Tour Details - 7 Day Melbourne Flower Show 12/13

Day 1 Sun. Fly to Melbourne
Arrive at the hotel for the commencement of your tour this evening over Welcome Drinks and Dinner.

Day 2 Mon. Geelong, Blackwood
Visit the Victorian State Rose Garden with its 5,000 roses displayed within four uniquely shaped designs. The feature display is set in the shape of a Tudor Rose containing thousands of modern roses situated to maximise colour and fragrance. Travel to Geelong to see the fascinating ‘dry’ $2 million 21st Century Garden in Geelong Botanic Gardens. Then journey to the Garden of St Erth, one of Australia’s most exciting cool climate gardens. The 2.5 hectare garden is home to a collection of rare and unusual plants. The concludes with a visit to Stephen Ryans Tugurium Garden.

Day 3 Tue. Dandenong Ranges
Explore the beautiful Dandenong Ranges including Cloudehill Garden with its extensive herbaceous borders, roses and azalea walks. Stroll the gardens, viewing water features and cool climate shrubs and bulbs. Earlier plantings of cool climate trees have now grown to maturity giving the garden form and structure. Among the mature trees featured at Cloudehill are maples and copper beeches, thought to be among the largest in Victoria. Visit Beechmont Garden, framed by towering Mountain Ash, Blackwood Wattles and mature native Myrtle Beeches. This four-hectare near level garden has impressive collections of rhododendrons, camellias, magnolias, cornus, daphnes and many unusual species. Continue to Olinda before journeying on to William Ricketts Sanctuary which features sculptures set in mountain ash forest, nature’s garden.

Day 4 Wed. Heronswood, Cranbourne Botanic Gardens
Tour Heronswood Garden overlooking Port Phillip Bay. Wander through the gardens with perennial borders, scented plants, herbs and dry climate plants. There are also three separate vegetable gardens and subtropical and landscaped fruit gardens. After enjoying a Tasting Plate lunch here, continue to the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens, and tour the new Australian garden with indigenous flora and design features.

Day 5 Thu. Melbourne at Leisure
Today is yours to enjoy at leisure. Perhaps explore Melbourne’s shopping precincts, stroll along the Yarra River at Southbank or take an optional APT Great Ocean Road tour (own expense).

Day 6 Fri. Garden Show
Enjoy a full day at the acclaimed Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.?Regarded as the largest and most successful horticultural event in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s rated among the top five flower and garden shows in the world.

Day 7 Sat. Fly Home
Conclude your tour and transfer to the airport.