Melbourne
Flower Show
Flower Show and Garden Visits - Programme to be finalised
Dinner
Accommodation - Cullen Art Series Hotel
Day 4
Saturday March 26th
Melbourne
Own Day – Show in the evening ( Hamilton ? )
Dinner
Accommodation - Cullen Art Series Hotel
Day 5
Sunday March 27th
Bendigo
Travel Day
Dinner
Accommodation- Craigs Royal Hotel
Day 6
Monday March 28th
Bendigo
Historical Walking Tour
Garden
Dinner
Accommodation - Craigs Royal Hotel
Day 7
Tuesday March 29th
Bendigo
Clunes
Ascot – Lambley Nursery – Famous non watering garden
Dinner -
Accommodation - Craigs Royal Hotel
Day 8
Wednesday March 30th
Dunkeld
Travel Day
Dinner
Accommodation - Royal Mail Hotel
Day 9
Thursday March 31st
Dunkeld
Four Wheel driving through Grampians
Dinner
Accommodation - Royal Mail Hotel
Day 10
Friday April 1st
Daylesford
Travel Day
Dinner
Accommodation - Peppers Hotel
Day 11
Saturday April 2nd
Daylesford
Trentham
Lunch Annie Smithers
Garden – Frogmore
Dinner
Accommodation - Peppers Hotel
Day 12
Sunday April 3rd
Daylesford
Garden of St Erth
Paul Bangays Garden ‘Stonefields’ ???
Health Spa
Accommodation - Peppers Hotel
Day 13
Monday April 4th
Daylesford
Kyneton – Lunch
Mt Macedon
Lunch
Lancefield
Dinner
Accommodation - Peppers Hotel
Day 14
Tuesday April 5th
Yarra Valley
Travel Day
Antique Perennial Nursery Private Visit
Dinner -
Accommodation - Balgownie Hotel
Day15
Wednesday April 6th
Yarra Valley
Winery Visits
Alowyn Garden / Louise
Dinner Meletos
Accommodation - Balgownie Hotel
Day 16
Thursday April 7th
Melbourne
Dandenong Ranges
Cloud hill
Accommodation - Cullen Art Series Hotel
Day 17
Departure April 8th
I did manage to get in and out of Victoria in late April this year and mustered all my inhibition’s, hired a car for 3 days, visited accommodation, met locals and ate at local restaurants. It has given me a basis for this first tour in Australia. The tour certainly has a gardening focus. However, I have encompassed local, history, native Australian countryside and wildlife.
I have booked accommodation which means I can advertise this tour, nevertheless although I have a programme I am waiting for the International Flower Show programme and I will confirm garden visits and restaurants.
My private special tours are based on unique accommodation and the best of regional kitchens and wines.
The tour is all inclusive:
All breakfasts and dinners, some lunches are provided including wine.
Bus transport
Accommodation
Entries, guides and excursions.
You are not asked to pay for anything extra.
This tour requires arrival and departure from Melbourne.