Canberra & the Sapphire Coast

Canberra, our nation's compact capital, and home to an incredible array of world class attractions, both indoors and outdoors, will mesmerise and surprise you. Upon arrival in Canberra, you'll be warmly welcomed by this city's stately appearance… lovely wide boulevards, grand buildings, manicured lawns, lakes, and picturesque walking paths will beguile. Meeting up with our fellow travellers at the hotel in the afternoon, we'll have a short briefing to find out more about what we can expect over the next 10 days and then we'll head out, beginning our Canberra and Sapphire Coast adventure with a visit to the National Capital Exhibition and view The Story of Canberra.

Located on the shores of dazzling Lake Burley Griffin, this interactive exhibition explains how and why Canberra got to be where it is today. Back on board the coach, we'll explore Embassy Drive and the exclusive embassy and foreign diplomatic residence district to see many of the distinctive embassies from around the world. Continuing, we'll pass ANZAC Parade stopping at some of the moving memorials on our way to the top of Mt Ainslie for an impressive, panoramic view of Canberra and it's surrounds. Tonight we'll get to know each other better during a delicious welcome dinner at our hotel. (D)

We begin our day in nature this morning, with a tour of the National Arboretum. A montage of living forests and gardens, the Arboretum offers visitors a glimpse of over 44,000 rare, endangered or symbolic trees from Australia and around the world. After a guided tour of the park, we arrive back at the visitor centre for a fascinating tour of the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection with a specialised Bonsai guide. Making our way to Black Mountain and the Telstra Tower we'll be rewarded with spectacular 360 degree views of Canberra. Here, the city is laid out and explained to help orientate us. We'll stop for lunch in trendy Manuka, where we'll have some time to grab a bite, and the opportunity to wander through the charming shops.

Our afternoon is spent at the National War Memorial, a poignant tribute to the Australian Armed Forces and its supporting organisations, who have died or participated in wars involving the Commonwealth of Australia. We will have time to explore the many different exhibits before being farewelled from the Memorial with a touching Last Post Ceremony in the Commemorative Courtyard. Every night, the ceremony shares the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour. The remainder of our evening is at leisure. (B)

Experience an exclusive once in a lifetime opportunity to get a behind the scenes, private tour of Parliament House, including a mouth-watering meal specially prepared by the in-house chefs. Today we will experience democracy in action when we tour Australia's iconic Parliament House, sitting proudly on Capital Hill. Opened in 1988, Parliament House was designed by architect Romaldo Giurgola and took 8 years to complete with a cost of $1.1 billion dollars. This uniquely shaped building has since become a symbol of democracy in Australia. We'll learn all about the unique architecture, the work of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the impressive collection of art and furniture as we roam the elegant hallways.

After our epic Parliament House exploration, we'll return to the hotel where we have the rest of the afternoon to explore more of this charming city at our own pace. (B/L)

Nestled on the lower slopes of Black Mountain, our destination this morning is the Australian National Botanic Gardens, home to the worlds largest collection of native plants from all parts of Australia. Here we enjoy a guided walk through the stunning diversity of plants, trees and shrubs. Following our delightful nature walk, we will visit the Royal Australian Mint to see firsthand how coins are made. Our expert guide will take us upstairs to the viewing platform above the factory floor to see the process in action and hear some interesting stories about the history of our coins.

For the remainder of the day, we get to choose our own adventure, Bunnik Tours style! Our Bunnik Tours coach will do a loop, stopping at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House and the National Rose Gardens, the National Gallery of Australia & the Portrait Gallery of Australia, the National Museum of Australia and the hotel several times during the afternoon, and you get to decide how much time (if any) you spend at these iconic attractions. (B)

This morning we say a fond farewell to Canberra and head towards the Sapphire Coast. The jewel in the crown of the New South Wales coastline, the Sapphire Coast sparkles with stunning beaches, spectacular wilderness, charming towns, delicious local produce and, during the season, incredible whale watching. Along the way, we will stop at the heritage town of Mogo Village to enjoy the galleries and specialty shops, as well as Bodalla, a local dairy famous for their ice creams and milkshakes. In the early afternoon we'll take the scenic route along Dalmeny Drive to the Bar Rock lookout. At this hilltop lookout, we'll hope to discover some seals, with this area being well known as a seal resting place, as well as admiring the incredible ocean views on offer.

It's time to relax, put our feet up and enjoy the ambiance at our next stop. The Tilba Valley Winery & Ale House offers just that, with a delicious offering of wine and cheese as we gaze out to our forest surrounds and take in some local tunes. Continuing on to Central Tilba, we will have some free time to stroll the pretty streets of this historic town, or to do one of several local bushwalks. If you're keen for some more cheese, you may wish to visit the ABC Cheese Factory. We'll enjoy dinner together tonight, upon arriving in Bermagui . (B/D)

Keen to get out for a stroll during your morning at leisure? A short walk from your hotel to Dickinson Point Headland offers gorgeous coastal views. From here you can follow the seaside until you reach the Blue Pool, said to be the best natural rock pool in Australia. You can even go for a swim! Special Experience: Keep your eyes peeled for whales as we take an exciting cruise along the stunning Sapphire Coast to try and spot a pod or two of these majestic mammals. The southern coastline of New South Wales offers some of the most spectacular sea views on the planet, and the amazing opportunity to go whale watching.

From humpbacks to southern rights, minke, bryde's, blue and orca whales, our purpose built boat will give us the best chance to spot them. Migrating humpback whales head off the Queensland coast towards Antarctica for the summer months, from mid-August through to mid-November. Not to be forgotten, the smaller yet just as special sea creatures can also be spotted. Think common & bottlenose dolphins, Australian fur seals, penguins, flying fish, sunfish, turtles and many species of bird life. (Aug - 09 Nov departures)

*Outside of the whale watching season our Special Experience will see us cruising the magnificent Sapphire Coast to Montague Island, while looking out for colonies of Australian & New Zealand fur seals and little penguins, along with grey nurse sharks and thousands of seabirds nesting. The southern coastline of New South Wales offers some of the most spectacular sea views on the planet, and this morning we'll get to appreciate it for ourselves from the water. Rich red cliffs, rugged wilderness, distinctive beaches and an astonishing variety of wildlife makes for an unforgettable cruise experience. (10 Nov – Jul departures)

Back on dry land, we take some time to grab a bite to eat before venturing to the Montreal Goldfield, Australia's only seaside goldfield. Discovered on the beach north of Bermagui in 1880, the gold rush here only lasted until 1883, during which time approximately 250kg of gold was unearthed. To this day, it remains the only goldfield in Australia that extends into the sea. A local guide will show us through the area, sharing intriguing stories of what life was like back then.

We will continue on to the Camel Rock lookout, where we'll have time to take a scenic walk to the Horse Head Rock lookout to see the incredible natural rock formations over 500 million years old. Resembling a horse's head, the sheer size and unspoilt location is absolutely breathtaking. (B)

Our destination today is Merimbula, one of New South Wales' most loved holiday destinations; known for its quaint seaside charm, rugged local beaches, tranquil coastal lakes, huge variety of water sports, whale watching and oyster farming. On our way to Tathra, we'll drive through the scenic Mimosa Rocks National Park for show stopping headland and beach views. The Park got its name from the Paddle Steamer Mimosa that wrecked in the 1860's after running into the distinctive rocks at the northern end of the Park. The headland lookout is also a great place for whale watching during the winter. In Tathra we will have time to stroll along the boardwalk from the wharf to the Tathra headlands to enjoy the sweeping views of the South Pacific Ocean or pick up a coffee from the local hotel.

We'll continue to the town of Bega next, famous for the cheese of the same name. Here, we will visit the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre and the Bega Pioneers Museum to learn about the fascinating history of the local area and of course, sample the renowned produce! Our journey concludes in Merimbula, where you'll have the afternoon at leisure for you to relax and explore the town at your own pace. Why not hit the Merimbula Boardwalk for a picturesque stroll around the lake shore, past oyster farms and through mangrove forests and eucalyptus trees? Or the Rotary Walk from Spencer Park to Bar Beach takes in views of Merimbula Lake's emerald water, through bushlands and past Mitchies Jetty, concluding at Bar Beach, a favourite for local surfers. Tonight we'll regroup for dinner, savouring the delicious local produce of Wheeler's Seafood Restaurant and Oyster Bar. (B/D)

Travelling along the Humpback Highway today, we will make our way to Eden and Twofold Bay where the Killer Whale Museum awaits. Operating for over 85 years, the museum looks over the Pacific Ocean and during the season, it's possible to spot whales from various vantage points. Displaying exhibitions about the shore-based whaling operations in Twofold Bay during the 1800's, it also includes a full skeleton of ‘Tom' the Killer Whale, who led a pack of killer whales in the hunt for baleen whales on their southward migration each year. The museum exhibits an intriguing look into sea life in the late 1880s- early 1900s. The spectacular Ben Boyd National Park is New South Wales' largest coastal national park, featuring rugged and rocky coastlines, vivid rock formations and pristine beaches.

This afternoon we'll immerse ourselves in nature during a bushwalk through this unique landscape with a specialist guide from the area. From overlooking the Pambula Rivermouth, we'll be lead through tall forest that gradually transition into open grassland at Haycock Point. Keep an eye out for kangaroos and wallabies grazing and lazing in the sun, as we trek along the remote and wild Haycock Beach. Our hike ends at the colourful rock formation, The Pinnacles, where we'll enjoy gorgeous 360 degree views. Once we've completed our 7 kilometre journey, we'll kick our feet up for a well-deserved afternoon tea in the park. (B)

A fun adventure out on the lakes of Pambula this morning as we join Captain Sponge's Magical Oyster Tour. The experience will take us through the Pambula Lake environment where we'll hear from our guide about the geology and formation, plus the cultural, natural and ecological significance of the estuary. We will watch Sydney rock oysters being farmed using modern aquaculture techniques, and maybe even enjoy a taste, too! We'll have a stop for lunch before we make our way back to Merimbula to enjoy your afternoon at leisure. If you're keen to get out in the fresh air and soak up the sunshine, you could explore the many shops and cafés of Merimbula, or perhaps head out for a round of golf. (B)

Leaving the stunning Sapphire Coast behind, we drive through the picturesque southern NSW alpine region on our way back to Canberra. Known for its rolling plains, mighty rivers and snow-capped peaks, the Snowy Mountains is home to Australia's best engineering feat, the Snowy Mountains Hydro Scheme, and Cooma is its prosperous capital. This morning we'll tour the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre. What began as an idea in the 1800s to move water from some of Australia's best known rivers - the Murray, the Murrumbidgee, the Snowy and the Tumut - to drought affected parts of New South Wales and Victoria, became an incredible part of our nation's history and a wonderful example of Australian innovation and ingenuity. Construction of this masterpiece began in 1949 and over the course of its construction, over one hundred thousand people from more than thirty countries worked on the Scheme.

Special Experience: Explore the beautiful Lanyon Homestead, a fine example of 1850s life in southern NSW, on a private, guided tour that includes the restored homestead, convict-era outbuildings, lovingly cultivated gardens and a scrumptious high tea. In the foothills of the Brindabella Ranges, Lanyon Homestead is recognised as one of Australia's premier historic properties. Here, we have the opportunity to experience the past during a fascinating tour of the estate. Afterwards, we return to Canberra and check into our hotel.

This evening we have the chance to reflect and reminisce about our wonderful adventure during a mouth-watering farewell dinner. (B/D)

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. We bid farewell to our new friends and to the diverse and scenic Canberra, and the Sapphire Coast. (B)