May 4 – Yuletide in Lithgow
Best known for its industrial heritage, Lithgow is also an exquisitely beautiful area with seven national parks and rare flora and fauna. Explore the Capertee Valley and Mudgee, Jenolan Caves and Oberon, Bathurst to the west and the Blue Mountains to the east. Within minutes of the city, you can be walking through historic villages, visiting spectacular lookouts, sitting beside clear flowing creeks or discovering the many beautiful valleys that dominate the region.
click here for your brochure … Best of Lithgow & surrounds
YULEFEST in LITHGOW
Tour Inclusions:
• Pick up from your home, transport to Lithgow and return to your door step
• (Sydney Metropolitan area only)
• Luxury Coach Travel, Seatbelts and Restroom
• All fully cooked breakfasts
• Yulefest Dinner at the motel
• One night quality accommodation, twin share
• All entry fees and guides as per itinerary
• Escorted tour
Tour Highlights:
Guided tour of Norman Lindsay Gallery, Lunch and self guided tour at Bygone Beauties, driving tour of Blue Mountains, Lithgow Visitors Centre, Guided tour of Eskbank House, Scenic drive along Bells Line of Road, Bilpin Fruit Bowl, Windsor RSL Club
2 Days with Brian and Mary
Tour Dates Saturday 4 – Sunday 5 June 2016
Minimum loading 20 passengers booked and paid by Thursday 7 April 2016
Tour Fee including GST:
Members
Non Members
Single Supplement
$499.00 per person twin share
$529.00 per person twin share
$65.00
Please note that the itinerary is subject to change without notice
Day 1. Saturday 4 June 2015 Home – Lithgow
We pick you up this morning from home and travel west along the Great Western Highway making our way up through the lower Blue Mountains to our first stop at the Norman Lindsay Gallery. The home of the Magic Pudding, classic children’s book (1918), and displays the work of artist, cartoonist and writer Norman Lindsay (1879-1969). He was both proficient and prolific in pen and ink drawing, etching, woodcuts, watercolours and sculpture. Run by the National Trust, the sandstone cottage and landscaped grounds also has a specialist gift shop and cafe.
Here we will view paintings and sculptures from Australia’s most prolific and controversial artist and craftsman. He lived in the stone cottage for most of his life and a major collection of his works is on display. We will be joined by a guide to explain the Gallery and Gardens to us prior to continuing further up through the middle and upper Blue Mountains to arrive in Leura. Here we arrive at Bygone Beauties for our luncheon rendezvous. Home of world’s largest private collection of teapots, over 3,000, most items are on display in the Treasured Teapot Museum.
Visitors can purchase estate jewellery (gold, silver and diamonds), antiques, collectables and contemporary quality gifts – all scattered throughout the emporium. After lunch we will have time to admire the collection of antiques and collectables of this lovely cottage. We continue our westward tour over the mountains to arrive at the Lithgow Visitor Information Centre to view the Miners Lantern before checking into our motel. There will be time to freshen up prior to our Yulefest dinner. If you like, you can hand make a hat for the Yulefest hat parade. This is quite fun and the winner is selected by everyone, a very small prize is awarded to the winner.
Overnight Lithgow: Zig Zag Motel
History of the Yulefest The Yulefest tradition started in the Blue Mountains in 1980 by a group of Irishmen who thought it would be a good idea to celebrate Christmas in the cooler months of the year in Australia, like they do in the northern hemisphere.
Day 2. Sunday 5 June 2015 Lithgow to Home Breakfast Lunch
After breakfast this morning we make our way to the historic Eskbank House, the oldest house in the valley. Eskbank House & Museum is also the home of the Nationally Significant Lithgow Pottery Collection, one of the largest collections of Lithgow Pottery in Australia. Our local guide will show us through the historical house and outbuildings. We will also have morning tea here and then make our way toward home along the scenic Bells Line of Road. There will be time to stop at the Bilpin Fruit Bowl where they sell apples, local honey, home-made jams, apple pies, cakes and slices. You may like to take home an apple pie for dinner, family or friends. Our lunch today is at the Windsor RSL Club where we have time to relax in the Club Rooms before returning home with memories of your Yulefest Tour with Brian and Mary that you can share with your friends.