Epping and District Probus Club Inc.

Best of Victoria’s Gippsland 22^nd March – 30^th March 2017

Eight day tour with Bishops Adventures

Enjoy the splendid, unspoiled region around Lakes Entrance with its vast lakes, pretty limestone caves, historic mining towns, lush dairy country and thriving koala colonies

Tour Highlights

• Drive to Lakes Entrance via Cooma, Bombala and Bonang Highway.
• Spend 4 nights in centrally located motel accommodation opposite the waterfront.
• Take a guided tour of the Buchan Caves.
• Board a ferry for a cruise around the Gippsland Lakes.
• Catch the ferry to Raymond Island and walk amongst koalas in the wild.
• See the historic old railway trestle bridge on the abandoned Ordost railway line.
• Enjoy a visit to the old gold mining town of Walhalla where we ride the vintage train along the valley edge into Walhalla are guided underground into a mine shaft.
• Travel to Walhalla via Maffra, and Heyfield and return via Moe and Sale.
• See the extraordinary painted ceilings of St Marys in Barnsdale.
• Drive via the Great Alpine Road and Mitta Mitta Highway via Swifts Creek, Omeo, Anglers Rest through the mountains to Albury.
• Spend a full day enjoying many of the best highlights along the Murray River such as wine tasting at All Saints Estate. Corowa Chocolate and Whiskey Factory and a lunch time cruise at Yarrawonga.

Wednesday 22^nd March –To Cooma

Depart Epping at 7.45am with a stop for morning tea en-route for Nowra. From Nowra we drive past the Naval Air Station HMAS Albatross and onto the newly competed Shoalhaven Highway over the Great Dividing Range stopping for a picnic lunch at Nerriga. Next stop is the National Trust classified former gold rush town of Braidwood where we do a short town tour. From here we take a gravel road up and over the Big Badja mountain passing through the remote village of Numeralla and on to Cooma for our overnight motel accommodation. Dinner tonight is in the motel dining room.

Thursday 23^rd March – Cooma – Lakes Entrance.

A very interesting route of followed today. We drive through Nimmitabel and Bombala to Delegate where we stop for morning tea then over the border into Victoria and along the gravel surfaced forestry route known as Bonang Highway. This road winds through magnificent stands of timber and often follows beautiful mountain streams. In Orbost we stop for a late picnic lunch and later we visit the historic trestle bridge on the abandoned Orbost railway. Late this afternoon we settle into our motel accommodation in Lakes Entrance for the next four nights . Our motel is well located in town and across the street from the waterfront.

Friday 24^th March – Buchan Caves.

A late start this morning with a very leisurely day ahead starting with the pretty drive via Bruthen to Buchan Caves Reserve. Here we enjoy the peaceful, parkland setting for our lunch and a guided cave tour. We return to Lakes Entrance mid-afternoon with free time for "retail’ or enjoy the waterfront location and walks.

Saturday 25^th March – Walhalla.

A full day today starting with the drive of several hours to the historic gold rush town of Walhall via Maffre, Heyfield, and a gravel forestry road through the mountains. First activity is a ride on the Walhalla Goldfields Railway along a restored section of the historic line. After lunch we take a guided tour of the Long Tunnel Extended Mine to hear about mining methods and to see firsthand the conditions of the miners. The return drive to Lakes Entrance is via Traralgon and Sale.

Sunday 26^th March – Lakes Cruise and Koalas

This morning we drive to Paynesville on the western side of Lake King where we take a short ferry ride to Raymond Island and enjoy the Koala walking trail. View the many koalas in their natural habitat throughout the bush and streets of the island. On the coach drive back to Lakes Entrance we visit St Marys church in Bairnsdale to see the extraordinary murals painted on the ceiling by Italian artist Franscesco Flouranil After a picnic lunch we depart for a relaxing cruise on the Gippsland Lakes with commentary and afternoon tea (at own expense) on the way.

Monday 27^th March – Lakes Entrance – Albury

A great day’s drive through the mountains via Ensay, Swifts Creek to Omeo where we stop for a morning tea and a look at the Chinese gold diggings. The Omeo Highway winds u into the ranges and has some very pretty views especially around Anglers Rest and the Blue Duck Inn.. For the next two nights we stay at the Albury Manor House Motel with meals in their dining room.

Tuesday 28^th March – Local Highlights

First up we drive to Yarrawonga and enjoy a morning tea cruise on the Murray River lake system. The cruise is a great experience with good commentary and interesting highlights. Next highlight is a visit to the famous All Saints winery with its castle style buildings and the chance to enjoy a wine tasting and a short stroll around the winery and gardens. For a treat this afternoon we visit an old flour mill that has been converted into a Whiskey and Chocolate Factory tourist facility. Afternoon tea is enjoyed here.

Wednesday 29^th March – Homeward Bound

Our return drive is via the Hume Highway arriving at Epping at approximately 5 pm.

Price #1350 per person, twin share. (single supplement $420.00)

Includes:

• Coach travel in small easy to manage group of up to 23 passengers
• County style en-suited motel accommodation
• All meal on tour.
• All activities on tour
• Our experienced driver/guide.