Arrive in Sydney on suggested Qantas 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 Robin and fellow travellers at the rear entrance of the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney. Then, depart Sydney for Wollongong via the historic Royal National Park and Sea Cliff Bridge and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Afterwards, visit the award-winning Green Connect Farm, a large urban farm founded in 2011 that helped to boost local employment and reduce food waste. Learn about permaculture and organic principles used for this sustainable farming business that produces quality fruits, vegetables and dairy year-round.

Continue to Kiama, checking in to the hotel in the late afternoon. The evening is at leisure.

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This morning, depart Kiama and travel to Shoalhaven to discover the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Shoalhaven Heads Native Botanic Garden, full of endangered and unusual Australian plants and endemic wildlife.

Afterwards, continue inland to The Merribee, a private garden estate that combines classical European garden design with a distinctly Australian setting. Created around a Georgian-style homestead, the gardens unfold through a series of formal and informal spaces, including rose gardens, herbaceous borders, orchard plantings and expansive lawns framed by mature trees. Seasonal planting, sculptural features and long axial views emphasise structure and balance, offering a considered example of traditional garden design adapted to the Shoalhaven landscape. Delight in a curated lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to Mollymook.

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After breakfast, travel to the Booderee National Park and explore the only Aboriginal-owned botanic garden in Australia. Learn about the history of the area, bush tucker and the medicinal uses of plants on a guided walk with one of the traditional owners from the Wreck Bay Community. Later, return to the hotel for the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.

In the evening, enjoy dinner at the iconic Rick Stein’s at Bannisters restaurant, prepared in the famous chef’s signature style, with the restaurant perched high up on a South Coast headland with sprawling ocean views.

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Today, after a brief stop at the South Pacific Heathland Reserve lookout for a panoramic view of the coastline, continue to the Murramarang Community Garden, set within a small coastal hamlet south of Mollymook. This volunteer-run garden brings together productive garden beds, native plantings and shared community projects, offering an inspiring insight into sustainable gardening practices grounded in local stewardship and environmental care.

Continue to the charming town of Milton, established in 1860 and with a historic character lent by its many National Trust-listed buildings. Enjoy time for lunch at leisure in one of the many cafés and explore the vibrant mix of arts, antique and designer boutiques.

Return to Mollymook and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure before dinner.

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This morning, check out of the hotel and transfer to Narooma to board the Wagonga Princess, a historic ferry made of Huon pine in 1905. Appreciate the pristine waters of the estuary, home to extensive sea grass beds and fish nursery areas, and identify various species of flora and fauna. Enjoy a light lunch onboard as the cruise navigates this scenic marine ecosystem.

Afterwards, arrive at the hotel and check in, followed by dinner at Quarterdeck, a long-standing restaurant favoured by locals for almost 20 years.

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Today, embark on a private boat tour to Montague Island, located eight kilometres offshore from Wagonga Inlet. The island is a dedicated nature reserve and home to New South Wales’ largest colony of fur seals and over 90 species of birds. It is also a breeding site for little penguins. Learn about the island’s links to Indigenous culture and enjoy a tour of the lighthouse, which has protected seafarers since 1881.

Return to shore and continue to the Thubbul Sculpture Garden, the coastal retreat and garden of award-winning architect Philip Cox AO. Divided into different botanic realms, the garden consists of a coastal zone, paperbark and spotted gum forest and rainforest gully that hosts numerous lyrebirds. Pavilions connected by a central walkway provide views over the surrounding landscape of open grassland and forest, punctuated by sculptures overlooking the Murrah Lagoon.

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This morning, board a boat on Pambula Lake and enjoy a tour of an oyster farm. Learn about the history, biology and modern techniques used in oyster husbandry and taste freshly shucked and locally grown oysters. Sail down the Pambula River past ancient Aboriginal middens and spot the majestic white-bellied sea eagle circling overhead.

Return to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure, before enjoying a special farewell dinner with Robin and fellow travellers at a local restaurant.

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Depart Merimbula and head inland to visit Shirley, a garden established by one family across three generations. Redesigned in 2006 by leading landscaper Paul Bangay, the garden displays a love of European sensibilities with its formal parterres, expansive lawns, gardens and lake.

After lunch, continue to Canberra Airport where tour arrangements conclude in time for flights departing from 17:30.

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

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Note: At time of publication (January 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.