February 30 New Year in Wingham
The Manning River is the only double delta river in the Southern Hemisphere and the only permanent multiple entrance river in the world other than the Nile River. We are treated to morning tea and lunch whilst on board our 3.5 hour cruise of this mighty River. Within the delta there are several channels dividing coastal land into large islands, such as Mitchells and Oxley Islands … Don’t be alone this year, join Mary and Brian on this tour and celebrate New Year with the ‘family’.
click here for your brochure … New Year in Wingham
NEW YEAR IN WINGHAM … Don’t be alone this year, join Mary and Brian on this tour and celebrate New Year with the ‘family’.
Tour Inclusions:
• Pick up from your home, transport and return
• Luxury Coach Travel Seatbelts & Restroom
• 4 Nights Minimum Three Star Quality Motel Accommodation
• 4 Three Course Dinners with Choices & All Fully Cooked Breakfasts
• Lunch Days 1, 2, & 4
• All Entry Fees and Guides as per Itinerary.
Tour Highlights:
Tailor Made Fish Farm; Manning Valley Historical Society Museum; “Island Explorer” Lunch Cruise on the magnificent Manning River; Wingham Brush Rainforest; Gloucester Township;
Mograni Lookout; Historic Gold Mining Township of Copeland; Mountain Maid Gold Mine Tour; Rawdon Vale Bushranger Ambush; Stobo Homestead & Gardens with Lunch; Dooragan
National Park & North Brother Mountain; Crowdy Head Lookout; Port Macquarie Highlights Tour; Port Macquarie Historical Society Museum; Koala Hospital “walk & talk” tour; Historic
Riverboat Township of Morpeth & Campbell’s Store plus more!
Tour Fee including GST: Members $1699.00 per person, twin share
Non Members $1709.00 per person, twin share
Single Supplement $280.00
Minimum loading 20 passengers booked and paid by Thursday 27th October 2016
5 Days / 4 Nights – with Mary and Brian
Tour Departs: Friday 30th Dec 2016 – Tuesday 3rd Jan 2017
Please note that the itinerary is subject to change without notice
Day 1, Friday 30 Dec: Hometown – Wingham Lunch & Dinner
This morning we depart our prearranged pick up point and begin our trek up to Wingham for our New Year tour. We travel into Port Stephens to the Tailor Made Fish Farm for lunch
and tour through one of the state’s largest Barra and hydroponic farms. This afternoon we continue our drive up past Forster to Wingham for check in and welcome dinner.
Overnight Wingham: Golf Club Motor Inn 02 6553 0300
Day 2, Saturday 31 Dec: Manning Valley Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today we begin with a visit to the Manning Valley Historical Society Museum. The Manning Valley Historical Society Museum and Archives is located in historic buildings
once used as a grocery and produce store, circa 1880, and overlooks the imposing town square (Central Park) of Wingham. This park is the result of far thinking pioneers
and sets Wingham apart from other towns of the era. It is surrounded on four sides by historic buildings and has magnificent views of the Bulga and Comboyne Plateaus.
We then board our cruise on the “Island Explorer” where we are treated to informative commentary as we cruise along the magnificent Manning River which is one of only three true deltas in the world covering 260 kms in length with over 150 km of navigable water. The river flows past the towns of Wingham and Taree. At Taree, the river splits and becomes a double delta. The southern arm reaches its mouth near Old Bar and the northern arm reaches its mouth near Harrington Point; creating two separate entrances to the river: Harrington Inlet (north) and Farquhar Inlet (south). Within the delta there are several channels dividing coastal land into large islands, such as Mitchells and Oxley Islands. The Manning River is the only double delta river in the Southern Hemisphere and the only permanent multiple entrance river in the world other than the Nile River. We are treated to morning tea and lunch whilst on board our 3.5 hour cruise of this mighty River.
Before heading back to the Golf Club Motor Inn we will visit the Wingham Brush a rare pocket of subtropical lowland rainforest and home and breeding sanctuary of the grey headed flying fox. We will see where the Manning River winds its way through Wingham and where the old logging boats used to load the timber for transport back in the 1820s. Arriving back at the Golf Club Motor Inn, you can enjoy a cuppa on the balcony or a cold one around the pool. We then enjoy a lovely three course meal in Caddy’s Restaurant.
Overnight Wingham: Golf Club Motor Inn 02 6553 0300
Day 3, Sunday 1 Jan: Port Macquarie Breakfast & Dinner
Travelling north today our destination is Port Macquarie. The trip will take us via the seaside village of Laurieton and into the Dooragan National Park where our coach will drive to the top of North Brother Mountain. We will be spellbound by the magnificent views overlooking the waterways leading out to sea at Laurieton to the north and the coastline and waterways looking down to Crowdy Head and Harrington to the south. Morning tea is available at the Lookout at own cost. We then descend through the township of Laurieton and along the coast road to Port Macquarie.
This will be followed by a short tour of Port Macquarie one of the first penal settlements in New South Wales which is evident by some of the beautiful historic buildings. We then have time to purchase lunch at one of the many cafes along the waterfront. There will be plenty of free time to wonder the CBD following lunch. We then gather outside the Historical Society Museum in Clarence Street. This fascinating Museum explores the heritage of the local region with an extensive collection of unique artefacts – representing Port Macquarie’s establishment as a penal settlement in 1821, through the years of free settlement as a coastal village. This visit will give us a wonderful insight into the historical significance of this region and is not to be missed.
From here it is a short 5 min trip to the Koala Hospital where we will arrive in time for a Koala Feeding Tour. The hospital admits between 250-300 koalas each year. The very sick koalas and new admissions are treated in the hospital’s Intensive Care Wing. During recuperation the koalas are moved from Intensive Care to the outdoor yards to enjoy the sunshine. The “walk & talk” tour incorporates watching a feed and then a guided tour around the outside yards giving visitors a full commentary on the koalas. Later in the day we travel back down to the 4 star comforts of the Golf Club Motor Inn arriving around late afternoon in time to freshen up and prepare for dinner at Caddy’s Restaurant.
Overnight Wingham: Golf Club Motor Inn 02 6553 0300
Day 4, Monday 2 Jan: Gloucester Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After a hearty breakfast we travel to Gloucester set in the beautiful Avon Valley with the backdrop of a range of unusual hills called “The Bucketts” with the world heritage listed Barrington Tops in close proximity. Our first stop on the way is the Mograni Lookout on the edge of Gloucester to take in the beautiful views of the town, valley and mountains.
After driving through Gloucester we will head to the once thriving gold town of Copeland. Morning tea will be served before our 2 hr guided Tour of the Mountain Maid Gold Mine. Gold was first discovered in the area in 1876 in Copeland Creek near to what is now the village of Copeland. We are taken on a journey back in time to explore the site and surrounds and listen to stories and tales of exploration and extraction of gold in one of NSW longest running operating gold mines. After the Gold Mine tour we continue our journey back in time with a visit to Rawdon Vale Ambush.
This is Gloucester’s largest and longest held family cattle property. We experience firsthand what its like to be held up ‘bush ranger style’ by Nic, a unique and authentic stockman. Lunch will be served in the family homestead where we will experience the elegance of yesteryear. The “Stobo” homestead is over 100 years old. We will also have the chance to wander the expansive garden, listen to historical accounts of life at Rawdon Vale over the last 100 years, and peruse the historical photographs on display and much more. After a full day it is back along Bucketts Way through the tiny hamlet of Krambach to the 4 star comforts of the Golf Club Motor Inn arriving around late afternoon in time to freshen up and prepare for dinner at Caddy’s Restaurant.
Overnight Wingham: Golf Club Motor Inn 02 6553 0300
Day 5, Tuesday 3 Jan: Wingham – Morpeth – Hometown Breakfast
This morning after breakfast we depart for home as we travel via to the historic riverboat township of Morpeth, where our local guide joins us at Campbell’s Store. We then enjoy
a wonderful 40 minute overview of the historic village before arriving back at the store where we can partake in fudge, honey and ginger beer tastings. We are then free to wander and marvel at the art and craft shops, specialty stores and all the cosy cafes nestled in the history filled alleys of the village. This afternoon we continue our drive back home arriving late afternoon after a wonderful time away with Mary & Brian.