Day 1: Journey to Griffith & the MIA

Join your air-conditioned coach as you travel south, with a morning tea break provided at Sutton Forest. Continuing past the Yass region, you will leave the Hume Highway and join the Burley Griffin Way, travelling west to Harden/Murrumburrah. Enjoy lunch at Which Craft and Coffee Cottage before the journey continues through Temora for an afternoon comfort stop. You will then arrive in Griffith, where you will receive a warm welcome at the Griffith Motor Inn, conveniently located in the heart of town. Take some time to settle in before joining your fellow travellers for Happy Hour, followed by a delicious dinner in the motel’s restaurant. Your contact number during your stay will be 02 6962 1800. (L,D)

Day 2: Farming & an open Garden 

The MIA is the headquarters of Australia’s rice industry. Farms in this region typically span 250–300 hectares, with around 80–100 hectares of rice grown each summer. During winter, the land is rotated with wheat, oats, canola, soybeans and/or barley. We visit the local tourism hub, where you can view a DVD presentation, explore the interpretive display, and admire the stained glass window. Following this, a local guide will join the coach for an informative tour of Griffith, a fascinating and cosmopolitan regional city. You’ll hear about Griffith’s development since 1913, when irrigation transformed the once barren landscape into the fertile region it is today. Like Canberra and nearby Leeton, Griffith was designed by renowned architect Walter Burley Griffin.

A light lunch will be enjoyed at Rosewood Park on Stokes, followed by a visit to Morella Grove Olive Farm for a farm tour and tasting. Afterward, you will have some free time to take a leisurely stroll along Griffith’s main street from the motel. (B,L,D)

Day 3: Leeton

Leeton is another example of the absolute best in rural, urban living. Designed as Griffith was, by Walter Burley Griffin, Leeton displays the Art Deco style of the period in its main streetscape. This area produces amongst other things Australia’s world-famous Sun Rice- rice, so good it is exported to Japan. The Leeton Information Centre offers an excellent presentation of Australia’s rice industry along with a tasting. Lunch will be provided in Leeton before our local guide joins the coach for a town tour. Close to Leeton, is the unique Lillypilly Estate Winery and a visit is normally included this afternoon. Decades ago, Pasquale Fiumara brought to Australia from Italy, the tradition of thousands of years of viticulture and winemaking. Tramillon, the extremely popular Red Velvet, the award-winning Noble Blend and Noble Harvest are but a few of the exclusive gems from their range which you can sample this afternoon. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Altina Wildlife Park, Whitton Malt House Lunch & Southern Cotton Gin

Start the day with a visit to Altina Wildlife Park, one of Australia’s largest privately owned wildlife parks. Set on 170 acres along the Murray River near Darlington Point, the park offers a wide range of native and exotic animals, including kangaroos, wallabies, emus, wombats, dingoes, and a variety of birds and reptiles. Visitors can enjoy close encounters with many of the animals, hand-feed kangaroos, and take part in interactive presentations and educational talks about conservation and wildlife care. The park’s natural bushland setting provides a perfect backdrop for memorable wildlife experiences. From here, we travel to Whitton Malt House for a relaxing lunch. Nestled on the banks of Lake Hulong, the venue offers visitors the chance to sample unique beverages and delicious regional cuisine. Architecturally designed, Whitton Malt House features breathtaking floor-to-ceiling views across the lake, extending to a magnificent waterfall and surrounding eucalyptus forest, making it a truly memorable destination. After lunch, take some time to explore the grounds at your leisure. Next, visit the Southern Cotton ginning facilities. Built and commissioned in 2012, the facility incorporates state-of-the-art technology for quality measurement, cleaning, humidification, processing, and data traceability. Please note that visits are subject to seasonal availability, and during the busy season, the facility may not always be open to coach groups. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Piccolo Farm experience, local history & wine

Piccolo Family Farm is a fully functional farm that offers visitors a unique farm experience. Located on 20 acres just outside of Griffith, the property features a citrus orchard, a small vineyard, a Cellar door (in development), market gardens, and 2 acres of established manicured gardens. The citrus orchard produces three varieties of oranges that fruit almost year-round. The market garden includes herbs, fruits, and vegetables. The farm uses sustainable farming practices, with all the produce harvested by hand and free of chemicals and pesticides. It directly supplies the family’s restaurant, Limone Dining, located in the main street of Griffith. The small vineyard features 4 Italian varietals carefully selected to complement our climate and soil type. The vineyard’s first harvest is this year. Lunch will be provided at Pioneer Park in Griffith with time for a train ride & to explore this interesting venue. Pioneer Park provides visitors with an understanding of the unique character of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation area, one of the great national success stories of our time. This afternoon, visit Calabria Family Wines, a family-owned winery known for producing premium wines with a focus on Italian varietals. Enjoy a tasting and the opportunity to purchase some wines to take home. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Homeward Bound

Today it’s time to farewell the fabulous Riverina. A morning tea break followed by Lunch provided in Yass.  We hope as you reflect on your holiday you have many wonderful new memories of your time in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. Thank you for choosing this tour. (B,L)