MAITLAND CLASSIC MOTOR ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN ALPS TOUR, 2017
MCMA TOUR THROUGH THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS, 2017 A GUIDE Day 1. Friday October 6 th : Maitland to Canberra ( 440 kilometres and minimum driving time of 4 hours, 45 minutes) Some facts about Maitland Population: 70 000 21.5 degrees 10 degrees 42 mm 10 days The drive: The option is to meet at the Twin Caltex at Warnervale at 9:00 am (morning tea) and travel via the M1, Pennant Hills Road (a highlight of the tour!!!), the M2, M7 and the Hume Motorway. Remember your etag and update your registration with RMS. Fuel is available on Pennant Hills Road, and on the Hume Motorway at Pheasants Nest, Sutton Forest, Marulan and Goulburn (lunch). Alternatively we could exit the Hume Highway and have lunch at Bowral. Beyond Goulburn we turn left onto the Federal Highway. Forrest Apartments 30 National Circuit Forrest. Visitor Information: Canberra and Region Visitors Centre 330 Northbourne Avenue Dickson 1300 554 114 Some facts about Canberra: Population: 424 666 20 degrees 7 degrees 62 mm 7 days
Day 2-4. Saturday - Tuesday October 7 th -9 th : Canberra and environs. Places of interest: Floriade (Sept-Oct), Australian War Memorial, National Museum of Australia, National Gallery of Australia, National Portrait Gallery, Old Parliament House, Parliament House, Government House, Old Bus Depot Markets, Australian Institute of Sport, Black Mountain Tower, Mount Ainslie Lookout, National Zoo and Aquarium. Day 5. Tuesday October 10 th : Canberra to Thredbo (213 kilometres and a minimum driving time of 2 hours and 36 minutes). The drive: We drive via the Monaro Highway (if only we had a classic Monaro) to Cooma (morning tea) and then Jindabyne (lunch). Then enter the Snowy Mountains driving to Perisher Valley and Charlottes Pass, and returning before turning right just before Jindabyne for the drive to Thredbo. Places of interest: Cooma: Avenue of Flags, Cooma Monaro Historic Railway, Nannygoat Hill Lookout, Snowy Hydro Information Centre. Jindabyne: Gaden Trout Hatchery. Jindabyne Dam. Strzelecki Monument. Perisher and Smiggins: Resorts. Charlottes Pass: Views of Mount Kosciuszko and the main range. Walks. Thredbo Alpine Hotel Thredbo Village Resort Friday Drive, Thredbo Visitor Information: Snowy Regional Visitor Information Centre Kosciuszko Road Jindabyne. 1800 004 439 Some facts about Thredbo: Population: 477 13 degrees 2 degrees 184 mm 12 days Day 6. Wednesday October 11 th :Thredbo and environs Places of interest: Skitube. Mount Kosciuszko Summit Walk. Riverside walks.
Day 7. Thursday October 12th: Thredbo to Bright (278 kilometres and a minimum driving time of 4 hours and 1 minute). The drive: We follow the Alpine Way to Corryong (in Victoria) then the Murray Valley Highway to Red Bluff and follow the road signs to Kiewa. At Kiewa we join the Kiewa Valley Highway and follow the road signs to Bright. Places of interest: Khancoban: Murray 1 & 2 Power Stations. Highest town in Australia. Rose Garden. Corryong: Man from Snowy River Museum. Darbyshire: Historic Trestle Bridge. Big 4 Bright Holiday Park 1-11 Mountbatten Avenue Bright. Visitor Information Bright Visitor Information Centre Gavan Street Bright 1300 551 117 Some facts about Bright: Population: 2 165 20 degrees 6 degrees 102 mm 9 days Day 8 & 9. Friday & Saturday October 13 th &14 th : Bright and Environs Places of interest: Bright: Historical Museum. Art Gallery and Cultural Centre. Old Tobacco Sheds. Myrtleford: Michelini Wines. Old School Museum. Phoenix Tree. Reform Hill Lookout. Mount Beauty: Alpine Discovery Centre. Arboretum. Bogong and Falls Creek: high country, Bogong High Plains and resorts. Hotham Heights: Mountain Fresh Trout Farm. Resorts. Beechworth: Beechworth Gallery. Buckland Gallery. Burke Museum. Historic Park. Chinese Burning Towers. Murray Breweries and Carriage Museum. Powder Magazine Day 10. Sunday October 15 th : Bright to Mansfield ( 175 kilometres and a minimum driving time of 2 hours and 1 minute). The drive: We drive along the Great Alpine Road through Myrtleford turning left through Whorouly East, Markwood and Milawa until reaching Whitfield Road where we turn right. We follow this road into the King Valley turning right at Whitfield and continuing on to Mansfield. Places of interest: Milawa: Wineries. Milawa Mustards. Milawa Cheese. King Valley: Wineries
Mansfield Holiday Park 8 Timothy Lane Mansfield. Visitor Information Mansfield Visitor Information Centre 175 High Street Mansfield 1800 039 049 Some facts about Mansfield: Population: 4 360 21 degrees 5 degrees 76 mm 7 days Day 11. Monday October 16 th : Mansfield and environs Places of interest: Mansfield Botanic Park. Mullum Wetlands. Zoo. Mount Buller: Alpine Village and Resort. Craigs Hut. Jamieson: Brewery Day 12. Tuesday October 17 th : Mansfield to Healesville (139 kilometres and a minimum driving time of 1 hour 47minutes). The drive: We drive west on the Euroa-Mansfield Road to Merton, then turn left onto the Maroondah Highway then left onto the Goulburn Valley Way. At Alexandra turn right and follow the Maroondah Highway to Healesville. Places of interest: Maindample: Alcheringa Black Sheep Stud. Alexandra: Timber Tramway and Museum. Eildon Trout Farm. Buxton: Buxton Trout and Salmon Farm. Big 4 Yarra Valley Park Lane Park 419 Don Road Healesville.
Visitor Information: Yarra Valley Visitor Information Centre The Old Court House, Harker Street Healesville. (03) 59622600 Some facts about Healesville: Population: 4 215 19 degrees 8 degrees 106 mm 10 days Days 13. Wednesday October 18 th : Healesville and environs Places of interest: Healesville Sanctuary. Yarra Valley Wineries in and around Yarra Glen, Yering and Coldstream. Hedgend Maze. Yarra Valley Tourist Railway. Day 14. Thursday October 19 th : Healesville to Melbourne (63 kilometres and minimum driving time of 1 hour and 10 minutes). The drive: We travel to Melbourne via the Maroondah Highway through Coldstream, Lilydale and join Eastlink just before Ringwood. Exit Eastlink left onto the Princess Highway to Dandenong. Places of interest: Mount Dandenong: Ricketts Sanctuary. Belgrave: Puffing Billy. Big 4 Dandenong Tourist Park 370 Frankston-Dandenong Road Dandenong South. Visitor Information Melbourne Visitor Information Centre 2 Swanston Street Federation Square Melbourne 03 96589658
Some facts about Melbourne: Population: 4 670 000 20 degrees 10 degrees 66 mm 10 days Day 15-17. Friday Sunday October 20 th -22 nd : Melbourne and environs Places of interest: Melbourne City: Melbourne Festival (October). Arts Centre. Cooks Cottage. Melbourne Cricket Ground. Fitzroy Gardens. Federation Square. Melbourne Maritime Museum. Melbourne 360 degree Observation Deck at Rialto Towers. NGV International (National Gallery of Victoria). Old Melbourne Gaol. Rod Laver Arena. Queen Victoria Market. Fire Brigade Museum. Government House. National Sports Museum. Cranbourne: Australian Garden. Mornington Peninsula: Wineries. Sorrento Museum. Cape Schnack Lightstation and Museum. Days 18. Monday October 23 rd : Melbourne to Phillip Island (211 kilometres and a minimum driving time of 1 hour and 42 minutes). The drive: This is an easy drive on the South Gippsland Highway and Bass Highway through Cranbourne and finally turning right at Anderson towards Newhaven. Places of interest: Koo-Wee-Rup: Koo-Wee-Up Swamp Tower. Grantville: Maru Koala and Fauna Park. Bass: Bass River Venison Farm. Bass Valley Mills. Big 4 Phillip Island Caravan Park 24 Old Bridge Drive, Newhaven. Visitor Information Phillip Island Information Centre 895 Phillip Island Tourist Road Newhaven 03 5987 3078
Some facts about Phillip Island: Population: 10 124 18 degrees 9 degrees 67 mm 9 days Day 19. Tuesday October 24 th : Phillip Island and environs Places of interest: National Vietnam Veterans Museum. Penguin Parade. Flower Farm and Gallery. Phillip Island Racing Circuit. Koala Conservation Centre. Seal Rocks Sea Life Centre. Day 20. Wednesday October 25 th : Phillip Island to Traralgon (326 kilometres and a minimum driving time of 5 hours and 23 minutes). The drive: We drive south-east along the Bass Highway and Strzelecki Highway and go directly to Traralgon. Alternatively, we can take the day via the Bass Highway, the South Gippsland Highway and the Hyland Highway and visit Wilsons Promontory, accessing Traralgon through Yarram. Places of interest: Bass Highway Route Wonthaggi: North School Wild Flowers Reserve. Wetlands Reserve. State Coal Mine. Inverloch: Shell Museum. Bunurong Environment Centre. Townsend Bluff. Leongatha: South Gippsland Tourist Railway. Museum. Gallery. Mirboo North: Erinae Lavendar Farm. Lyrebird Forest Walk. Grand Range Brewery. South Gippsland/Hyland Highway Route Foster: Museum. Stockyard Gallery. Wilsons Promontory National Park: southern-most point on the mainland with over 30 bushwalks. Port Franklin: boardwalk. Port Welshpool: Maritime Museum. Port Albert: Gippsland Regional Maritime Museum. Yarram: Courthouse Gallery. Big 4 Traralgon 5353 Princess Highway Traralgon. Visitor Information Latrobe Visitor Information Centre Old Church, South Side Central 41 Princes Highway Traralgon 1800 621 409
Some facts about Traralgon: Population: 24 590 20 degrees 7 degrees 72 mm 10 days Days 21. Thursday October 26 th : Traralgon and environs Places of interest: Traralgon: Newman Park and Minature Railway. Moe: Gippsland Heritage Park. Lake Narracan. Morwell: Powerworks Energy Technology Centre. Day 22. Friday October 27 th : Traralgon to Lakes Entrance: (154 kilometres and a minimum driving time of 1 hour 59 minutes) The drive: We drive east along the Princess Highway. Places of interest: Sale: Botanic Gardens. Gippsland Armed Forces Museum. Historic Swing Bridge. Wetlands Boardwalks. Stratford: Old Court Theatre. Bairnsdale: Clock Museum. Paynesville: Fishermans Wharf. Koala Reserve (Raymond Island via vehicular ferry). Big 4 Waters Edge Holiday Park 623 Esplanade Lakes Entrance. Visitor Information: Lakes Entrance Visitor Information Centre Cnr Marine Parade & Esplanade Lakes Entrance 1800 637 060
Day 23. Saturday October 28 th : Lakes Entrance and environs Some facts about Lakes Entrance: Population: 9 981 19 degrees 10 degrees 63 mm 10 days Places of interest: Fishermans Co-op. Flagstaff Lookout. Jemmys Point Lookout. Ninety Mile Beach. Griffiths Shell Museum. Lake cruises. Day 24. Sunday October 29 th : Lakes Entrance to Eden (242 kilometres and a minimum travelling time of 2 hours 46 minutes) The drive: We travel east, north east and then north along the Princess Highway to Eden. Places of interest: Nowa Nowa: Stony Creek Trestle Bridge. Orbost: The Slab Hut. Historical Museum. Rainforest Centre. Orbost-Marlo-Cabbage Tree Creek Loop. Mallacoota: coastal scenery Big 4 Boydtown 731 Princess Highway Boydtown. Visitor Information: Eden Visitor Information Centre Cnr Mitchell & Imaly Streets Eden 6496 1953 Some facts about Eden: Population: 3 151 21 degrees 9 degrees 56 mm 6 days
Days 25. Monday October 30 th : Eden and environs Places of interest: Boydtown. Seahorse Inn. Killer Whale Museum. Lookout Point. Day 26. Tuesday October 31 st : Eden to Batemans Bay (198 kilometres and a minimum driving time of 2 hours 28 minutes) The drive: We drive north along the Princess Highway. There are many deviations to the east on this coastal drive. Places of interest: Pambula - Merimbula: Magic Mountain. Merimbula Aquarium. Old School Museum. Tathra: Tathra Maritime Museum. Tathra Wharf. Bega: Bega Cheese Heritage Centre. Bega Family Museum. Bega Valley Regional Art Gallery. Bermagui: Blue Pool. Coastal Scenery. Tilba Tilba: Historic township. ABC Cheese Factory. Narooma: Bar Rock Lookout. Glasshouse Rocks Lookout. Wagonga Head/Australia Rock. Lighthouse Museum. Moruya: Historic public buildings. Historical museum. Mogo: Old Mogo Town. Mogo Zoo. Batemans Bay Beach Resort 51 Beach Road Batemans Bay. Visitor Information Batemans Bay Visitor Information Centre Cnr Princess Hwy & Beach Road Batemans Bay. 1800 802 528 Days 27. Wednesday November 1 st : Batemans Bay and environs Places of interest: Birdland Animal Park. Clyde Princess Cruises. Merinda River Cruises. Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens. Old Mogo Town. Mogo Zoo. Some facts about Batemans Bay: Population: 11 334 22 degrees 10 degrees 90 mm 8 days
Day 28. Thursday November 2 nd : Batemans Bay to Kiama ( 159 kilometres and a minimum driving time of 2 hours 5 minutes) The drive: We continue along the Princess Highway with its townships and coastal distractions. Places of interest: Tabourie Lake: museum. Ulladulla: Wildflower Reserve. Warren Head Lighthouse. Mollymook: coastal scenery. Vincentia: Jervis Bay. Huskinsson: Australia s Museum of Flight. Lady Denman Heritage Complex. Jervis Bay National Park. Nowra: Australia s Museum of Flight. Hanging Rock Lookout. Nowra Animal Park. Berry: Historic township. Historical Museum. The Treat Centre. Kiama: Kiama Blowhole. Little Blowhole. Pilots Cottage Museum. Rock Baths. Motel 617 132 Manning Street Kiama. Visitor Information: Kiama Visitor s Centre Blow Hole Point Kiama 1300 654 262 Some facts about Kiama: Population: 7 700 22 degrees 14 degrees 90 mm 9 days Day 29. Friday November 3 rd : Kiama to Maitland (312 kilometres and a minimum driving time of 3 hours and 31 minutes). Kind regards and best wishes for what will be a magnificent tour. Ian. ian.scanlon53@bigpond.com 0412726420