Epping & District Men’s Probus Club Inc.

Planned Overnight Excursions

 

 

Goulburn – 25 July to 28 July 2012

A four day/three night tour of Goulburn and surrounding areas has been booked. Itineraries are available from Wal Gallagher and a brief summary is as follows:

Wednesday 25th Depart Epping at 7.45 am for Goulburn. There will be visit to the Gothic style St Savior’s Cathedral (1863) and the historic ‘Garroorigang’ (1857), home of the Hume family, descendents of the famous explorer.

Thursday 26th A trip to the Snowy Mountains for a look at the snow and the mountains

Friday 27th Visit the heritage listed town of Braidwood with its antique and specialty shops, then on to Bungendore with its galleries and speciality stores. This evening the motel will have a ‘theme’ night, with prizes.

Saturday 28th Leave for Crookwell for a town visit, including an organ recital at St Bartholomew’s Church which has one of the largest organs in the southern hemisphere. Then return to Epping.

Accommodation is at the four star Goulburn Heritage Motel which features fine dining. The cost of the tour is $450 per person twin share ($150 single supplement) and is all inclusive of coach travel, all meals including morning tea every day, and entries to all attractions. Deposits of $100 per person are required at the March meeting.

 

Vietnam and Cambodia – 18 October to 31 October 2012

Enough people have expressed interest for us to do a tour of Vietnam and Cambodia in the second half of next year, in October.

Priced at $3680 pre person twin share (single supplement $790) for 14 days/13 nights, it will include airfares and taxes for six flights, all accommodation, tours, transfers and most meals. Meals in Vietnam, when not included in the itinerary, are very reasonable in cost. Excluded are personal expenses and travel insurance.

The tour starts in Siem Reap, Cambodia at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat, then proceeds on to Vietnam where the highlights include tours of Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and the Mekong River Delta.

The tour is fully escorted with English speaking guides. Expressions of interest are sought at this stage, and a deposit will be required later this year after dates and itinerary are finalised.Excluded are personal expenses and travel insurance.

Travel insurance is compulsory for this tour and members are reminded that it is available through Probus at more than competitive rates. It is recommended that insurance be taken at the time of paying deposits.

Accommodation at four and five star hotels. . 12 breakfasts, 11 dinners and 10 lunches.

Itinerary:

Thursday 18 October 2012: Sydney / Saigon / Siem Reap. Fly with VN782 1135/1555 from Sydney to Saigon, then connect VN849 1835/1935 to Siem Reap. Upon arrival met and transferApsara Holiday Hotel in Siem Reap for two nights.

Friday 19 October 2012: Siem Reap (Angkor Wat). Early morning, take an opportunity to see the picturesque sunrise at Angkor Wat; after breakfast at hotel then continue to visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphuon, Terrace of Elephants and LeperKing. Visit Angkor Wat, the most renowned Khmer Temple enjoy seeing the beautiful sunset at Phimean Akas Temple, Enjoy your dinner with traditional dance show at city restaurant, Overnight at Siem Reap

Saturday 20 October 2012: Siem Reap / Hanoi. This morning is at own leasure. You will take afternoon flight to Hanoi. Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city boasts tree-lined streets and centuries-old temples. Overnigh in Hanoi.

Sunday 21 October 2012: Hanoi: Today you will take city highlights tour of Hanoi, which includes the West Lake, Lake Hoan Kiem, Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh’s former residence, the One-Pillared Pagoda and Ethnology Museum. You will also enjoy a Cyclo tour (1 hour) th the old quarters of Hanoi and local markets. This evening watch the famous Water Puppet Show (1st class seats).

Monday 22 October 2012: Hanoi / Halong / Hanoi. Enjoy a day excursion to Halong Bay, 170km from Hanoi. Board your private boat for a cruise along Halong Bay (3 hours), a world heritage site recoginised by UNESCO in 1994. Visit some magical grottoes and relax in the best scenic beauty Vietnam. A fresh seafood lunch is served on board. Return to Hanoi with stopovers at the ceramic and hand embroidery workshops en route.

Tuesday 23 October 2012: Hanoi – Hoi An. This morning is at leasure, where you can explore more of the city at your own pace. This afternoon a transfer direct to Hanoi Noi Bai Airport for your flight to Danang, then transferred to Hoi An, a very beautiful charming small town in the middle of Vietnam.

Wednesday 24 October 2012: Hue day excursion. Today you will take an excursion to Hue, which is highlighted with a visit to the Dong Ba Market, famous for its best conical hats in Vietnam. Thien Mu Pagoda and the Imperial Citadel, built in 1804 on a site chosen in accordance with geomancy. A performance of ancient dancing and court music, a world of intangible heritage recognied by UNESCO in 2003, is presented in the citadel. This afternoon, the tour focuses on the tombs of King Tu Duc (ruled 1848 – 1883) and King Khai Dinh (ruled 1916 – 1925). The monuments, designed by the kings themselvers, were also used as holiday retreats during their lifetime. Return back to Hoi An in late afternoon. Overnight in Hoi An.

Thursday 25 October 2012: Hoi An / My Son / Hoi An: Hoi An, is the so called "Living Museum" because of its well-kept original historical buildings and ancient back streets. Visit one of the three city’s oldest homes, built over 200 years ago and still occupied descendants of the families that originally built them; then tour to the Chinese Assembly Hall and the unique Japanese Bridge. This afternoon you will visit the Ruins of My Son and see the Cham Holy See. Lunch and dinner are served at locat restaurants.

Friday 26 October 2012: Hoi An: Today is at leasure to explore Hoi An at your own pace. Possibly to do shopping, get some tailor-made clothes or enjoy a rest on the beach. Dinner served at your hotel.

Saturday 27 October 2012: Hoi An – Danang- Saigon: Before leaving for Danang Airport, stop by the stone-carving village of Non Nuoc where a wide variety of articles is sculpture from marble and sandstone. After lunch, you will take flight to Ho Chi Minh City, formally called Saigon, the economic and financial city of Vietnam.

Sunday 28 October 2012: Ho Chi Minh City: A morning tour round Ho Chi Minh City, formerly called Saigon, featuring the History Museum, the Binh Tay Market in Chinatown, Thien Hau Temple and the lacquer workshop. This afternoon, head out to Cu Chi 70km north of Saigon, famour for its 200-kilometre-long tunnels. A Western dinner served at your hotel.

Monday 29 October 2012: Excursion to Mekong Delta: Enjoy a full day tour to My Tho, 75km south of Saigon, a peaceful town along the bank of the Mekong River. The tour comprises of a cruise on the Mekong River, a visit to the orchards and local homes, a sampan ride along palm-shaded creeks, a taste of seasonal fruit & honey tea and a performance of traditional southern singing. Lunch is a mix of Mekong specialities which is arranged.

Tuesday 30 October 2012: Ho Chi Minh City / Australia: Today is at leasure for last minute shopping or just relaxing. A late checkout till 6pm, then you are transferred to the airport for your flight bound for Sydney.

Wednesday 31 October 2012: Sydney: Arrive in Australia in the morning.

A full itinerary is available from Wal Gallagher. Non refundable deposits of $300 per person are required, together with completed booking forms, at or before the November 2011 meeting.

 

Gloucester and Surrounds – 20-24 November 2012

A five day four night 4WD ‘Adventure Tour’ has been booked with Bishops Australian Adventures for these dates in November. Accommodation will be at the Bucketts Way Motel in Gloucester and the tour will take in Wisemans Ferry, Wollombi, Cessnock, Barrington Tops, Moonan Flat, Nundle and a cruise on Wallis Lake. Return will be via Dungog, Gresford and the Putty Road. This tour is priced at $700 p/person twin share (single supplement $140) and is limited to 34 passengers, the size of the 4WD coach. I expect this tour will prove popular, so seats will be allocated in order of receipt of deposits.

Itinerary: Tuesday 20 November 2012: To Gloucester via Wisemans Ferry

Departure time and place to be advised. We head to Wiswman’s Ferry for morning tea. After crossing the Hawkesbury on the ferry we follow the historic convict built Great North Road through St Albans and Wollombi to Cessnock for a picnic lunch. Continuing through Stroud to Gloucester where we check into centrally located Bucketts Motel for the next four nights.

Wednesday 21 November 2012: Via Barrington Tops to Noonan Flat

Drive back roads, at times reaching altitudes of 4000ft, we cross over Barrington Tops to the pretty rural village of Moonan Flat on the banks of the upper reaches of the Hunter River. We spend several hours enjoying lunch and some hillarious bush poetry at the historic and rustic pub before returning to Gloucester

Thursday 22 November 2012: Nundle

Today we follow Thunderbolts Way back up onto the high range country through Nowendoc where the Australian Agriculture Company once had an outstation. Then on to Nundle where we spend much of the day. We visit the Mt Misery Gold Mine and the old woollen mill.

Friday 23 November 2012: To Forster – Lake Cruise

A slower pace today with the short drive to Forster and a leisurely lunchtime cruise on Wallis Lake. Free time in the afternoon to browse Gloucester.

Saturday 24 November 2012: Homeward bound via Dungog and Gresford

We take the pretty drive though Dungog, Gresford and Paterson before joining the freeway back to Epping at about 5.00 pm

 

Mauritius - 2013

Expressions of interest are sought for a tour of this exotic location in winter next year. This would be priced around $5000 for 14 days/13 nights, all inclusive, in a beachfront resort location with organised tours on most days. Price includes ‘full board’, including drinks. Optional extras are helicopter flights or water activities such as speedboat rides or deep sea fishing.

We need a minimum of fifteen for this tour and already have expressions of interest from four couples.

Please see Wal Gallagher for a detailed itinerary or to register a no obligation interest.

 

 

Trip Organiser: Wal Gallagher 9868 7765 or wwg@bigpond.com

 

 

 

Archive of Previous Overnight Excursions

 

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