Australia's National Treasures

There’s more to Canberra than you would expect! Go behind the scenes at some of Australia’s most iconic landmarks. Enjoy an exclusive after-hours tour, together with a dining experience like no other, at the National Gallery of Australia. Discover there’s more than politics at Parliament House. Hear moving stories of sacrifice, courage and mateship at the Australian War Memorial. And while the Canberra District may not be Australia’s best-known wine region, discover why its wines have already made an impact on wine lovers and critics. This fully escorted small group tour is the ultimate way to experience the very best of Australia’s National Treasures.

Your Holiday Package Includes:

• 3 nights accommodation at QT Canberra in a QT Superior King Room
• Full breakfast daily
• Private Signature dinner experience at the National Gallery of Australia with a bespoke three-course menu with paired local wines
• Private curated tour through the Sculpture Garden
• Private Behind the Scenes Tour of Parliament House with High Tea & alcoholic drinks
• Private guided tour of the Australian War Memorial & poignant Last Post ceremony
• Three-course feasting menu dinner at Capitol Bar & Grill
• Wine tasting at Brindabella Hills Winery
• Wine tasting at Shaw Wines
• Lunch experience at Olleyville at Shaw Wines Vineyard Estate
• Wine tasting at McKellar Ridge Estate
• Gin tasting paddle at Big River Distilling Co
• Private car transfer from Canberra Airport to QT Hotel & return
• Private group mini-van transfers throughout
• Services of a Tour Leader & expert guides/drivers
• Small group tour – maximum 12 guests

Pricing is per person twin share and valid for travel 18-21 October 2024

Solo traveller rates available, speak with your travel consultant

On sale until 18 July 2024 

Call us to add flights!

Highlights:

• Exclusive after-hours tour of the National Gallery of Australia’s extraordinary collection
• Exclusive bespoke dining experience at the National Gallery of Australia
• Go behind the scenes at Parliament House
• Observe the poignant Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial
• Visit three of Canberra District’s cool climate wineries
• Tour and gin tasting at Big River Distilling Co

Itinerary:

Day 1 – Friday – Curated Dining Experience at the National Gallery of Australia

Welcome to Canberra, home to some of Australia’s most important national treasures.  You’ll be met on arrival at Canberra Airport and transferred to your hotel.  The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore Australia’s capital.

Tonight, a truly memorable experience awaits at the National Gallery of Australia. Enjoy a glass of sparking wine, then join an exclusive after-hours tour where secrets and stories of iconic works from the Gallery’s extraordinary collection, including Blue poles by Jackson Pollock, are revealed by your expert guide. The sounds of live music and a picturesque sunset welcome you to the Skyspace Garden where the tour ends but the evening is about to begin.

Enjoy a cocktail inspired by James Turrell’s Within without, together with canapes and a sumptuous grazing table of locally sourced produce.

Once nestled in the garden, take your place at the extravagant and beautifully dressed table, where a bespoke three course dinner will be served, featuring dishes and local wines curated and paired to embody the works of art within the surroundings. This will truly be a dining experience to remember.

Overnight:  QT Canberra

Meals: Dinner with Paired Wines

Day 2 – Saturday 

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the hotel’s Capitol Bar and Grill, served from 7am.

This morning, visit Parliament House and discover there’s more than politics at play! This once-in-a-lifetime private tour provides you with behind-the-scenes access to rarely seen private, official and ceremonial spaces in one of Australia’s most significant buildings. Visit off-limit spaces that support parliament every day including private courtyards, the corridors of power and the Press Gallery. Gain an insight into architect Romaldo Giurgola’s unique vision – from its European origins to the Australian materials and interpretation that caps Walter Burley-Griffin’s Canberra plan. Don your hard hat for an exclusive visit to the Parliamentary Art and Furniture collections.

Afterwards, enjoy a dining experience usually reserved for visiting dignitaries as in-house chefs prepare a traditional High Tea with a contemporary twist.

This afternoon, head to the Australian War Memorial and join an expert guide for an engaging private tour of the Australian War Memorial’s Commemorative Courtyard.  You’ll hear some of the stories of courage, sacrifice, devotion, and mateship behind the over 102,000 names on the Australian Roll of Honour. Enter the breathtaking Hall of Memory and gaze upon one of the largest and most captivating mosaics in the world. Pay your respects and place a poppy of remembrance on the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. Following the galleries tour, join one of the Memorial’s curators for a private exploration of the unique collection of memorabilia, rare and beautiful letters, photographs, and diaries – many over a century old. Iconic and rarely displayed artworks by some of Australia’s most important artists of the last century are also available for viewing.

At 4.45pm, gather in the Commemorative Courtyard for the poignant Last Post Ceremony. The ceremony begins with the Australian national anthem, followed by the haunting sounds of the piper’s lament. Listen to the moving story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour and the recital of the Ode by a member of the Australian Defence Force. The ceremony concludes with the sounding of the Last Post.

Tonight, get a taste of modern Canberra dining with slight Italian accents, with a three-course feasting menu at Capitol Bar and Grill. Sourcing the finest local produce from as close as the rooftop garden, Head Chef Josh Smith-Thirkell brings you the ultimate in farm to table dining. You can say grazie later!

Overnight: QT Canberra

Meals: Breakfast, High Tea and Dinner

Day 3 – Sunday - Canberra’s Cool Climate Wineries 

Enjoy breakfast in the capitol bar and grill from 7am before heading off to explore the cool climate wineries of the Canberra district.

The Brindabellas are the mountain backdrop to the national capital and the first stop of the day is Brindabella Hills Vineyard, situated on a ridge above the Murrumbidgee. The mountains of the Brindabella range to the west and hills to the south form a natural amphitheatre and the vineyard maximises the climatic advantages of a warm site in a cool district. Over the past few years, their Chardonnay and Shiraz wines have won many national ‘boutique winery’ awards and we will sample some of these spectacular wines at their Cellar Door.

Next, head to Shaw Wines. Turning into the driveway, the first thing you’ll notice is the architectural lines of the impressive building peeking over the top of the trees. The impressive wide timber door opens to the cellar door foyer and here is where you can expect the unexpected! Shaw’s attentive and knowledgeable staff will guide you through a seated tasting of wines in the upstairs tasting area. After, enjoy a share-style lunch at Olleyville at Shaw Vineyard Estate.

After lunch, travel the short distance to McKellar Ridge Estate, a boutique winery and vineyard producing premium award-winning, handcrafted wines that exhibit the unique characteristics of the Canberra cool-climate region. Meet winemakers John and Marina and learn about the history of the vineyard and how John turned his dream of re-establishing a family tradition of wine production into reality.

And for a fitting end to the day, we’ll drop by Big River Distilling Co for a Distillery tour and sample a tasting paddle of three gins with a grazing platter.

Arriving back at the hotel around 5pm, the evening is free to explore Canberra’s thriving bar and restaurant scene or enjoy a relaxing evening in.

Overnight: QT Canberra

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tastings

Day 4 – Monday - Farewell Canberra

Sadly, all good things must come to an end. Enjoy a final leisurely breakfast before your private transfer to Canberra Airport for your flight home.

Meals: Breakfast

Prices listed are per person in Australian/New Zealand Dollars, based on twin occupancy, including all discounts unless otherwise stated. The offer is subject to availability at time of booking. Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice. Prices/Offers are correct as at 22 March 2024 and can be withdrawn without notice.   Hotels may charge resort fees not included in this package, payable direct upon check in. Visas are not included. Flights are not included. Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge.   Price changes may occur by reason of matters outside our control which increase the cost of a Product or Service, including, but not limited to the introduction of fuel surcharges, changes to taxes or fees. All arrangements are subject to availability, cancellation, or modification due to inclement weather, late running of services or other unforeseen circumstances. A minimum non-refundable deposit equivalent to 20% of the tour cost is payable within 7 days of confirmation of your booking and cancellation prior to final payment will result in your deposit being forfeited. Final payment of your holiday cost is required at least 90 days prior to departure, there will be no refund for bookings cancelled less than 90 days prior to travel. The travel services provided by these suppliers are subject to the conditions imposed by the suppliers and their liability may be limited by their tariffs, conditions of carriage, and agreements. A minimum of 10 passengers is required for this tour to operate. Information required at time of booking - full name, including title, initial and surname as per ID, any information relating to dietary/mobility/medical requirements and mobile contact number. A fee will apply for payments made by debit and credit card which may vary.