8 Day Christmas Explorer featuring Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains and Mudgee

Departing: Sunday 22nd December 2024

Download itinerary

Fitness Level: M – Easy / Moderate

Meals: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, S = Supper

DAY 1 - HERVEY BAY to TENTERFIELD     (LD)

Sunday 22nd December:  Welcome to our Hunter Valley Christmas Explorer tour. With our pick-ups complete we head inland and reach Warwick where lunch has been arranged for us at Glengallan Homestead and Heritage Centre. Our journey takes us through Stanthorpe to our final stop at Suttons Juice Factory and Cidery, there are lots goodies to taste and buy. Time to re-join the coach and head for Tenterfield.  We take a drive past the Tenterfield Saddler, made famous in Peter Allen’s song. We arrive at the motel for our welcome dinner. 

Stay: Henry Parkes Motor Inn, Tenterfield

DAY 2 - TENTERFIELD to HUNTER VALLEY    (BLD)

Monday 23rd December:   Travel to Glen Innes, the Celtic capital of New England. Continue through Armidale then arriving in Tamworth this afternoon. We enter The Big Golden Guitar Tourist Centre, a tribute to the rich music heritage. Make sure you get the full experience by visiting the National Guitar Museum and the Gallery of Stars Wax Museum, both located inside the centre. We enjoy our lunch here before we continue on through to the Hunter Valley, home for the next 2 nights.

Stay: Mercure Resort, Hunter Valley

DAY 3 - GARDENS & CHRISTMAS LIGHTS     (BLD)

Tuesday 24th December:   Chocolate and Fudge lovers amongst us will delight in our visit to Twenty-3-Twenty Hunter Valley Chocolate Company. On arrival we enjoy a brief talk and tasting while being able to view their mouth-watering range of chocolates and fudge in production. Sensational sights, colours and fragrances await us at the stunning Hunter Valley Gardens. Explore over 25 hectares of spectacular flowers, trees and shrubs. We’ve worked up an appetite exploring the gardens so enjoy a lovely lunch served in the Garden Terrace Café. Of course, no visit to the Hunter Valley would be complete without a wine tasting, which we experience at McGuigan’s before heading to the Hunter Valley Cheese Factory for some delightful samples. Dinner tonight has been arranged at Harrigan’s Irish Pub before our evening out at the magical Christmas Lights Spectacular. The lights spectacular is bound to capture the spirit of Christmas!

Stay: Mercure Resort, Hunter Valley

DAY 4 - HUNTER VALLEY to BLUE MOUNTAINS    (BLS)

Wednesday 25th December:  Farewell our hosts before making our way to Kurri Kurri. Kurri Kurri and its surrounding villages are home to over 60 brightly coloured public artworks adorning once vacant walls. The murals tell the stories of the people, places and events that shaped the areas culture and heritage of the area. Back on board meander our way to Lake Macquarie then the scenic route via Nora Head, The Entrance, along the shores of Tuggerah Lake before reaching Mooney Mooney. A special Christmas Day Lunch with all the trimmings (and a view) has been arranged for us at the Mooney Mooney Club nestled on the shores of the Hawkesbury River. Leaving the Central Coast, make our way inland to one of the Blue Mountains best kept secrets – the Bells Line of Road, passing through quaint villages. If time permits, we will stop by the Blast Furnace Park – a monument to Lithgow’s industrial history before checking in to our accommodation.

Stay: Zig Zag Motel, Blue Mountains

DAY 5 - BLUE MOUNTAINS     (BLD)

Thursday 26th December:  Today we explore the Blue Mountains. Behold the spectacular vistas and sensational views from Govetts Leap Lookout. After some fantastic photo opportunities, head to the unique and quirky Bygone Beautys Treasured Teapot Museum and Tearooms, home to the world’s largest private collection of teawares. Our next stop is Echo Point Lookout for spectacular views of the Jamison Valley and the iconic Three Sisters. Stop for lunch at the Restaurant @ The Lookout Echo Point. The remainder of our day will be spent immersing ourselves in nature at Scenic World. Descend into the Jamison Valley on the world’s steepest train, glide on the Cableway, take a stroll beneath ancient rainforest or journey between cliff tops. 

Stay: Zig Zag Motel, Blue Mountains

DAY 6 - BLUE MOUNTAINS to MOREE     (BLD)

Friday 27th December:  We farewell the Blue Mountains and make our way through the picturesque Capertee Valley towards Mudgee where we call into Honey Haven to experience a tasting of their delicious honey and mead. Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way before reaching Narrabri. On arrival we call in at the Narrabri Region Visitor Information Centre for a presentation about the cotton industry. Our final stop for today will be the Narrabri Fish Farm. See how this large hatchery-based aquaculture farm breeds fish on a guided tour of the facilities. It’s now time to sit back and enjoy the short journey north to Moree.

Stay: Burke & Wills Motor Inn, Moree

DAY 7 - MOREE to WARWICK     (BLD)

Saturday 28th December:  Our first visit this morning is to Euraba Artists and Papermakers in the small town of Boggabilla.  This unique paper mill that began in 1998 produces paper from 100% cotton rag off-cuts, supplied by local clothing manufacturers. It’s time to hit the road now for Texas. On arrival we visit the Texas Heritage Centre and Tobacco Museum for a fascinating insight into the history of the area. The Shed at Goat Rock, is our next stop where The Croft Family provide a delicious Homestyle country cooked lunch, surrounded by the wonderful scenery of Goat Rock. We complete our time here at the Texas Rabbit Works. This was a thriving industry when rabbits were in plague proportions. After a wonderful afternoon continue through to Warwick for our farewell dinner in the hotel.

Stay: Coachman's Inn, Warwick

DAY 8 - WARWICK to HOME     (BL)

Sunday 29th December:     

DAY 1      HERVEY BAY to TENTERFIELD

Sunday 22nd December: Welcome to our Hunter Valley Christmas Explorer tour. With our pick-ups complete we head inland and reach Warwick where lunch has been arranged for us at Glengallan Homestead and Heritage Centre. Our journey takes us through Stanthorpe to our final stop at Suttons Juice Factory and Cidery, there are lots goodies to taste and buy. Time to re-join the coach and head for Tenterfield.  We take a drive past the Tenterfield Saddler, made famous in Peter Allen’s song. We arrive at the motel for our welcome dinner.

Accom: Henry Parkes Motor Inn           (LD)

DAY 2 TENTERFIELD - HUNTER VALLEY

Monday 23rd December: Travel to Glen Innes, the Celtic capital of New England. Continue through Armidale then arriving in Tamworth this afternoon. We enter The Big Golden Guitar Tourist Centre, a tribute to the rich music heritage. Make sure you get the full experience by visiting the National Guitar Museum and the Gallery of Stars Wax Museum, both located inside the centre. We enjoy our lunch here before we continue on through to the Hunter Valley, home for the next 2 nights.

Accom: Mercure Resort                      (BLD)

DAY 3 GARDENS & CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Tuesday 24th December: Chocolate and Fudge lovers amongst us will delight in our visit to Twenty-3-Twenty Hunter Valley Chocolate Company. On arrival we enjoy a brief talk and tasting while being able to view their mouth-watering range of chocolates and fudge in production. Sensational sights, colours and fragrances await us at the stunning Hunter Valley Gardens. Explore over 25 hectares of spectacular flowers, trees and shrubs. We’ve worked up an appetite exploring the gardens so enjoy a lovely lunch served in the Garden Terrace Café. Of course, no visit to the Hunter Valley would be complete without a wine tasting, which we experience at McGuigan’s before heading to the Hunter Valley Cheese Factory for some delightful samples. Dinner tonight has been arranged at Harrigan’s Irish Pub before our evening out at the magical Christmas Lights Spectacular. The lights spectacular is bound to capture the spirit of Christmas!

Accom: Mercure Resort                      (BLD)

DAY 4

  HUNTER VALLEY to BLUE MOUNTAINS

Wednesday 25th December: Farewell our hosts before making our way to Kurri Kurri. Kurri Kurri and its surrounding villages are home to over 60 brightly coloured public artworks adorning once vacant walls. The murals tell the stories of the people, places and events that shaped the areas culture and heritage of the area. Back on board meander our way to Lake Macquarie then the scenic route via Nora Head, The Entrance, along the shores of Tuggerah Lake before reaching Mooney Mooney. A special Christmas Day Lunch with all the trimmings (and a view) has been arranged for us at the Mooney Mooney Club nestled on the shores of the Hawkesbury River. Leaving the Central Coast, make our way inland to one of the Blue Mountains best kept secrets – the Bells Line of Road, passing through quaint villages. If time permits, we will stop by the Blast Furnace Park – a monument to Lithgow’s industrial history before checking in to our accommodation.

Accom: Zig Zag Motel                         (BLS)

DAY 5                          BLUE MOUNTAINS

Thursday 26th December: Today we explore the Blue Mountains. Behold the spectacular vistas and sensational views from Govetts Leap Lookout. After some fantastic photo opportunities, head to the unique and quirky Bygone Beautys Treasured Teapot Museum and Tearooms, home to the world’s largest private collection of teawares. Our next stop is Echo Point Lookout for spectacular views of the Jamison Valley and the iconic Three Sisters. Stop for lunch at the Restaurant @ The Lookout Echo Point. The remainder of our day will be spent immersing ourselves in nature at Scenic World. Descend into the Jamison Valley on the world’s steepest train, glide on the Cableway, take a stroll beneath ancient rainforest or journey between cliff tops.

Accom: Zig Zag Motel                         (BLD)

DAY 6       BLUE MOUNTAINS to MOREE

Friday 27th December: We farewell the Blue Mountains and make our way through the picturesque Capertee Valley towards Mudgee where we call into Honey Haven to experience a tasting of their delicious honey and mead. Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way before reaching Narrabri. On arrival we call in at the Narrabri Region Visitor Information Centre for a presentation about the cotton industry. Our final stop for today will be the Narrabri Fish Farm. See how this large hatchery-based aquaculture farm breeds fish on a guided tour of the facilities. It’s now time to sit back and enjoy the short journey north to Moree.

Accom: Burke and Wills Motor Inn     (BLD)

DAY 7                      MOREE to WARWICK

Saturday 28th December: Our first visit this morning is to Euraba Artists and Papermakers in the small town of Boggabilla. This unique paper mill that began in 1998 produces paper from 100% cotton rag off-cuts, supplied by local clothing manufacturers. It’s time to hit the road now for Texas. On arrival we visit the Texas Heritage Centre and Tobacco Museum for a fascinating insight into the history of the area. The Shed at Goat Rock, is our next stop where The Croft Family provide a delicious Homestyle country cooked lunch, surrounded by the wonderful scenery of Goat Rock. We complete our time here at the Texas Rabbit Works. This was a thriving industry when rabbits were in plague proportions. After a wonderful afternoon continue through to Warwick for our farewell dinner in the hotel.

Accom: Coachman's Inn                     (BLD)

DAY 8                         WARWICK to HOME

Sunday 29th December: Sadly, our fantastic holiday is coming to an end. We call in to Tamborine Mountain Distillery the third oldest distillery in Queensland to enjoy a tour and talk before hitting the road again. Time to sit back and relax – all too soon we are back in familiar territory with arrival in Brisbane mid-afternoon and Wide Bay early evening.  

* All itineraries are subject to change due to occasional restrictions in opening times / days and public holidays of some attractions.  We cannot be held responsible for changes due to closures or inclement weather.