Canberra & the 2025 Enlighten Festival

CANBERRA AND THE 2025 ENLIGHTEN FESTIVAL

Beginning as an ACT Government initiative to encourage people to ‘see Canberra in a whole new light’ in 2011, it’s quickly become a beloved event in the calendar. And from awe-inspiring art lighting up Canberra’s most iconic buildings, to the festival atmosphere with plenty to see and indulge in.

DAY 1 (D): PORT MACQUARIE TO SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS       Thursday 06 March 2025

Welcome to our 7-day tour to Canberra featuring the Enlighten Festival. Sit back and meet your fellow travelers as we make our way into the Southern Highlands. Arriving at Mittagong, we check into our accommodation and relax prior to dinner.

Lunch at own cost | Dinner in Mittagong RSL Club

Springs Mittagong | 2 nights

DAY 2 (BD): SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS TO CANBERRA                            Friday 07 March 2025

We start the day being enchanted, all while enjoying morning tea, by the sights and sounds of Fairground Follies, akin to visiting an old-fashioned amusement park with its collection of self-playing instruments and mechanical music, fair organs, street organs, and a 100-year-old steam carousel. It will be a fun morning cherishing childhood memories of the local fair.  We make our way to Goulburn with time to purchase lunch, before arriving in Canberra this afternoon where we visit Cockington Green Gardens. This award-winning attraction takes its name from the township of Cockington in Devon, a historic English Village, and is a one 12th scale reproduction of buildings and gardens in this English village - thatched cottages, a tiny church, the village green, an oats house in Kent, a riverside inn, castles, and even Stonehenge. We have time to look through the gardens and imagine walking through an English village.

Breakfast and dinner in hotel | lunch own arrangements and cost

Novotel Canberra | 4 nights

DAY 3 (BD): CANBERRA SIGHTS                                                                                                   Saturday 08 March 2025

We take a scenic drive around the Embassy district before our visit to Parliament House. Located in the heart of Canberra, it is one of the world’s most acclaimed buildings. It is renowned for its impressive architecture and magnificent artworks and features superb stonework and Australian timber. From here we head to the National Museum of Australia where we enjoy an informative tour. It celebrates Australian social history in a unique way by revealing the stories of ordinary and extraordinary Australians, promoting the exploration of knowledge and ideas, and providing a dynamic forum for discussion and reflection. After dinner tonight we join in the atmosphere of the Enlighten Festival visiting the iconic buildings to see them illuminated in art and bright colours to admire. The National Library of Australia, the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, and the National Gallery of Australia to name a few.

Breakfast and dinner in hotel | lunch own arrangements and cost

DAY 4 (BLD): GARDENS, HISTORY AND SPACE                                       Sunday 09 March 2025

We arrive at the internationally renowned National Arboretum Canberra. Created as a place of breathtaking beauty, you’ll experience the world’s largest living collections of rare, endangered, and significant trees. The views over Lake Burley Griffin and Government House are sensational!  Leaving here we visit Lanyon Homestead, a historical home and a focal point of the sheep and cattle farming community. Superb gardens The property includes a range of outbuildings within a landscape of great natural beauty. Lunch is in Lanyon Café allowing time to relax and enjoy the view of the Brindabella Mountains in the distance. Opposites of what we have just seen we make our way to visit the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex at Tidbinbilla. For 40 years, the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex has played a key role in the exploration of space as part of NASA's Deep Space Network. Learn about the amazing work being done by Australians and the incredible missions that are revealing the secrets of the Universe. The Canberra Space Centre is a unique and informative learning environment for all ages.  See Australia's largest permanent exhibit of flown space hardware and memorabilia including a piece of the Moon over 3.8 billion years old. Check out what the well-dressed astronaut wears and the types of food they eat and learn about the important role that Australia plays in the exploration of space.  Our day is complete we head back to our hotel for dinner and return to the Enlighten Festival for any buildings/Towers we may not have seen the night before.

Breakfast and dinner in the hotel | Lunch at Lanyon Homestead

DAY 5 (BD): REFLECTION AND REMEMBRANCE                                                    Monday 10 March 2025

We make our way up to Mt Ainslie's lookout for breathtaking views across Lake Burley Griffin. From here we visit the Museum of Australian Democracy (formally Old Parliament House). The Museum was home to Australia’s Federal Parliament for more than 60 years and is now a much-loved heritage building, offering a unique glimpse into the nation's fascinating past. This afternoon we are moved to the Australian War Memorial. Combining a shrine, world-class museum, and extensive archive, the Memorial’s purpose is to commemorate the sacrifice of those Australians who had died in war or on operational service and those who have served our nation in times of conflict. Wander the impressive exhibitions and somber ceremonial areas including the Hall of Memory together with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Pool of and the Roll of Honour that lists the names of over 102,000 Australian service men and women who have died in the war. We are farewelled with the Last Post Ceremony. The touching ceremony features the national anthem, piper’s lament, an individual story, an ode recited by a Defence Force personnel, and ending with the sounding of the Last Post. What an unbelievable experience.

Breakfast and dinner in hotel | lunch own arrangements and cost

DAY 6 (BLD) FARMING LIFE                                                                                            

Tuesday 11 March 2025

Get ready for some farming life at Gold Creek Station experiencing the life of a farming family on their 1500-acre Merino sheep and beef and cattle farm. Watch Australian kelpie dogs work merino sheep. See sheep shearing demonstrations. Hear informative talks on the Australian wool industry. Finishing up with lunch you can feel yourself relaxed during this friendly rural experience. Leaving here we return to Springs Mittagong for our last night on tour.

Breakfast in the hotel | Lunch at Gold Creek Station | Dinner at Mittagong RSL Club

Day 7 (B): HEADING HOME                                                                                 

Wednesday 12 March 2025

What a wonderful week's holiday we have had traveling with friends. We make a stop along the way to purchase lunch, arriving home later today completely refreshed.

Breakfast in hotel | lunch own arrangements and cost

Tour Inclusions

•              6 night’s motel accommodation

•              4 cooked motel breakfasts & 2 breakfasts at Mittagong RSL

•              4 dinners and 2 dinners at Mittagong RSL Club

•              2 included lunches – see below

•              Entry, talk, tour, demonstrations, and morning tea at Fairground Follies, Bowral

•              Entry to Cockington Green Gardens

•              Best of Parliament House tour, Canberra

•              Museum Highlights Tour at the National Museum of Australia

•              Visit Enlighten Festival

•              Guided tour at the National Arboretum Canberra

•              Entry, guided tour, and lunch at Lanyon Homestead

•              Self-guided visit to Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex

•              Entry including insights tour at the Museum of Australian Democracy

•              Visit, guidebook and Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial

•              Includes sheep demonstration and lunch at Gold Creek Station

Notes

•              Price is based on a minimum of 25 paying passengers. If numbers fall below 25 paying passengers, prices may need to be recosted.

All itineraries are subject to change due to occasional restrictions on opening times/days of some attractions, e.g. churches, wineries, etc. We cannot be held responsible for any changes due to closures, inclement weather, etc

$2,736 pp Twin Share | $3,413 pp Single | $350 deposit pp

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/enlighten-24

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.