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RIVERINA INSIGHTS
Friday 23rd May to Sunday 1st June, 2008 - PDF Document
- Booking Enquiry
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Tour Map
Insights Tours has chartered two CPH 1920’s vintage railmotors for this 10 day tour from Thirroul to the Riverina area of NSW. The itinerary includes visits and inspections of facilities and sites some of which are not normally open to the public. Highlights include Old Goulburn Waterworks, Junee Roundhouse, Yandilla Oil Distillery, Temora Aviation Museum, Weddin Mountains National Park, Tumut Millet Broom Factory, South Marulan Quarry and a day excursion to Hay. The itinerary encompasses travel on some routes with no regular passenger services.
- DAY 1 Friday 23rd May Thirroul to Gunning
Mid morning departure from Thirroul climbing the Illawarra Range enroute to Goulburn. Stop at Summit Tank Lookout for a view over the coast. Lunch served onboard as we travel to Goulburn where we visit the Old Goulburn Waterworks for an informative guided visit and viewing of the original pumping equipment. City tour before rejoining the railmotors for afternoon travel from Goulburn to the historic village of Gunning for overnight.
Accom: Gunning Motel, Gunning.
- DAY 2 Saturday 24th May Gunning to West Wyalong
Coach transfer to historic Bowning station to join the railmotors for Wallendbeen where we alight to visit Yandilla - a mustard oil seed distillery. Rejoin the railmotors at Cootamundra West railway station for Caragabal situated on the cross country Stockinbingal Parkes line. There we board our coach for the Weddin Mountains National Park and two short interesting walks one to bushrangers Ben Hall’s cave and the other to the historic Seaton’s Farm which is a pioneering family’s preserved farmhouse. At West Wyalong we will be welcomed by representatives of the Wiradjuri people.
Accom: Wyalong Resort, West Wyalong
- DAY 3 Sunday 25th May West Wyalong to Griffith
Accom: Bagtown Motel, Griffith
Bland Historical Society will present a guided tour of the town and explain why West Wyalong came into existence with the town of Wyalong only 2kms away. West Wyalong maintains several heritage buildings dating from the gold rush of the 1860’s. Then we go to the Wyalong Eucalyptus Distillery for inspection of this small local enterprise. Our train will be waiting at West Wyalong for the journey to Temora over the rarely travelled branch line. At Temora we visit the Aviation Museum which houses such famous aircraft as the Spitfire, Lockheed Hudson, Canberra Bomber and Boomerang before rejoining the railmotors for Griffith.
- DAY 4 Monday 26th May - Hay
Coach via Tabbita and the Mid Western Highway to Hay with its interesting history as a Murrumbidgee River port, POW internment camp site and importance as a centre for the surrounding pastoral industry.
We have a guided tour of the POW Internment Museum located at the monumental Hay railway station, a guided town tour followed by lunch and guided tour of Shear Outback – an award winning facility incorporating The Australian Shearers’ Hall of Fame, the Shear Outback Exhibition and the historic Murray Downs Woolshed. You can meet the shearers, shedhands, sheep and dogs who work in the shearing and wool industries and also experience first hand the stamina and training needed to shear a sheep, see inside a working handpiece, take part in live shearing demonstrations and visit the museum commemorating the wool industry.Departing Hay we travel via the township of Whitton – named for father of NSW railways, John Whitton - to Leeton where our railmotors will be waiting to return us to Griffith.
- DAY 5 Tuesday 27th May Griffith to Narrandera
This morning we tour the city of Griffith planned by Walter Burley Griffin and learn about its raison d’etre. Then to Catania Fruit Salad farm and Hill Lookout prior to boarding the railmotors for Leeton. At Leeton we are in the heart of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area and the extensive rice growing industry. We proceed to Lillypilly Winery for lunch with winemaker Robert Fuimara who will give an informative explanation of his wine making process. Afternoon travel to Narrandera where our guide will join us for our town tour. Later we visit the Narrandera Fisheries Centre for an informative tour of this research and breeding facility where several native species are being studied.
Accom: Gateway Motor Inn, Narrandera
- DAY 6 Wednesday 28th May Narrandera to Junee
We begin this morning with a walking tour of the Koala Reserve with our guide. We then proceed to Rockdale Beef’s feedlot with over 2,000 hectares of land housing the crops, feedlot and abattoir, Rockdale Beef is one of Australia’s largest producers of feedlot beef. Insights Tours has been able to specially arrange our inspection to the feedlot which is not open to the public. Rejoin the railmotors for the run to Coolamon where a local organization will serve lunch at the station. Mid afternoon we reach Junee. This strategic railway town is located half way between Sydney and Melbourne and to this day is an important railway centre. We will have a guided visit of the Junee Roundhouse and locomotive depot museum. The roundhouse at Junee was once the largest in NSW. Visit the historic Junee flour mill now the organic licorice factory. Dinner will be served in the restored dining room at the Commercial Hotel.
Accom: Junee Motor Inn, Junee
- DAY 7 Thursday 29th May Culcairn and Holbrook
A day of sightseeing. First we travel to the city of Wagga Wagga and during a guided tour learn of the importance of this large inland city. Then south to the village of The Rock where we visit a Protea farm before continuing to Culcairn where we alight for lunch at the historic Culcairn Hotel, once the largest hotel between Sydney and Melbourne. Boarding the coach we travel to Holbrook to visit the submarine museum and discover why the museum is located at this inland town. Leaving Holbrook we travel cross country via the village of Mangoplah to the Birdlip Reserve where a member of the local Landcare group will explain the significance of the reserve and their efforts to preserve it. Continue to the township of The Rock where the landmark geological formation known as The Rock looms over the station where we reboard the railmotors for the return to Junee.
Accom: Junee Motor Inn, Junee
- DAY 8 Friday 30th May Junee to Gundagai
Marvel at the ingenuity of the Bethungra Spiral as we travel to Cootamundra. The former station masters residence houses the Cootamundra Art and Craft Centre and there will be an opportunity to visit them prior to continuing by our coach to Gundagai where we will see the detailed marble sculptures of Rusconi including the Baroque Italian palace in miniature consisting of 20 948 pieces of marble selected from 20 different varieties of marble from throughout NSW. Lunch at the Niagara Café with its long and interesting history including hosting prime ministerial meals. Then a guided tour of Gundagai with its huge trestle bridge, historic buildings and history of floods of the Murrumbidgee River. Afternoon excursion to Batlow, the famed apple producing district then to the millet broom factory at nearby Tumut. Return to Gundagai via the scenic road which follows the Murrumbidgee River.
Accom: Sovereign Motor Inn, Gundagai.
- DAY 9 Saturday 31st May Gundagai to Bundanoon
This morning our coach takes us to Yass Junction station where we board the railmotors for Goulburn. We have a guided tour of the historic Old Goulburn Brewery a part of Bradley Grange with its buildings designed by Francis Greenway. Following lunch at the brewery we travel by coach to Bungonia Gorge where a short walk leads to a viewing point overlooking the monumental chasm into the Shoalhaven River. Then to Boral’s limestone quarry at South Marulan for a specially arranged inspection. Insights Tours has negotiated a private tour of this facility which is not open to the public. Our guide will explain the geology, production processes and uses of the products from the quarry. In addition the quarry management have given approval for our railmotor to become the fist passenger train to run on their private branchline which we will do at the completion of the quarry tour. We travel from Marulan Quarry to Bundanoon on the railmotors where we stay tonight.
Accom: Bundanoon Motel, Bundanoon
- DAY 10 Sunday 1st June Bundanoon to Thirroul
From Bundanoon by railmotors to Moss Vale where we alight for a guided visit of Throsby Park, the estate of Charles Throsby who was granted the land by Governor Macquarie. Insights Tours has arranged a special inspection and tour of the estate which is not normally open to the public. Reboard the railmotors for Ranelagh House near Robertson where we alight at their private platform. Ranelagh House is a gothic style two storey mansion dating from the 1920’s and has a varied history being used at times as an orphanage, monastery, school and stately home. Sunday Roast lunch will be served in the dining room. Following lunch, stroll to the end of the garden to rejoin the railmotors for the descent to the coastal plain arriving Thirroul about 4.30pm.
General Information
- Cost
The cost of this tour is $3,275
The cost includes:1. all transportation
2. all sightseeing excursions as indicated
3. accommodation on twin share basis
4. all entrance fees
5. guided touring as specified in itinerary
6. meals as specified in the itinerary
7. all gratuities
8. services of Insights Tours escort throughout the tourThe additional costs are: drinks, unspecified meals and items of a personal nature.
Places on the tour require a $500 deposit.
Balance of $2,775 to be remitted by Friday 21st March, 2008.To make a booking Please complete the booking form and return it to Insights Tours together with a deposit of $500 per person.
Cancellations prior to Friday 21st March , 2008
Refunds for cancellations will be less any cancellation fees imposed by third parties.Cancellations after Friday 21st March , 2008
There will be no refunds possible after Friday 21st March, 2008.
It is recommended that insurance cover be obtained. Insights Tours can assist you to obtain insurance.Railmotors
Insights Tours has chartered 2 CPH (CPH 1 and 7) railmotors from Paterson Railmotor Society. The railmotors are 1920’s vintage and have total seating for 90 however the tour will be limited to 38 passengers to ensure comfortable and spacious travelling. There is a flushing toilet in each railmotor. The railmotors are not airconditioned and have opening windows.Coach
Insights Tours will be also be engaging a 46 seat coach which is airconditioned, toilet equipped and has well spaced seating.Accommodation
All accommodation is of at least a 3 star standard. The cost of the tour is based on twin share ensuite accommodation. Limited single accommodation is available for an additional cost of $350.Luggage
Please limit your luggage to 1 suitcase and 1 piece of hand luggage per person. Please note that porterage of luggage is not provided.Insights Tours
A tour company operated by John and Paul Tuckerman. We arrange tours which utilise chartered trains, coaches and aeroplanes which provide their passengers with spacious and ample accommodation. Our philosophy is to provide a tour with a spectrum of interesting visits, inspections and conveyances. Each tour is uniquely arranged to encompass the most interesting sights of the regions visited. Insights Tours engages our own guides to ensure that our passengers have the best insight into the location being visited.Passenger numbers are limited to ensure a commodious travelling experience and to ensure that visits and guided tours are of maximum benefit. This tour is for a maximum of 38 passengers.
All our tours are personally escorted ensuring you can relax in the confidence that all of the pesky administrative details and arrangements are being taken care of.
There is always the chance that our itinerary could be delayed or curtailed in some way beyond our control. Except for prolonged or unexpected events, the tour will be conducted as closely as possible to the itinerary stated above.
If you would like details or assistance with any bookings, please contact Paul at Insights Tours: Tel: 0242 675530
BOOKING FORM
"Riverina Insights" 23rd May to 1st June, 2008
Booking Enquiry
To contact us:
If you would like details or assistance with any bookings, please contact us at Insights Tours:
Phone: 02 4267 2535 or 02 4267 5530 From Overseas: +61 2 42 672535
Facsimile: 02 42 675530 From Overseas: +61 2 42 67 5530
Email: paul@insightstours.com.au
ABN: 75 120 728 145 Travel agents licence no. 2TA5859
