THE JNBC
MEMORIAL TOUR
7 to 26 October
2008
Provisional
Itinerary (Note
itinerary is subject to change and is a guide only) (updated 14/8/08)
Friday
3rd
This is the earliest
date that Alvis Cars are likely to be available for collection by
Owners from the Port
of
Melbourne
.
It would be very helpful, however, if the majority of owners could
plan on being at the Port in Melbourne at (say) 12 noon on Monday
6th to collect their cars. This will make administration
and release very much easier, and as a Group we can enlist the assistance
of ALVIC to clear the port and to guide us to the RACV Club premises
in Melbourne .
It will also give time to check the cars.
Weekend
Friday 3rd/ Monday 6th
Accommodation may
be booked, as required, at RACV
Melbourne
where there is secure underground parking. This is additional to the
Tour Itinerary and NOT included in the pricing. Charges are currently
AUS$ 288.00 (c.£.125.00) per
double per night, inclusive of breakfast and parking. Please see the
Note on the Application Form.
To assist in your planning please note
it is hoped that there will be a mini -coach tour of
Melbourne
city and its environs for visitors from
Britain
prior to
the “official Welcome” on the evening of Tuesday7th. .
This City Tour is currently provisional, will probably be during
Tuesday, is an extra to the price, and will incur a small charge.
See Note on the Application.
This means that those wishing to attend this tour need to make
collection of their cars from
Melbourne
Port
by pm. Monday 6th October, and (preferably) stay at the
RAC V Melbourne
on that night – at an additional charge.
Tuesday
7th:
Afternoon – Tour Assembles and Receives Rally packs at RACV
Club Melbourne
;
Canapés and drinks served from
6.30 to 7.00
pm.
followed by a Welcoming Dinner on 2nd Floor RACV Club.
This will be a buffet style Dinner featuring Tasmanian Oysters, steamed
prawns and green lipped mussels, Scotch beef, Mulloway fish fillet,
Cheesecakes, mousses, Australian Cheeses and much, much more.
Victorian wines. – Of course!
Wednesday
8th
Leave from Melbourne via Spencer St. and Dynon Road to the
historic city and port
of
Williamstown
We will be heading towards Geelong
but will do a circuit taking in the seaside and holiday towns of Barwon
Heads, Ocean Grove and Point Lonsdale where you will see the “mighty
rip” that is one of the most dangerous sea channels in the world and
requires Pilot Boats to help ships negotiate their way out of
Port Phillip
Bay . Next stop Queenscliff for lunch about 4kms on from
Point Lonsdale and the main base for the Pilot Boats, fishing and
the home of a Research Development Organisation for Aquatic Animals.
Queenscliff also houses the famous fort built in the 1800’s to stop
any Russian boats entering Port
Phillip Bay .
Its guns were used twice!
Continue
on to Geelong
via Indented Heads and Portarlington.
Geelong
is the second largest town in Victoria
situated also on Port
Phillip Bay
and some 80 kms from Melbourne
.
Geelong
in its early days was a mass of wool stores being the staging post
for sheep farmers in the Western district to deliver wool to
Geelong
where it was sent by ship to its destination. Geelong today is also
the home of the Ford Motor Company.
Thursday
9th
From Geelong it is a short drive to the start of what is regarded
as one of the most spectacular drives in the world, the Great Ocean
Road. Built by returned WW1 diggers, anyone with a vintage car should
do this drive. It is simply superb and takes in the rugged coastline
of Southern Victoria .
It is also known as the “ Shipwreck
Coast ”.
Views are spectacular including the famous Twelve Apostles. We overnight
at Warrnambool.
Friday
10th
Rest day in Warrnambool and a chance to take in the maritime
history of the area, and if lucky a chance to see whales frolicking
in the sea.
Saturday
11th
Head inland into the famous Western Drictict
most notable for sheep farming that along with gold gave
Victoria
its wealth back in the 1800’s. Chance to view a Western District farm
and sample the tastes of what life was like back in early pioneering
days. The end of the day sees us at Penola,
just over the South Australian border and in the area known
for its famous wine region of Coonawarra.
Sunday
12th
A chance to spend the whole day sampling the wines of the Coonawarra
region. Wines from this area include Wynns, Rydoch, Brands, Jamiesons
Run, Redman and many others the fertile red soil in this area ideal
for grape growing.
Monday
13th
Back on the road we keep heading inland through the towns of
Casterton, Coleraine and Melville Forest (lunch),
still in the Western District where you will see large areas
of farming particularly sheep and cattle. You will also see spectacular
mountain ranges many of which we will bypass, a few we will climb
as we make our way to Halls Gap, one of the most picturesque areas
in Victoria.
Tuesday
14th.
From Halls Gap we are heading into Gold Rush country, as we
head toward Ballarat. We will pass through the old mining towns of
Ararat, Talbot, Clunes and Creswick that sprung up as a result of
the finding of Gold in the area.
Overnight at Ballarat.
Wednesday
15th
A rest day in Ballarat and a chance to explore the re-created
town of Sovereign
Hill .
At night, you can also witness the sound and light show of the famous
Eureka
Stockade, a fight that took place between miners and police over the
harsh treatment given to the miners of mining licences.
Ballarat also has one of the best art galleries in the country
and is well worth a visit.
Thursday
16th
From Ballarat it is only a short drive to Bendigo, another
famous town established during the gold era. We will go via the towns
of Creswick and the pretty town of
Daylesford
famous for its spring water.
Friday.17th
Rest day at Bendigo
but hardly a rest as
Bendigo
has a lot to offer! Visit to the historic tram museum and have a ride
on tram. Also visit the Chinese museum. The Chinese came to
Bendigo
during the gold rush in their thousands and many stayed on to develop
market gardens within the area. Another interesting art gallery and
the huge cathedral are sights also to see.
Saturday.18th
From Bendigo it is a short drive to the Echuca, or Paddle Steamer
country, situated along the banks of the Murray
River . The
Murray River
was the
main inland river that supplied community’s right up into
South
Australia .
Paddle Steamers carried wool, timber, food and all manner of things
to outback farms etc. The Port
of
Echuca
has been transformed into its former glory and we can travel a few
miles up the Murray
on a proper steam driven paddle steamer. There is also a good car
museum featuring the Australian built Holden car.
Sunday.19th
From Echuca we have a bit of a drive to Beechworth for overnight
stay. We travel through the wine growing areas of
Victoria
namely the Rutherglen region noted for its heavy red and fortified
wines. We will also be entering bush ranger territory, where Ned Kelly
roamed. If you like you can visit the town of
Glenrowan
where Kelly and his mob staged their “last stand”
at the Glenrowan Hotel and see all the sights of this famous little
town.
Monday
20th
Rest day at Beechworth.
Beechworth was also a gold producing town and much of it has
been left or restored to its former glory. From Beechworth you can
visit the wineries in the King
Valley
,
sample local cheeses or have a nice lunch at the famous Brown Brother’s
Winery. The local courthouse
at Beechworth is well worth a visit and played an important part in
the Kelly history.
Tuesday
21st.
If you thought you had seen some spectacular scenery, you are
in for a treat as we head towards the ski fields of the High Plains.
We go via Milewa, the Kiewa Valley and picturesque Tawonga Gap. The
roads up here are excellent for Alvis motoring, nice and twisty. We
will be staying in ski lodge accommodation.
