MELBOURNE TO GEELONG

Welcome to our Christmas holiday to Geelong. With chauffeured pickup from home, we are transferred to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew. Our first stop will be the Victoria State Rose Garden - home to 4500 roses from more than 100 different species. We’ll have our morning tea stop here before visiting the Werribee Mansion, one of the largest and most spectacular homes in the country. With our guide leading the way, we soak up the richness of this estate, built on the wealth of an Australian pastoral empire. Next door to the Mansion is the Werribee Open Range Zoo.  We enjoy lunch in the café before boarding our special safari coach to take a drive through the Zoo. We will be completely immersed in the sights and sounds of the savannah as we travel across the Zoo’s open plains. The magnificent wildlife, including rhinos, giraffes, zebras and antelopes will seem almost touchable. This afternoon we arrive at our hotel in Geelong and settle in - this will be ”home” for the next four nights.

OVERNIGHT:  Rydges Geelong, GEELONG

GEELONG AND WINCHELSEA

This morning, we have planned a visit at the National Wool Museum. For most of its history, Geelong has been one of the great wool cities of Australia and nearly 200 buildings in the area, classified by National Trust, keep residents and visitors mindful of the city’s heritage.  We’ll see many displays dealing with the arts of shearing, wool cleaning, classing, pressing and dispatching.  Then we’re off to explore the Amazing Mill Markets. There are more than 60 stalls here offering a selection of vintage clothes, vintage furniture, antiques, memorabilia, jewellery, and books – just to name a few. Afterwards we head to Winchelsea to enjoy lunch before encountering the majestic ostrich at Hastings Ostrich Farm. Our knowledgeable tour guide will address any inquiries we may have about these wonderfully prehistoric and unique birds. We will also learn how farming saved them from extinction.

OVERNIGHT: Rydges Geelong, GEELONG

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It’s a gentle start today with transfers on hand to take anyone who would like to attend a Christmas Day church service before we sit down to enjoy a delicious traditional Christmas Day Lunch with all the trimmings at our hotel. This afternoon we can enjoy a visit to the Botanic Gardens. Established in 1851, the gardens have grown and transformed to include a variety of gardens and lawns, including the modern and innovative 21st century garden.  There will also be time to take a stroll along the Geelong Bollard Trail Walk. The bollards, taken out of the old harbour, have been carved into colourful and interesting characters of various themes. There are more than 100 of these huge painted icons guiding visitors along the foreshore walking/cycling track. They represent a fascinating and fun chronicle of the city's past, focusing on some of the unique characters who played a part. Back at our hotel we enjoy a light supper before retiring for the evening after a lovely Christmas Day.

OVERNIGHT:  Rydges Geelong, GEELONG

EXPLORING GEELONG

Meeting a local expert this morning we explore more of Geelong’s heritage. Uncover the stories behind Geelong's industrial reputation, wool stores, gardens, and much more. The CBD is quite elegant and beautiful owing to the Victorian public architecture, floral parklands and the thoughtful presentation of the promenade at Eastern Beach. Thanking our guide we then head to the Bellarine Peninsula where we have a lovely lunch and wine tasting planned at the idyllic Jack Rabbit Vineyard. With views across the bay to Geelong and exceptional food. This afternoon we walk in the footsteps of our convict past and unlock Australia's crime and justice history in Victoria's longest running colonial gaol, Geelong Gaol. Join Deb, the Historian of the Geelong Gaol to uncover the history and the stories of those contained within the bluestone walls. After a very intriguing afternoon, we return to our hotel.

OVERNIGHT:  Rydges Geelong, GEELONG

HOMEWARD BOUND

We bid farewell to our hosts and make our way to the enchanting historic town of Queenscliff. Once known as “Queen of Watering Places” it is imbued with old world character, historic hotels and homes. Our first stop is the historic Fort Queenscliff. With over 150 years of heritage on display, The Fort is home to an impressive collection of military artifacts and weapons. Our tour of the grounds and museum will have us pondering life as it was when Port Phillip was one of the most heavily defended harbours in the British Empire. Next we visit the Maritime Museum. Listening to our guide we discover a story of how the care of the last Queenscliff lifeboat expanded to cover the maritime history of township, Southern Port Phillip and the Bass Strait interface. Afterwards we enjoy lunch in Queenscliff and then have some time at leisure to soak in the atmosphere of the town before our mid-afternoon Searoad Ferry crossing to Sorrento and home. As usual, our chauffeurs will be on hand to take us to our very door  -  all part of O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours superior service!