Taste world class rum, wander beautiful botanic gardens, experience phenomenal marine life, and discover the adventurous life of aviator Bert Hinkler.

DAY 1 (LD) HOME TO BRISBANE Friday 20 December 2024

Welcome to our Christmas tour to Bundaberg. Sitback and meet your fellow travellers as we travel to Urunga for our morning tea stop at the Anchors Wharf Café overlooking the water. Heading up the coast we arrive in New Italy for our lunch at the Tastes of New Italy Café before arriving in Brisbane for our overnight stay.

Dinner at the Hotel, lunch at Tastes of New Italy Cafe

Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane | 1 night

DAY 2 (BLD) BRISBANE TO BUNDABERG Saturday 21 December 2024

After our relaxing evening last night, we checkout and head to Caloundra for a morning cruise through waterways. Our skipper will keep us entertained with commentary and a bit of fun. Next, we make our way to Gympie where we have chosen Gunabul Homestead as our lunch venue. The building was built as a house of grandeur using the finest timbers throughout. It is now set amongst a par 3 golf course making good use of the grounds. Our hosts have prepared a tasty lunch to enjoy. Continuing north we travel to Bundaberg where we settle in for the next 5 nights.

Lunch at Gunabul Homestead | dinner at the motel

Econo Lodge Park Lane Motel | 5 nights

DAY 3 (BLD) BUNDABERG Sunday 22 December 2024

Following breakfast, we set off for our days touring in Bundaberg. We are joined on the coach by a local guide who will introduce us to this major sugar growing area. As we drive around ‘ Bundy’ look out for the local landmark of the ‘Whaling Wall’. This is a fantastic marine life wall mural on one of Bundaberg’s highest buildings in the town centre. Dropping off our guide, we arrive at the Botanic Gar dens and visit the Hinkler Hall of Aviation, dedicated to the life and times of the famous aviator Bert Hinkler. In 1928 he made the first solo flight between England and Australia. The house in which he lived his final years was transported from Southampton, England to its present location within the gardens. We’ll also enjoy a light lunch here in the gardens before heading to the iconic Bundaberg Rum Distillery. This Australian spirit has been rolled out of the production line

DAY 3 (BLD) BUNDABERG Sunday 22 December 2024

for 110 years and today we are here for a self-guided tour. We’ll be able to look, feel and taste our way through the making process starting with the raw material molasses to the aromas of maturing spirit.

Breakfast and dinner at the motel | lunch in the Botanic Gardens

DAY 4 (BLD) LADY MUSGRAVE ISLAND Monday 23 December 2024

An underwater oasis is waiting to be discovered as we travel on a luxury catamaran to the unspoilt Lady Musgrave Is land. Pop on your snorkel and mask to reveal one of the Great Barrier Reefs protected coral lagoons. We also discover the pristine reef habitat many marine and land animals call home by glass bottom boat, or an island walk. The tour will also include a delicious lunch. What an incredible day on the reef!

Breakfast and dinner at the motel | lunch included

DAY 5 (BLD) DISCOVERY MORE OF BUNDABERG Tuesday 24 December 2024

We start the day visiting the Macadamias Australia Farm. Here we are taken on a guided tour of one of Australia’s working Macadamia Farms before a delicious lunch. Our final appointment today is at Bundaberg Barrell Brewed Drinks. We embark on the True Brew Experience Tour, which has interactive touch screens showing us how the ginger root is transformed into a delicious Ginger Beer product. We have a chance to sample some of their 14 flavours and of course there will be time to make purchases of our favourites. Tonight, we dine out at H20 perched on the banks of the beautiful Burnett River with breathtaking views over the water.

Breakfast in hotel | Lunch at Macadamia Australia | dinner at H2O Restaurant and Bar

DAY 6 (BL) MERRY CHRISTMAS Wednesday 25 December 2024

Merry Christmas! We start our day with a sightseeing drive out to Bargara and Mon Repos. The stretch of coastline supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles of the eastern Australian mainland and has the most significant loggerhead turtle nesting population is the South Pacific region. Returning to Bundaberg, we have some time to freshen up for our Christmas lunch with all the trimmings at the Melbourne Hotel. The rest of the afternoon is ours to simply relax and read a book or go for a relaxing walk to walk off Christmas lunch. Whatever you chose to do, enjoy.

Continental Breakfast in hotel | lunch at Melbourne Hotel | Cheese & Crackers for supper.

DAY 7 (BLD) BUNDABERG TO GOLD COAST Thursday 26 December 2024

Following breakfast, we farewell our hosts and checkout of our motel. We stop along the way for our morning break before heading to Yandina to visit Australia’s only and the world’s largest Ginger Factory. After lunch, we view the audio-visual display tracing the life of ginger from planting to final use, see ginger growing in the patch and then look at the factory from the observation deck to see production. We also take a ride on the Ginger train. Afterwards, we can visit the Ginger town shops or stroll through the landscaped gardens. From here we head through to the Gold Coast for our last night on tour.

Breakfast and dinner in hotel | lunch at Ginger Factory

Mermaid Waters Hotel by Nightcap Plus, Gold Coast | 1 night

DAY 8 (BL) GOLD COAST TO HOME Friday 27 December 2024

Farewelling the Gold Coast, we make our way back across the NSW border. We call in and visit the unique Clog Barn to experience the colour and charm of Holland as we witness a clog making demonstration, see the miniature Dutch village. We enjoy lunch here before heading for home after a wonderful Christmas holiday travelling with friends.

Breakfast in motel | lunch at the Clog Barn

TOUR INCLUSIONS

8 night’s motel accommodation
8 motel breakfasts
5 motel dinners and 1 own expense and 1 out – see below
8 included lunches – see below
Morning Tea at the Anchors Wharf Café, Urunga
Lunch at Tastes of New Italy Café, New Italy
Eco Explorer Cruise with Caloundra Cruises
Lunch at Gunabul Homestead, Gympie
Locally guided tour in Bundaberg
Cockpit Tour at the Hinkler Hall of Aviation, Bundaberg
Lunch at Cafe 1928, Bundaberg
Distillery and Museum Experience at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery
Lady Musgrave Experience – full day including lunch
Macadamia Orchard Tour and lunch at Macadamias Australia
Tour including tasting at The Bundaberg Barrel
Dinner at H2O Restaurant, Bundaberg
Christmas Lunch at the Melbourne Hotel, Bundaberg
Cheese & Cracker Christmas Supper
Lunch, tour and train at The Ginger Factory, Yandina
Visit and lunch at The Clog Barn, Coffs Harbour

$3,969 pp twin share

$4,779 pp single

$750 pp deposit

For more information or to book;

Phone: 02 6583 3330

Email: admin@portbus.com.au

Website: https://www.portbus.com.au

Book Online: https://events.humanitix.com/bundaberg-24

Please Note

This tour is based on a minimum of 25 paying passengers. If numbers fall below 25 paying passengers, the price may need to be recosted.
Morning teas or afternoon teas are not included unless specified.

The itinerary may be subject to change without notice. Whilst every effort is made to adhere to the itinerary as provided. Port Bus 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. Port Bus will not be held responsible for weather-based cancellations, or those closures made at the venue’s discretion.

Cancellation fees will be levied relative to the amount of notice given:

42 days or more—loss of deposit

29-41 days: 50% of fare plus deposit

30 days before and the Day of departure: 100% of the fare.

2024 Christmas in Bundaberg

Choose your tickets