Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers

PORT BUS & HOLIDAY COAST TOURS

Presents TOOWOOMBA CARNIVAL OF FLOWERS 2023

Day 1 (D): PORT MACQUARIE TO TWEED HEADS:     

Wednesday 13 September 2023

Welcome to our 6 day tour to the 2023 Carnival of Flowers.  Since its inception in the 1950s, the famous Carnival of Flowers has attracted thousands of visitors to the area to enjoy the colourful gardens, flower shows and exhibitions.  We depart the Port Macquarie coach terminal at 8.00am. Getting underway we make for our first overnight stop at the border town of Tweed Heads.  

Sebel Twin Towns, Tweed Heads

Lunch at own cost / Dinner at Twin Towns Service Club

Day 2 (BLD): TWEED HEADS TO TOOWOOMBA:  (B,L,D)

Thursday 14 September 2023

Travelling via the outskirts of Brisbane, we head to Pohlmans Nursery where we have arranged a tour of the facility. Step aboard the Gum Tree Valley Express train to explore this amazing wholesale nursery. Find out how they use cutting-edge technology and industry best-practice to bring the consistently high-quality plants. We enjoy lunch here with time to browse the retail section, then head to Toowoomba, home of the Carnival of Flowers where we settle into our motel for the next three nights.

Nightcap at Federal Hotel, Toowoomba

Breakfast & Dinner at the motel / Lunch on tour

Day 3 (BD): TOOWOOMBA:               (B,D)             

Friday 15 September 2023

Our first visit this morning is to Brindabella Gardens, a 4-acre English style garden filled with perfumed roses, cottage perennials, and rare plant specimens.  We have free time here to wander the beautiful gardens before visiting Ju Raku En Japanese Gardens. This beautiful park, some 4.5 hectares is Australia’s largest, most traditional designed Japanese stroll garden. Enjoy some free time to purchase lunch. (Passengers own expense) before we visit Toowoomba's most notable tourist attraction, the Cobb & Co Museum which is part of the Queensland Museum. It is more comprehensive than its name suggests. It traces the history of horse drawn transportation in Australia from old timber wagons, spring wagons, and bullock drays through to the Cobb & Co coaches and the elegant Victoria and a landau used by the Duke of Edinburgh when he visited the colony in 1876.  We conclude our day with a visit to one of the Open Gardens that is participating in the Carnival of Flowers Open Garden Scheme, then return to our hotel and freshen up before dinner.

Nightcap at Federal Hotel, Toowoomba

Breakfast & Dinner at the motel / Lunch own expense

Day 4 (BD): THE GRAND CENTRAL FLORAL PARADE: (B, D)           Saturday 16 September 2023

We start our day exploring Toowoomba. Its “Garden City” image comes from the fact that it has rich fertile soil, a unique climate and its position on the edge of the Great Dividing Range presents ideal conditions for growing flowers. On arrival in town, we make our way to our seats for Australia’s most unique Street Parade – the Carnival of Flowers Grand Central Floral Parade. Spectacular floats decorated with live flowers, fitting the chosen theme for the year, plus Bands, Marching Groups and Carnival Characters. After we’ve viewed the Parade winding its way through the city we head off for a look at the gardens in Queens Park and the Botanical Gardens which reflect the grand gardening designs of a particular English nature and is home to stately old trees, many of which are more than 100 years old. Our touring also includes a visit to the famous Picnic Point Lookout which is perched on the edge of the Great Dividing Range, providing an amazing view of the Lockyer Valley and Tabletop Mountain.

    Nightcap at Federal Hotel, Toowoomba

Breakfast & Dinner at the motel / Lunch own expense

Day 5 (BLD): TOOWOOMBA TO TENTERFIELD:             

Sunday 17 September 2023

Farewelling Toowoomba we head to Stanthorpe to visit the Granite Belt Christmas Farm. Renowned for bringing the ‘Christmas Spirit’ alive all year round, we are welcomed by our wonderful host and given a short talk explaining how the farm works and the uniqueness of this magical industry. Mrs Claus may even have some of her festive sweet treats on hand for us to sample. For lunch, we travel to nearby Jamworks, on the other side of Stanthorpe. Here we can try a wide range of jams and chutneys all made using only the freshest and best quality ingredients. We continue to Tenterfield and taken on a sightseeing tour. It was here in October 1889 that Sir Henry Parkes made his famous Tenterfield Speech (at the school of arts) which set in motion the popular movement resulting in the Federation of Australia. Settling into our motel we freshen up for dinner.

Best Western Henry Parkes Motor Inn, Tenterfield

Breakfast & Dinner at the motel / Lunch in Stanthorpe

Day 6 (BL): HEADING HOME:        Monday 18 September 2023

Today it is time to head home.  We travel via Armidale and the pretty town of Uralla, stopping for lunch at The Alternate Root. Mid-afternoon we arrive home with many wonderful memories from this year’s Carnival of Flowers spectacle. 

Breakfast in motel / Lunch own expense

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.

COST: $1695.00 per person

(based on twin/double share accommodation)

Single Supplement: $585.00

Book online @

https://events.humanitix.com/toowoomba-carnival-of-flowers-23

A deposit of $750.00 per person is required upon booking with the final payment being

1 October 2023

Tour Inclusions:

· Air-conditioned coach travel

· 5 night’s motel accommodation

· 2 cooked breakfasts

· 3 Continental Breakfast Pack

· 4 motel dinners + 1 highlight dinner

· 2 lunches – see below

· Skypoint                             

· Free time to Harbour Town Outlet Shopping Centre  

· Dinner at Sebel Twin Towns                     

· Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers - Entry to the Flower Food & Wine Festival (daily ticket)       

· Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers - Gold reserved parade seating      

· Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers - Group entry to the Night Garden      

· Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers - Visit to all 4 private gardens     

· Group entry in to Cobb & Co Museum including 30 min guided tour                   

· Group guided tour to Ju Raku En Japanese Garden   

· Pohlmans Garden Nursery Train Tour

· Pohlmans Garden Nursery group lunch              

· Tenterfield 1 Hour Guided Town Tour step on guide