🏆 The Stawell Gift & Country Discoveries 🏆

Celebrate Easter 2026 with Port Bus on a 9-day journey blending history, culture, and Australia’s most iconic footrace – The Stawell Gift. Explore charming country towns, from Gundagai to Holbrook, where submarines meet pottery, and Bendigo, home to the impressive Great Stupa. Step back in time at Ararat’s J Ward and the Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre, and uncover the stories of the world-famous Stawell Gift at the Hall of Fame. Spend Easter Monday at Central Park for the 140th running of the Gift – a thrilling celebration of athleticism and tradition. Add in the breathtaking scenery of the Grampians National Park, farm visits, artisan tastings, and warm country hospitality, and this tour is the perfect mix of sport, history, and rural charm.

Day 1 (MT, L, D) HOME TO GOULBURN

Wednesday 01 April 2026

Welcome to our 9-day tour highlighting The Stawell Gift. This morning, we loaded the coach and began our journey south. We’ll stop for lunch break at the Ourimbah RSL. Arriving at our overnight destination of Goulburn in time to freshen up for dinner.

Morning Tea from the Coach | Lunch at Ourimbah RSL | Dinner in the hotel

Mercure Goulburn | 1 night

Day 2 (B, MT, L & D) GOULBURN TO ALBURY

Thursday 02 April 2026

After breakfast, we continue our travels, making a stop in Gundagai for our morning break. Leaving here, we make our way to Holbrook. On arrival,l we enjoy lunch in the Submarine Café. The town is known for its Submarine Museum. You might think it's a bit odd to find a life-sized submarine in the middle of rural NSW. Our visit will reveal why HMAS Otway's final resting spot came to be in Holbrook. Through an amazing holograph presentation, we will hear how a brave young Submariner, whose exploits during the First World War earned him the honour of having a town named after him. We also have time to look at the National Museum of Australian Pottery – another of Holbrook’s interesting attractions. There are over 1500 pieces of domestic pottery on display. From Holbrook, we continue to Albury and check into our overnight accommodation.

Breakfast and Dinner in Hotel | Morning Tea from the Coach | Lunch at Submarine Café | Afternoon Tea at National Museum of Australian Pottery

Quality Resort Siesta | 1 night

Day 3 (BLD) ALBURY TO HALLS GAP

Good Friday 03 April 2026

We start our day’s sightseeing travels to Bendigo. On arrival, we visit the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, the largest Buddhist monument in the western world, and the final home for the largest gem-quality Jade Buddha in the world. After our time here, we have lunch at the Bendigo Club before arriving in Halls Gap, which will be our base for the next four nights.

Breakfast and Dinner in Hotel | Morning Tea from the Coach | Lunch at the Bendigo Club

Grampians Motel | 4 nights

Day 4 (BD) ARARAT AND STAWELL

Saturday 04 April 2026

Our morning tour takes us to Ararat, an attractive old gold mining town and the only one in Australia to be founded by Chinese miners. Here we take a guided tour of the J Ward. Hear stories of its time as a gaol with murders and thieves, and later as a home for Victoria’s criminally insane. Next, we visit the Gum San Heritage Centre, which tells the story of Chinese miners travelling by sea to Australia and the hardships and prejudices they had to endure as they made their way to the rich goldfields. Arriving in Stawell, we spend some time at the Stawell Gift Hall of Fame, which not only gives us insight into the race that has made the town recognized but also is a treasure trove of memorabilia dating back to 1878. Take a look at the multimedia clips and archives for fascinating facts like the long knickerbockers that runners wore in the late 1800s. Surprisingly, there was a second old man’s race, after the first prize of a pig was given for the inaugural Gift! Find out the history of Cathy Freeman’s participation in the race. The afternoon has been left free to attend all the action on Ladies Day at Central Park back in Stawell, where off the track activities include the Fashions on the Field, giving fashionistas a chance to showcase their latest autumn looks ahead of the running of the Men’s and Women’s Gift Semi Finals. We then make the short journey back to Halls Gap for our evening meal in the hotel.

Breakfast, packed lunch, and Dinner in the Hotel | Morning Tea at J Ward

Day 5 (BLD) BACK TO NATURE IN THE GRAMPIANS

Sunday 05 April 2026

Happy Easter! Today, we explore the Grampians National Park. Witness some of the best lookouts, such as Boroka Lookout and Reeds Lookout – both with sensational views. Next, visit MacKenzie Falls, the most iconic and spectacular waterfall in the National Park. See the beauty and power of the Falls from a variety of lookouts and walks that cater to a range of abilities. Enjoy your packed lunch somewhere within the Grampians throughout the day, before returning to our hotel for dinner.

Breakfast and Dinner in Hotel | Morning Tea from the Coach | Picnic lunch included

Day 6 (BD) THE STAWELL GIFT

Monday 06 April 2026

Easter Monday is finals day for The Stawell Gift, the pinnacle in Australian professional running. With a full day of elite running leading into Australia’s oldest and richest short-distance running race. There’s no bigger day than when Central Park comes alive to celebrate this 140th running of the famous race. Food stalls are prevalent, so we can make our own timetable of events to watch while picking up some goodies to eat. The day is free and easy.

Breakfast and Dinner in Hotel | Lunch own arrangements and cost

Day 7 (BLD) HALLS GAP TO NARRANDERA

Tuesday 07 April 2026

Departing Halls Gap, we make our way to Aintree Farm Organics. Mariea and Trinity established their ‘Farmacy’ in the 1980s, and together they produce and offer an extensive range of all Australian honey varieties, including almond honey, hemp oil, almond products, and much more. We enjoy tastings and lunch here before travelling through to our overnight accommodation in Narrandera.

Breakfast in motel | Morning Tea from the Coach | lunch at Aintree Farm Organics | dinner at Narrandera Ex Servicemen’s Club

Narrandera Club Motor Inn | 1 night

Day 8 (BLD) NARRANDERA TO MUDGEE

Wednesday 08 April 2026

Leaving Narrandera right after breakfast gives us a chance to hop off the coach in Molong to visit the Yarn Market Craft Cottage for the opportunity to view artisan crafts and the famous tapestry handcrafted by the community’s young and old. We are sure to be peckish during our visit, so we stay for lunch before departing for our final overnight destination in Mudgee.

Breakfast at Narrandera Ex Servicemen’s Club | Morning Tea from the Coach | Lunch at Yarn Market | Dinner in the motel

Winning Post Mudgee | 1 night

Day 9 (B) MUDGEE TO HOME

Thursday 09 April 2026

We wave goodbye to Mudgee as we commence our journey home. With stops along the way, we arrive back where we started late afternoon.

Breakfast in hotel | Morning Tea from the Coach | Lunch at Hollydene Estate

INCLUSIONS

• 8 nights’ hotel accommodation

• 8 cooked breakfasts

• 7 morning teas

• 8 dinners

• 5 included lunches – see below

• Lunch at Ourimbah RSL

• Lunch at the Submarine Café, Holbrook

• Guided tour at the Submarine Museum, Holbrook

• Entry, guided tour, and afternoon tea at the National Museum of Australian Pottery, Holbrook

• Tour of The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Bendigo

• Lunch at the Bendigo Club

• Entry, guided tour, and morning tea at J Ward, Ararat

• Self-Guided tour and Entry at the Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre, Ararat

• Entry includes Central Park and Hall of Fame and Race Day, Stawell Gift Hall of Fame

• 2 x Picnic lunch from Grampian Motel

• Entry, tasting, and lunch at Aintree Farm Organics, Cobram

• Lunch and screen narration at The Yarn Market, Molong

• Lunch at Hollydene Estate

For more information or to book;

Phone: 02 6583 3330

Email: admin@portbus.com.au

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

$3,782 pp twin | + $790 pp single sup | $950 deposit pp

Please Note

• Price is based on a minimum of 20 paying passengers. If numbers fall below 20 passengers, this tour may need to be recosted.

• Price is valid for the above tour dates only and includes GST.

• 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, 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.