3 NIGHTS

Get ready for a bloomin’ marvellous tour as we fly to “Marvellous Melbourne”, once the world’s richest city following Victoria’s 1850’s Goldrush. The Goldfields region surrounding Melbourne is full of heritage towns and glorious rural scenery and we will experience many of its different attractions on this holiday.

For the next 3 nights we will be staying in the vibrant neighbourhood of Southbank; as Melbourne’s Arts Precinct it has one of the highest concentrations of arts and cultural organisations in the world. We enjoy our first Group Dinner at the Skydeck that offers sparkling views across this dynamic city.

Overnight: Melbourne

All aboard for a wonderful railway adventure! We travel to the beautiful Dandenong Ranges to ride Australia’s oldest and best-preserved heritage steam railway, the famous Puffing Billy. Travel to Lakeside through a temperate rainforest of lush fern gullies where Mountain Ash trees tower overhead – just glorious!

At SkyHigh, on top of Mount Dandenong, we take in the magnificent panoramic views; from the Mornington Peninsula across the majestic sweep of Port Phillip Bay to the You Yangs on the southern horizons. Wow!

Enjoy a late afternoon cruise down the Yarra River through the mighty Port of Melbourne to the historic Port of Williamstown. What a perfect way to finish a delightful day.

Overnight: Melbourne

The International Flower & Garden Show in Melbourne is the largest and most prestigious event of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. Exquisite feature displays, the work of Australia’s leading floral designers, will take your breath away. With over 300 exhibits representing nurseries, landscape gardening, floristry and cut flowers, together with their associated products and services, there’s a lot to see and do. We have set aside a whole day for the show, and you are free to wander at leisure. Keen gardeners may want to stay here the whole day, or you may wish to visit other Melbourne attractions – the choice is yours. We have arranged an afternoon transfer or you can organise your own way to meet up back at our hotel.

Overnight: Melbourne

3 NIGHTS

We leave Melbourne behind as we travel north, following in the footsteps of all those who headed for the goldfields over 170 years ago.

We arrive in Castlemaine to board the Goldfields Railway steam train and travel as “gentry” in the First-Class carriages to historic township of Maldon. This small, picturesque village was designated Australia’s first “Notable Town” by the National Trust due to its intact 19th Century streetscapes.

Enjoy time to wander before we travel to beautiful Bendigo, our home for the next 3 nights.

Overnight: Bendigo

Today is a very special day filled with inspiration and hope. Our first brief stop is in the ghost town of Moliagul, once a thriving gold village and renowned as the home of the Welcome Stranger, the world’s largest gold nugget weighing in at a whopping 69 kilos! Reverend John Flynn, the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, is another treasure of Moliagul. Flynn was born here in 1880, and a touching stone monument honours him –

He spread a mantle of safety over inland Australia, by aviation, radio and medicine, and brought spiritual comfort, gladness and Rejoicing. `Across the lonely places of the land, he planted kindness and gathered love.`

The small town of St Arnaud is a little-known gem; known as “New Bendigo” during the mining era the town’s past is reflected in its grand buildings, including the oldest fire station in Victoria (now the home to the Historical Society). Silo Art murals titled ‘Hope’, tell the story of the town’s pioneers during the 1800s, reminding us of the power of resilience and determination.

St Arnaud’s most surprising treasure is it’s wonderful Bible Museum, home to Australia’s largest private collection of Bibles and biblical related artefacts. The displays include medieval gold leaf illuminated manuscripts, a Gutenberg Bible, a 400-year-old King James Bibles as well as cuneiform clay tablets, vellum scrolls, papyrus codex, Roman wax tablets and even a large scale ‘Ark of the Covenant’. Whilst most of the Bibles are in English there are Australian Indigenous translations, Hebrew and Greek texts and even a Bible in Eskimo! A Bible Plant Garden, which has trees mentioned in or related to the Bible, is also part of the museum and features a Butterfly Garden to represent how God’s Word transforms us. This museum is a definite must see!

We return to Bendigo via Maryborough, a historic town whose most famous building was apparently a “mistake”; legend has it that the grand railway station was originally meant to be built in Maryborough, Queensland! Spend time at leisure on High Street to browse the various specialty stores before we return to Bendigo.

Overnight: Bendigo

Today is Palm Sunday and we join Strathfieldsaye Community Church for a special time of worship. This regional church is supported by Bush Church Aid, and we will share fellowship with locals and the BCA Family of Rob & Michelle Edwards.
Today we will have a chance to properly explore the city of Bendigo; as Victoria’s largest goldfield, the economic boom of the Gold Rush left the town with a diverse cultural heritage as well as a legacy of grand architecture. During the Gold Rush the city was a particularly popular destination for Chinese prospectors, who named the area ‘Dai Gum San’, meaning Big Gold Mountain. The story of these prospectors, their culture and their unique contribution to the history of Bendigo is celebrated at the Golden Dragon Museum where miss the world’s longest and oldest Imperial Dragon, Dai Gum Loong, is on display.

Enjoy riding Bendigo’s famous Talking Tram and learn more about the city’s fascinating history.

Overnight: Bendigo

2 NIGHTS

Today we will explore the picturesque Spa region of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs. Swiss Italian miners settled in this region in the 1850-60’s and their influence is seen in the names of its springs (Locarno) and buildings (Savoia Hotel, Parma House, Perinis, Bellinzona), as well as the annual Swiss-Italian Festa.

Created in 1865 Hepburn Springs Mineral Reserve was Australia’s first Mineral Reserve and houses the historic Bathhouse and Pavilion buildings. Explore the lovely natural surroundings and sample the famous healing waters of the mineral spring from the pumps.

Alternatively, enjoy a chance to wander Daylesford’s amazing Mill Market; with collectables, antiques, memorabilia, home decor, fine china, art, glass, coins, jewellery, books, records & much more who knows what treasures you will unearth.

Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm, with its sprawling gardens, old stone buildings, and charming café, is the perfect place for a relaxing lunch. The lavender may not be in bloom, but extraordinary lavender produce is available including lavender ice cream, scones and even lavender champagne!

The temptation continues when we stop by the Chocolate Mill, where gourmet treats are made on site. Learn a little about this Fair-Trade operation and enjoy a sample of their wares – yum!

Our home for the next 2 Nights is the beautiful RACV Goldfields Resort in Creswick located in the heart of the Victorian Goldfields; set in the Macedon Ranges and surrounded by 150 acres of bushland, the resort is only a short drive to the regional city of Ballarat.

Overnight: Creswick

We travel to Ballarat, a city that boomed during the Gold Rush and step back in time at Sovereign Hill, a recreated gold mining village. Choose your own adventure at this world-class open-air museum where miners dressed in 1850s garb show us how to pan for gold on Red Hill Gully Diggings – tour the rough mining village, go gold panning, do a mine tour, see a gold pour, take a Cobb & Co coach ride or shop in the many old-fashioned stores on the Main Street.

At the Eureka Centre, we explore the events surrounding the 1854 miner’s rebellion at the Eureka Stockade; the principles that the miners stood for – equality, fair treatment by government, and the right to take part in the democratic process – have become sacred to Australians. This interesting museum is dedicated to the central theme of democracy, and its exhibitions include the original Eureka Flag.

Overnight: Creswick

After checkout we return to Ballarat to learn more about the city’s outstanding heritage, architecture and gardens from a local guide who will join us on the coach. Enjoy a drive around Lake Wendouree and visit the city’s beautiful Botanical Gardens. Established in 1858 these gardens are considered one of Australia’s best examples of the 19th Century gardenesque style landscape – admire the colourful garden beds and famous statuary that includes the Prime Ministers Avenue, bronze busts of each of Australia’s heads of state. The Garden’s renowned Begonia Festival may be finished but these glorious plants will still be in bloom and on display in the greenhouse.

Travelling back towards Melbourne Airport, we stop at the Memorial Cross at the summit of Mount Macedon. Here we thank God for our many blessings on this holiday as we take in views across the entire southern plain towards Port Phillip Bay; we mightn’t have struck gold yet return home spiritually enriched after travelled with like-minded people.