MELBOURNE TO BALLARAT

Welcome to our holiday to the Goldfields of Victoria to bring in the New Year! With chauffeured pickup from home, we are transferred to meet our O’Shannessy’s quality Tours coach and crew. We’ll make the short trip to Melton where we visit the Australian Gliding Museum for a tour of the facility. Brought about by a number of kindred spirits interested in preserving older and historic gliders, the Museum includes over 50 historic gliders. After an interesting visit we then continue making our way to Ballarat where we enjoy lunch. This afternoon, we meet a local guide who will enlighten us to the charms of this goldrush town. Later this afternoon, we settle into our hotel for the next four nights.

OVERNIGHT: Sovereign Park Motor Inn, BALLARAT

EXPLORING DAYLESFORD

Today we travel further afield to explore the Spa region of Daylesford. Along the way we visit the Overwrought Sculpture Garden and Gallery. Welcomed warmly, we are guided through the inner workings, gaining insight into the design process behind the exquisite garden sculptures. We then enjoy morning tea, with time to explore the gardens or wander the gallery, perhaps discovering a cherished piece of our own to take home. In Daylesford now, The Convent Gallery is nestled on the crest of Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens boasting views of the countryside and township below. This historic country boarding school for girls has now transformed into a haven for art, history and culture. The Gallery beckons with its gallery spaces, museum and chapel, all enveloped by meticulously groomed gardens, we will also enjoy lunch here before spending time exploring the many stalls at the Amazing Mill Market, featuring vintage furniture, collectables, antiques, memorabilia, home decor, jewellery, books and records to name a few. Afterwards we return to our hotel and relax before the final dinner of 2026. For those who would like to welcome in the new year, we can view the early fireworks display. Delight in the annual Fireworks Spectacular that lights up the night skies, transforming Lake Wendouree into a dazzling array of colour.

OVERNIGHT: Sovereign Park Motor Inn, BALLARAT

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We enjoy a relaxed morning before taking a general sightseeing drive through Creswick. The town has a rich heritage and has produced some of Australia’s most influential bureaucrats, politicians and businesspeople. In 1885 the country’s 14th Prime Minister, John Curtin, was born in the town and called it home for some years.  So did the multi-talented Lindsay family, with artist Norman Lindsay perhaps the most famous of Creswick’s artistic sons. We will also take time to uncover some of the Lindsay Art Trail before visiting the Creswick Woollen Mill. “A Very Fine Yarn” is the mill’s interactive experience showcasing the journey of fibre all the way from its source on the animal, through the manufacturing process and how it finishes up on the shop shelf. After lunch, we then head to Kingston to follow the Avenue of Honour, an avenue of 286 trees originally planted to commemorate those from the district who served in World War One. The avenue was planted in 1918 by the families of the men and women from the Shire of Creswick. In Clunes, the site of Victoria’s first gold strike in 1851, we discover that many of the original buildings have been preserved from those gold rush days, perfectly illustrated with a visit to the wide and elegant Fraser Street.

OVERNIGHT: Sovereign Park Motor Inn, BALLARAT

TALBOT AND MARYBOROUGH

This morning, we head off to explore of what this area has to offer. Stopping in Talbot, a historic gold-mining town in Victoria, we take a unique journey through Australia’s past with a self–guided visit at the Talbot Arts & Communications Museum. Once a Primitive Methodist Church, today it houses the Edwards Collection – photographs, documents and trade and lifestyle material from an early settler, watchmaker and jeweller, JB Edwards. Next, we find ourselves in the historic town on Maryborough. A testament to a rich past that shows in the Central Goldfield’s grand buildings, historic cottages and gracious homes. Today, with a local guide leading the way we “walk” in the footsteps of  those who created this town. No visit to Maryborough would be complete without seeing the award winning, historic Maryborough Railway Station - dating back to the 1890s. Spend time admiring the highly polished timber ceiling and beautiful tessellated floor in the main entrance and discover the stories behind the magnificent building. After a spending day of discovery, we return to Ballarat.

OVERNIGHT: Sovereign Park Motor Inn, BALLARAT

HEADING HOME

Today marks our last day, however we will make the most of it and visit to the historic village Maldon, christened the "First Notable Town in Australia." Today cottage gardens, pavements overhung by verandahs, tailing dumps and old mining structures are the essence of Maldon. We uncover more to its past and present day as a local guide will be joining us this morning. Afterwards we have time to take a stroll through the historic streetscape. We then board the Victorian Goldfields Railway for a ride on an original steam train which runs from Maldon to Castlemaine. Upon arrival, we stop for a late lunch before we begin making our way back to Melbourne. As always, we will be met and chauffeured home to our very door, all part of the O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours superior service.