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Gardening Tour of Tasmania 18-28 November 2006 Duration 11 days Welcome to this unique garden tour, suiting any garden lover. Our original Tasmanian tours, in November 2001, 2002 and 2003, received many accolades from our tour members. Most said that the informative and diverse tour far exceeded their expectations, and agreed that it was excellent value for money. Now your tour escort Gayle Monzu has modified the itinerary, and this year 9 of the 23 gardens are different from any of our previous tours. The beauty of these gardens will simply overwhelm you! You’ll enjoy the island’s rich colonial heritage, lush green countryside, scenic coastlines, superb food and wine, distinctive art and craft and the friendly people. You’ll have lots of fun, bring back wonderful memories and no doubt, based on our past experience, make many new gardening friends. Gardening highlights (23 gardens)
Sightseeing highlights (even non-gardeners will love this tour!)
This is a tour you won’t want to miss; it will not be repeated for a few years.
Your Tour ItineraryB-breakfast ; MT-morning tea ; L-lunch ; AT-afternoon tea ; D-dinner ; WT-wine tasting Day 1 Saturday 18 November Perth - Melbourne - Devonport Flying Qantas, mid morning departure from Perth, arriving late afternoon Melbourne airport . During our stopover we can buy an early dinner & meet eastern states tour members, before flying Qantas to Devonport. After meeting our coach captain, there'll be a coach transfer to our hotel, arriving around 8pm. Overnight at GATEWAY MOTOR INN, Devonport. Day 2 Sunday 19 November (B/AT/D) North Coast (Devonport - Stanley - Smithton). We start the day with a stroll by the spectacular seaside gardens. Then on along the northern coast to see Table Cape and to stop at historic Stanley, famous for its impressive rocky outcrop, the Nut. You can buy lunch, take the chair lift to the top for a spectacular view, explore the quaint shops for treasures, or simply relax! Then on to Irish Town in the heart of dairy country. Visit a beautiful country garden and marvel over the lush plantings of Russell lupins and delphiniums. Then on to discover an extensive tranquil woodland garden, where you’ll enjoy a Devonshire tea. Wander in the adjoining cool temperate rainforest amidst fern glades and towering 300 year-old trees. Overnight with a welcome dinner at the magnificent TALL TIMBERS RESORT at Smithton. Day 3 Monday 20 November (B/L/AT) Smithton - Sheffield - Launceston We travel back along the coastal highway to the turn-off to Sheffield, famous for its wall murals. Then on to one of Tasmania’s most acclaimed cool climate gardens, praised for its design, heritage apple orchard and interesting rare plant content (especially the collection of birches, crab-apples, bog plants and hardy plants such as sedums, ornamental grasses and euphorbias). After a delightful lunch there, we’ll stop to see the famed Threads Exhibition in Deloraine. Then on to a nearby village where we’ll enjoy afternoon tea at what has been described as one of the best temperate gardens in Australia. This stunning English style historic garden features a woodland filled with bluebells, iris, Mollis azaleas, foxgloves and Solomon's seal. There is a garden filled with 1000 roses, and there are extensive parklands with ancient trees. A superb water garden surrounds the 1.2 hectare lake. Overnight, the first of a 4-night stay at the elegant GRAND CHANCELLOR HOTEL, LAUNCESTON. The evening is free for you to enjoy and dine as you please
Day 4 Tuesday 21 November (B/MT/L) Launceston - Evandale - Launceston This morning we travel south to an historic village, and discover two special gardens. The first is a huge colonial English-style, park-like country garden, modelled on Georgian times, and complementing the historic homestead. A central feature is the walled garden, one of only two existing in Australia. After morning tea, then on to a smaller exquisitely designed garden where the owners produce gourmet sauces, as well as maintaining Tasmania’s largest quality topiary nursery. We’ll explore the wonderful semi-formal gardens, taste the sauces and enjoy a delicious gourmet barbecue lunch. That afternoon sees us in an adjacent village where we’ll delight in an artist’s beautiful country garden. We’ll return to Launceston, with an optional stay at Cataract Gorge, then our hotel late afternoon. The day is free for you to enjoy, including your own choice of dinner venue. Day 5 Wednesday 22 November (B/MT/L/AT) Launceston - West Tamar Valley - Launceston A short drive through the West Tamar Valley north of Launceston will take us to our first garden for morning tea. Plentiful water ensures a gorgeous display in this nursery owner’s rapidly developing garden. Delight in the bog and courtyard gardens, massed roses and mature deciduous trees. Then on to shop at a fine art and craft gallery, before a gourmet lunch in the most romantic of all gardens, possessing sweeping views of the Tamar River. Here fragrant heritage roses, massed perennials and the most beautiful of vegetable potagers are sure to delight. To end a magical day, we’ll travel north for afternoon tea in another gorgeous garden. This features walks of bird cherries, Alister Clark and heritage roses, as well as lilacs and other old fashioned plants. Arriving back at Launceston in the late afternoon, you’ll have the evening free with your own choice of dinner venue.
Day 6 Thursday 23 November (B/L) Launceston - Longford - Launceston This morning we travel to another historic village where we will be taken on a guided tour of the most authentic historic farming village in Australia. Then we will explore the National Estate listed garden surrounding the stately Georgian homestead, before enjoying lunch in this delightful garden. The afternoon sees us at Woolmers Estate, where we will enjoy a guided tour of the the National Rose Garden and Kitchen Garden. On returning to our hotel late afternoon you’ll once again have free time to enjoy Launceston.. Tonight is the last of our 4-night stay at the GRAND CHANCELLOR HOTEL.
Day 7 Friday 24 November (B/AT/D) Launceston - Ross - Richmond – Hobart Today we journey from Launceston south to Hobart via the Heritage Highway. We continue on to Ross, one of Australia’s best-preserved convict built stone villages. Here you can explore the many historical buildings, antique and craft shops and the Tasmanian Wool Centre. You may choose to buy your lunch here or in historic Richmond where you’ll have several hours to shop and view historic landmarks. Late afternoon sees us discovering a wonderful cottage garden, and enjoying a cuppa before crossing over the Tasman Bridge into Hobart. Our buffet dinner tonight is at the luxurious HOTEL GRAND CHANCELLOR, located on the Hobart waterfront. We’ll conclude a wonderful day with a city lights tour, including Salamanca Place and a spectacular view of Hobart by night from a hilltop overlooking the Tasman Bridge. Overnight is the first of a 5-night stay at HADLEYS OF HOBART. Day 8 Saturday 25 November (B) Free day in Hobart This morning, from 9 am, you may choose to explore the famous Saturday markets at nearby historic Salamanca Place. Hundreds of stallholders lay out their wares, and the choice is incredible! There is fine Tasmanian art and craft, trash and treasure, books and buskers, fresh flowers and fruit, laughter and music. The Georgian stone warehouses are home to good restaurants, exciting galleries and working studios of Tasmania’s arts community. Nearby you have the chance to see Antarctic Adventure, Time Warp House and the Maritime Museum. You’ll have all day and evening to explore this beautiful city- enjoy!
Day 9 Sunday 26 November (B/MT/L) Derwent Valley (Hobart - Hamilton - Russell Falls - Hobart) This morning we’ll travel north over the Derwent River to another historic property, complete with classic sandstone house, carriage drive, ancient trees and a drought and frost tolerant rural garden. Here there are many natural stone walls, especially in the elegant potager. After morning tea, we’ll travel east through New Norfolk to the village of Hamilton. Here you’ll love the charming cottage gardens that surround four beautifully restored cottages. We’ll lunch at an award-winning craft gallery and tea rooms, where handcrafted products by many leading Tasmanian craftsmen are for sale. In the afternoon we’ll visit a truly beautiful garden, acclaimed for its garden design, plantsmanship and many garden rooms. Protected by ancient stone walls and clipped hedges, this garden is a combination of luxuriant English and controlled Italian styles. Then on to the Mount Field National Park where we will view the spectacular Russell Falls, before heading back to Hobart. This evening is free, with the opportunity to choose your own dinner venue.
Day 10 Monday 27 November (B/MT/WT/L/AT) Hobart - Huon Valley - Hobart Today is a day of spectacular scenery and magnificent gardens as we head south to Tasmania’s beautiful Huon Valley. First we visit another historic property, surrounded by well-designed gardens brimming with plant treasures. Then morning tea is in another divine country garden before we arrive at a picturesque winery for a wine tasting and gourmet lunch. In the afternoon we’ll travel south to discover another romantic country garden, filled with David Austin roses and perennials. Set in countryside reminiscent of the English Lake District, this garden has glorious views of the bay and mountains, and its features include a rose walk intertwined with clematis and National Trust classified hedges. Then we’ll cross the mountains to the east coast, where we’ll be spoilt with afternoon tea in an award-winning restaurant, renowned for its breathtaking views of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island. Finally we’ll find a memorable country garden also possessing spectacular sea views, as well as alpine rockeries, massed flower fields and a heritage apple orchard. Here there’ll be the chance to see a handweaver at work, and buy her creations. On our way back to Hobart, we’ll be able to view the city from Mt Nelson. Once again you’ll have the evening off, with your own choice of dinner venue Day 11 Tuesday 28 November (B/MT/AT/D) Hobart First today we cross the Tasman Bridge and discover a treasure-trove of a country garden. This is owned by a passionate plant-collector of arums, fritillaria, nicotiana, arisaema roses, bearded iris and peonies. The garden has touches of formality, with masterful coppicing. The rare and unusual plants are home to many native birds. This garden is inspirational because the area has also been subject to severe drought. After morning tea we return to Hobart and the spectacular Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens where there will be time to explore, buy lunch and shop. Our final award-winning garden will be sure to impress. We’ll tour the beautiful Victorian mansion and then delight in the garden with its elegant formal parterres, pleached trees and colour co-ordinated flowerbeds. We will be spoilt with an extra-special afternoon tea. Tonight is our Farewell Dinner and final night at HADLEYS OF HOBART.
Day 12 Wednesday 29 November (B) Hobart-Melbourne-Perth. This morning you may choose to sleep in or fit in a little more shopping or sightseeing. You may even have decided to stay longer in Hobart (if you wish to, then, when booking, tell Harvey World Travel, Perth.) For those leaving today, we will board our afternoon coach to transfer to Hobart airport. We depart with Qantas, arriving for a stopover in Melbourne, before transferring to our Qantas flight to Perth. Welcome home!
Tour Price - Garden Tour of Tasmania(including GST per person twin share).
Prices subject to change due to ongoing airline fuel and taxes surcharges Tasmanian tour price includes
Here are some of our past Tasmanian Garden Tour members' comments
It was a wonderful experience, overall excellent gardens, fabulous food and pure luxury… The lush countryside and magnificent gardens just blew me away… It was just great. Every day had its wonderful gems. So many beautiful surprises kept happening The choice of gardens was just first class… It was delightful to meet and talk with other gardeners… The organisation and PR was just great… I think this is the best tour I have ever been on, I have been on a few! Gayle and Nic need to be congratulated on a job well done. Everything was perfect… I have been on several garden tours. This one wins hands down. Not too rushed friendly, very well organised. I'm going home refreshed after a great holiday So be tempted. Don’t miss out….we would love to welcome you on board!
HOW TO BOOK For further information, coloured brochures etc, please contact Nikki Clarke HARVEY WORLD TRAVEL (Wesley Centre) 760 Hay St, Perth 6000 Ph: 08 9321 2896 Fax: 08 9321 1429 e-mail: nclarke.perth@harveyworld.com.au
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