Melbourne Flower Festival

Stimulate your senses with a healthy dose of botanical inspiration admiring new trends, world-class show gardens and an Exhibition Hall crammed full of cut flowers in the southern hemisphere’s biggest and most successful garden festival. We’ll sample a few of Melbourne’s flowery and operatic treats for a well-deserved 4-day break!

Ross Gardens Tour leader, Carolyn Dwyer, will greet the group at Melbourne Airport. Once landed we’re off to The Melba Estate – home of world famous opera singer Dame Nellie Melba and a property with an unrivalled provenance – seven acres of formal gardens, roses, landscaped over one hundred years ago. We’ll enjoy lunch and then a garden tour.
This afternoon we’ll check in to our hotel, the Marriott, which is perfectly placed to explore Melbourne’s great restaurant scene. We’ve planned a welcome dinner in the hotel tonight.
Accommodation: Grand Chancellor, Melbourne

A full day exploring the brilliant Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, which is staged within the world heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building and surrounding Carlton Gardens. We’ll take you behind the scenes so we can meet the designers and talk to them personally about their designs. Wear comfortable shoes because there’s plenty to see – and lots of inspirational buys too. They’ll be colour, flowers, people, designers, new plants and a great buzz.
Accommodation: Grand Chancellor, Melbourne

This morning we take a garden discovery walk around The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. Attracting over 1.8 million visitors annually, the gardens are a treasured part of Melbourne’s cultural life. With its stunning vistas, tranquil lakes and diverse plant collections, the Gardens are a place of discovery, tranquillity and home to many interesting plant collections. We will wander past diverse plant collections such as camellias, rainforest flora, succulents and cacti, roses, Californian species, herbs, perennials, cycads and plants from Southern China. The newly opened Guilfoyle’s Volcano in the Gardens offers visitors a fabulous new precinct to explore. Another popular attraction is The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden. Free time this afternoon.
Optional dinner tonight at the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant.
Accommodation: Grand Chancellor, Melbourne

We’ve left the morning free for shopping, or exploring the world-class galleries and museums of Melbourne.
Afternoon transfer to Melbourne Airport for your homeward flight.

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.