2023 – “Silo Art Trail of NSW and Safari” – departing 7 May, 2023 – ‘Sold Out’

On arrival into Sydney, you will make your own way to the Ibis hotel Darling Harbour for overnight accommodation including breakfast. Late this afternoon you will meet the rest of the group for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

After breakfast we depart the hotel to begin our adventure and commence our drive to the world-famous Blue Mountains National Park.  Home to some of the country’s most dazzling natural attractions and charming country villages, the Blue Mountains feature sensational views over the deep valley troughs, formed over millions of years.  Our morning is spent exploring a selection of lookouts and time to explore the picturesque village of Leura before we enjoy a 2 course lunch at the Boilerhouse Café at the historic Hydro Majestic hotel. Departing the mountains, we make our way to Portland and the first of our Art Silo Visits. The Portland Silos which are now known as “The Foundations” were the 20th Silos to be included in the Australian Silo Art Trail and were completed in May 2018.  The old Portland Cement Works were painted by Guido van Helten and depict five male and one female past Portland Cement workers. Late afternoon we arrive at our overnight accommodation in Bathurst. Dinner tonight is included at the hotel.

Our journey this morning takes us to the fascinating Gold Rush Town of Grenfell. The 1926 Grain Silos at Grenfell are proudly owned by Grenfell Commodities and was the initiative of the founder, Peter Mawhinney, to commission the silos to be painted. Peter was inspired by the artwork on the Weethalle Silos and could envisage that the silos at Grenfell were the perfect canvas for Heesco Khosnaran to create another masterpiece.  Here we will also have time at leisure to explore this fascinating gold rush town with its many galleries, historic buildings and super country pubs.  Lunch is own expense in town before we depart and make our way to Orange.  Enroute we will stop in at the historic village of Canowindra with its fascinating colonial history.   Late afternoon we arrive in Orange, our overnight stop.

A leisurely breakfast this morning before heading off to the country town of Parkes today.  Our first stop this morning is at the Elvis Museum. The King’s Castle is a collection of Elvis’ personal artefacts and the exhibition – “Walk A Mile In My Shoes – A Day in the life of Elvis Presley”. This interactive exhibit is designed to try and bring to you some of the highs and lows that Elvis Presley encountered throughout his life and career. As you experience the new audio-visual journey, you will see genuine artefacts from Elvis’ homes and items he wore or used on stage. We have time to purchase lunch at your leisure in town before our afternoon visit to the Parkes Observatory which hosts the 64-metre Parkes radio telescope, one of the telescopes comprising CSIRO’s Australia Telescope National Facility. An icon of Australian science, the Parkes radio telescope has been in operation since 1961 and continues to be at the forefront of astronomical discovery thanks to regular upgrades. Astronomers from across Australia and around the world utilise the Parkes radio telescope to undertake world-class astronomical science. Affectionately known as ’the Dish’, the telescope operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Time to visit the 3D theatre before returning to town and our accommodation.

After breakfast in the hotel, our early departure allows us to spend most of our day at the fabulous Western Plains Zoo.  On arrival, there is time to explore the Zoo and its range of exhibits via Electronic Golf Carts. The Zoo is home to hundreds of rare and endangered animals including giraffes, rhinos, elephants and big cats. Daily keeper activities (included in zoo entry) deliver magical experiences you will never forget. You will have time also to purchase lunch at leisure at the Zoo’s Café.  Touring of the zoo is in our tour vehicle.  Guests can choose to hire the electric carts and self tour if they wish at own expense.

Departing from the Zoo mid-afternoon, it’s a short drive to our accommodation for the evening where you will experience a slice of Africa without leaving Australia! The Zoofari Lodge is positioned right beside a stunning savannah, home to giraffes, rhinos, zebra and antelope and offers an unrivalled in-zoo safari experience with accommodation in unique lodges. On arrival time to relax and enjoy the views from your luxury tents. This evening includes dinner at the Lodge Dining Room followed by an evening Spotlight Tour with a Zoo Ranger.

Set your alarm or just rely on the Zoo’s wildlife alarm to wake you in the morning! We will set off early for a guided morning Tour at the Zoo, followed by breakfast.  Checking out of the lodge we commence our drive to Tamworth.  The first stop of our morning is the picturesque town of Dunnedoo by the Talbragar River.   The Dunedoo Silo side one and two have been painted by Peter Mortimore over three months during July August and September of 2020.  Depicted on the side silo is Winx, a retired champion Australian thoroughbred racehorse and her famous rider Hugh Bowman, who was born in Dunedoo. Also featured is Chris Waller, Winx’s trainer, whom without this very famous horse may not have been the true champion that she was. Side two silo displays the local fauna and flora.  Our next stop is in the small town of Merriwa.  Surrounded by fertile countryside the town flourished as an agricultural area after its settlement in 1839. There are many fine examples of colonial architecture in its homesteads, courthouses, police stations and churches. Merriwa is also home to the first ever painted Graincorp Silo in NSW.  The mural depicts an image of a sheep wearing red socks in a canola field.  We spend time here to enjoy the art and perhaps find the answer as to why the sheep are wearing red socks!   Stopping enroute for lunch (at own expense), our journey then takes us to the country town of Tamworth, our destination for the next two nights.  Dinner this evening is included at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart Tamworth and drive approximately 100km to the town of Barrbara which abounds with natural beauty. As well as being tucked into a bend of the Manilla River, this little country town is surrounded by the Nandewar Ranges and the Horton Valley. The Barraba Silos are privately owned by Simon and Amanda Koopman and are located at the southern entrance to town on Manilla Road. 25 artists were approached from across Australia to seek their interest in painting the Barraba Silos. From those 25, 14 proposals were received. The Barraba Silo Art Committee, including the owners of the silos, chose Fintan Magee as the winning artist.   Time to enjoy the art and morning tea refreshments in town before continuing along country roads to the country town of Gunnedah where on arrival we have a lunch before viewing the Gunnedah Silo Art. Dorothea Mackellar and an extract from her famous poem “My Country” are immortalized on this 29metre high, privately owned maize mill in Gunnedah. Established silo artist Heesco completed the artwork via cherry picker at the mill site on Barber Street. There is a perfect viewing platform from the walkway on Gunnedah’s new bridge that links the Oxley Highway and Warrabungle Street.  Time permitting, we will also explore the town before returning to Tamworth.  Remainder of the evening is at leisure with dinner own expense tonight.

After breakfast at the hotel, it’s time to depart Tamworth and commence the journey to Sydney.  Our first stop this morning is at Wallabadah and a visit to The First Fleet Memorial Garden which is a memorial to the First Fleet immigrants. Carved on tablets along the garden pathways are 1,520 names of all those who came out to Australia on the eleven ships in 1788. The stories of those who arrived on the ships, are told throughout the garden. After time exploring the gardens, we continue our drive south, arriving to the Hunter Valley in time for lunch.  We will visit a boutique winery to enjoy lunch of local produce platters accompanied by wine flight of local wines before a visit to a local chocolate shop for any indulgent purchases. From here, it’s a drive via the freeway to arrive in Sydney.

Day at leisure in Sydney with an included Farwell Dinner tonight at a local restaurant.

After breakfast, we say our farewells and depart for home.