Arrive in Sydney on suggested flights. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including extra nights’ accommodation and a private transfer from the airport.

At 9:00am, meet your tour leader Glen Halliday and fellow travellers at the rear entrance of the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney. Then, depart Sydney for the Hunter Valley, with a welcome briefing by Glen on the coach.

Arrive at Tocal Homestead and gain a glimpse into Australia’s rural past. The homestead’s story, and the history of the region, is told through its well-preserved colonial architecture and expansive grounds. Continue to Pokolbin, hailed as the wine capital of the Hunter Valley, with more than 160 years of history, and check into the hotel.

This evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

(LD)

Start the day with a visit to Albion Farm Gardens in Woodville, on a historic rural property first settled by John Tucker in 1812. Developed over several decades by the Redman and Coren families, the extensive private gardens combine rose gardens and wisteria walks with lake views and sandstone walls. Explore the gardens before enjoying lunch in the park.

Continue to Tamworth, a regional centre with a rich agricultural heritage and strong equestrian traditions, arriving in the late afternoon. Enjoy some free time before dinner at the hotel.

(BLD)

This morning, explore a private garden in the Tamworth region, taking time to appreciate its design, planting and autumn foliage.

Later, visit a second private garden for a further insight into gardening in regional New South Wales and the ways each garden reflects its setting and its owner’s vision.

This evening, transfer to Goonoo Goonoo Station for dinner, sampling some of New England’s best produce, on this historically significant working farm, which originally formed part of an 1832 land grant for the production of fine Merino wool, as an article of export to Great Britain.

(BD)

Depart Tamworth and travel to the picturesque town of Armidale, home to elegant cathedrals and scenic leafy streets lined with heritage buildings. Stop en route at Uralla, a historic gold mining town in the Northern Tablelands, and view Gostwyck Chapel, a quaint brick church surrounded by golden Elm trees.

Continue to Saumarez Homestead, a 19th-century Edwardian mansion, to experience Australian rural history and heritage gardens. See a unique collection of colonial furnishings, fashion and historic objects relating to the White family’s life in the house, as well as farm buildings with original agricultural machinery and equipment.

Enjoy lunch at a private garden before arriving in Armidale in the late afternoon.

(BLD)

This morning, visit a private, established garden surrounding an 1880s home in Armidale. Admire the autumn foliage of mature exotic trees and explore curving beds planted with shrubs and perennials, complemented by an extensive rose garden. Then, explore the New England Regional Art Museum, whose art collections are the second largest and most valuable regional public collection in New South Wales.

Enjoy lunch at the award-winning Peterson’s Armidale Winery. The historic homestead, boasting a unique arched entrance, was built in 1911 and was restored in line with traditional architecture principles.

Afterwards, enjoy a private, guided tour of a garden designed by renowned landscape designer Paul Bangay. Explore sweeping, curved planting beds filled with a varied mix of shrubs and perennials, appreciating the garden’s structure, textures and planting combinations.

The evening is at leisure.

(BL)

Check out of the hotel and visit a private garden before heading to the town of Glen Innes. Here,  visit Rosecroft Homestead, a 1930s Hamptons-style estate situated on a 50-acre property. Wander through this private English-style garden and parkland, containing 140 mature ornamental trees aged at almost 100 years old, six different types of elm trees, a pergola, bell tower and various statuary.

In the late afternoon, arrive in Tenterfield and enjoy some free time before dinner at the hotel.

(BLD)

In the morning, explore a private garden in Tenterfield, featuring mature English oaks, ornamental pears, maples and a ginkgo, providing a rich palette of autumn colour. Continue with a guided tour of the Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts, which commemorates one of Australia’s great statesmen, known as ‘The Father of Federation’. Built on the site where he delivered the famous speech that revived the Federation movement, this museum has earned the title of ‘birthplace of Australia’s nation’.

Afterwards, enjoy lunch at Ivy leaf Chapel, followed by a tour of the grounds. Admire its sculptured hedges and Boston Ivy covering, creating a kaleidoscopic display of autumn colours. Afterwards, visit the town’s Railway Museum and learn about the region’s intriguing railway history and heritage.

This evening, join Glen and fellow travellers for a special farewell dinner.

(BLD)

After breakfast, depart Tenterfield and drive to Ballina, visiting a final private garden enroute. After a light lunch, continue to Ballina Airport, where tour arrangements conclude in time for flights departing from 15:30.

Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour and travel insurance (highly recommended).

(B)

Note: At time of publication (October 2026), most but not all garden visits were confirmed. Private owners, in particular, are reluctant to commit more than two to three months prior to the visit. Therefore, while we undertake to operate the tour as published, there may be some changes to the itinerary.