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 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.

Suitably wined and dined, you’ll return to the coach to make the leisurely journey to Broadmeadow Station, meeting the Great Southern to continue your journey southwards.

Tour duration is approximately 7 hours.

Recommended Fitness level: Low.

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

Port Stephens’ sun-soaked beaches, 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 improbable 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 lunch to savour fresh local produce.

Back on the coach, it’s a short drive back to meet the Great Southern at Broadmeadow Station.

Tour duration is approximately 7 hours.

Recommended Fitness Level: Low to moderate – the 4WD tour can be bumpy and may not be suitable for people with some injuries or mobility restrictions.

PLEASE NOTE: It is recommended guests bring comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen and water. The vehicles are not wheelchair accessible.

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 will be coached to lunch to savour fresh local produce.

Back on the coach, it’s a short drive back to meet the Great Southern at Broadmeadow Station.

Tour duration is approximately 7 hours.

Recommended Fitness Level: Low – the sailing vessel has steep steps to board and access the top deck, with two unisex bathrooms located onboard.

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 a city on the rise, 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 third-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: an observation tower, marina, ferry dock, cafes, restaurants, pub, brewery… But an easy-going two-hour Newcastle Afoot walking tour will give you a broader sense of the city, finishing with lunch with a view.

In the afternoon, choose between an hour of free time to explore the city or relaxing by the beach.

Back on the coach, you’ll transfer to Broadmeadow Station, where you’ll reboard the Great Southern.

Tour duration is approximately 7 hours.

Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate – the experience includes a 1.5-hour walking tour. The pace can be altered to accommodate most abilities however guests should consider their fitness levels in relation to the length of time they will be on their feet.

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 witness all the Hunter Valley has to offer.

Enjoy wine tasting at award winning Brokenwood Wines, before being transferred to Twine Restaurant, soaking in the stunning views of Hunter Valley. While you are waiting to board your helicopter experience, savour boutique Hunter Valley wines paired with chocolate from a local producer.

The 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. Bring your camera and get some great shots as the landscape shifts from vineyards to ridgeline to bush. Your pilot will tell you about the history of the area and point out some features along the way.

Back on the coach, you’ll transfer to Broadmeadow Station, where you’ll reboard the Great Southern.

Tour duration is approximately 7 hours.

Recommended Fitness Level: Low – guests must be able to board the helicopter without assistance.

PLEASE NOTE: It is recommended guests bring comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and water. Weight limits do apply to the helicopter experience.