Victoria and Melbourne Flower Show tour - March 2017
​We had a very enjoyable 11 day tour to Victoria which began with a visit to some lovely gardens at Mount Macedon before 3 nights in Bendigo. In Bendigo we explored the old mines, rode the talking tram, visited the pottery, the Chinese gardens and much more. Our driver, Geoff was full of sick jokes and good humour and provided us with excellent transport and really did go the extra mile. 
Next stop was Coombe Farm in the beautiful Yarra Valley for an interesting tour of the garden and grounds of the home of Dame Nellie Melba. We felt it as a very personal and interesting visit. 4 nights in the Yarra Valley Lodge included a visit to some gardens, Healsville sanctuary, wineries, Chocolate places, the Dandenongs, nurseries, pubs and the Puffing Billy for a great day out. On leaving the Yarra Valley we had a visit to Cruden Farm, home of Elizabeth Murdoch before time in the Australian garden at Cranbourne. 3 nights followed in Melbourne for some R and R and a A full day at the wonderful Melbourne flower show. We think everyone who visited with us had a great break in a lovely part of Australia. . 

Cherry Blossom tour of Japan - April 2017

Japan is a great place to visit in early spring when the Cherry Blossoms begin to flower. Our 14 day tour began in Tokyo with a 3 night stay to visit city highlights and a number of lovely gardens and also a Bonsai garden and museum. We were guided by the ever smiling Etsuko expertly around the country by bus (Mr Yamamoto as driver), train, bullet train, tram, local bus, cable car and shanks pony. Next stop after Tokyo as a surprise snow fall in the Fuji Hakone National park that prevented us from seeing Mt Fuji but did provide a precious opportunity to see a lovely Japanese garden in full winter glory with snow aplenty. Next stop was a traditional Ryokin inn stay with hot springs and a special drumming show. Matsomoto castle was picture perfect the next day before time visiting heaps of gardens and very special inclusions in Kansasawa and Kyoto. We left Kyoto on a very crowded local train bound for Osaka and then bullet train to Hiroshima. The last few days seem to really fly by and included time in Osaka and Nara. 
 

Europe - Berlin to Paris with an extension to England - May 2017.
Our epic 5 week journey began with 2 nights in Dubai. We toured the mad city and visited the amazing Miracle Garden before heading on to Berlin. The nations capital did not disappoint with gardens, culture and a very special visit to the Holocaust memorial near the Brandenburg Gate. On a personal note we were able to catch up with my little brother who is now Consulate General at the Australian embassy which of course we had to visit. Our visit to Berlin was timed to coincide with the Buga International Garden Festival at which we enjoyed a full and somewhat wet but enjoyable day. We then journeyed across the north of Germany before reaching Amsterdam. Tulips, Cheese and Water. Next stop was Brussels, Ghent and Bruges with some chocolate making skills on show for a private lesson a heap of fun. A stop at Villers Bretonneux was really lovely in many ways and moving in others. We stayed on to the Normandy Coast for gardens and amazing scenery before visiting Monet's Garden and Giverney. 4 nights in Paris were busy, bright, sunny and full of interest. From Paris we fare-welled 5 travellers before most headed to London via the Eurostar and wonderful Chelsea Flower Show. Next 4 nights in the Cornwall area with great gardens, boat trips, the odd pint of local beer and plenty of shopping. Gardens included Trebah Garden, Lost Gardens of Heligan, Eden Project and Savill Garden. 

Bowral and Canberra for tulip time and Floriade - September 2017.

26 travellers began this journey by flying to Sydney (mostly via Wellcamp Toowoomba Airport) where we met our Capital coach driver Mick. We then headed to Bowral to stay at the lovely Peppers resort and to experience the best the area has to offer. Tulips, private gardens, shopping, mansions and the Bradman museum. We then ventured through the Kangaroo Valley via Fitzroy Falls to Batemans Bay. We had two lovely days enjoying the beach and a somewhat nostalgic (for Brian anyway) look at some old haunts including Tuross Heads. We then travelled up the Clyde mountain via Braidwood and Bungendore to Canberra. Floriade time is a well organised and very colourful celebration of spring with thousands of blooms out and about on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. We visited Parliament House, the War Memorial, Botanical gardens, Bonsai collection the National Gallery. A real highlight on the way back Sydney was the lovely Tulip Top gardens - a must see in Spring. All in all a great 9 days, good company and interesting visitations!