Blog Archives
There Is Nowhere Like Norfolk
Greetings from My Travel Expert and the Shoalhaven Solo Sisters!
It has been a while since our last entry, over the course of the last two years we have been battling to survive the effect that COVID-19 has had on our industry, and we are more than thrilled to be one of the businesses that has managed to pull through. During this time though, we did refrain from trying to tempt you into going away with us due to the frailty of the system, with border closures and travel bans stopping and starting seemingly weekly.
That however is behind us, and to celebrate we want to invite you to join us on our next group adventure – the first since January 2020 – to Norfolk Island in November 2022! To celebrate the return of travel and opening of borders we are re-running one of our more popular tours, and as you will see there is nowhere like Norfolk!
Like our departure in 2019, this tour will take in the best of Norfolk Islands Scenic, Cultural and Culinary and Historical Heritage, with behind the scenes visits to see how the island operates, fantastic meals, and incredible company!
7 Nights / 8 days,
Sydney to Sydney,
7th to 14th November 2022
AU$3492 Per Person Share Twin
AU$4205 Per Person In Single
Once one of the most notorious penal colonies, today Norfolk Island is a charming island paradise with cultural and historical sights than will amuse and delight. Combined with the incredible scenery and the fantastic cuisine Norfolk Island is a must see destination for all!
This programme includes return airfares ex Sydney with Qantas including all prepayable taxes, Return airport transfers, 7 nights accommodation at South Pacific Resort Hotel, Cooked Breakfast daily, 1 x 2 Course Dinner at the South Pacific Hotel, 1 x 2 Course Dinner at Hill Restaurant 1 x 2 Course Dinner at the Homestead Restaurant other meals as detailed in the itinerary and all sightseeing and entrance fees as detailed.
ITINERARY
Day 1, 7th November 2022: We depart Sydney today for the incredible Norfolk Island, flying out at 0930 with Qantas and arriving at approximately 1310. On arrival we will be met and transferred to our lodgings at the South Pacific Resort Hotel, where there is time to refresh before enjoying our welcome dinner. (D)
Day 2, 8th November 2022: A fantastic day of exploring Norfolk island awaits starting with an Orientation tour of the Island showing off sights like Kingston, Cascade, Longridge and much more. The day is brought to a close with a progressive dinner with each course served at different Norfolk island family homes. (B/L/D)
Day 3, 9th November 2022: We visit the home of prolific author Colleen McCullough this morning before enjoying an afternoon to ourselves, This evening we enjoy a traditional island feast— the island fish fry — before we head off for a night time adventure through the convict settlement at Kingston, a sound and lightshow set to bring the convict era alive. (B/D)
Day 4, 10th November 2022: This morning is all about Cheese as we head of on a Mootineers Cheese Tour of the Christian Brothers Cheese Company where we learn all about the local dairy farming, local honey production and see some truly spectacular rural Norfolk views. The remainder of the day is free until dinner at Hilli Resteraunt. (B/D)
Day 5, 11th November 2022: Today we find out what makes Norfolk Tick as we head behind the scenes to see what goes into making the island operate from Weather Monitoring to Recycling to Fishing and Power generation. This continues in the afternoon with local farming and distilling, before we take a break with Dinner and a Ghost Tour through historic Kingston. (B/D)
Day 6, 12th November 2022: While we have had some convict experiences previously, this afternoon we head out for an indepth tour of the historic Georgian Settlement of Kingston, visiting the main sights and hearing of the convict and colonial history. Our day of Convict Exploration is capped off by the famed “Night As a Convict Dinner” (B/D)
Day 7, 13th November 2022: We head out this afternoon for a visit to Two Chimney’s winery for a late lunch and wine tasting. Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner at Homestead restaurant. (B/D)
Day 8, 14th November 2022: You may have thought the touring portion of the itinerary was done, but we have one last stop to make with a visit to the incredible Cyclorama – an inspiring visual journey through Norfolk Island’s history. Afterwards, having already checked out of our hotel we continue on to the airport where you will have time for light refreshments before we board our plane at roughly 1410 and fly for Sydney where this tour concludes upon arrival at around 1600. (B)
*Please note that Itinerary may be subject to change based on local conditions
If all this sounds fantastic, and you want to have as great a time as our last adventurous bunch of convicts then now is the time to book your space on this incredible getaway! Get in touch with My Travel Expert and the Shoalhaven Solo Sisters today!
Telephone: (02) 4421 5577
Email: nowra@mytravelexpert.com.au
Address: 81B North Street, Nowra, NSW 2541
Finding Floriade
1 Night / 2 Days, 30 Sep – 1 Oct
Nowra – Canberra- Nowra
$390 Per Person Share Twin Or Double
$530 Per Person In Single
Developed in 1988 as a grand, one off floral tribute to mark Australia’s Bicentenary and Canberra’s 75th anniversary, Floriade has become Canberra’s most iconic annual tourism event and Australia’s premier spring festival. The floral display of more than a million bulbs and annuals planted across 8,000 square metres of inner city parkland is more than just a flower show.
- Illuminated wonderland – Explore the whimsy and the beauty in outdoor lighting design and production, as curated and constructed by the expert team at Mandylights. They’ve designed a parkland – full of impressive lighting installations which will excite and delight the fairy light lover in anyone.
- Roving Entertainment – Be amused and entertained by talented musicians, quirky roving entertainers and circus acts, who will bring the park to life each night. Giant lady bugs, flame twirlers and many many more…
- The Marketplace – To indulge your inner foodie (and food critic), we’ve created the Marketplace; a food, wine and beer bazaar hosted in the The Kitchen Company Tasting Plate, during NightFest. Explore the food and beverage crafts of Bentspoke Brewery, Pialligo estate, Mount Majura vineyard and more, in a melting pot of top local and regional talent.
This 2 day package includes transport to Canberra and Return from the Shoalhaven, time on the Saturday afternoon and Sunday Morning to visit Floriade, a Standard Nightfest Entry Ticket, and One Night Accommodation at the Crowne Plaza Canberra. Costs for upgraded Nightfest Tickets and Breakfast available on request. Spaces are limited
Costs for upgraded Nightfest Tickets, Breakfast and more available on enquiry.
Call My Travel Expert on (02) 4421 5577 or e-mail nowra@mytravelexpert.com.au to reserve your space today or
Tasmania with the Experts
In March 2017, My Travel Expert has a fantastic short tour of Tasmania coming, covering the highlights of Hobart and surrounds. Spaces are limited, and if you have ever wanted a taste of Tasmania then this fantastic little 6 day getaway is your chance!
30th March – 4th April 2017
$1590* Per Person in Share Twin.
Single Supplement $610
Tour Highlights Include: Salamanca Markets, Wrest Point, Bruny Island, Port Arthur, Tasman Peninsula, Sea Cliffs Blowhole, the Devils Kitchen, Doo Town, Tasman Arch, the Botanical Gardens, Mount Wellington, MONA Museum, Rosny Point Lookout and more!
Includes: Return Economy Airfares from Sydney to Hobart with Virgin Australia including all taxes and surcharges*, 5 Nights at the Travelodge Hobart including breakfast and dinner daily, Derwent River Cruise Mona Entry and one way MONA Ferry , Port Arthur Entry, Guided Tour and Carnarvon Bay Cruise, Pennicott Wilderness Journey , Bruny Island Ferry Return via Tas Redline Coaches
*Please Note: $200 deposit due within 7 days of booking. Final balance is due 60 days prior to travel. Tour price based on a minimum of 30 travellers, if the end traveller number is less prices are subject to re-evaluation.
To Reserve Your Space Just call
(02) 4421 5577 and ask for Julie!
My European River Cruise (September 2015)
Guess Who has been travelling? Julie has just recently returned from escorting one of our Group Departures along the Danube. A fantastic trip visiting Prague before cruising from Budapest to Amsterdam, then onto Paris for a few days R&R before heading home. If you have been following our blog and website over the past 18 months or so you may have noticed us promoting this upcoming trip from time to time.
In any event the trip seems to have gone off really well with those attending telling us that they had a fantastic time – but don’t just take our word for it, take a look at some of our happy campers and trip highlights below! (Please note this is best viewed as a slideshow on the website and images may not appear on your Email updates)
I know, there are not a lot of “site photos” but if all we did was show you those what incentive would you have to join us on our departures! In any event there was a lot of fun had, and if you want to join us on a future trip then take a look around the website to see what is on offer!
Take A Hand In Shaping Your Egyptian Experience!
Have you ever wanted to explore Egypt? To walk the great Hypostyle Hall at Luxor (Image below), to sit back and enjoy High Tea at the Aswan Hotel where Agatha Christie wrote Death On The Nile, or spend some time browsing the shelves of the Great Library of Alexandria?
Then you are in luck, in January 2016, My Travel Expert and Shoalhaven Solo Sisters are running a group tour to Egypt that will take in the best of Cairo, Alexandria and the Nile. Our plan is to run a trip of between two and three weeks, including all transport, accommodation, sightseeing, entrance fees and much more.
We are not just doing what we want though, and encourage you to come in and join us on the evening of Wednesday the 14th of January 2015 to hear what we are planning and let us know what you would like included!
CONFIRM YOUR PLACE NOW!
REGISTER HERE FOR YOUR EGYPT WORKSHOP – 14 JANUARY 2015
Golden West USA Special – Grab It While Available !!!
We have had one of our 2015 departures on this site for a while now, but with deadlines for everything else, and last minute specials we haven’t had too much time to really talk about this trip much. But, as the blog post says we do have something with this tour now that will grab your attention*
The Golden West USA Tour we have departing in October 2014 retails for 5359 per person in share twin for an 18 day tour programme including flights, a price we believe is reasonable, if we didn’t we wouldn’t have used it for our solo sisters departures. We have though been speaking to our providers and have managed to make that price even better, and can offer you the tour package at a fantastic cost of AU$3403 per person in share twin .. that is a saving of AU$1955 per person!!
To take advantage of this special all you need to do is book before the end of January 2015, and pay in full before the end of February.
What though is going to be seen on this trip, where will be visited that will make you want to outlay this sort of money? The truth is that this trip sees the best of the west, with the major sights entrance fees included and plenty of time for you to get out and explore on your own the sights you may wish to see – be it Madam Tussauds in Las Vegas, the infamous Pier in Santas Monica or the shopping malls of Beverly Hills.
With the group we spend 16 day touring from Los Angeles to Los Angeles, taking in Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon, the bright lights of Las Vegas, the incredible natural scenery of Mammoth Lakes and Yosemite National Park, the iconic city of San Francisco and the beautiful coastal towns of California!
In the last twelve months we have had Kelly, Julie and Leonie all scout out some of the fantastic locations that this tour is going to and all three have had a ball encountering the “Golden West”, enjoying everything from the scenic flights over the Grand Canyon to testing their luck at the tables in Las Vegas.
You can review the tour in full here on our website – just click here – and you can see whats included, what is going to be seen and where is going to be visited.
So if you want to take advantage of this incredible offer and book aboard for just AU$3403 per person in share twin then give us a call today on (02) 4421 5577 or email us at nowra@mytravelexpert.com.au !
* Yes, I am using the ‘grab’ wording as an excuse to use this fantastic photo of Leonie from Madam Tussauds visit
My Travel Expert and Shoalhaven Solo Sisters 