Adelaide Opera - Bluebeard's Castle

2027

7 DAY FULLY INCLUSIVE TOUR

TUESDAY 23RD FEBRUARY TO MONDAY 1ST MARCH


Join us to experience Bluebeard's Castle at the Festival Centre. Composed in 1911 and premiered in 1918, Béla Bartók's is a haunting masterpiece of psychological opera. Known for its powerful exploration of love, trust and hidden truths, its richly atmospheric score blends lush orchestral colour with striking modern harmonies to create an immersive emotional journey. Presented in the intimate setting of the Festival Theatre, this compelling production draws audiences into a world where symbolism and reality intertwine.



TOUR HIGHLIGHTS


Murtoa Stick Shed, Kaniva Silo Art, Coonalpyn Silo Art, Guided tour of Adelaide, Tour of Carrick Hill, Fermoy House, David Roche Gallery, Guided tour of Hahndorf, The Cedars, A-Reserve seats for Bluebeard’s Castle at the Festival Centre, Guided tour of Mount Gambier, Port MacDonnell, District Maritime Museum and Caroline Hills Winery.



TOUR COSTS

Twin Share Room First Tour: $4,445 per person
Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 2 - 10 Tours: $4,395 per person
Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 11 - 20 Tours: $4,370 per person
Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 21+ Tours: $4,345 per person
Single Room Supplement: $650 per person


Please note a deposit of $300 per person is required upon booking.


This deposit is refundable until 1st December 2026.
 

As a thank you for travelling with O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours, you will automatically receive a saving on the total tour price for your second and subsequent tours.

 

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, in most cases you shall be provided with single accommodation at the twin share fare

(no additional cost).

 

If you are willing to twin share but are a smoker, have a CPAP machine or snore, you will need to pay the single supplement for a sole use room.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

​O'Shanessy's Quality Tours can provide travel insurance quotes through Nib Insurance. Travel insurance is not compulsory, however the Australian Government (see www.smarttraveller.gov.au) recommends all travellers no matter where you are going, obtain comprehensive travel insurance from a reputable provider at the time the balance of the tour is to be paid. It may enable you to claim back the cost of your tour if you are unable to travel or must cancel at late notice.

​Always read the PDS provided, to ensure the cover meets your needs.

MAP


MULTIPLE NIGHT STAYS
3 nights in Adelaide and 2 nights in Mount Gambier.


ACTIVITY LEVELS
Our Moderate Tours are for those comfortable with a bit more movement while still


Please refer to the activity levels below.


ACTIVITY LEVELS

ITINERARY

  • DAY 1: Tuesday 23rd February, 2027

    MELBOURNE TO HORSHAM


    Welcome to our spectacular 7-day tour to experience Bluebeard’s Castle at the Adelaide Festival Theatre. With chauffeured pickup from home, we are transferred to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew. Today is a travel day so sit back and enjoy the facilities aboard our 5 Star Touring Coach as we make our way to Horsham. Enjoying lunch along the way, later this afternoon we visit the awe-inspiring Murtoa Stick Shed. Crafted from 560 natural mountain ash poles, it spans 270m, reaching 19m in height and 60m in width—an overwhelming testament to bush-style construction. Afterwards arrive in Horsham for our overnight stay.


    OVERNIGHT: Best Westlander Motor Inn, HORSHAM


  • DAY 2: Wednesday 24th February, 2027

    HORSHAM TO ADELAIDE


    Before we leave Horsham this morning, we’ll stop to view the Horsham Silo Art. Walking on Country artwork celebrates the life and story of the Wotjobaluk warrior, Yanggendyinanyuk. His name means ‘His Walking Feet’ and his totem, the Black Cockatoo has been painted on the adjacent flour mill. At Kaniva, we see the Silo Artwork of an Australian Hobby bird and a Pink Sun Orchid, that pays homage to the nearby Little Desert National Park and its diverse flora and fauna. We then continue our journey towards the South Australian border to enjoy lunch in Bordertown before heading to Coonalpyn where we take a moment to stretch our legs and view the silo artwork. It’s a lovely tribute to the local school children representing “hope for the future”. From here it’s straight on to Adelaide where we have time to settle in and refresh before dinner.


    OVERNIGHT: InterContinental Adelaide, ADELAIDE


  • DAY 3: Thursday 25th February, 2027

    DISCOVERING ADELAIDE


    This morning, we begin our day by exploring this vibrant and welcoming city as we set out on a guided City Sights tour, offering an introduction to Adelaide’s elegant boulevards, historic landmarks and cultural highlights. From here, the journey continues to Carrick Hill in Springfield, a beautifully preserved historic estate that feels like stepping into another era. A guided tour reveals the charm and character of the house and its remarkable collection. We then enjoy a relaxed lunch at the cafe, set among the tranquil gardens. This afternoon, we discover more elegance at the David Roche Gallery. A guided tour of Fermoy House offers an intimate look into one man’s extraordinary passion for art and antiques, with each room revealing treasures gathered from around the world. Afterwards there will be time to wander through the Gallery before returning to our hotel to relax before dinner.


    OVERNIGHT: InterContinental Adelaide, ADELAIDE


  • DAY 4: Friday 26th February, 2027

    HAHNDORF AND BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE


    Nestled just beyond Adelaide,we explore picturesque town of Hahndorf - Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement and one of the Adelaide Hills’ most charming destinations. Enjoy a unique guided tour of exclusive Hahndorf locations rarely open to the public. Visit the historic St Paul’s Lutheran Church and discover the story of Hahndorf’s early settlers, who fled Prussia in 1838 seeking religious freedom. Learn about the remarkable pioneering women celebrated in the Pioneer Women’s Walk, before enjoying free time to explore this charming Adelaide Hills village. Afterwards we visit the historic home and studio of celebrated Australian landscape artist Hans Heysen - “The Cedars”. Set among the beautiful Adelaide Hills, this preserved property offers a rare glimpse into Heysen’s life and work, featuring original furnishings, personal artefacts and his working studio. During a tour we explore the grounds and experience the inspiring scenery that shaped some of Australia’s most iconic landscape paintings. Thanking our hosts we return to Adelaide where we have time to relax or explore the city at leisure before dinner and tonight’s performance!


    Bluebeard's Castle is an extraordinary operatic experience: intense, visually evocative and emotionally resonant, showcasing Bartók's singular musical vision in one of opera's most powerful one-act works.


    OVERNIGHT: InterContinental Adelaide, ADELAIDE


  • DAY 5: Saturday 27th February, 2027

    ADELAIDE TO MOUNT GAMBIER


    After our magnificent evening last night, we enjoy a relaxed start before we begin our

    journey to Mount Gambier. Our first stop will be Meningie where we enjoy our lunch break

    by the shores of Lake Albert. Our day now takes us along the Coorong National Park. The whole area is a superb natural bird sanctuary with vast numbers of waterbirds. The movie Storm Boy, a film about a young boy’s friendship with a pelican, was shot on the Coorong. This afternoon we arrive in Kingston SE, where we see The Big Lobster and enjoy the sea air. From here we continue to Mount Gambier for our final two night stay.


    OVERNIGHT: The Barn Accommodation and Steakhouse, MOUNT GAMBIER


  • DAY 6: Sunday 28th February, 2027

    EXPLORING MOUNT GAMBIER


    This morning we enjoy a guided tour of Mount Gambier, uncovering the highlights and stories of this unique city built on ancient volcanic landscapes and limestone formations. With our guide we will also visit the remarkable Umpherston Sinkhole, a hidden garden formed within a collapsed limestone cave. Cascading greenery, towering walls, and filtered light create a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city. Our day now takes us to Port MacDonnell. This historic coastal town sits at the edge of the limestone coast, where rugged beauty meets a rich maritime past. Once a bustling fishing port, today it offers sweeping ocean views and a relaxed seaside atmosphere. During our visit, uncover the stories of long ago during a guided sightseeing tour before a visit to the District Maritime Museum. We will also enjoy a seaside lunch before heading back to Mount Gambier, along the way visiting Caroline Hills Winery. Uncover the tales behind the winery and the efforts to revegetate the land. While here, we will also enjoy a tour through the peaceful surrounding gardens and a tasting. After thanking our hosts, we return to the hotel for our final night on tour.


    OVERNIGHT: The Barn Accommodation and Steakhouse, MOUNT GAMBIER


  • DAY 7: Monday 1st March, 2027

    MOUNT GAMBIER TO MELBOURNE


    This morning we travel back into Victoria and the very picturesque area of the great volcanic plain of Victoria’s Western District, surrounded by crater lakes and volcanic cones. As we cross the “great volcanic plain” we travel alongside miles of fascinating dry-stone walls which are a feature of the countryside and known as the stony rises. The walls were built in the 1860s by highly skilled “wallers” from Ireland and Scotland. We continue to Melbourne, where our chauffeurs will be on hand to take us straight to our door - all part of the O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours superior service!


TOUR INCLUSIONS


Complimentary Chauffeur Driven Transfers

Victorian passengers from Greater Melbourne, Bendigo, Torquay, Ballarat, Geelong, the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas, Phillip Island and selected areas of Gippsland will be picked up and returned home in a private chauffeured vehicle by one of our professional drivers. For passengers not within

this pick up zone, or our interstate passengers, a quote can be provided for home pickup in extended areas.


Luxury Touring Coaches

Our full size luxury coaches have only 32-36 passenger seats allowing you even more personal space and extra leg room. Our coaches are fitted with comfortable reclining seats with aisle arm rests, foot rests, seat belts, panoramic windows with blinds, refrigerator for passenger use, restroom, climate control air conditioning and Road Cam monitors which display the road ahead in real time. Each coach has a second door for easier entry and exit and

touchless hand sanitizer dispensers at each entry to help keep everyone safe. Our coaches have full air suspension delivering a smooth and quiet ride which also allows us to lower the coach closer to the ground, making boarding and disembarking even easier.


Friendly Tour Directors

Enjoy peace of mind with O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours, where our dedicated coach crew and experienced tour directors are on board to ensure your journey is as comfortable and memorable as possible. From start to finish, they’re there to assist, guide and take care of every detail. Relax and enjoy

the experience without a worry.


Quality Accommodation & Fully Inclusive Tours

Enjoy the best available ensuite motel accommodation each night, ensuring a restful journey. All attractions and tours listed in the itinerary are included, as are fully cooked breakfasts, all lunches, along with delicious two-course restaurant dinners daily and most morning teas.


quotesArtboard 1 copy 2

“...The Stick Shed (previously known as the Murtoa No. 1 Grain Store) is the only remaining emergency grain store built during World War Two. It is an enduring testament to Australian bush ingenuity and a symbol of the growth and strength of the Australian wheat industry...”

www.thestickshed.com.au

PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION POLICY


Receipt of payment of funds will be taken as acceptance of O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours conditions of travel for this tour.

Prices include GST and all taxes. Balance due on invoice.


Cancellation within 45 days of tour departure date: No refund

Cancellation on or after tour departure date: No refund


If a tour is cancelled for any reason by O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours before the departure date, all passengers will be offered the option of transferring to another tour of their choice, hold the funds in trust for a future tour or a full refund. There is no time limit as to when this must be used. The Australian Government (see www.smarttraveller.gov.au) recommends all travellers no matter where you are going, obtain comprehensive travel insurance from a reputable provider. It may enable you to claim back the cost of your tour if you are unable to travel or have to cancel at late notice. Always read the PDS provided, to ensure the cover meets all of your needs. We are able to provide travel insurance through Nib Insurance.


If you would like a quote for travel insurance, please call our office on 1800 354 352.