• Ararat • Beaufort • • Ocean Grove

• • Colac •

*Price based on twin share

• • Wentworth • Guide • Royal Flying Doctors Service • Silver City Art Gallery & Mint • Whites Mineral Art Gallery & Mining Museum • School of the Air • Silverton • Living Desert & Sculpture Symposium • Menindee Lakes β Luxury 5-star coach • Kinchega National Park Σ Quality accommodation • Pro Hart Gallery Τ 5 Dinners • Jack Absalom Gallery Τ 5 Breakfasts Τ 2 Lunches * Entry fees & Tour Guides as per itinerary

FREE HOME PICK UP & RETURN & BELLARINE, WARRNAMBOOL, TERANG, COLAC, MORTLAKE, ARARAT & BEAUFORT

Day 1: Ocean Grove – Mildura - Wentworth (L.D.) We depart your hometown and travel to join the Christian’s Bus Company Coach. We make our way to Mildura via the Sunraysia Hwy stopping for morning tea, compliments of Christians Bus Company, and lunch along the way. This afternoon we continue to Wentworth with time to settle into our rooms before enjoying a BBQ dinner overlooking the Thegoa Lagoon and bushland . Overnight: Two Rivers Motel, 198 Adams St, Silver City Hwy, Wentworth Ph: 03 5027 3268

Day 2: Wentworth – Broken Hill (B,D) This morning we join the Silver City Highway to Broken Hill an oasis in the wilderness. It is a fascinating town that grew from a “one company mining town” to a multi-cultural thriving city that boasts being the home to many famous artists. One of the world’s richest deposits of silver, lead and zinc is found in Broken Hill. On arrival we tour the Royal Flying Doctor Service during which includes a film and inspections of their headquarters. Lunch will be available at the Tourist Centre Café (own cost) with time to browse the displays within the Visitor Information Centre that are set up to give tourists a feel for the remarkable holiday they are venturing into. We later make our way to the Silver City Art Gallery and Mint where we find ourselves in awe at the sight of Peter Anderson’s Big Picture. The magnificent Australia landscape is the World’s largest acrylic canvas painting. We also find original paintings and limited edition lithographs and Jewellery made from Broken Hill silver. Our next stop is Whites Mineral Art Gallery & Mining Museum. Experience underground without going under. The gallery features a collection of crushed mineral collage art works – over 400 – depicting mining equipment (past and present), legends and local historical buildings. Late afternoon we make our way to our motel where we are greeted by our hosts and shown to our rooms with time to rest and freshen up for dinner at the Demo Club. Overnight: Comfort Inn Crystal, 326 Crystal St, Broken Hill Ph: 08 8088 2344

Day 3: Broken Hill – Silverton – The Living Desert (B.D.) An early start to the day begins with a visit to the School of the Air. This unique school conducts lessons via satellite to children on isolated homesteads throughout western , covering an area larger than England and Wales. We are then joined by a local guide and enjoy a highlights tour of the silver city, identifying places and buildings of historical significance. Following some free time and lunch (own arrangements) in Broken Hill our guide will join us as we make our way to Silverton, a virtual Ghost Town, which played an important role in the history of the local region. It is also the scene of more than 140 films and commercials from Mad Max II to the Royal Flying Doctor series. Late in the afternoon we make our way to the Living Desert & Sculpture Symposium. The sculptures comprise 12 sandstone artworks which highlight the skyline, all with a story to tell. While viewing the huge carved monoliths, weather permitting, we enjoy the magnificent sight of an outback sunset. We return to our motel for a delicious Chinese dinner. Overnight: Comfort Inn Crystal

Day 4: Menindee Lakes – Kinchega National Park (B.L.D.) Today our guide joins us again as we travel to Kinchega National Park, located just 110km south-east of Broken Hill. It lies amongst the beautiful Menindee Lakes. Kinchega is an oasis for wildlife amid the dry red sand plains of the surrounding semi-arid region. The Lakes are fed by the tranquil Darling River, which meanders along the eastern boundary of the Park, amid forests of River Red Gum, Coolabah and Black Box. The serenity of the glades is disturbed only by the multitudes of waterbirds that flock there throughout the year to breed in extensive rockeries. Undulating bluebush sand plains give the visitor a chance to see the great Red Kangaroo, wandering emus in their native habitat and visit the historic woolshed and buildings. Late afternoon we return to Broken Hill with time to relax before dinner at the Demo Club. Overnight: Comfort Inn Crystal

Day 5: Broken Hill – Mildura (B.D.) After a leisurely breakfast we bid farewell to our hosts. Before leaving the ‘Silver City’ we visit the Pro Hart Gallery. Pro Hart is Broken Hill’s internationally acclaimed artist. The Gallery houses one of the largest private collections in Australia. The collection includes not only Pro Hart artworks but also

FREE HOME PICK UP & RETURN GEELONG & BELLARINE, WARRNAMBOOL, TERANG, COLAC, MORTLAKE, ARARAT & BEAUFORT showcases European masters: Constable, Dali, Monet, Picasso and Australian Contemporary Artists: Nolan, Boyd, Gleeson and Whitley. At Jack Absalom Gallery we see an extensive display of works by one of the Brushmen of the Bush. You will find his earthy colours depict the real harshness of the Australian Outback. Following lunch (own arrangements) we depart for Mildura arriving late afternoon. Overnight: Cottonwood Motel, 326 Deakin Avenue, Mildura Ph: 03 5023 5166

Day 6: Mildura – Home (B.) This morning we farewell Mildura and make our way through Red Cliffs the resting place of “Big Lizzie”. As we travel homeward adequate refreshment stops will be made. We arrive home late afternoon with many wonderful memories.

Single Supplement: $220.00 B= Cooked Breakfast, D = Dinner, L = Lunch

About Broken Hill Broken Hill is located on the Barrier Range in the far west of NSW, just 48km of the South Australian border. 1160km west of via the Great Western, Mitchell and Barrier Highways and 304m above sea-level it had a population in 1991 of 23,263. ‘The Silver City’, as it is sometimes called, is and always has been inextricably associated with the silver, lead and zinc mining. Many of the streets are named after metals, minerals and compounds, or after mine managers, leading citizens and civic leaders. The town is also the centre of the 16- million hectare West Darling pastoral industry which has 1.75 million wool-producing merino sheep, protected by a 600 km dog-proof fence. One of the most striking aspects of the town, apart from the number of pubs, is the remarkable aridity of the region.

About Silverton A popular destination for movie makers. This near-ghost town is full of interesting arts and craft shops. Silverton is a fascinating town located near the South Australian border, 1183 km west of Sydney via the Great Western, Mitchell and Barrier Highways and 24 km west of Broken Hill. Once a thriving mining centre of 3000 Silverton is now a virtual ghost town with a number of historic buildings, several art galleries and museums and a pub and that is about it. It is a town surrounded by semi-desert. Silverton was proclaimed a township in 1885 and a municipality the following year. A newspaper, the Silver Age, was established in 1884. It published some of the early verse of poet Mary Gilmore who, from 1887 to 1889, was an assistant teacher at Silverton school which is still standing.

NOT INCLUDED: Drinks, Telephone Calls, Laundry and items of a personal nature. Includes Luxury five star coach, motel accommodation with private facilities on a twin share basis. Meals and entry fees as per the itinerary. Tour Conditions: Payment A deposit of $100 per person is required at the time of booking. Balance is due 30 days prior to departure. Cancellation fees will be levied as follows: Prior to 30 days of departure - Loss of deposit, 29 to 15 days prior 40% of total fare, 14 to 8 days prior to departure 50% of total fare, 7 days or less 100% total fare. Christian’s Bus Company has arranged this tour upon the express condition that it will not be liable for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may occur either by reason of defect in any vehicle, vessel or aircraft of another company engaged to provide transportation on behalf of Christian’s Bus Company.. Whilst the company will take all rea sonable steps to provide an enjoyable tour, it accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss of enjoyment experienced by passengers due to circumstances beyond it’s control. Information as stated is correct at time of publication, but is subject to change without notice. We reserve the right to change or alter the itinerary should circumstances beyond our control make it necessary. If the tour has insufficient bookings, it may be cancelled with full refund paid. Food and Drink must not be consumed on the coach. Smoking is prohibited under Government regulations. Passengers are requested to restrict their smoking to stops en- route in the interests of other passengers. Luggage – one medium size suitcase plus one carry bag per passenger – maximum combined weight, 20kg’s. Seating- to enable everyone to enjoy forward and window seating, a seat rotation system will operate and passengers will be required to change seats each day. Prices are based on twin share. Conditions apply. Insurance is strongly recommended.

Travel Agent

For Bookings contact Christian’s Bus Company 75 The Terrace, Ocean Grove Ph: 5255 5800 Email: [email protected] A.B.N. 92 171 296 246 A.C.N. 005 550 167 FREE HOME PICK UP & RETURN GEELONG & BELLARINE, WARRNAMBOOL, TERANG, COLAC, MORTLAKE, ARARAT & BEAUFORT