MELBOURNE TO LAKES ENTRANCE

Welcome to our wonderful tour to the Sapphire Coast. Tour through the beautiful Victorian High Country. With chauffeured pickup from home, we are transferred to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew. Sit back and relax as we head across Victoria to Sale where we stop for lunch. This afternoon, we continue on to Lakes Entrance for the night.

OVERNIGHT:  Bellevue on the Lakes, LAKES ENTRANCE 

LAKES ENTRANCE TO EDEN

Following breakfast, we make our way through the tiny town of Nowa Nowa before reaching Orbost. Here, we stop for morning tea and a visit to the Orbost Exhibition Centre. Located on the Snowy River, the exhibition is all about timbers and includes the National Collection of Wood Design, permanently on display here. Designed on several levels, we have time to enjoy a retail showroom, gallery for professional artists and a top level for views over Forest Park. Lunch has been arranged for us by the friendly folk at the Marlo Hotel. This afternoon, we venture on through Cann River before our travels take us through to Eden – our base for the next three nights.

OVERNIGHT: Coachman’s Eden, EDEN

EXPLORING THE AREA

Eden’s history is intertwined with the whales and the fishing industry. We have a later start with our first visit, the Killer Whale Museum containing the skeleton of "Old Tom" the killer whale plus many other items of interest and history. We then head to Boydtown. Benjamin Boyd, the son of a London Banker established Boydtown at Twofold Bay in the mid 1800’s as his headquarters from where he ran his whaling and grazing exploits. Boyd had grandiose ideas of developing Boydtown to a stage not only to rival nearby Eden but Sydney itself. His grand plans never eventuated and the only buildings erected were Boyd’s Church, the Lookout Tower and the Seahorse Inn. Here we’ll enjoy a light lunch in the Brasserie of the Seahorse Inn. When we enter the Inn, we’ll be greeted with an ambience of old world charm as the owners have retained much of the original detail such as hand-carved doors, stained-glass ornamentation, winding staircases and large open grates.  After our lunch we visit Wheelers Oyster Barn in Pambula. Since the settlement of the Sapphire Coast, oyster farming has played an important role in the area’s economy. Local oysters have become famous throughout Australia and the world for their excellent quality and flavour, resulting in many awards for farmers. We return to the motel in time to freshen up for dinner.

OVERNIGHT:  Coachman’s Eden, EDEN 

BEGA, CENTRAL TILBA, TATHRA

Today we head north for the day as we make our way through to Bega. We stop off at the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre for a chance to purchase their famed cheese. We then make our way to historic Tilba Tilba, a National Trust village. We’ll enjoy a morning tea break in the village centre with time to explore the many shops of yesteryear and take a look at the former ABC Cheese Factory home of South Coast Cheese. A short drive follows to the gorgeous location of Tilba Valley Wines for a Ploughman’s Lunch and wine tasting. We head ‘home’ via the pretty town of Bermagui, known as a fisherman’s paradise. The continental shelf is at its closest point to the mainland here and where warm southern currents flow, big game fish are in tow! At the wharf we may see some boats returning with their catch.  We continue along the scenic coast road to see the Tathra Memorial Gardens and Tathra Point Lookout, before returning to our accommodation in Eden.

OVERNIGHT:  Coachman’s Eden, EDEN

EDEN TO LAKES ENTRANCE

Leaving Eden behind us, just across the Victorian border Mallacoota beckons. The pretty coastal town sits on the Mallacoota inlet surrounded by the magnificent wilderness of the Croajingolong National Park.  Following morning tea we visit the interesting Bunker Museum. Restored by the local RSL, this World War II RAAF operations bunker was where anti-submarine operations were conducted and is of considerable significance in Victoria’s military history.  Following lunch, we retrace our steps somewhat, travelling via Cann River and Orbost back to Lakes Entrance and have time to freshen up for dinner.

OVERNIGHT: Bellevue on the Lakes, LAKES ENTRANCE

THE STOCKYARDS SHOW

Travelling through Bairnsdale to Paynesville, we join the ferry linking the mainland to the nature-based Raymond Island. Here we meet a very special horseman with many years’ experience handling horses. Don’t forget the camera and of course, in true outback hospitality, the billy will be on the boil for us along with a lovely morning tea. Wayne’s passion is his horses and during the live Stockyard Show demonstration, we’ll be enchanted by the skills and talents as the entertainment unfolds. The show has whip cracking, music and singing, working dogs and much more. As Tommy Woodcock’s Foreman of years gone by, we’ll be regaled with stories of Phar Lap and see the large collection of Phar Lap memorabilia. Departing Raymond Island we re-trace our steps to Paynesville for lunch before our visit to Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place. We’ll immerse ourselves in the heritage and culture of Aboriginal East Gippsland including an exhibition of contemporary aboriginal art then head back to our hotel.

OVERNIGHT:  Bellevue on the Lakes, LAKES ENTRANCE 

LAKES ENTRANCE TO MELBOURNE

Our last day on tour! Departing Lake Entrance, we swing via Sale towards the coast and make our way to Korumburra for lunch at Burra Brewing Co – just for something a little different!  From here we make our way home – our chauffeurs will be on hand to take us straight to our door – all part of the O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours superior service.