4 DAY FULLY INCLUSIVE TOUR
WEDNESDAY 23RD TO SATURDAY 26TH DECEMBER 2020
Start “Decking the Halls” - it’s Christmas time and that means time to celebrate!
The Grampians, known as Gariwerd, rises abruptly from the surrounding Western Plains in a series of rugged sandstone mountain ranges and forests rich in Australian wildlife. Breathe in the air up there and be dazzled by local waterfalls and awe-inspiring lookouts. Wherever you go, wherever you look in this enchanting region, there are striking landscapes filling your view. We’ll take you away for a fantastic and relaxing celebration of all things festive, including a scrumptious Christmas lunch with all the trimmings.
TOUR INFORMATION
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TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Grampians National Park! Eureka Centre, Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre, Halls Gap, Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Wander Inn Restaurant, Traditional Christmas Lunch, Silverband Falls, Royal Mail Hotel. MULTIPLE NIGHT STAYS 3 nights in The Grampians |
PRICE Twin Share Room: $2220 pp Twin Share Repeat Traveller 2 - 10 Tours: $2195 pp Twin Share Repeat Traveller 11 - 20 Tours: $2170pp Twin Share Repeat Traveller 21+ Tours: $2145 pp Single Room Supplement: $220 pp Deposit: $200 per person upon booking O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours will match single travellers who wish to twin share with another single traveller of the same gender. However, if this is not possible, you shall be provided with single accommodation at the twin share fare (no additional cost). All prices are from Melbourne. Please contact our office for a price from your capital city. |
TOUR MAP
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WHAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR TOUR
- Complimentary chauffeur driven transfers. Pick up from and return to your home from Greater Melbourne, Bendigo, Torquay, Ballarat, Geelong, the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas, Phillip Island and selected areas of Gippsland.
- O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours Touring Coach. Travel by O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours Luxury Touring Coach. Features include comfortable reclining seats with ample leg room, arm and foot rests, seat belts, large panoramic windows with blinds, overhead parcel shelf, onboard rest room, Road Cam TV Screens which display the view ahead in real time, a kneeling (coach lowering) device, a second door for ease of entry and disembarkation and full air suspension for a smooth and quiet ride.
- Tour Director. Dedicated O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours tour director and coach captain on board to ensure your travel experience is memorable.
- Best Available Quality Accommodation. Ensuite motel accommodation each night.
- Attractions. All tours and interest venues as per itinerary.
- All Meals. Full cooked breakfasts, morning tea lunches and two course restaurant dinners daily.
ITINERARY
DAY 1: Wednesday 23rd December, 2020
TO THE GRAMPIANS VIA BALLARAT
Welcome to our 4 day Christmas tour to the Grampians National Park. No need for a taxi, our chauffeur will take us directly to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and friendly crew. Our touring today takes us via the Western Highway to Ballarat where we have arranged to visit the Eureka Centre, dedicated to the central theme of democracy, located on the site where young miners bravely stood up for their rights in 1854. We enjoy a light lunch here before continuing to Ararat. It was here that one of the world’s richest shallow alluvial goldfields was discovered by Chinese Immigrants. The fascinating Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre, which we have planned to visit, tells the story of the miners from Southern China and their remarkable trek from Robe in South Australia to the Victorian Gold Fields. Mid-afternoon we continue into the Grampians National Park and check into our hotel – our base for the next 3 nights.
OVERNIGHT: Country Plaza Motel, Halls Gap, The Grampians
DAY 2: Thursday 24th December, 2020
EXPLORING THE GRAMPIANS
After breakfast we begin our day’s touring. The earliest explorer to the region was Major Thomas Mitchell, who spied the saw-toothed silhouette of the Grampians Ranges during an expedition to map the course of the Darling River to the north. Our first stop is at the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre to view a video presentation as well as enjoy a look through the National Park Visitors Centre. We then head out to several of the best lookouts in the northern part of the National Park –Reeds Lookout and McKenzie Falls – all easily accessible and all with sensational views. The area is likened to a giant botanical garden, filled with one third of Victoria’s fauna. In fact Major Thomas Mitchell, when he first visited the area in 1836 as the Surveyor General of New South Wales, was apparently speechless at the imposing sight that met his gaze from the top of what we now know as Mount William. The drive is quite slow as we head across to the western side of the Park for lunch at the delightful Wander Inn. There is art and craft and some delightful gardens to enjoy after lunch.
OVERNIGHT: Country Plaza Motel, Halls Gap, The Grampians
EXPLORING THE GRAMPIANS
After breakfast we begin our day’s touring. The earliest explorer to the region was Major Thomas Mitchell, who spied the saw-toothed silhouette of the Grampians Ranges during an expedition to map the course of the Darling River to the north. Our first stop is at the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre to view a video presentation as well as enjoy a look through the National Park Visitors Centre. We then head out to several of the best lookouts in the northern part of the National Park –Reeds Lookout and McKenzie Falls – all easily accessible and all with sensational views. The area is likened to a giant botanical garden, filled with one third of Victoria’s fauna. In fact Major Thomas Mitchell, when he first visited the area in 1836 as the Surveyor General of New South Wales, was apparently speechless at the imposing sight that met his gaze from the top of what we now know as Mount William. The drive is quite slow as we head across to the western side of the Park for lunch at the delightful Wander Inn. There is art and craft and some delightful gardens to enjoy after lunch.
OVERNIGHT: Country Plaza Motel, Halls Gap, The Grampians
DAY 3: Friday 25th December, 2020
MERRY CHRISTMAS
There is some free time this morning to relax, perhaps make some Christmas greetings calls to family and friends or to attend local church services. We will be ready now for our Traditional Christmas Lunch celebration with all the trimmings at the hotel! Later this afternoon the coach will do a short tour to Silverband Falls just south of Halls Gap. There is a gentle undulating track from the Silverband Car Park to the base of these unusual falls, where a silver bank of water moves over mossy rocks, disappears underground and then reappears downstream. We return to the Grampians Motel for some free time and a light supper.
OVERNIGHT: Country Plaza Motel, Halls Gap, The Grampians
DAY 4:Saturday 26th December, 2020
HEADING HOME
We say goodbye to our hosts this morning and travel to Kyneton, renown as a place for traditional makers and artisans. We’ll have some free time to wander Piper Street, one of the most vibrant streets in the region. Browse original artworks from local artists, peruse gift shops, scour any number of antique shops or see traditional chair makers, stonemasons, and milliners. We’ll have lunch here before we head home to complete our 4 day tour. No need for a taxi, our chauffeurs will be waiting to take us home right to our door – all part of the great O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours service!
There are so many relaxing pursuits to enjoy in the Grampians. Go fishing, canoeing or kayaking at Lake Wartook, Lake Bellfield and Moora Moora Reservoir or one of the park’s many other streams and creeks.
Parks Victoria website
CONDITIONS OF TRAVEL
These terms and conditions form the basis of the contract between You and O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours (O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours “We”, “Us”, or ”Our” contract). It is important that You read these terms and conditions carefully and that you understand your rights and obligations. By agreeing to participate in a tour arranged by Us, You are deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions in full.
Any special requests, dietary/personal must be notified to Our office at the time of booking. All efforts will be made to accommodate any special requests. It is your responsibility to advise O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours of any pre-existing medical conditions that may affect your ability to participate on the tour.
No passenger will be permitted to embark on or continue the tour while their physical or mental condition is, in the opinion of any representative of O’Shannessy’s Quality tours, such as to render them incapable of caring for themselves, or whereby they become objectionable to other passengers or they become a hazard to themselves or other passengers. Whilst on tour with O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours should a passenger require medical attention, discharge papers must be provided to a representative of O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours before you are able to re-join the tour.
O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours has a passenger code of conduct. O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours representatives/crew or any associated carrier, reserves the right at its discretion to exclude from a tour or to terminate the travel arrangements of any person during the course of the tour without refund, of anyone who:
- Presents on the day of the tour departure as ill or unwell in any way, including but not limited to: cough, runny nose, sneezing, vomiting or temperature above 37.5 deg C
- Resides in an Australian suburb, which is the subject of a lockdown order by Your state government, Your request to book on one of Our tours may be denied
- Is incapable of caring for themselves without a minder/carer
- Is unable to cope with the requirements of the tour or who may need or require services or facilities that are not available
- Fails to comply with the reasonable instructions of O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours crew
- Engages in undesirable behaviour or interferes with the enjoyment of other passengers
- Is a hazard to themselves or other passengers and/or is likely to become objectionable to other passengers, O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours staff and or third party suppliers
If you are bringing a mobile device on tour, for the safety of all passengers and crew, we highly recommend that the Official Government COVIDSafe App is downloaded.
You must notify our office if you have returned from overseas in the last 21 days or if you have been in contact with anyone who has returned from overseas in the last 21 days.
This is NOT a complete list of O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours Conditions of Travel. A complete list will be provided upon invoice, alternatively they are available via the below link.
PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION POLICY
Balance due on invoice approximately 30 days prior to departure.
Deposit is fully refundable until 31 days prior to departure date.
Prices include GST and all taxes.
Cancellation 30 to 8 days before tour departure date, 20% Refund of Tour Cost
Cancellation within 7 days of tour departure date, No Refund
On or after tour date departure, No Refund
Travel Insurance is not compulsory, however we highly recommended you take out comprehensive travel insurance with a reputable insurer at the time you pay for your tour.