Capital Blooms
Capital Blooms
$989
Capital Blooms
3 Days Starting and ending in Sydney, Australia
Visiting: Canberra, Sydney
Tour operator:
Tour code:
CBFTF25
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on the "Capital Blooms" tour, a delightful journey from Sydney to Canberra, showcasing Australia's vibrant floral displays and historic sites. Travel in comfort with a highly experienced Driver Guide, stopping at key attractions like the charming Georgian town of Berrima and the architecturally stunning Parliament House. Enjoy a unique farm experience at Gold Creek Station with a barbecue lunch. In Canberra, immerse yourself in the spectacular Floriade festival, featuring over a million bulbs, and explore the National Arboretum's vast collection of rare trees. Stay at the centrally located Crowne Plaza Canberra, offering easy access to the city's vibrant attractions. On your return, visit Bowral's Corbett Gardens during the Tulip Time Festival, and enjoy leisure time in Mittagong. This tour promises a colorful and enriching experience, perfect for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Meals, personal expenses, travel insurance, and flights are not included.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Sydney - Canberra
Location: Canberra
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza Canberra
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
This short getaway from Sydney sees you leave the skyscrapers behind and venture into the countryside of the Southern Highlands, all heritage villages, vineyards and manicured gardens. The allures all unite in Berrima, the best-preserved Georgian town in Australia – look no further than its convict-era sandstone gaol. Despite its gloomy history, the building is awfully pretty to look at. All this touring is hungry work – thankfully, a barbecue lunch awaits on the grounds of working sheep farm Gold Creek Station, where you’ll learn about life on the land from someone who works it every day. Speaking of working hard for the money, 10,000 people spent years constructing Parliament House, the architecturally eye-catching seat of the nation’s government that was constructed largely from Australian materials. Your Canberra tour guide will take you behind the scenes and reveal all the secrets.
Day 2: Canberra & Floriade
Location: Canberra
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza Canberra
There are more than a million glorious bulbs on display at Floriade, an explosion of colour transforming the banks of Lake Burley Griffin as well as Canberra’s suburbs. The month-long affair – the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere – was originally designed to celebrate Australia’s Bicentenary and Canberra’s 75th birthday. It has become so popular that it is now a regular on the city’s event calendar. You’ll see why. Browse immaculate flower beds in various patterns and themes, then enjoy entertainment, market stalls and a lively spring vibe. After Floriade, another floral bounty awaits at the National Arboretum, an enormous hilltop space where a local guide will share with you the amazing work being done by horticulturists when it comes to plant conservation and boosting botanical diversity. Spanning more than 250 hectares, the Arboretum is one of the world’s largest living collections of rare, endangered and significant trees. The site is also home to the iconic Margaret Whitlam Pavilion and the renowned National Bonsai and Penjing Collection.
Day 3: Canberra - Bowral - Sydney
Location: Sydney
Yet more flowers await in the Southern Highlands, where Bowral's Corbett Gardens play host to 75,000 tulips. The aptly named Tulip Time Festival here will inspire you to buy some tulips to plant back home - it's that eye catching. Before you board your coach for your return to Sydney, you'll have time at leisure in the Southern Highlands village of Mittagong.
What's Included
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Highly Experienced Driver Guide
Travel in comfort with a highly experienced Driver Guide, ensuring a smooth journey from Sydney to Canberra and back, with stops at key attractions along the way.
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Local Specialists
Local specialists guide you at Gold Creek Station for a farm experience and 'Be My Guest' lunch, as well as a locally guided tour of Parliament House and the National Arboretum Canberra.
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Centrally Located Accommodation
Enjoy centrally located accommodation at the Crowne Plaza Canberra, providing easy access to city centers and a relaxing stay after exploring Canberra.
What's Not Included
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Meals
Meals are not included in the tour package, except for those specified in the dining summary.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs and additional activities are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and should be purchased separately.
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Flights
Flights to and from the starting location are not included.
Mode of Transport
Travel in comfort with a highly experienced Driver Guide, ensuring a smooth journey from Sydney to Canberra and back, with stops at key attractions along the way.
Accommodation
Enjoy comfortable accommodation at the Crowne Plaza Canberra, offering easy access to city centers and a relaxing stay after exploring the vibrant attractions of Canberra.
Dining Summary
- 1 Lunch (L)
- 1 Dinner (D)
- 2 Full Breakfast (B)
Fitness Requirement
- A minimum level of fitness is required in order to be able to participate. You will need to able to walk around the festival site and manage coach steps unaided.
Flexible Holidays
- Smell the flowers at Floriade, an immense wonderland of bulbs best enjoyed at a leisurely pace. More blooms await in Bowral, with its antiques stores and cosy cafés.
Flight information
- Flights to and from the start/end of your trip are not included in the trip price. Day Prior – flights to arrive anytime into Sydney AirportDay 3 – flights to depart after 8.00pm from Sydney Airport
Iconic Sites
- From Floriade and Parliament House to quaint historic villages, Canberra’s attractions don’t disappoint.
Natural Wonders
- Canberra is one of Australia’s greenest cities, from its alternative energy ethos to its ample parks that welcome visitors at every turn.
What to Bring
- Warm layers in cooler months Camera Comfortable walking shoes Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat Water bottle
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour includes comfortable accommodation at the Crowne Plaza Canberra, which offers easy access to city centers and a relaxing stay after exploring the vibrant attractions of Canberra.
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What is the main mode of transportation during the tour?
The tour provides travel in comfort with a highly experienced Driver Guide, ensuring a smooth journey from Sydney to Canberra and back, with stops at key attractions along the way.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Meals are not included in the tour package, except for those specified in the dining summary, which includes 1 lunch, 1 dinner, and 2 full breakfasts.
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What activities are included on the first day of the tour?
On the first day, you will leave Sydney and travel through the Southern Highlands, visiting Berrima, a well-preserved Georgian town. You will enjoy a barbecue lunch at Gold Creek Station and have a guided tour of Parliament House in Canberra.
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What can I expect to see at the Floriade festival?
At the Floriade festival, you will see more than a million glorious bulbs on display, transforming the banks of Lake Burley Griffin and Canberra’s suburbs. The festival includes entertainment, market stalls, and a lively spring vibe.
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What is the fitness requirement for this tour?
A minimum level of fitness is required to participate in the tour. You will need to be able to walk around the festival site and manage coach steps unaided.
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What should I bring for the tour?
It is recommended to bring warm layers in cooler months, a camera, comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, and a water bottle.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a holiday with us is you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
It is important to adhere to departure times while on tour for the comfort of everyone on-board, and to make sure no one misses out on the planned experiences. The coach will not be able to wait for you, and in some instances, if you miss a departure time you will need to make your own way to the next destination to re-join the tour.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
AAT Kings operated Guided Holidays have competitive single supplement rates available if you prefer to confirm your own room. Or we can match you to share with a guest of the same gender at no extra cost. If we fail to match you, we will accommodate you in a single room at no extra cost.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Over 100 years
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
We will email your documents to you approximately four weeks before your departure date provided you have completed your pre trip registration using the My Travel Portal. If you’ve booked through a travel agent, your documents will be emailed directly to your agent.
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Low Deposit
AAT Kings requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of aat kings charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.