Cultural excursions

Friday, 11 June 2010 07:39

We invite all delegates to extend their congress experience by coming along on a cultural excursion. Your final day, Saturday 21 July, is devoted exclusively to cultural excursions. Choose from a range of unique sightseeing and cultural activities in the greater Melbourne area and regional Victoria including:  

 To secure your participation you must include your choice and payment on your registration form.

Great Ocean Road and Twelve Apostles ($150)

Enjoy views of Melbourne and Port Philip Bay as you travel over the West Gate Bridge, toward one of the world’s greatest coastal drives. The dramatic and rugged scenery includes powerful seas, golden beaches, giant cliffs and ancient temperate rainforests. Travel on to the legendary Bells Beach, Australia’s surfing capital. Enjoy the coastline as you journey to Apollo Bay; savour a leisurely lunch and a stroll around this seaside town. Hear the legends of the Shipwreck Coast and the tragic story of the shipwrecked Loch Ard. Enjoy a short walk at the Twelve Apostles, the breath-taking ancient limestone pillars rising from the Southern ocean, and the famed remnants of London Bridge. This beautiful and unique coast is a photographic delight so be sure to bring your camera.

Depart Melbourne CBD 8.00am, arrive back 7.30pm. Cost includes transport, lunch and afternoon tea.

Phillip Island, little penguins and the Australian Garden ($130)

The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne Australian Garden is like nothing you have ever seen before. Stop along the way to Phillip Island to experience the landscapes, gardens and artworks of the magnificent, award-winning Australian Garden. Continue on to the island home of Australia’s little penguins, to watch them come ashore after a day’s fishing at sea. After arriving at Seal Rock, you have time to wander through the interpretive centre to learn about the penguins. At dusk we are in for a truly memorable natural wildlife experience as we watch the little penguins emerge from the surf and waddle to their burrows in the sand dunes. The elevated boardwalks and viewing stands allow you to enjoy all the action without disturbing the penguins or their burrows. Afterwards enjoy a meal at a local restaurant in the main settlement of Cowes before returning to Melbourne by 9.00pm.

Depart Melbourne CBD at 1.00pm, arrive back 9.00pm. Cost includes transport, entry fee to Australian Garden and Penguin Parade, and two-course dinner

Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary ($70)

One of Australia’s most famous wildlife parks, Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary is home to over 200 species of Australian mammals, birds and reptiles, all in a natural bushland setting. After an 80-minute coach trip from Melbourne through the Yarra Valley vineyards and magnificent wet schlerophyll and rain forest we arrive at the former timber milling town of Healesville. We will enter the sanctuary in time to witness the Spirits of the Sky presentation, where we see birds of prey in full flight. Choose your lunch venue from one of three cafes and restaurants on the sanctuary grounds. After lunch wander through the sanctuary to view native birdlife and to get up close and personal with koalas, kangaroos, wombats, dingoes, Tasmanian devils, echidnas and goannas. Check the schedule of ‘Keeper Talks’ on iconic animals like the platypus to learn more about some of Australia’s unique wildlife. Relax on the return journey to Melbourne.

Depart Melbourne CBD 10.00am, arrive back 5.00pm. Cost includes transport and entry fee. Lunch not included – either BYO or buy lunch at the venue

Dandenong Ranges and Puffing Billy ($80)

Travel east of the city to the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, through lovely rainforest scenery. Look out for kookaburras, colourful parrots and listen for the distinctive call of the bellbird. On arrival in Belgrave, ‘all aboard’ as we travel on Australia’s oldest operating steam train, Puffing Billy. You’ll ride through the Sherbrook Forest and pass through charming villages noted for their beautiful gardens. A highlight of this unique train ride will be the famous timber trestle bridge which carries Puffing Billy over the Monbulk Creek at a height of almost 13 metres, a great opportunity for photos. The train winds its way through the forest, on to Lakeside station, where you leave the train and board the bus to be taken out for Devonshire tea before your return journey to Melbourne.

Depart Melbourne CBD 8.00am, arrive back 1.00pm. Cost includes all transport, entry fees and Devonshire tea

Yarra Valley food and wine discovery ($130)

Travel from Melbourne through the lush ferns and dense forests of the Dandenong Ranges, keeping an eye out for kookaburras, crimson rosellas and cockatoos. As you journey to the Yarra Valley, enjoy the picturesque mountain villages scattered along the way. Our first port of call is Fergusson’s Winery, one of the renowned Yarra Valley wineries, to enjoy a gourmet two-course lunch and a glass of superb regional wine in the unique rustic dining room. Tantalise your taste buds at Dominique Portlet winery where you can sample and buy a selection of quality local wines. Enjoy a winemaking tour of the highly regarded Domaine Chandon, maker of premium Australian sparkling wines. After your tour sip a glass of wine and enjoy local cheese on the patio while soaking up views of the beautiful Yarra Valley. Relax as you return to Melbourne. (Note: Wineries visited on this tour may vary.)

Depart Melbourne CBD 10.00am, arrive back 5.00pm. Cost includes transport, winemaking tour, gourmet two-course meal with a glass of wine, wine tastings at Dominique Portlet, glass of wine and local cheese at Domaine Chandon

Bendigo goldfields and Chinese heritage ($105)

Travel by train to historic Bendigo, the heartland of one of the world’s most exciting gold rushes in the 1850s. You will be transported back in time with a goldfields cultural tour including a visit to Bendigo Pottery, the oldest working pottery in Australia. After a short bus drive you will enjoy a leisurely lunch of regional produce accompanied by a glass of Victorian wine, while overlooking the picturesque vineyards. After lunch we visit the Golden Dragon Chinese Museum to experience a living history of the Chinese people of Bendigo from gold rush to present. Enjoy a wander through the classical Chinese gardens with traditional Chinese architecture. The highlight will be the display of Sun Loong, the longest and oldest imperial dragon in the world. Before returning to Melbourne you may like to further explore Bendigo, renowned for its art gallery, architecture, cafes and antique shops.

Depart Melbourne CBD 8.00am, arrive back approx 7.30pm. Cost includes all transport, all entry fees, winery tour and lunch.

Ballarat and Sovereign Hill ($140)

Explore Ballarat, a regional city to the east of Melbourne, and see the charming Victorian architecture, a thriving tribute to the town’s prosperous beginnings. Discover the turbulent story behind one of Australia’s most notorious incidents at the Eureka Stockade. From Ballarat we travel to historic Sovereign Hill and experience a perfectly re-created 1850s goldmining settlement. Don a hard hat and participate in the exciting underground mine tours. Learn about the mining of the early Australian goldfields and try your luck at panning for your own Australian gold. Enjoy browsing a wide range of period-style stores, with real life characters and story re-enactments. Don’t forget to visit the goldsmith where you may like to purchase a unique gift.
Depart Melbourne CBD 8.00am, arrive back 5.30pm. Cost includes transport and entry fees to Sovereign Hill and mine tour. Lunch not included.

Discover Melbourne by bicycle ($65)

Melbourne prides itself on being a bike-friendly city and the best way to discover its charms is on two wheels. Explore Melbourne along the banks of the Yarra River and the Capital City Trail – a 32-kilometre loop along waterways and around the inner suburbs and parklands. Travel past historic boat sheds and mansions, through native bush refuges (watch out for flying foxes) and stop for coffee and cakes at the heritage Abbotsford Convent arts precinct. Meander through inner-city Melbourne and discover its Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Return via a bike track hidden beneath a freeway then travel through the spectacular Docklands, finishing at Southbank. The route is generally flat but has some short climbs. Some cycling experience and a moderate level of fitness is required.

Meet at Federation Square 9.45am, arrive back 1.00pm. Cost includes all-day bike and helmet hire (feel free to further explore into the afternoon), bike path map, morning tea and local guide.

Saturday night footy fever ($45)

The Australian Football League (AFL) is the most attended sporting league in Australia and one of the two most watched sports in Australia. ‘Blockbuster’ games attract up to 100,000 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, affectionately known as ‘the G’. Don’t  miss this opportunity to see what all the fuss is about when two great teams come together to battle it out on the field. Australian rules ‘footy’ is a fast-paced and athletic game. Enjoy a colourful spectacle and the roar of the crowd as each team enters the field. Feel the crowd’s excitement at the first bounce and jubilation at the final siren for the winning team. Come along and learn the art of ‘barracking’ with your hosts for the evening Carol Warren, IFHE President-Elect and Louise Gunther, Home Economics Victoria President. Best enjoyed with beer and an Aussie meat pie!

Cost includes match ticket and booking fee. Further details available on release of 2012 AFL fixture

Melbourne bars by night tour ($80)

Melbourne is well known for its funky bar scene. Join us for a walking tour of the bars of Melbourne, starting at 7.00pm and taking in a minimum of five bars. Wander the lanes and back streets of the city, renowned for unexpected cosy venues and unique street art. We begin by walking down the garden path at Madame Brussels, then journey to the Red Hummingbird and 1806, named for the year that the word ‘cocktail’ was first defined in print. All of the bars are relatively close to one another with access to public transport (at own cost) if necessary at the conclusion of the evening.

Evening option – 7.00pm till late. Cost includes entry to all bars, two cocktails and finger food. Additional drinks may be purchased at own cost.