Enter the granite belt for an inspirational walk to the summit of a grand monolith and then immerse yourself in the legends and folklore of the historic town of Tenterfield

Features

• Travel along remote back roads toward the largest granite monolith in the southern hemisphere, diverting to an historic stone fruit growing and wine producing region for a unique tea break in a local farm shed
• Contemplate the life on the run of “Thunderbolt”, one of our legendary bushrangers, visiting one of his hideouts and learn of his gentlemanly ways, hero following and questionable demise
• Enjoy a 2 hour return trail walk to the summit of the Bald Rock monolith offering amazing 360 degree views of the granite belt which stretches for 400 kms across two States
• Enter the historic township of Tenterfield, where the impassioned speech of an English immigrant turned politician, Henry Parkes, led to the “birthplace of the nation”
• There is much to explore in this township set around bush legends and folklore, our First Nations peoples, Australia’s fondest bush poet Andrew Barton “Banjo” Paterson, scoundrel from the Boer War, Breaker Morant, the Tenterfield Saddler and his grandson, broadway star Peter Allen.

Accommodation

Country motel with spacious en-suite rooms - 2 nights

Travel

Driving: 123 kms in 3 relaxed stages throughout the day

An active day offering a number of walking options on undulating and climbing national park trails.

Features

• Walks will range from 2 to 4 hours each, to features creatively described as Castle Rock, Turtle Rock and The Sphinx or follow the granite slabs lining Bald Rock Creek to The Junction
• Discover an evolutionary landscape of massive granite outcrops, large angular tors and precariously balanced boulders. Explore in, around and under this fascinating world
• The story unfolds of the interdependent connection between rock, soil, flora, fauna and humans
• Enjoy the showcase of spring wildflowers and foraging honey eating birdlife leading to Girraween being defined as the “place of flowers”
• Girraween National Park is also the merging point of ranging wildlife and birds from all points of the compass and habitats

Accommodation

Country motel with spacious en-suite rooms

Travel

Driving:  50 kms local access

Travel to the highest points of the New England Tablelands and the heritage, educational hub of Armidale surrounded by pastoral dynasties and bordering pristine world heritage National Parks

Features

• Pass through the acclaimed Celtic hub of Australia, complete with its own “standing stones”, small towns lined with the autumn displays of willows and elms
• Contemplate the conflict and terror between European settlers and Aboriginal peoples where cultural differences led to tragic local massacres
• Enter historic Armidale with its cold climate gardens and parks and institutions of higher regional education.
• Take an afternoon walk to the rim of a dramatic gorge and falls in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park where we’ll search for the endangered and shy Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby and follow the haunting cries and powerful flight of Peregrine Falcons nesting seasonally on the precipice of the 120m ravine.
• Visit some of Australia’s wealthiest Merino wool growing regions where dynasties hosted royalty and pioneering settler families were so moved to build a chapel and extraordinary memorials to their fallen family heroes
• Pause in the tiny town of Uralla and reflect on a childhood of connective experiences which led to the establishment of  Nature Bound Australia

Accommodation

Quality en-suite rooms at our tour base

Travel

Driving:  219 kms in 4 stages

An early start for an immersive day in world heritage environments appealing to all your senses, mindfulness and wonder

Features

• Discover tortuous gorges carving their way into the Great Divide escarpment and plummeting waterfalls
• Search for our largest bird of prey, the Wedge-tailed Eagle, soaring up to 2000 metres on the thermals or detect the shuffle in the bush of an Echidna, one of our unique living fossils
• Enjoy a 2 hr walk along undulating trails to view two of Australia’s most dramatic ravines and gorges
• Find yourself on the wilderness edge of the world heritage New England National Park, a reserve of high geological significance, diversity of habitats, plants and animal species
• Impenetrable ridges of volcanic origin dating back 500 million years protect dense sub-tropical rainforest through to high country snow gums and a windswept plateau of stunted heath. 1000 plant species are protected here
• Be on the alert for a chance meeting with a Superb Lyrebird or a Spotted-tailed Quoll
• Enjoy the high-point panorama stretching over 75 kms of trackless wilderness to the rolling waves of the Pacific Ocean
• Deep in the cool temperate rainforest you will discover remnant examples of the ancient Antarctic Beech Trees, thousands of years old, having direct link to the super-continent of Gondwanaland, 125 million years ago
• Follow the “Waterfall Way” to the twin drops of Ebor Falls before a winding back roads descent from the Great Divide onto the vividly picturesque farming and rain forested plateau of Dorrigo, then finally a retreat for the night, the alternative life-styler’s town of Bellingen

Accommodation

Country motel ensuite rooms

Travel

Driving:  170 kms in 6 stages

From the eclectic village of Bellingen  arrive at the Pacific coastline and follow scenic back country roads, then a faster highway run to the sea and riverside holiday town of Ballina

Features

• Arrival on the Sawtell headland to view the South Pacific Ocean for the first time presents an extraordinary change in emotion from the world heritage seclusion 24 hours earlier - time to celebrate the beauty and contrast of Australia
• enjoy the scenic country way from Coffs Harbour to Grafton (home of the Jacaranda Festival) and lunch at the tiny historic port of Ulmarra on the mighty Clarence River
• Wander along the foreshores of Ballina enjoying some late afternoon free time before a celebration dinner
• Early to bed for a traditional pre-dawn rise to witness sunrise over the Pacific, beneath one of the oldest lighthouses (1866) on the spectacular coastline.

Accommodation

Quality riverside motel with ensuite units

Travel

Driving:  268 kms in 5 stages

Today enjoy wonderful moments of inspiration on iconic headlands and in the peaceful retreat of a regional art gallery celebrating the life of one of Australia’s most adored artists

Features

• After the mindfulness moments of a spectacular sunrise return for a Ballina breakfast
• Conclude the tour with some iconic headlands including a short stroll onto Lennox Head and chance sighting of hundreds of hang-gliding enthusiasts who gather, taking a leap into the thermals
• On to Cape Byron the eastern most landfall of the Australian mainland, at legendary Byron Bay. The “Byron”, as it is affectionately known, is the retreat for alternative life-stylers and hide-away celebrities
• Time for a relaxed stroll along the iconic beaches and over the headlands on constructed pathways to the Cape Lighthouse
• Overlook extraordinary beaches and precipitous slopes down to rolling azure waves, a chance viewing of sea turtles or rays, dolphins at play and (in season) migrating whales.The nearest landfall north is Siberia, south the Antarctic ice mass and east, Chile
• Finally, enjoy a drive through the lush “rainbow country” of artisans for a sedate visit to a regional art gallery with compelling images both inside and out. Where friends of highly acclaimed artist, the late Margaret Olley, have left her indelible mark on Australia with a complete presentation, in comprehensive detail, of her home and creative retreat

Accommodation

Holiday concluded. End of journey accommodation at your discretion or an early evening  pre-arranged flight home.

Travel

Driving:  100 kms in 4 stages