Highlights
• Travel with Bill Peach and hear all about gold history in Australia as seen in his programme “Peach’s Gold”
• Stay in luxury accommodation at the Quay West Resort and Spa at Falls Creek and Lake House in Daylesford
• Visit famous gold rush towns of Bathurst, Omeo, Bendigo and Ballarat
• Attend the famous “Blood on the Southern Cross” at Sovereign Hill
• Private Aircraft travel throughout

Day 1 - Sydney - Bathurst - Mudgee
Our journey begins today at Sydney Airport. Our first stop is Bathurst where the news of the gold discovery was announced in 1851 and the rush began. En route to Mudgee stop for morning tea at Sofala where the Turon Gold Rush began. We continue on to Hill End where the biggest lump of gold was produced in 1872. Lunch today is at the Hill End Royal Hotel followed by a guided walking tour and visit to the History Hill Museum. In the afternoon visit Hargraves where a bonanza was unearthed in July 1851, with the discovery of the famous “Kerr’s Hundred Weight” containing 1,272 ounces of gold. Late afternoon arrive in Mudgee and have a wine tasting at Peter Van Gent winery. Accommodation: Parklands Resort Mudgee

Day 2 - Mudgee - Falls Creek
This morning visit Gulgong for a walking tour of the buildings and streetscape which present a remarkable intact and picturesque example of a nineteenth century town. Mid morning reboard our aircraft and fly to the Victorian high country where much of the gold rush took place. The NSW gold rush had far reaching affects on Victoria’s population as it drained the state of many of its workers. In desperation the government offered a 200 pound reward to anyone who found payable amounts of gold within 200 miles of Melbourne. The first official discovery of gold was by Louis Michel and William McKay Aberdeen at Anderson’s Creek, near Warrandyte. On arrival at Mt Hotham take a scenic drive to Falls Creek via Mount Beauty. This drive will provide stunning views of the Kiewa Valley, Pretty Valley, Mt Hotham, Mt Feathertop and Rocky Valley Lake. Our accommodation for the next two evenings is at Quay West Resort and Spa Falls Creek, located in the heart of Falls Creek. It offers magnificent views of the Bogong High Plains and Kiewa Valley. Accommodation: Quay West Resort and Spa

Day 3 - Omeo
Today visit the historic gold town of Omeo, once a rough and tough multicultural mining boom town. The Omeo Historic Park offers the combination of the “old” and “new” Court Houses along with the gaol, stables and police residence that make up the Police Camp. With its five heritage listed buildings and wonderful originality this precinct is believed to be the most intact and original in Australia. The museum which is housed in the old courthouse contains many artefacts of the regions history. Accommodation: Quay West Resort and Spa

Day 4 - Bendigo - Daylesford
This morning travel to Bendigo which owes its origins to the gold rushes of the 19th century. Gold was no temporary lure to this city– its attractions were more than just skin deep. In fact there was comparatively little gold on the surface at all. Most of it was far underground in rich quartz reefs stretching out over 3,600 hectares around the city. When the gold rush began in 1851, the first diggers rushed to the Bendigo fields and continued until 1954 when the last winch on the city’s last gold mine raised its last bucket of ore. In recent years mining for gold has re-commenced deep under Bendigo and continues today. We take the Vintage Talking Tram Tour that weaves through the streets of Bendigo, telling wonderful stories of days gone by. There is an option to visit the Bendigo Art Gallery or don a hard hat and miner’s lamp and descend 61 metres beneath the surface at the Central Deborah Gold Mine. This afternoon travel to our accommodation for the next two evenings, the magnificent Lake House at Daylesford. Accommodation: Lake House

Day 5 - Ballarat
The discovery of gold precipitated a great rush to this region which in turn resulted in the rapid growth of the new town of Ballarat. By 1853, there were more than 20,000 miners of many nationalities working on the field. Visit Sovereign Hill which faithfully depicts Ballarat’s first ten years after the discovery of gold in 1851. It’s where Australia’s history comes to life! This evening attend “Blood on the Southern Cross” an explosive multimillion dollar sound-and-light show about the Eureka Rebellion, a dramatic battle between gold miners and Government forces at Ballarat on 3 December, 1854. Accommodation: Lake House

Day 6 - Daylesford - Sydney
This morning is yours to spend at leisure and explore the facilities of the luxurious Lake House. After lunch transfer to Melbourne airport for the return flight back to Sydney.

2010 Departure Schedule

Tour Code GR001

Departs: Sydney 14 April

Returns: Sydney 19 April

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