Hunter Valley Region

Known for superior semillon and shiraz, the Hunter Valley is around 50kms inland from the New South Wales coast. After breakfast on board, you’ll disembark and spend the day visiting cellar doors in Australia’s oldest wine region. From historic Maitland Station (1880), you’ll take a relaxing coach ride into this fertile valley, home to around 150 wineries ranging from slick big-name producers to small-scale boutique bottlers.

Your day amongst the vines will take you to some of the region’s finest wineries, from stylish and contemporary to marvellously historic, and relaxed and fun. Generous tasting times at award winning Tulloch and Brokenwood Wines, will allow you to savour the full range of Hunter Valley offerings. In between wine tastings, you’ll also sit down for a platter-style lunch at Twine Restaurant.

Tour duration is approximately 7 hours.

Recommended Fitness level: Low – required to climb coach stairs with walking and standing for short periods.

PLEASE NOTE: It is recommended guests bring a hat and sunscreen.

Port Stephens’ sun-soaked beaches, stunning sand dunes and beautiful waterways are essential east coast highlights. After breakfast on board, the Great Southern pulls into old-time Maitland Station, from where it’s a relaxed one-hour coach ride to Anna Bay, home to the impressive Stockton Sand Dunes.

Soaring to an impressive 30m high and 1km wide in some places, these colossal sand hills are the largest mobile dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. A guided 4WD excursion is the best way to experience the beaches and dunes. After the 4WD tour, you’ll be coached to nearby Nelson Bay Golf Club to savour fresh local produce for a platter style shared lunch.

Tour duration is approximately 7 hours.

Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate – the 4WD tour is bumpy and may not be suitable for people with some injuries or mobility restrictions. The vehicles are not wheelchair accessible.

PLEASE NOTE: It is recommended guests bring comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen and water.

Port Stephens is a natural world stage, encompassing beautiful beaches, stunning sand dunes and clear waterways a true highlight of the east coast. After breakfast on board, the Great Southern pulls into old-time Maitland Station, from where it’s a relaxed one-hour coach ride to the marina at Nelson Bay, just east of Port Stephens.

Here you’ll enjoy a relaxed cruise on the Bay, spotting playful bottlenose dolphins in their glorious natural habitat. Following a pleasant morning on board the 78ft catamaran, you’ll be coached to nearby Nelson Bay Golf Club to savour fresh local produce for a platter style lunch.

Tour duration is approximately 7 hours.

Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate – the vessel has steep steps to board and access the top deck and is not wheelchair accessible.

PLEASE NOTE: It is recommended guests bring non-slip, flat shoes (no high heels permitted), a hat, sunscreen, water, wind jacket, and warm clothes pending weather. The vessel is not wheelchair accessible.

Newcastle is an off beat boutique city that is anything but ordinary, where creative energy and heritage architecture collide with surf beaches and a hard-edged industrial legacy. Take a day to discover the many charms of Australia’s second-oldest city. After breakfast on board, the train will pull into Maitland Station, from where you’ll travel by coach to Queens Wharf on the waterfront in ‘Newy’.

There’s enough here to keep you busy all day: the Marina, Ferry Dock, Cafes, Restaurants, Pub, renovated Train Station and Boutique Shops. But an easy going 60-minute guided Newcastle walking tour will give you a broader sense of the city, finishing with an a-la-carte lunch overlooking Newcastle Harbour. In the afternoon, enjoy some free time at the Museum or in town.

Tour duration is approximately 7 hours.

Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate – this walking and coach tour suits people with most abilities. Guests must be able to navigate coach stairs, stand and walk for 1 hour, tour is slow paced.

PLEASE NOTE: It is recommended guests bring comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and water. Wheelchair access is possible as the route can be altered accordingly.

Tailor-made for Great Southern guests, this is an opportunity to take to the skies and get a birds eye view of the Hunter Valley. Enjoy wine tasting at award-winning Brokenwood Wines, before being transferred to Twine Restaurant, overlooking some of the oldest vineyards in the region. While you are waiting to board your helicopter experience, savour the perfect pairing of exquisite wines and decadent chocolates from a local producer.

This 15-minute Hunter Valley helicopter flight showcases the best of the wine region and beyond. See the myriad vines, rolling green hills, and the changing soil that make the Hunter Valley unique. Highlights along the way include the Hunter Valley Gardens, Broken Back Range, and more. Gliding over the Broken Back Range, you’ll admire Pokolbin State Forest and the surrounding valleys.

Don’t forget your camera and capture some great shots as the landscape shifts from vineyards to ridgeline to bush. During the flight, your pilot will share the regions rich history.

Tour duration is approximately 7 hours.

Recommended Fitness Level: Low – guests must be able to board coaches and helicopter without assistance. Weight restrictions of 130kg per person apply.

PLEASE NOTE: It is highly recommended guests bring comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen.