VICTORIA COUNTRY GARDENS
13 – 19 MARCH 2023
FULLY BOOKED
ITINERARY
Discover Victoria’s finest country gardens at their perennial peak. Gates are open just for us! Meet the master gardeners and learn their secrets; David Glenn’s Lambley, Paul Bangay’s Stonefields, Annie Smithers’ Babbington Park and Digger’s Garden of St Erth.
Monday 13 March 2023
Home to Hepburn Springs (L/D)
Meet your Ross Tour leader at Sydney Domestic Airport for Qantas flight to Melbourne. Head to the beautiful Macedon Ranges for a Welcome Lunch at an 1860 Victorian country house and top culinary school. The private garden of Stone Hill is a perennial masterpiece designed by Michael McCoy. Our trip is perfectly timed for the peak of summer perennials. Travel onto Hepburn Springs and check into your stylish hotel for three nights. Dinner included.
Accommodation: Bellinzona Resort and Spa, Hepburn Springs
Tuesday 14 March 2023
Frogmore Gardens and du Fermier (B/L)
Two exceptional gardens today; Babbington Park where celebrity chef Annie Smithers opens the gates to her prolific private kitchen garden. It’s the source of 90% of the food served in her famous French farmhouse restaurant, ‘du Fermier’ in Trentham, where we will have lunch. Frogmore is next, famous for its well-designed flower borders. You’ll love every inch of this garden: its theatrical setting, corridors into the surrounding landscape and beautiful plant collections.
Accommodation: Bellinzona Resort and Spa, Hepburn Springs
Wednesday 15 March 2023
Convent Gallery (B/L)
The beautifully restored Convent Gallery is nestled on the crest of Wombat Hill, overlooking Daylesford; a series of galleries, museum, café, and gift shop.
This is our first stop today, our opportunity to see local, national, and international artworks. Lunch today will be memorable at ‘The Boathouse‘ on Lake Daylesford.
Accommodation: Bellinzona Resort and Spa, Hepburn Springs
Thursday 16 March 2023
Stonefields (B)
Paul Bangay’s Stonefields ‘superstar’ garden is our first stop this morning; a series of stunning formal garden rooms surrounded by a suite of informal gardens.
Lunch is next at Blackwood Ridge, set in a garden oasis, with time to explore this fine private garden. Travel on to Ballarat, check in to Craig’s Royal Hotel in the city centre.
Accommodation: Craig’s Royal Hotel, Ballarat
Friday 17 March 2023
Lambley and Ceres Homestead (B/L)
David Glenn’s Lambley is world-renowned as a benchmark in sustainable gardening. David will explain all aspects of this complex suite of gardens as he leads
us through his masterpiece. Perennials will be in full flower at this time; dreamy, romantic and tough!
A treat today at Ceres Homestead with our host, Jane Charles who has restored this beautiful old property to its glory days! Built in 1864 by Thomas Bath, the first
licensee on the Ballarat goldfields and famously embellished for the visit in 1867 by Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh. Jane will show us her magnificent home,
refurbished outbuildings and her garden. And she will host us at a long table luncheon!
Accommodation: Craig’s Royal Hotel, Ballarat
Saturday 18 March 2023
Ballarat Botanic Gardens (B/D)
A gentle walk this morning to discover the fascinating history of the gold that gave life to Ballarat and funded its beautiful architectural heritage.
Afternoon visit to Ballarat Botanical Gardens, on Lake Wendouree with its famous conservatory filled with tuberous begonias. Farewell Dinner included tonight.
Accommodation: Craig’s Royal Hotel, Ballarat
Sunday 19 March 2023
Garden of St Erth (B/L)
The Garden of St Erth, planned and planted by Tommy Garnett, is now managed by Diggers Club. Magnificent at this time with late summer flowers and a carefully curated collection of cool climate plants and historic orchards. Continue to Melbourne Airport for homeward flights.
HOW TO BOOK
To secure your booking and make your deposit, please complete our online booking form. You will be contacted by a Ross Tours Travel Manager to confirm your details and preferred method of payment.
CANCELLATIONS
Cancellations received 180-120 days prior to departure will incur loss of deposit.
Cancellations received between 119-60 days prior to departure will incur a 50% cancellation fee.
Cancellations received between 59-30 days prior to departure will incur a 75% cancellation fee plus any non-recoverable costs incurred.
Cancellations received within 30 days prior to departure will incur 100% cancellation fee.
Cancellations must be sent in writing.
Cancellation fee is based upon the total amounts paid including tours, airfares and all other travel arrangements.
Please refer to the Ross Garden Tours standard terms and conditions
TOUR INCLUSIONS
TOUR ESCORTED BY
LIBBY CAMERON
- Return group airfare Sydney / Melbourne / Sydney
- Air-conditioned motorcoach throughout tour
- Deluxe accommodation for 6 nights with breakfast daily
- Breakfast daily, 7 lunches, 2 dinners
- Entrance fees to all gardens and sightseeing including Stone Hill, Babbington Park, Frogmore Gardens, Stonefields, Garden of St Erth, Lambley Garden and Nursery, Ceres Homestead, Ballarat Botanic Gardens, Kylie Blake Garden and The Convent
TOUR PRICE
Twin Share including airfare $4,595 per person
Twin Share land only $4,195 per person
Single Supplement $750
All prices in Australian dollars
Prices based on minimum 15 passengers
Airfare price is based on departure from Sydney
DISCOUNTS
Early Bird discount $100 (Book & pay by 13 November 2022)
Previous Traveller Discount $100
Garden Clinic Member discount $50
OTHER TOURS
The Gardens of Singapore
Singapore is a City in a Garden – a mix of multicultural modernity and 19th-century charm wrapped in beautiful tropical gardens. The drawcard is the Gardens by the Bay project and the Supertrees.
Chelsea Flower Show and the Gardens of England
Come with us to an England up to its knees in spring blossom, carpets of bluebells and meadows of wildflowers. Our
tour includes the cerulean Cornish Coastline. It’s a heavenly mix of gardens: Royal, public, and private with Opening
Day at the spectacular Chelsea Flower Show.
Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show
Stimulate your senses with a dose of botanical inspiration admiring new trends, world-class show gardens and an exhibition hall full of fresh cut flowers. It’s the southern hemisphere’s biggest garden festival. We’ll sample a few of Melbourne’s flowery and operatic treats on a four-day break.
Orange, NSW – Country Gardens
Experience the beauty and bounty of NSW’s Central West. Under crisp skies, explore gardens in Orange, Oberon, Little Hartley & Mt Wilson. Meet artistic gardeners, heritage fruit growers & dreamscape designers. Soak in the charm of historic towns, visit country nurseries & a mountain estate rarely open to the public.