Flowers And Chocolates In The Hunter

Day 1

Brisbane - Coffs Harbour
Begin our tour with a leisurely drive down the Pacific Highway, stopping in Murwillumbah for lunch overlooking the picturesque Tweed River. Enjoy a brief stop in New Italy with its glass worker's studio and museum, before continuing on to Coffs Harbour for our overnight stay.

Day 2

Coffs Harbour - Hunter Valley
After breakfast, visit the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House. Stroll amongst hundreds of butterflies in an indoor subtropical rainforest setting and enjoy morning tea in this tranquil location. Continue south along the Pacific Highway, taking time to purchase your own lunch in Taree. This afternoon, enjoy the beauty of the changing landscapes as we make our way to the Hunter Valley, settling in for four nights.

Day 3

Tocal Homestead and Cheese
Experience a full day of nostalgic exploration today, starting with a visit to Campbells Store in Morpeth. Built in 1835, this was once "the place to shop", visited from miles around. Now home to an antique store, tearoom, ginger beer factory and art gallery, it is the perfect place to find special gifts and gourmet treats. Next enjoy a tour of Tocal Homestead in nearby Paterson to hear about the characters and activities associated with this colonial treasure. This afternoon, indulge in a cheese, regional preserves and olive tasting at the Hunter Valley Cheese Company before returning to our accommodation to freshen up. This evening we will be dining out at a local restaurant.

Day 4

Hunter Valley Gardens
Today we spend time at the spectacular Hunter Valley Gardens. With ten themed gardens consisting of over 6000 trees, 600,000 shrubs and over 1 million ground cover plants, plus waterfalls, statues, murals and more, this will be a delight for your senses. Later, take time to purchase your own lunch as you wander through the shopping village. This afternoon, view Peter the chocolatier and Lorraine the fudge maker in action at the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company, with a chance to purchase your own sweet treats from the shop or café.

Day 5

Singleton - Broke
Our journey today takes us to Singleton to visit the architecturally designed building that houses the Singleton Civic Art Collection. Take a photo at the Big Sundial before continuing to the small township of Broke for a picnic lunch. Afterwards, visit Winmark Wines for a self-guided Sculpture Walk, and wine tasting at the cellar door. Head back to the hotel for some free time before dinner. Perhaps take a stroll to discover the delights in the English Lolly Shop, the Christmas Shop, the Alpaca Barn or one of the other artisan traders in the Hunter Valley Gardens Village.

Day 6

Hunter - Gosford - Brisbane
Today we head south to Gosford for a guided tour of the Edogawa Japanese Gardens. Extending over 4,000m2, the garden is based on a traditional 'shuyu' (strolling style) garden, incorporating Japanese features. With meandering pathways, a roofed Japanese pavilion overlooking the Koi pond, raked dry stone garden and traditional Japanese teahouse, the garden offers a tranquil setting in which to relax and enjoy art and nature. As a fitting end to this wonderful getaway, enjoy a light lunch and tour at the Gosford Chocolate and Nougat Factory. Time for some last-minute indulgences before making our way to Newcastle Airport for your flight home.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner