Capital Blooms

Depart Sydney this morning at 7.30am with your experienced Driver Guide and travel through the rolling hills and verdant pastures of the Southern Highlands. Pause at historic Berrima to see its convict-era sandstone gaol, then visit Gold Creek Station to meet a local grazier and enjoy a barbecue lunch. Gold Creek is a working pastoral property that currently runs merino sheep and beef cattle. On arrival in Canberra join a local guide for a tour of Parliament House, the seat of the nation’s government. Built almost entirely of Australian materials, 10,000 people worked its construction. Then visit the Australian War Memorial, which brings together a world-class museum, a shrine and an extensive archive. Hear an evocative lament before departing for your hotel. Enjoy dinner at your hotel with your travelling companions.

Today enjoy the spectacle and festivities of Floriade 2019. Originally developed as a floral display to celebrate Australia’s Bicentenary and Canberra’s 75th birthday, this month long festival attracts more than 480,000 attendees per year. Start the day with a guided walk of the grounds. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy not only over a million flowers but markets, sculptures, workshops and live music. You might wish to extend your day with tickets to the magical and mesmerising Floriade NightFest (additional cost), featuring two fully choreographed light shows set to music.

Discover the Southern highlands during Tulip Time, when Corbett Gardens, Bowral becomes the festival centrepiece with over 75,000 tulips. Enjoy the festival vibe before travelling to the pretty Southern Highlands town of Mittagong for Devonshire Tea, with tea or coffee and hot scones with jam and cream. You’ll arrive in Sydney at approximately 5.00pm.