Dates for 2022 are :
Optional pre-tour in Newcastle on Thursday 24th March 2022
Friday 25th March 2022 from Broadmeadow to Uralla & Armidale
Saturday 26th March 2022 shuttles between Uralla and Armidale to coincide with the Seasons of New England Expo
Sunday 27th March 2022 from Armidale & Uralla to Broadmeadow
Optional pre-tour in Newcastle on Thursday 24th March 2022
Friday 25th March 2022 from Broadmeadow to Uralla & Armidale
Saturday 26th March 2022 shuttles between Uralla and Armidale to coincide with the Seasons of New England Expo
Sunday 27th March 2022 from Armidale & Uralla to Broadmeadow
Welcome to the New Englander
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
Day 1 • Friday 25th March: NEWCASTLE - URALLA - 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
Day 2 • Saturday 26th 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 in the restored old flour mill building. After dinner 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
Day 3 • Sunday 27th March: ARMIDALE - URALLA - 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.
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 the delights of gentle train travel. The Blue Zephyr consists of a red and a blue lounge car, a dining car, and a sitting car. It also has its own power van and crew carriages to help with the independent nature 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 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 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.
WHAT WE DON’T INCLUDE
• Meals and services not mentioned in itinerary
• All other personal expenses such as drinks, phone calls, laundry services, camera fees where applicable
• Excursions listed as optional and extra in the brochuretained, fit-for-purpose set of carriages for guests to settle back and enjoy the delights of gentle train travel. The Blue Zephyr consists of a red and a blue lounge car, a dining car, and a sitting car. It also has its own power van and crew carriages to help with the independent nature 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 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 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.
A shuttle service will operate between Uralla and Armidale on Saturday 26th March 2020 and these tickets will be on sale in 2022.
Discover the Seasons of New England Expo through the website : www.seasonsofnewengland.com.au, and follow on facebook at Seasonsofnewengland or instagram at @seasonsne
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 26th March
• Ticket to the Uralla Rotary Art Show, open from 10am – 4pm on Sat 26th March
WHAT WE DON’T INCLUDE
• Meals and services not mentioned in itinerary
• 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.
PRICE
Top Pub, Uralla 3* Ensuite Rooms
Per person twin share.....................................$2,275
Single supplement.............................................$125
Bushranger Motor Inn, Uralla 3* Ensuite Rooms
Per person twin share.....................................$2,320
Single supplement.............................................$165
Powerhouse by Rydges, Armidale 4* Ensuite Rooms
Per person twin share.....................................$2,395
Single supplement.............................................$225
PRE TOUR : Quest West Newcastle 4* Ensuite Rooms
Per person twin share........................................$445
Single supplement.............................................$125
Deposit (per person)..........$250 at time of booking
Final payment due by.........................8 February 2022
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
Day 1 • Friday 25th March: NEWCASTLE - URALLA - 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
Day 2 • Saturday 26th 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 in the restored old flour mill building. After dinner 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
Day 3 • Sunday 27th March: ARMIDALE - URALLA - 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.
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 the delights of gentle train travel. The Blue Zephyr consists of a red and a blue lounge car, a dining car, and a sitting car. It also has its own power van and crew carriages to help with the independent nature 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 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 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.
WHAT WE DON’T INCLUDE
• Meals and services not mentioned in itinerary
• All other personal expenses such as drinks, phone calls, laundry services, camera fees where applicable
• Excursions listed as optional and extra in the brochuretained, fit-for-purpose set of carriages for guests to settle back and enjoy the delights of gentle train travel. The Blue Zephyr consists of a red and a blue lounge car, a dining car, and a sitting car. It also has its own power van and crew carriages to help with the independent nature 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 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 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.
A shuttle service will operate between Uralla and Armidale on Saturday 26th March 2020 and these tickets will be on sale in 2022.
Discover the Seasons of New England Expo through the website : www.seasonsofnewengland.com.au, and follow on facebook at Seasonsofnewengland or instagram at @seasonsne
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 26th March
• Ticket to the Uralla Rotary Art Show, open from 10am – 4pm on Sat 26th March
WHAT WE DON’T INCLUDE
• Meals and services not mentioned in itinerary
• 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.
PRICE
Top Pub, Uralla 3* Ensuite Rooms
Per person twin share.....................................$2,275
Single supplement.............................................$125
Bushranger Motor Inn, Uralla 3* Ensuite Rooms
Per person twin share.....................................$2,320
Single supplement.............................................$165
Powerhouse by Rydges, Armidale 4* Ensuite Rooms
Per person twin share.....................................$2,395
Single supplement.............................................$225
PRE TOUR : Quest West Newcastle 4* Ensuite Rooms
Per person twin share........................................$445
Single supplement.............................................$125
Deposit (per person)..........$250 at time of booking
Final payment due by.........................8 February 2022
Brought to you by Railway Adventures and Seasons of New England.
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