QUEENSLAND WATER TOWER Tour

Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd October 2023

Day 01 (LD): PORT MACQUARIE TO CALOUNDRA Monday 16th

Welcome to QLD Water towers, an appreciation tour of talented artists who visualised and painted the artwork on the towers. We have a bit of a travel day today so sit back and meet your fellow travellers. We make a stop in Ballina for lunch before continuing through to the colourful and vibrant Pacific Pines Water Tower. Located on the top of Bottle Brush Hill, we don’t go all the way up due to no access for large coaches however we make a stop for a photo below. Leaving here we make our way to Kallangur where Titled ‘Symbiosis’ featuring the Xanthorrhoea bush at the base of the tower and a black cockatoo in the top reaches, the mural was designed to blend into its surroundings, and it does perfectly. The design symbolises the regeneration of Kallangur, highlighting the black cockatoo - signifying rain. A great start to our water tower tour. We check in to our hotel for the next 5 nights with a slightly later dinner this evening.

Lunch at Ballina RSL Club | dinner at hotel Oaks Sunshine Coast Oasis Resort | 6 nights

Day 02 (BLD): DISCOVERING WATER TOWERS Tuesday 17th

Looking forward to our humdinger of a day we start locally right here in the Caloundra, designed by Phantast who took their inspiration for the mural from the creation of stories told by Maroochy Baramabah, a song-woman of the Turrbal people. We will have to park and walk to this one to appreciate the scale of the artwork. We now head south and cross the bridge to Bribie Island. It’s here we discover a sand island full of natural wonders including two water towers which we will see today. Set amongst beautiful bush surrounds is the Bribie Island Community Arts Centre. Browse the interesting and varied arts and crafts housed within

Day 02 (BLD): DISCOVERING WATER TOWERS Tuesday 17th

before making our way to Bongaree, drawing inspiration from Bribie Island’s marine life and waterways; this artwork depicts the thriving aquatic life that is unique to Bribie Island. The native turtles that return to Bribie Island each year, the lush seagrass beds beyond its shores and the sunrays shining through the pristine waters, provide a glimpse into the paradise that hides just below the water’s surface. We now travel to the eastern

side of the island to see the Woorim Water Tower, reflecting Bribie Island’s beach culture and the families that have chosen Bribie Island as their home. We enjoy lunch on the island at the Bribie Island RSL club before calling in at the Bribie Island Seaside Museum to explore the unique history of the region. Heading back to the mainland, we farewell the island. Arriving at Beachmere’s Water Tower, we see the design featuring a colourful display of local wildlife, capturing the community appeal of Beachmere. We have two more towers to see today, the next one is in Rothwell. This 360-degree water tank portrays many species of flora and fauna believed to be found locally in the area. There is even a plane or two flying overhead. Take a moment and go for a wander around to truly appreciate the size of artwork it is. Returning to our accommodation we stop in at Caboolture’s water tower, celebrating the ANZAC spirit.

Breakfast and dinner in hotel | Lunch at Bribie Island RSL Club

Day 03 (BLD): WATER TOWER, MARKETS AND GINGER Wednesday 18th

This morning we set off on our days touring starting at Point Cartwright Water Tower. It is found on the headland in the Beacon Lighthouse Reserve in Buddina, Queensland. This one is a walk (about 700m) to get to the tower, but once there the views are spectacular! Titled ‘Subsurface’ and designed by The Zookeeper, the mural featured a whale, a turtle, and fish all swimming beneath the sea. After returning to the coach, we can have a rest onboard as we make our way to Eumundi. The twice weekly street markets held in the small village of Eumundi are as popular with the locals as they are with visitors to the Sunshine Coast. The town itself is very attractive – the main street is tree lined and features many fine examples of buildings that were constructed between 1890 and 1930. The market operates on Wednesday and Saturday mornings – “rail, hail or shine”! We spend some time looking at the markets, then re-board our coach and make our way to Yandina to visit the 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 o bservation 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. Just across the road is the Macadamia Factory, just in case you’d like to stock up! We return to the hotel for dinner.

Breakfast and dinner in hotel | lunch at the Ginger Factory

Day 04 (BLD): SUNSHINE COAST HINTERLAND Thursday 19th

We have a fabulous day in store today as we travel up to the Blackall Range. Our first stop for the day is at Maleny Dairies. Due to the milk industry deregulations, the family were nearly forced to give up farming but fought back by deciding to build their own processing plant. Today we take a tour of the facility including a brief history of the farm. Leaving here we make our way to the magnificent rainforest of the Maleny Botanic Gardens. The gardens cover 14 acres in area but are continuously expanding. We’ll have spectacular views of the Glasshouse Mountains whilst meandering along paths with different plants including some of the rarest cycads in the world. We enjoy lunch here before travelling north along the range to Montville, taking in the beautiful vistas along the way. Montville is probably the most well-known village alon g the range and was first established in 1887. Today it is a place to step back in time and enjoy the tranquility of village life in a streetscape unique to any other tourist centre in Australia. We will have free time here to browse the many arts and crafts shops. Later this afternoon we visit Mapleton Water Tower, it depicts the Mapleton Lily Ponds which is right behind it, a beautiful park and picnic area. After a great day we return to the hotel with some free time before dinner.

Breakfast and dinner in hotel | lunch at the Maleny Botanic Gardens

Day 05 (BLD): BINJOUR AND MUNDUBBERA Friday 20th

We have an early start today as we have a bit of a drive today but once we arrive to where we are heading it will be worth the trip. Late morning, we arrive in the small township of Binjour to see the water tower - a historic view of the local town including the post office, the Church and country estates. Not too far away is Mundubbera this small rural service centre of Mundubbera is located on the Burnett River although it likes to think of itself as the "Meeting Place of the Waters" because both the Boyne and the Auburn Rivers flow into the Burnett 10 km west of the town. We have arranged lunch today at Royal Hotel Mundubbera before our visit to the Mundurbbera Pump Station illustrating the meeting of the Boyne, Auburn, and Burnett Rivers with lots of native flora and fauna tucked into the scenes as well. The Mundubbera Museum is where we’ll find eight local historical buildings that have been moved to the site as well as two large machinery sheds and a citrus industry display building being developed. On display is a wide range of local memorabilia, furniture, machinery, and equipment. After an enjoyable day we return to our hotel for last night in the area.

Breakfast and dinner in the Resort | lunch at the Royal Hotel Mundurbbera

Day 06 (BLD): SUNSHINE COAST TO BALLINA Saturday 21st

With our bags full of fantastic memories, we start for home. We do still have 2 more water towers to see today before arriving home. The first one is at the Green Hill Water Reservoir; the concrete walls of the Green Hill Reservoir were transformed into a work of Day 06 (BLD): SUNSHINE COAST TO BALLINA Saturday 21st

art, as part of Seqwater’s first community artwork project. Seqwater teamed up with year 7 art students from nearby Indooroopilly State High School and Street Art Murals Australia (SAMA) to create design concepts based on three themes – Water for life, Nature around us and Urban habitat, and they have achieved this spectacularly! Our last water tower on tour is at the Chester Park Water Tow er, the artist Kyra says that her theme is ‘Indigenous Warrior’ which s a tribute to teachers, lawyers, police, and community people who uphold ‘Justice for all’. What a picture-perfect way to finish the water tower visits. We have arranged lunch today at the Coolangatta Surf Club. Sit back and relax with a good book or a little nap as we travel through to Ballina with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Breakfast and dinner in hotel | lunch at Coolangatta Surf Club Comfort Inn All Seasons, Ballina | 1 night

Day 07 (B): BALLINA TO HOME Sunday 22nd

Following breakfast we make our way home, stopping along the way to purchase lunch we arrive this afternoon with memories and great photos to share of our 7-day art appreciation tour.

Breakfast in hotel | lunch own arrangements and cost

Tour Inclusions

6 night’s motel accommodation
6 cooked motel breakfasts
6 motel dinners
6 included lunches – see below
Lunch at Ballina RSL Club
Visit Pacific Pines Water Tower
Visit Kallangur Water tower
Visit Caloundra Reservoir
Entry to the Bribie Island Community Arts Centre
Visit Bongaree Water Tower, Bribie Island
Visit Woorim Water Tower, Bribie Island
Lunch at the Bribie Island RSL
Visit to the Bribie Island Seaside Museum
Visit Beachmere's Water Tower
Visit Rothwell Water Tower
Viist Caboolture's Water Tower
Visit Point Cartwright Water Tower
Visit Eumundi Markets
Lunch, guided tour including tastings and Ginger train ride at The Ginger Factory, Yandina
Visit Macadamia Factory
Tour Farm and Factory at Maleny Dairies
Entry to gardens and lunch at the Maleny Botanic Gardens
Visit Montville township
Visit Mapleton Water Tower
Visit Binjour Water tower
Lunch at the Royal Hotel Mundubbera

Tour Inclusions continued

Visit Mundurbbera Pump Station
Entry to Mundubbera and District Historical Museum
Visit Green Hill Water Reservoir
Visit Chester Park Water Tower
Lunch at the Coolangatta Surf Club

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/qld-water-tower-tour

$1,976 pp twin | $2,525 pp single

Deposit $300 pp

All itineraries are subject to change due to occasional restrictions in 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. All tours require a minimum number to proceed

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 fare.

In the case of concert or sporting tours, where admission tickets are purchased in advance, a minimum cancellation fee equivalent to the cost of admission tickets+ fees will apply.

Some accommodations require prepayment and refunds will be subject to their own conditions.

FOR BOOKINGS

Port Macquarie Travel 6583 1422

Camden Haven Travel 6559 9048

Wauchope Travel 6585 2288

The Rocks Travel 6566 6770