Arrive in Albury on suggested flights. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including a private transfer to the hotel, a room category upgrade and extra nights’ accommodation.

At 1:00 pm, meet your tour leader Ute Junker at Albury airport and transfer by coach to Milawa. Upon arrival at the Lancemore Hotel, check in and enjoy some time at leisure.

In the late afternoon, join Ute and fellow travellers for a talk, followed by welcome drinks and dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

(D)

Begin the day with a visit to Pizzini Wines, a family-owned winery in King Vallery with a proud Italian heritage. Participate in a cooking class led by Katrina Pizzini, learning the secrets of traditional Italian cuisine and meeting the Pizzini family. Sample a selection of Italian wine varieties before sitting down to a leisurely lunch featuring the freshly prepared dishes.

In the afternoon, return to Milawa for a private, guided tour of the historic Brown Brothers Vineyard. Founded in 1889, Brown Brothers is a key member of Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW) and cultivates more than 50 grape varieties. Discover its innovative approach to winemaking at ‘The Kindergarten’, a small-scale winery where the team experiments with new varieties and styles.

(BL)

This morning, drive to Chiltern, the birthplace of Australia’s 18th Prime Minister John McEwen and the childhood home of acclaimed Australian author Ethel Florence Richardson.

Visit Lake View House which inspired settings in Ethel’s trilogy The Fortunes of Richard Mahony, written under her pen name, Henry Handel Richardson. Explore Dow’s Pharmacy, in operation from 1859 to 1969 and once owned by John McEwen’s father. Then, take a private, guided tour of Australian artist Nat Ord’s studio, housed in the old Grapevine Hotel, home to the largest grapevine in the southern hemisphere.

Continue to All Saints Estate in Rutherglen, a family-owned winery established in 1864 and renowned for its heritage-listed castle and aged fortified wines, for a wine tasting followed by lunch at its hatted KIN restaurant.

(BL)

In the morning, travel to the picturesque alpine town of Bright, nestled in the Ovens Valley at the foothills of the Victorian Alps and famous for its vivid autumn colours at this time of year. Visit a local garden before spending some free time in the town centre to experience the Bright Autumn Festival, with highlights including markets and a parade.

Afterwards, enjoy a light lunch at Redbank Wines in Myrtleford, with panoramic views across the striking Alpine valleys.

Return to the hotel for the remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure.

(BL)

Today, transfer to Beechworth for a private, guided walking tour learning how the Gold Rush transformed the town from a frontier settlement into a thriving regional centre. Discover significant historic buildings and stories of the people and events that shaped its past, before visiting Old Beechworth Gaol to learn about the prison’s notorious inmates, most notably the Ned Kelly Gang.

After lunch, explore a four-acre garden with distinctive garden rooms, an extensive collection of native and exotic plants, quirky garden art, colourful seasonal displays and abundant birdlife.

In the evening, join Ute and fellow travellers for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

(BLD)

After breakfast, transfer from Milawa to Albury airport. Tour arrangements conclude upon arrival at Albury airport in time for flights departing from 13:00.

Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including private airport transfers, 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.