MELBOURNE TO ALBURY

Welcome to our holiday to the regional town of Young—it’s a great base for all our local touring!  With chauffeured pickup from home, we are transferred to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew. We’ll make a stop for morning tea before continuing north to Benalla. Street art and silos are drawing crowds to small country towns in Victoria and after lunch, we drive around Benalla taking in some of the Street Art – artists from around the world were brought together to paint murals on bare walls, some over three stories high. Not far from here is our first silo - the Goorambat Silo – featuring the endangered Barking Owl. Whilst in Goorambat we will also see the impressive “Sophia” mural in the Uniting Church. In Devenish, we’ll be amazed at Cam Scale’s artwork of a First World War nurse, a modern-day combat medic and a Lighthorseman and his trusty steed. In St James you will notice a large mural of Sir George Coles, the founder of Coles Supermarkets and the town has a plaque showing where his first business was located. Our last stop today is in Tungamah. Each silo has a different artist and a different story! We continue on to Albury for our first night’s accommodation.

OVERNIGHT:  Quality Resort Siesta, ALBURY

ALBURY TO YOUNG

Today’s journey takes us from Albury to Young with inspiring stops along the way. In Walla Walla, admire Damien Mitchell’s striking water tower mural, which pays tribute to local settlers and wildlife, featuring a proud kangaroo and vibrant bushland. At Yerong Creek, Heesco’s mural Through Their Eyes tells the story of the town’s past and future through the lens of its children. In Uranquinty, view another of Mitchell’s artworks honouring WWII Aboriginal fighter pilot Len Waters, female WAAF mechanics, and the iconic Wirraway aircraft. Learn of Uranquinty’s wartime significance and migrant history before continuing to Wagga Wagga. Here we stop by the RAAF Base Water Tank Art, painted by Sam Brooks. The vision for the piece was to allow people to understand and connect to the rich history and incredible contribution and sacrifice the Riverina residents made to our country during World War Two. In Junee now we enjoy lunch at

Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory.  Established in the old Flour Mill, the factory is one of only three certified organic licorice manufactures in the world and the perfect place to stock up on some treats for those back home! We will also visit the Roundhouse Railway Museum for a tour, allowing us access to one of the few working roundhouse turntables in Australia. It is also one of the largest at 30 metres. The 1947 Roundhouse, with its massive turntable and multiple repair bays, is an interesting reminder of the importance the town played in the Steam Train Era. From here we head to Young, our home for the next five nights.

OVERNIGHT:  Federation Motor Inn, YOUNG

EXPLORING YOUNG

Exploring Young today, we welcome a local guide onboard to point out the interesting sights of this historic gold rush town. The town is also famous for its delicious cherries. Next, we stop at Poppa’s Fudge & Jam Factory. For the sweet toothed, there is a huge range of delicate chocolates and tempting lollies as well as their well-known freshly made fudge. We have arranged lunch at the Allambie Orchard and Café. It’s not cherry season but we’ll still have the opportunity to take a wander through the orchard and hear from the grower. We will have time to explore Young at our own pace before returning to the hotel.

OVERNIGHT:  Federation Motor Inn, YOUNG

LARGE ARTS, WORKING DOGS AND AVIATION HISTORY

This morning, we make our way to Prunevale calling in to visit the Hawkesbury Working Kelpie Stud. Bred for instinct, intelligence and endurance, these “man’s best friends” are trusted by farmers, stock handlers and dog trial competitors across Australia. Witness the Kelpie in action during an engaging demonstration to uncover why these working dogs are one of the most important aspects of farming today and yesteryear. Thanking our hosts we head to Harden, a peaceful town situated on the south west slopes of New South Wales. Here we stop to see the striking Harden Murrumbah Silo Art by the renowned artist Heesco, which celebrates the rich local history and grain heritage of the region.  Travelling on we then visit the small town of Temora.  Here we will enjoy lunch before a visit to the Temora Aviation Museum – one of the finest collections of historic aircrafts in the world. It aims to acknowledge the role played by Australia’s ex-military aircraft and encourages visitors to learn and be inspired through its collection. This afternoon we make our way to back to Young.

OVERNIGHT:  Federation Motor Inn, YOUNG

BOORAWA AND COWRA

After breakfast we head to Boorowa, a charming country town famous for its merino wool.  A local guide will join us this morning as we step back in time, to discover that this town has a rich Irish heritage and strong pastoral traditions. From here we travel to Cowra. After taking in the sights of the town we visit the Japanese Gardens. Designed by internationally renowned landscape architect Ken Nakajima, the Japanese Garden follows the edo style walking garden of the Shugakin Imperial Villa in Kyoto built between 1655 and 1659. The garden itself is designed to represent the landscape of Japan and features a stream cascading in waterfalls into two large ponds. Meandering paths and wooden bridges allow visitors to explore and view the gardens at ease. The Cultural Centre displays Japanese art history and crafts and has become known as the centre of Japanese Culture in Australia. Cowra was made famous by the POW Camp located here during WWII and the now famous “Cowra Breakout”. To find out more we start at the Visitor Centre where local information is available along with a model of the POW camp. Before returning to our hotel we stop by the Cowra water tanks situated atop the hill and overlooking the former Cowra POW Campsite. These two newly completed murals cast a striking figure over the Wiradjuri Countryside.

OVERNIGHT:  Federation Motor Inn, YOUNG

HISTORIC HOMESTEADS AND LOCAL GOODIES!

We’re in for a fantastic day ahead! Our journey begins in the charming heritage town of Yass, known for its grand Victorian and Edwardian buildings. While here, we explore the home of the great Australian explorer, Hamilton Hume. Cooma Cottage is a rural treasure, and while being guided through Hume’s original house, soaking up the pioneering stories, we gain a true insight into nineteenth century life. Next, we head to picturesque Jugiong, nestled on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. This charming village is home to the Jugiong Wine Cellar and the renowned Long Track Pantry. Here, we take a moment to explore this country food store, known for its incredible range of handcrafted goods and gourmet produce that are loved by locals and travellers alike! We then enjoy lunch followed by time to wander the charming town at your own pace. When all are ready, we will travel back to Young to relax before dinner.

OVERNIGHT: Federation Motor Inn, YOUNG

YOUNG TO WANGARATTA

We say farewell to our hosts this morning as we depart Young and travel south through rich farming country toward the historic town of Gundagai, where we stop to stretch our legs. Continuing along we pass through scenic countryside to Tarcutta, once a key stop for long-distance truck drivers and home to the National Truck Drivers’ Memorial. After a short visit in Kilgowlah Creek at the water tank art, we continue to Holbrook, known as the “Submarine Town” for its life-sized HMAS Otway submarine displayed in the park, a great lunch stop and photo opportunity. In the afternoon, we travel deeper into North East Victoria, with views of rolling hills and river valleys as we approach Wangaratta. Nestled on the banks of the Ovens River, Wangaratta welcomes us with its relaxed charm, heritage streetscapes, and excellent local produce. We check in and unwind after a scenic and fascinating day of regional travel.

OVERNIGHT: Quality Hotel Wangaratta Gateway, WANGARATTA

WANGARATTA TO MELBOURNE

Today, our holiday is coming to an end. We say farewell to our hosts this morning and travel via Moyhu to Whitfield, a very pretty and very small town situated in a dairying and tobacco growing district in the highly scenic King River Valley where lush river flats are surrounded by some magnificent high country. As we continue, keep an eye out for some fabulous views across some truly scenic high country. From here we head onto Mansfield which also has a colourful history of squatters, selectors, bushrangers, gold miners, packers and coachbuilders. It is famous for its magnificent scenery, farms, cattle, horses and hospitality. We have time to take a wander along the main street before lunch at the Hotel Delatite. This afternoon, we head off for Bonnie Doon on the edge of Lake Eildon. We continue, travelling via Yea to join the Melba Highway past the outskirts of Melbourne to home where our chauffeur service will drop us to our very door – all part of the great O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours service!