Ballarat Begonia Festival

2027

4 DAY FULLY INCLUSIVE TOUR

FRIDAY 5TH MARCH TO MONDAY 8TH MARCH


Celebrate beauty, colour and creativity at the annual Ballarat Begonia Festival. Held in the heart of Ballarat, this vibrant festival brings the spectacular Begonia Collection to life within the stunning Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Wander through breathtaking displays where thousands of blooms burst with colour, texture and intricate design, creating an unforgettable floral experience for visitors of all ages.



TOUR HIGHLIGHTS


Australian Gliding Museum Melton, Tour of Her Majesty’s Theatre Ballarat, Guided tour of Ballarat, The Begonia Display, Ballarat Tramway Museum, Creswick Woollen Mills, Lavandula Farm, Amazing Mill Markets and Ballarat Begonia Festival Parade.


CRUISE

Golden City Paddle Boat


TOUR COSTS

Twin Share Room First Tour: $2,995 per person
Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 2 - 10 Tours: $2,970 per person
Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 11 - 20 Tours: $2,945 per person
Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 21+ Tours: $2,920 per person
Single Room Supplement: $345 per person


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

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 a 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 Ballarat


ACTIVITY LEVELS
Our Leisurely Tours are perfect for those who enjoy a slower pace; these are domestic tours and mostly “stay put,” with minimal physical activity required.



Please refer to the activity levels below.


ACTIVITY LEVELS

ITINERARY

  • DAY 1: Friday 5th March, 2027

    MELBOURNE TO BALLARAT


    Welcome to our four-day tour celebrating the colours and blooms of the Ballarat Begonia Festival. With chauffeured pickup from home, we are transferred to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew. Our first stop today will be Melton, where we visit the Australian Gliding Museum for a tour of the facility. Established by a group of kindred spirits interested in preserving older and historic gliders, the museum houses over 50 historic aircraft. After this interesting visit, we continue to Ballarat, arriving in time to enjoy lunch before visiting Her Majesty's Theatre for an inside tour of the world of theatrics! Opened in 1875, Her Majesty's Theatre is the beating cultural heart of Ballarat, holding the title of Australia's oldest continuously operating live theatre venue.  We then settle into our hotel for the next three nights.


    OVERNIGHT:  Sovereign Park Motor Inn, BALLARAT


  • DAY 2: Saturday 6th March, 2027

    BALLARAT AND THE BEGONIA FESTIVAL


    Meeting a local guide this morning, we uncover the charms of this gold rush town. Next, it’s all about colour, texture and design at the Begonia Display, housed inside the Robert Clark Conservatory. The Ballarat Begonia Festival is held on the foreshore of Lake Wendouree, within the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. The gardens have grown tuberous begonias since the late 1800s, many of which were originally imported from England. The collection now also includes many Australian-bred varieties. We have allowed plenty of time to explore the different areas and browse the many stalls before enjoying lunch. This afternoon, we head to the Ballarat Tramway Museum to discover the story of Ballarat’s tramway history. While here, we’ll step aboard a heritage tram, explore historic tramcars and learn how trams once connected communities across the city.


    OVERNIGHT: Sovereign Park Motor Inn, BALLARAT


  • DAY 3: Sunday 7th March, 2027

    WOOL, LAVENDER AND CURIOSITIES


    Today we explore further afield into Creswick and the Daylesford region, beginning with a visit to the Creswick Woollen Mills. “A Very Fine Yarn” is the mill’s interactive experience, showcasing the journey of fibre from its source on the animal, through the manufacturing process, and ultimately to the shop shelf. As we continue through the countryside, we travel via Kingston to follow the Avenue of Honour—an avenue of 286 trees originally planted in 1918 to commemorate those from the district who served in World War One. The trees were planted by the families of the men and women from the Shire of Creswick. From here, we visit Lavandula Farm, offering us a taste of Europe. Stone farmhouse buildings cluster around a cobbled courtyard, surrounded by beautiful gardens, lavender fields, a creek, and distant hills. We enjoy a brief tour and have time to browse The Barn, which stocks a range of products for the body and soul, before a delicious lunch. This afternoon, we continue with an eclectic experience at the many stalls of the Amazing Mill Markets, featuring vintage furniture, collectables, antiques, memorabilia, home décor, jewellery, books and records, to name just a few. When we are ready, we return to our hotel in Ballarat.


    OVERNIGHT: Sovereign Park Motor Inn, BALLARAT


  • DAY 4: Monday 8th March, 2027

    PARADE DAY AND HOMEWARD


    We enjoy a relaxed morning, with time to explore the town at our own pace before taking the opportunity to experience one last festival highlight—the Ballarat Begonia Festival Parade. It promises to be a spectacular display of creativity, community and colour as the parade brings Ballarat’s streets to life. After the parade, we enjoy lunch before cruising along Lake Wendouree aboard the Golden City Paddle Boat, a working replica of its namesake that operated on the lake as early as the mid-1880s. As we cruise peacefully along, we note that the lake provides the perfect habitat for numerous species of birds, as well as a diverse range of flora and fauna. Later this afternoon we return to Melbourne. As always, our chauffeurs will be waiting to take us straight to our very door—a delightful way to finish our time away, and all part of the exceptional service provided by O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours.


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 from home in a private chauffeured vehicle by one of our professional drivers.

For Victorian passengers not within this pick up zone, or our interstate passengers a quote can be provided for home pickup in extended areas.

At the end of your tour, you will be safely returned home with memories of a sensational tour.

Luxury Touring Coaches

Our full size, 3 axle 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 and Fully Inclusive Tours

Enjoy the best available ensuite motel accommodation each night, ensuring a restful journey. All attractions, flights 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.



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.


Deposit is fully refundable until 46 days prior to departure date.

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.