Private Train To The EXPO and Festival at Uralla - RAILWAY ADVENTURES & THE NEW ENGLANDER RAIL EXPERIENCE 2022 - Railway ...
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RAILWAY ADVENTURES & THE NEW ENGLANDER
RAIL EXPERIENCE 2022
Private Train To The
EXPO and Festival at Uralla
With Scott McGregor and friends
25 – 27 MARCH 2022
• NEWCASTLE • URALLA • ARMIDALE •
Blue Zephyr near Ardglen Tunnel by Ethan Jones
INTRODUCTION
Join us in air-conditioned comfort on our privately chartered
HIGHLIGHTS
beautiful heritage train, The Blue Zephyr and journey in • Travel north through NSW on your privately chartered cruise
style from Newcastle (Broadmeadow Station) to Uralla and train complete with lounge, sitting and dining cars
Armidale and take in the Seasons of New England Expo in
• Attend the exciting Seasons of New England Expo in Uralla
Uralla on Saturday 26th March 2022.
• Enjoy lavish lunches onboard the train as it heads to and
Seasons of New England is about bringing local producers from the festival, prepared by our own private chef, featuring
and artisans together and providing a forum for the rest of a feast of local produce and wines
us to enjoy what they have to offer. The line-up of producers • • Enjoy 2 nights in the heritage towns of Uralla or Armidale
includes local vintners, brewers, bakers, pâtissiers, jam • Relax with the services of your tour leaders, wine presenters
makers, free range producers and organic growers. The and train managers throughout
cool climate of the New England lends itself to the growing
of a diverse range of produce and the range of talented
artisans is enormous. Our focus is on bringing together
talented artists, designers, stylists, craftspeople, and gourmets (so yes, more food!), so you can enjoy browsing. If it is something for the
garden, for the home, for the grandchildren or just for you, you are sure to find it at the annual Expo.
Also enjoy the Uralla Rotary Art Show and Uralla’s famous shopping and cafe strip. There will be shuttle services with our private train to
and from Armidale during the weekend and there will be a variety of excursions and activities to compliment your great weekend escape
to one of the region’s most colourful and tasty festivals.
New England is a region in the north-eastern area of New South Wales north of the Hunter Valley and inland from the north coast of New
South Wales and the Northern Rivers. The New England region includes all the high plateau area known as the Northern Tablelands.
These Tablelands have four National Parks that are listed World Heritage Areas and form part of the Gondwana Rainforest of Australia.
The region also has historical buildings, fine museums, renowned art collections, superb fishing, fossicking, bushwalking, festivals,
markets, pubs, clubs, fine restaurants, and the breathtaking gold of autumn which is so much a part of the New England.
The New England is a land unto itself with Armidale it’s unofficial capital and our home for the two nights.
MEET YOUR TOUR LEADERS
SCOTT MCGREGOR
Scott McGregor has been involved in the media for over 30 years as an actor, presenter, writer and
producer and over the last decade has extended his many interests into the world of travel. Inspired
by his experiences hosting tours for the Powerhouse Museum and others he decided to establish
Railway Adventures in 2012. Since then, he has led more than 40 tours to almost 40 countries.
Graduating from NIDA in 1979, he appeared in a wide range of stage, film and TV roles including
the lead role in the ABC’s epic mini-series 1915 and the Coral Island. He has presented and hosted
numerous prime-time ratings winners including many years as the handyman on Better Homes
and Gardens and the host of Room For Improvement. He presented two series of his own Railway
Adventures for Channels 10 and 7 and several programs for The History Channel. He also owns
and operates RUWENZORI which he built in the 1980’s from vintage railway carriages on top of the
Great Dividing Range near Mudgee in central NSW. Restored in an opulent Orient Express style it is
now a popular tourist retreat for up to 13 people. Check it out at www.stayinatrain.com
TOUR MAP YOUR TRAIN
THE BLUE ZEPHYR
NSW is blessed with several special trains that circle
around the state for special events and rail cruising.
The Blue Zephyr is one of these; a specially refurbished
train that provides a self-contained, fit-for-purpose
set of carriages for guests to settle back and enjoy
New England the delights of gentle train travel. The Blue Zephyr
Region consists of a red and a blue lounge car, a dining car,
Armidale and a sitting car. It also has its own power van and
crew carriages to help with the independent nature
Uralla of the journeys. Originally these cars were intercity
sitting cars designed in the mid 1940’s for trains like
the Newcastle Flyer and the country express trains
and were part of the well-known set of carriages
Werris Creek designated ‘RUB’ sets. They formed the backbone
of 1950’s and 1960’s air-conditioned express train
fleets. Various other conversions were made over the
Hunter Valley decades and finally most were retired in the 1990’s
and sold off. The carriages of the Blue Zephyr were
restored and re-configured with the inclusion of the
lounge room interiors and bar facilities in keeping with
their planned use as part of a Hunter Valley wine train
service. For much of the last decade the Blue Zephyr
has been seen on all manner of special trains including
many times with Railway Adventures on tours such as
Newcastle the Mudgee Weekend Escape, the Elvis Special and
the Wings, Wheels and Wine adventures.
The Blue Zephyr
WHY TRAVEL WITH US
The joy of travel is not confined to the destination. How you travel is a large and rich part of the experience. Railway Adventures
offers a totally unique perspective on some of Australia’s, and the world’s, most spectacular destinations, with the confidence
that the journey will be just as magical and memorable as what is discovered at the end of the line.
WITH US, YOU CAN CONFIDENTLY EXPECT:
• Unique itineraries — each itinerary has been meticulously developed by a team of expert travellers with many years’
experience, an intimate knowledge of the destination, and with great cultural awareness. You are guaranteed to experience the
best that each destination has to offer.
• Authentic local experiences — whether it’s a little-known yet impressive steam railway, a small boutique hotel or an
authentic restaurant, you can be sure of experiencing something special on our tours.
• Expert local guides and local operators — we employ local guides to share their passion and knowledge of the place they
call home, while our partners on the ground provide the best possible support and backup all the way.
• Customer satisfaction — our testimonials speak for themselves. Thousands have travelled with us over the years and
many come back year after year, often bringing friends along. Our customer satisfaction ratings show that over 97% would
recommend us to others and/or travel with us again.
• Fully-escorted — our tour leaders are experienced and capable, entertaining and considerate, and together with our local
guides, have your needs well covered. They help with everything along the way, and provide peace of mind, enabling you to
relax and enjoy the journey. And you’ll find them jolly good company, to boot!
OPTIONAL PRE-TOUR Thursday 24th March: NEWCASTLE In the late afternoon you’re invited to meet at the Quest West Newcastle for a welcome briefing after which we will transfer to the waterfront for a cruise on the historic steam ship William IV. This grand old side-wheel paddle steamer is an accurate replica of Australia’s first ocean going steam ship which traded from Sydney and along the Hunter River from Morpeth and Newcastle during the 1840’s and 50’s. We steam up the river and hear the stories of the Hunter’s rich history as we enjoy afternoon tea and the passing scenery. Back at the wharf and we take a stroll across to the ‘Signal Box’, a popular Newcastle establishment for a celebratory welcome dinner with drinks included. We then retire back to the Hotel for a relaxing evening before the weekend escape to the Seasons of New England gets underway. Overnight: Quest West, Newcastle (D, B) Day 1 • Friday 25 March: NEWCASTLE – ARMIDALE After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the station to meet our special train. For those who are joining us at the station we will be on hand to check you in at Broadmeadow Station from 8:30 am for our 9:00am departure. We enjoy morning tea on board as the train navigates the Hunter Valley and crosses the Liverpool Ranges. At Werris Creek we pause to explore the National Railway Monument and the interesting Museum at the station before continuing up the Great Northern Railway passing Tamworth as we enjoy a sumptuous lunch with local New England produce and matched wine in the dining cars. On arrival in Uralla in the afternoon our guests staying in town alight and are transferred to their accommodation for the next two nights, where they will also enjoy an evening meal. We then continue the short distance to Armidale where we transfer to the Powerhouse Hotel to settle in and enjoy dinner at the hotel. Overnight: The Top Pub, Uralla OR The Bushranger Motor Inn, Uralla, OR Powerhouse by Rydges, Armidale (L, D) Day 2 • Saturday 26 March: ARMIDALE – URALLA – ARMIDALE After breakfast at the hotel we transfer to Armidale station for the run by train to Uralla, arriving around 10:00 am. Our train will be doing a number of shuttles back and forth to Armidale during the day and into the evening and you are welcome to join the train for any of these as you wish. On your arrival in Uralla we have our coach on hand to do shuttles into the town and to and from the Expo which is held at the Uralla Showground. Happily, the main shopping strip of Uralla, the Seasons of New England Expo, the Uralla Rotary Art Show and the train station are all within a few blocks of one another. There is a lot to see and do at the Expo, including a line-up of talented New England musicians performing and a great host of food, wine and beer stalls for tastings and sampling. Lunch is on your own from any number of the fabulous food stalls such as New England sausages made with local beer, gourmet burgers, smoked trout, gozleme, pies, tacos, Italian sodas, lemonade, apple juice, graze plates, vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options, and more. There will also be sweet treats including nougat, caramel, jams, cordials, organic home-made doughnuts, pastries, handmade confectionery, gorgeous cakes ... the list is endless. Real coffee will also be available, as well as teas, chai, and hot chocolates. Old fashioned games and retro fun can be had as part of the fair and if a drink or two takes your fancy then the ‘Seasons Bar’ will be open all day so you can relax and enjoy the offerings. After the Expo winds up in the late afternoon the evening rolls along with more live music and a wonderful local dinner hosted by the Seasons of New England chef and crew at the wonderful Old Mill which has a secluded internal courtyard and an excellent local museum attached in the old flour mill building. After dinner on our train will be on hand to return to Armidale and the onboard bar in the lounge cars will be open for a tipple or nightcap. Overnight: The Top Pub, Uralla OR The Bushranger Motor Inn, Uralla, OR Powerhouse by Rydges, Armidale (B, D) Day 3 • Sunday 27 March: ARMIDALE – NEWCASTLE After breakfast we transfer to the station to begin our journey back to Newcastle and beyond. First stop along the way is to pick up guests boarding the train at Uralla. Guests departing from Uralla will enjoy breakfast at a local café before departure. (B, L) William The Fourth Cruise
The Dish
McCrossins Mill Museum photo courtesy
of Uralla Visitors Information Centre
WHAT’S INCLUDED
• 2 (or 3) nights in comfortable, centrally located
accommodation
• Breakfast daily, two lunches and two dinners
• Drinks included with welcome and farewell dinners
• Chartered coach transport throughout the tour
• Comprehensive sightseeing with expert local guides
• All excursions and entrance fees to attractions, as
listed in the itinerary
• Ticket to the Seasons of New England Expo in
Uralla, open from 9am – 5pm on Sat 26/3
• Ticket to the Uralla Rotary Art Show, open from
10am – 4pm on Sat 26/3
Uralla
WHAT WE DON’T INCLUDE
• Meals and services not mentioned in itinerary Seasons of New England Expo
• All other personal expenses such as drinks,
phone calls, laundry services, camera fees where
applicable
• Excursions listed as optional and extra in the
brochure
FITNESS RATING
One ‘Loco’ - Reasonable fitness
You will need to be able to walk for a couple of hours at a
gentle pace, remain standing in museums and galleries,
get on and off coaches, trains and boats unassisted. These
tours often include luggage handling services, short-distance
transfers, privately chartered trains and longer stays in hotels
so you can more easily choose to take time out.
HOW TO BOOK
Download a booking form from our website and follow the
easy steps to getting on board. If you’d prefer a form be SOME PLACES YOU’LL STAY
sent to you or make a booking over the phone please call
1300 800 977. Complete the form and submit it, along with Hand-picked hotels based on location, customer feedback,
your $250 pp deposit to secure your place on the tour. value and atmosphere. Here’s a selection:
DETAILS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
We endeavour to have all the details of our tours correct at
the time of printing. However, sometimes factors beyond
our control may affect the final inclusions and prices.
These factors may include, but not be limited to; significant
fluctuations in currency exchange rates, individual hotel/
restaurant decisions that may affect bookings; weather
events forcing a change of itinerary; unexpected trackwork
on rail lines, unexpected closure of site attractions and so
forth. Therefore, items mentioned in the brochure such as
quoted prices, hotels and inclusions are subject to change.
If a change is imposed on us, we will endeavour to ensure
the substitute is of the same quality that you’ve paid for.
TOUR PACE / LEVEL OF FITNESS:
Our itineraries are designed to make the most of each
destination, so a reasonable amount of activity is built into
most days, which is why we call them adventures. Our
philosophy is to offer you the best experience possible,
while leaving you, our guest, the flexibility to pace yourself
and choose how much or how little you want to do. Each
Railway Adventures tour incorporates periods of free time
for your own exploration and relaxation.
While you don’t need to be a ‘gym junky’, a reasonable Quality Hotel Powerhouse, Armidale
level of fitness is required for most of our tours. The ability
to manage your own luggage, get on and off all manner
of trains and coaches, walk for extended periods, stand
comfortably, and climb steps and stairs will ensure you get
the maximum enjoyment from your adventure.
ADDITIONAL TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
In addition to assisting with flight suggestions and
bookings, we can also give you some ideas of what you
could do before and after your Railway Adventure.
We can also organise your all-important Travel Insurance
for you. Call our office on 1300 800 977 if you would like to
discuss options.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
For more information on factors such as travel insurance
requirements, fitness levels, fees and charges, tour
cancellations, payment schedules and so on, please
refer to our Terms and Conditions, which accompany the
booking form. They can also be found on our website or by
calling 1300 800 977.
Bushranger Motor Inn, Uralla
PRICE
Powerhouse by Rydges, Armidale 4*
Per person twin share.....................................$2,395
Single supplement..............................................$225
Bushranger Motor Inn, Uralla 3*
Per person twin share.....................................$2,320
Single supplement..............................................$165
Top Pub, Uralla 3*
Per person twin share.....................................$2,275
Single supplement..............................................$125
PRE TOUR
Quest West Newcastle 4*
Per person twin share........................................$445
Single supplement..............................................$125
Deposit (per person)...........$250 at time of booking
The Top Pub, Uralla
Final payment due by.......................... 8 February 2022
Please note limited number of rooms at the Top Pub.
The Blue Zephyr by Genevive Whalesong YOUR TRAVEL AGENT THE RAILWAY ADVENTURES STORY Railway Adventures was launched in 2012 by well-known Australian TV personality and self- TRAVEL ACCREDITED LIC #A14416 confessed rail fan, Scott McGregor. A lifelong passion for travel has taken Scott to scores of countries and his preference for rail has seen him exploring many of the world’s great train journeys, confirming his belief that the most relaxing, romantic and engaging way to see a country is by rail. He even has his own life-sized, fully-restored opulent train accommodation atop the Great Dividing Range near Mudgee, offering guests a rare and special bush retreat experience. Since 2012 Railway Adventures has thrilled and delighted more than 1500 travellers on over 130 tours from Sweden to Sri Lanka, Tasmania to Transylvania, Britain to Burma, Venice to Vietnam and all manner of shorter adventures in our own wonderful country. Scott’s numerous rail-themed TV documentaries, his ongoing involvement in rail heritage and his extensive connections with private train owners around the world, guarantee that every Railway Adventures tour is exclusive, entertaining and authentic. 14 October 2021. 1300 800 977 railwayadventures.com
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