North Asia: 4 Day, 3 Night Program
Day 1 – Welcome to Melbourne
Morning: On arrival, you will receive a warm welcome at the airport with your company’s banners. Luxury air-conditioned coaches will transfer you to a 5-star hotel within the Central Business District (CBD).
Lunch: Feel the atmosphere and buzz of Melbourne and take in wonderful panoramic views of the city and the Yarra River at Red Emperor Chinese Restaurant, one of Melbourne’s top dining venues. The restaurant specialises in sumptuous cuisine traditionally prepared by master chefs.
Afternoon: Take a half day ‘Discover Melbourne City Tour’, seeing Melbourne landmarks such as Queen Victoria Market, Bourke Street Mall and Parliament House. Drive through some of Melbourne’s beautiful parks and gardens and cross the Westgate Bridge for stunning views of Port Phillip Bay and historic Williamstown. Following your city tour, take a relaxing cruise on the Yarra River where afternoon tea will be served.
Dinner: Sea something different! Imagine sitting around a cylindrical tank, 10 metres in diameter, filled with live coral, tropical fish, sea stars and sea snakes, as you enjoy a delicious end to your first day. This under-the-sea themed event at Melbourne Aquarium is a fantastic welcome to the city with its location on the banks of the Yarra River. Menus can be designed to suit the needs of the group and a Chinese or Western menu can be served. A colourful array of musical and roving acts will provide a memorable night’s entertainment. From pirates of the high seas searching for their treasure, to synchronised swimming sharks, stilted sea monsters and mesmerising mermaids. At the conclusion of the event, coach transfers will be provided.
Day 2 – Enjoy Melbourne and Victoria’s Great Outdoors
Morning: After breakfast at your hotel, depart Melbourne for the Mornington Peninsula just one hour from the city, but a world away. Arching gracefully around the eastern edge of Port Phillip Bay, you will experience the beauty of this area, which is home to dozens of beautiful beaches, world-class golf courses, 52 different wineries and superb local produce. Our first stop is Ashcomb Maze where you can get lost in Australia’s oldest and largest Hedge Maze. Wander through 25 acres of themed gardens and water features. Explore the beautiful rose maze blooming with more than 1,200 rose bushes. Next, visit Sunny Ridge Farm, the largest strawberry producer in Australia, producing a mouth-watering three million punnets a year. Have fun picking your own fruit during the season. Enjoy morning tea and try and resist the berry tempting desserts and Sunny Ridge range of gourmet food products.
Lunch at T’Gallant Winery: This is one of the most popular wineries on the Peninsula. The cellar door always offers something new and unusual. The wines are beautifully made and the food, sensational. After lunch, learn how to sip, swirl and spit like the experts in a private wine Master Class. Sample some of the winery’s most treasured wines complimented by the region’s local cheeses.
Afternoon: Climb to the top of Arthur’s Seat for impressive views of Port Phillip Bay and Mornington Peninsula. Visit some of the quaint local villages and stop for afternoon tea in a local café. Take the time to explore some antique shops, local galleries and village shops. Before departing back to Melbourne, visit the Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Park where you will have the opportunity to meet kangaroos, koalas, dingoes and more native animals.
Dinner: Make tracks and discover a delicious dining experience – step on board the historical Tram Restaurant. You’ll cruise the sights and streets of Melbourne, glide past parks and by the bay as you enjoy fine local cuisine, wines and gracious service.
Evening: Looking for a world of entertainment? Head to Crown Entertainment Complex located in Southbank on the Yarra River, mere minutes from the CBD. The Complex has an incredible array of entertainment options in a very stylish setting featuring cafés, bars, restaurants, cinemas and even luxury retail boutiques.
Day 3 – Historical Melbourne and Victoria
Morning: Breakfast at your hotel (optional). For the early risers, enjoy a hot air ballooning trip above the Melbourne CBD. Upon landing, you will be treated to a champagne breakfast. Continue your delicious morning by discovering the Queen Victoria Market on a gourmet ‘foodies’ tour. Bustling crowds, amazing bargains and the clamour of voices out-doing each other with price offers – if this is your style of retail therapy, the Queen Victoria Market is a must-see experience. A historic landmark, established in 1878, it is actually Australia’s largest undercover market. Shopping tip: it’s a great spot to pick up souvenirs, especially Aussie sheep-skin boots and toys.
Lunch: Dine around Chinatown, a distinctive and well-known area of Melbourne that dates back to the gold rush days of the 1850s. Importantly, Melbourne's Chinatown is the longest continuous Chinese settlement in the western world. There are over 25 different Chinese restaurants to choose from, offering a huge variety of regional menus and popular Cantonese dishes.
Afternoon: Depart Melbourne for Warrook Cattle Farm. Only a short drive from Melbourne, you can experience country charm and experience life on a working cattle farm. Take a guided tour with one of the owners and see cow milking, sheep-shearing, a working dog demonstration, stock whip cracking, and get the opportunity to pat some of the animals in the pen. After Warrook the tour continues to Phillip Island, home to some of Australia’s best-loved wildlife. Watch the fur seals frolicking in the water and spot the sleepy koalas high up in the gum trees. And you can’t miss the famous Fairy Penguin Parade at sunset; these tiny creatures appear from the surf, waddle up the sand to their very own cosy burrows. It’s a truly memorable experience made even more unforgettable by your ranger guide who will take you to a stunning secluded beach to watch the little penguins in a private and exclusive group.
Dinner: After the parade, enjoy dinner at San Remo fishing village before returning to Melbourne.
Day 4 – Shop Til You Drop in Melbourne
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Prior to departing for the airport, head out to Chadstone Shopping Centre for an overwhelming shopping experience. More than 500 stores showcase the hottest local designers and international names in a stunning state-of-the-art centre. Labels include AIX Armani Exchange, Roxy, Mambo, Polo Ralph Lauren, CK Jeans, Oroton, Country Road and Australia’s leading department stores – Myer and David Jones. International visitors to Chadstone can enjoy discounts at many retail outlets. After you have shopped and bargained, there are plenty of cafés for a relaxing break. After your shopping adventure, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure.