Day 1 (LD): WAGGA WAGGA TO MITTAGONG – Wednesday, 19^th February 2025

Welcome to our 7-day tour to the South Coast of NSW.  We are in for a fantastic day ahead. We start with a visit to picturesque Jugiong where we meet our guide, who will show us the sights and dazzle us with information on Jugiong and all it has to offer; from the Murrumbidgee River, historical buildings, including the bush school that Richie Benaud attended, a bushranger past and spectacular scenery. Our tour includes morning tea, old fashioned country hospitality, and lots of laughs! Before we leave, we have time to enjoy our picnic lunches.  This afternoon we make our way to Mittagong where we can relax before dinner.

 Picnic lunch included | dinner in Mittagong RSL Club 

Springs Mittagong | 1 night

 Day 2 (BLD): MITTAGONG TO BATEMANS BAY – Thursday, 20^th February 2025

We return to the Mittagong RSL Club for breakfast before our day of touring gets underway. Prepare to be enchanted, all while enjoying morning tea, by the sights and sounds of Fairground Follies, akin to visiting an old-fashioned amusement park with its collection of self-playing instruments and mechanical music, fair organs, street organs and a 100-year-old steam carousel. It will be a fun morning, cherishing memories of the local fair. Next, we make our way to Nowra where we have lunch at The Ex-Servos. We then visit the Fleet Air Arm Museum, which has one of the finest collections of historic military aircraft in Australia and a superb collection of engines, aviation equipment, models, uniforms and memorabilia.  Our afternoon sees us traveling to Batemans Bay for the night.

Breakfast and dinner in motel | lunch at The Ex-Servos

Sunseeker Motor Inn, Batemans Bay | 1 night

 Day 3 (BLD): BATEMANS BAY TO EDEN – Friday, 21^st February 2025

We have an early start today, to fit in two of the area’s main attractions.  We set off first to Mogo Wildlife Park, where we’ll get up close and personal with lions, tigers, jaguars, snow leopards (the only breeding pair in the country), monkeys, pandas, and more! We’ll have a chance to observe these amazing creatures and learn about the zoo’s recovery efforts after the devastating 2019 bushfires. Following our morning adventure, we’ll return to Batemans Bay then hop on board the MV Escapade for a scenic cruise along the picturesque Clyde River. Along the way, we’ll spot historical sites, early settlers’ remnants, and abundant birdlife. We’ll also have a stopover at the charming village of Nelligen to enjoy the stunning views and indulge in some fish and chips for lunch on board.  We spend the rest of the afternoon travelling through to Eden, where on arrival we can freshen up before dinner.

Breakfast and dinner in motel | lunch cruise

Coachman’s Eden | 4 nights

Day 4 (BLD): DISCOVERING EDEN – Saturday, 22^nd February 2025

We enjoy a later start today, with our first visit, the Killer Whale Museum containing the skeleton of “Old Tom” the killer whale plus many other items of interest and history. Eden’s history is intertwined with whales and the fishing industry. Next, we travel to Boydtown.  Benjamin Boyd, the son of a London Banker established Boydtown at Twofold Bay in the mid 1800’s as his headquarters from where he ran his whaling and grazing exploits.  Boyd had grandiose ideas of developing Boydtown to a stage to not only rival nearby Eden but Sydney itself.  His grand plans never eventuated, and the only buildings erected were Boyd’s Church, the Lookout Tower and the Seahorse Inn, where we will be enjoying our lunch today.  When we enter the Inn, we’ll be greeted with an ambience of old-world charm as the owners have retained much of the original details such as hand-carved doors, stained-glass ornamentation, winding staircases and large open grates.  Following lunch, we return to Eden for some free time exploring the township before returning to the motel in time to freshen up for dinner.

Breakfast and dinner in the motel | lunch at The Seahorse Inn Boydtown

Day 5 (BLD): MERIMBULA AND PAMBULA – Sunday, 23^rd February 2025

Today, we make our way to Merimbula and visit the Merimbula Aquarium. From sharks to shrimp, octopus to tropical fish, it’s all on display here at the living theatre of the deep. Our guided tour will talk us through the 27 fish tank aquariums and fantastic ocean tank. We enjoy lunch here at the Wharf Restaurant.  Afterwards we visit Potoroo Palace a native animal educational sanctuary. We enjoy an educational talk by an informative keeper of some of the amazing wildlife residents with time to wander at leisure.  Returning to Eden, we stop in to visit Wheelers Oyster Barn.  Since the settlement of the Sapphire Coast, oyster farming has played an important role in the area’s economy.  Local oysters have become famous throughout Australia and the world for their excellent quality and flavour, resulting in many awards for farmers.

Breakfast and dinner in motel | lunch at Wharf Restaurant

Day 6 (BLD): BEGA AND CENTRAL TILBA – Monday, 24^th February 2025

Today we head north for the day as we make our way to Bega.  Frist stop, the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre for a chance to purchase their famous cheese.  We then make our way to historic Tilba Tilba, a National Trust village. We’ll enjoy a morning tea break in the village centre with time to explore the many shops of yesteryear and take a look at the former ABC Cheese Factory home of South Coast Cheese.   A short drive follows to the gorgeous location of Tilba Valley Winery for a Ploughman’s Lunch and wine tasting. We then head back towards Eden via the pretty beach town of Bermagui, known as a fisherman’s paradise. The continental shelf is at its closest point to the mainland here and where warm southern currents flow, big game fish are in tow! At the wharf we may see some boats returning with their catch.  We continue along the coastal road to Tathra. The focal point of Tathra is the Old Steamer Wharf now classified by the National Trust as the only remaining restored steamer wharf on Australia’s coastline.  It has changed roles in recent years but is still an important feature in Tathra and many locals set themselves up here for a day’s fishing. Our final stop for the day is in Pambula at the Oakland’s Barn. Not only will we enjoy a delicious home style afternoon tea here but where will also have time to look around this historic “Oaklands” property which is now home to the Village Gallery and Merv’s shed which houses a huge collection of recycled furniture, collectables and glassware. From here we continue back to our accommodation in Eden for our final night on this fantastic tour.

Breakfast and dinner in motel | lunch Tilba Valley

Day 7 (BL): EDEN TO WAGGA WAGGA – Tuesday, 25^th February 2025

Following breakfast, we check out of the motel and start for home. We spend the morning in Cooma, the largest town in the Snowy Mountains Region. The first settlers brought cattle for grazing as early as 1827 and Cooma was surveyed in 1849. Discovery of gold in Kiandra in the 1860’s brought a permanent increase in Cooma’s population. The railway was opened in 1889 and by 1900 the town was booming and prosperous. The Mosaic Time Walk in Centennial Park depicts the life of the Monaro Region from its origins through to the present. A statue of Banjo’s Paterson’s immortal mountain man, “The Man from Snowy River” is also in the park. We visit the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre. This is a state-of-the-art visitor facility showcasing the amazing story of the Snowy Mountains Scheme from the early construction days to the role the Scheme plays today in the development of Australia. The centre houses a comprehensive exhibition hall that includes a photographic collection, models, exhibits and interactive displays about this remarkable project. We take a look and enjoy a light lunch before heading home.  Arriving with many wonderful memories and experiences travelling with friends.

Breakfast in motel | lunch at Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre

Tour Cost (GST inclusive)

$2820.00 per person (twin/double share)

$550.00 single supplement

For inquiries, full itineraries and bookings, please – CONTACT US

The itinerary may be subject to change without notice.  Whilst every effort is made to adhere to the itinerary as provided, Priest’s Coaches reserves the right to alter the touring and attractions as dictated by circumstances and conditions outside the company’s control.  Alterations may be made to ensure the smooth running of the tour.  Every attempt will be made to ensure alterations do not adversely affect the operation of the tour. Priest’s Coaches will not be held responsible for weather-based cancellations, or those closures made at the venue’s discretion.