Australian Celtic Festival
Event description
AUSTRALIAN CELTICE FESTIVAL - Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th May 2024
The Australian Celtic Festival is renowned as the premier Celtic event in New South Wales. It is the only Celtic-themed festival in Australia to recognise different Celtic Nations each year and has the unique atmosphere of being located at the nationally acclaimed Australian Standing Stones.
Come and experience this unique festival in the spectacularly colourful autumn that is a highlight of the cool New England climate. Over the four days, there are close to 200 individual events. The township of Glen Innes comes alive with Celtic window displays and themed experiences. The Thursday night ‘100,000 Welcomes Concert’ gives a taster of the weekend’s performances and non-stop entertainment. Alongside music and dance, the program includes official Celtic ceremonies, a street parade, re-enactment groups, Highlands games, Kirking of the Tartan, Friday night Ceilidh, massed pipe bands, Celtic Cultural Awards, dance championships, a children’s Marquee with entertainment and activities!
Day 1 PORT MACQUARIE TO ARMIDALE Thursday 02 May 2024 (LD)
Welcome to our Colours of England with the Celtic Festival. We get underway this morning travelling via the Oxley Highway through to Walcha, a significant primary producing area. It is also known as a producer of high-quality native hardwoods. We stop at the historical Apsley Arms Hotel for a lunch break before continuing through to Armidale. This afternoon we enjoy a sightseeing tour of the town with its magnificent heritage buildings, cultural places, special gardens, and schools. Some of the places we will see include Hanna's Department Store, the Courthouse, the Post Office, St Peter's Hall, St Paul's Church, Central Park, and the Racecourse. We visit a National Trust classified building, Saumarez Homestead - an imposing house with a proud place in New England and Australian heritage.
Lunch in Walcha | Dinner in motel
Country Comfort Armidale | 3 nights
DAY 2 INVERELL Friday 03 May 2024 (BD)
This morning we head to Tingha, a quaint old mining town where we have arranged morning tea and a visit to the Wing Hing Long Museum. Originally established as a general store, it has been turned into a museum to showcase the contribution the Chinese made to rural communities in NSW. During the peak of the mining boom between 1880 and 1920, a large community of Chinese miners established themselves in the district. Next, we head to the rich grazing, grain growing, and mining area of Inverell and arrive at Inverell Pioneer Village, a unique village as all the buildings featured have been collected from Inverell and the surrounding districts and represent the lifestyle and pioneering spirit of bygone days, we have time to explore and lunch here. This afternoon we visit the National Transport Museum for a look through the collection. With over 120 vehicle exhibits, ranging from Vintage, Veteran, Classic, and Motorcycles, the National Transport Museum has become a valuable tourist attraction for the New England area. Before we leave, we visit the New England Woodturning and Sculpture store for a demonstration and wander through the showroom.
Breakfast and dinner in the hotel | Lunch at Inverell Pioneer Village
DAY 3 AUSTRALIAN CELTIC FESTIVAL Saturday 04 May 2024 (BLD)
Today we will be heading to Glen Innes for the Australian Celtic Festival to spend the morning. Depending on the program, there will be entertainment and more events to enjoy*. Glen Innes is known fondly as the ‘Land of the Beardies’. Gazetted at the height of the gold rush in 1852, Glen Innes was settled by the Scots who regarded themselves as the Celtic Capital of New England. Our day will include the heritage main street including the parklands. In 1988 the Celtic Council of Australia developed the idea of erecting a national monument to honour all Celtic people who helped pioneer Australia. In 1992 the Australian Standing Stones were officially opened and are now well recognised as being the gathering point for Celtic descendants and clans.
*until the program is released the day’s itinerary is subject to change.
Breakfast and dinner in hotel | lunch own arrangements and cost
DAY 4 ARMIDALE TO HOME Sunday 05 May 2024 (BL)
Following breakfast, we bid farewell to our hosts and traveled east to view Wollomombi Falls and then Ebor Falls. Viewing platforms at Ebor Falls provide us with dramatic views of the falls and the rugged country to the north. From here we travel onto Dorrigo where we enjoy lunch at the Canopy Café. We arrive home later this afternoon after a fantastic holiday with friends.
Breakfast in the motel | Lunch at Canopy Cafe
TOUR INCLUSIONS
• 3 night’s motel accommodation
• 3 cooked motel breakfasts
• 2 motel dinners
• 3 included lunches – see below
• Lunch at the Apsley Arms Hotel, Walcha
• Guided house and garden tour at Saumarez Homestead, Armidale
• Day pass at the Celtic Festival
• Entry to the Wing Hing Long Heritage Museum
• Entry and lunch at the Pioneer Village, Inverell
• Entry and talk on arrival at the National Transport Museum, Inverell
• Visit the New England Woodturning
• Lunch at Canopy Café, Dorrigo
$1,450 pp twin share | $1,755 pp single sup | $250 pp deposit
For more information or to book;
Phone: 02 6583 3330
Email: admin@portbus.com.au
Website: https://www.portbus.com.au
The itinerary may be subject to change without notice. Whilst every effort is made to adhere to the itinerary as provided, Expanding Horizons reserves the right to alter the touring and attractions as dictated by circumstances and conditions outside the company’s control. Alterations may be made to ensure the smooth running of the tour. Every attempt will be made to ensure alterations do not adversely affect the operation of the tour. Expanding Horizons will not be held responsible for weather-based cancellations, or those closures made at the venue’s discretion.