2024 Jacaranda Festival

Join us as we travel to Grafton for the Jacaranda Festival. Celebrate the blossoming of hundreds of Jacaranda trees with street markets, live entertainment and more!

Wednesday 30 October 2024 – Saturday 02 November 2024

DAY 1 (LD): PORT MACQUARIE TO YAMBA Wednesday 30 October 2024

Welcome to our four-day tour to Grafton for the Jacaranda Festival. As early as 1866, the Grafton Council resolved to consider laws for planting and preserving of trees and shrubs in the streets and recreation grounds. There are now some 7000 trees in Grafton and many beautiful parks. The most famous of trees is of course the Jacaranda. We travel through to Coffs Harbour where we head to the Clog Barn for morning tea. Here we can experience the colour and charm of Holland, as we witness a clog-making demonstration and see a miniature Dutch village. We travel to Bruxner Park driving up through banana plantations and avocado groves to the Forest Sky Pier. The Forest Sky Pier is located on an escarpment 310 metres above Coffs Harbour offering views out to the coast; on a clear day, you can see 100km to the south! From here we head north of Coffs Harbour to the coastal town of Woolgoolga where we have lunch at the local services club, then visit the Sikh Heritage Museum, located within the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple. The temple was built by the town's Sikh residents whose ancestors travelled to the North Coast around the time of the Australian Federation.

Lunch in Woolgoolga | Dinner at Yamba Golf & Country Club

Yamba Aston Motel | 02 6646 2199 | 3 nights

DAY 2 (BD): JACARANDA FESTIVAL Thursday 31 October 2024

This morning we travel to Grafton for the Jacaranda Festival. First, we are met by a local guide who will join us on the coach for a town tour. Then we have time at leisure to enjoy the festival, wander through the markets, view the many stalls selling wares, enjoy the entertainment of Market Square, experience the Grafton gardens, or simply take in all the festival fun, the choice is yours! At a designated time, we meet the coach as we travel back to Yamba.

Breakfast at Yamba Cafe Marina | Lunch own arrangements and cost | Dinner at Yamba Golf & Country Club

DAY 3 (BLD): YAMBA Friday 01 November 2024

We take a short ferry ride to Iluka – a beautiful coastal town close to one of Australia’s rarest and most accessible rainforest remnants. We have free time to explore the town before our lunch close by at the Hardwood Hotel. Returning to Yamba we are joined by a local expert before visiting the Award-Winning Yamba Museum to uncover the town’s rich and diverse history. Wander through the school rooms display depicting the historical record of public education and access the ‘Old Kirk’, the adjoining church and view the current exhibition. Returning to the motel to freshen up before dinner at Yamba Gold & Country Club.

Breakfast at Yamba Cafe Marina | Lunch at Harwood Hotel | Dinner at Yamba Golf & Country Club

Day 4 (B) YAMBA TO HOME

Saturday 02 November 2024

With our bags packed full of wonderful memories, we finalise our checkout procedures and return to Grafton, to visit Lanbruk’s Gunyah – a property belonging to Dorothy and Don Enders. They will take us on a tour through the Olive Grove, show us the animals (alpacas and Dorper sheep to name a couple) in the paddocks and serve a delicious homemade morning tea. We can browse through the gift shop to admire local handicrafts and, of course, pick up a supply of the organic olive oils produced here. There is even a museum housing the fully restored and still running 1926 Chevy Utility. We have some time to enjoy some more of the festival before making our way home. Arriving mid-afternoon after many wonderful memories travelling with friends.

Breakfast at Yamba Café Marina | Lunch own arrangements and cost

TOUR INCLUSIONS

• 3 night’s motel accommodation

• 3 breakfasts at the Yamba Café Marina

• 3 dinners at the Yamba Golf and Country Club

• 2 included lunches – see below.

• Visit and morning tea at The Clog Barn, Coffs Harbour

• Lunch at the Woolgoolga RSL Club

• Entry to Museum and tour at the Sikh Heritage Museum of Australia

• Locally guided tour of Grafton

• Locally guided tour of Yamba

• Entry, and guided tour of the museum including a visit to "Old Kirk" at the Yamba Museum

• One-way crossing Iluka-Yamba with Clarence River Ferries

• Lunch at Hardwood Hotel

• Tour and morning tea at Lanbruk's Gunyah

$1,373 pp twin share | $1,489 pp single | $270 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/j...

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.