6 DAY SOUTH COAST TOUR including THE THIRLMERE FESTIVAL OF STEAM
Day 01 (MTLD) HOME TO MITTAGONG Saturday 16 May 2026
Welcome to our 6-day South Coast holiday. Once comfortable in our seats, we begin our holiday by heading to the Southern Highlands. Lunch today is at the Ourimbah RSL. Arriving at Mittagong, we check into our accommodation and relax prior to dinner.
Lunch at own cost | Dinner in Mittagong RSL Club
Springs Mittagong | 1 night
Day 02 (BD) THIRLMERE FESTIVAL OF STEAM TO NOWRA Sunday 17 May 2026
The quaint village of Thirlmere awakens to the enchanting sound of the steam whistle for the Thirlmere festival of steam, where we visit the NSW Rail Museum. Here we venture back in time with Australia’s largest collection of heritage rolling stock and a diverse range of interactive exhibits. Climb aboard the cab of an old steam locomotive, explore a mail van, walk through a prison van and admire the Governor General’s carriage in all its glory. There will be a full festival atmosphere with live entertainment, market stalls, and steam engines. We spend most of the day here, with a meeting point time to travel through to Nowra to begin our south coast adventure.
Breakfast in Mittagong RSL Club | Lunch at own cost | Dinner in motel
Nightcap at Archer Hotel | 1 night
Day 03 (BMTLATD) NOWRA TO MERIMBULA Monday 18 May 2026
Some of the areas worst affected by the January bushfires are on - and around - the South Coast of New South Wales. Who will forget the images of Mogo – small villages decimated by the fires? We visit the Mogo Zoo, after closed for a couple of months following the fires. Here, there are lions, giraffes, tigers, jaguars, and snow leopards (the only breeding pair in the country), a variety of monkeys, red pandas, and small, clawed otters, to mention just some of the animals we will meet today. After enjoying lunch in Narooma, we travel to Cobargo, the township itself was one of the largest towns affected by the bushfires, luckily,y the wonderful Cobargo Farm was saved. We are here for a tour and afternoon tea. This unique open garden farm is 16 acres on the outskirts of Cobargo’s historical working village. It produces fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as ferns, plants, flowers and seedlings. Back on the coach, we have about an hour’s drive to Merimbul, where we check into our motel for the next 2 nights.
Breakfast and dinner in the motel | lunch at Narooma Golf Club
Merimbula Sapphire Motel | 2 nights
Day 04 (BMTLD) EDEN AND BOYDTOWN Tuesday 19 May 2026
We start the day in Pambula at the Oakland’s Barn. Not only will we enjoy a delicious home-style morning tea here, but where will also have time to look around this historic “Oaklands” property, which is now home to the Village Gallery and Merv’s She, which houses a huge collection of recycled furniture, collectables and glassware. From here we travel through to Eden, where we visit the Killer Whale Museum and view the skeleton of "Old Tom" the killer whale, plus many other items of interest and history. We return to Eden where we board Cat Balou Cruises for our afternoon cruise. After cruising around the southern section of Twofold Bay, Cat Balou heads south towards Greencape Lighthouse, viewing stunning rock formations, Mowarry Beach, Saltwater Creek and, subject to weather, entering picturesque Bittangabee Bay.
Breakfast and dinner in the motel | lunch at Seahorse Inn
Day 05 (BMTLD) MERIMBULA TO GOULBURN Wednesday 20 May 2026
After our lovely stay in Merimbula, we wake up fresh and ready to travel to Goulburn. On the way,y we visit the small town of Nimmitabel, where we enjoy morning tea at the local bakery. Leaving here, we travel to Cooma to visit the Snowy Mountain Hydro Electric Scheme, which commenced in 1949. At the time, it was the biggest engineering project ever undertaken in the world. Before leaving we enjoy lunch here as well. From here we travel to Goulburn, where we have time to freshen up before dinner.
Breakfast and dinner in the hotel | lunch at Snowy Mountain Hydro Electric Scheme
Mercure Goulburn | 1 night
Day 06 (BMTL) GOULBURN TO HOME Thursday 21 May 2026
What a wonderful time we have had with friends. After breakfast, we travel through the outskirts of Sydney and back up the coast to home, completing a sensational 6-day tour with many wonderful memories and newfound friends made on our holiday.
Breakfast in the hotel, and lunch own arrangements and cost
Tour Inclusions
• 5 nights’ motel accommodation
• 5 cooked breakfasts, including 1 at Mittagong RSL Club
• 5 Morning Teas
• 5 dinners, including 1 at Mittagong RSL Club
• 3 included lunches – see below
• Entry to the Thirlmere Festival of Steam, NSW Rail Museum
• Entry, tour guide and morning tea at Mogo Zoo
• Lunch at the Narooma Golf Club
• Afternoon Tea and Farm Tour at Cobargo Farm
• Visit and Morning tea at Oaklands Barn & Garden Centre, Pambula
• Entry and tour at the Killer Whale Museum, Eden
• Lunch at Seahorse Inn Boydtown
• Afternoon cruise on Cat Balou, Sealife Bay Cruises, Eden
• Morning tea at Nimmitabel Bakery
• Visit and lunch at the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre, Cooma
Confirmed Accommodation
• Springs Mittagong (1 night)
• Nitghcap at Archer Hotel, Nowra (1 night)
• Merimbula Sapphire Motel (2 nights)
• Mercure Goulburn (1 night)
$2,929 pp twin share | + $1,020 pp single sup | $900 pp deposit
For more information or to book;
Phone: 02 6583 3330
Email:
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Website:
https://www.portbus.com.au
Online: @
https://events.humanitix.com/thirlmere-festival-26
Please Note
• Price is based on a minimum of 20 paying passengers. If numbers fall below 20 paying passengers, this tour may need to be recosted.
• Price is valid for the above tour dates only and includes GST.
• Morning teas or afternoon teas are not included unless specified.
• The itinerary may be subject to change without notice. Whilst every effort is made to adhere to the itinerary as provided. Port Bus reserves the right to alter the touring and attractions as dictated by circumstances and conditions outside the company’s control. Alterations may be made to ensure the smooth running of the tour. Every attempt will be made to ensure alterations do not adversely affect the operation of the tour. Port Bus will not be held responsible for weather-based cancellations or those closures made at the venue’s discretion.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation fees will be levied relative to the amount of notice given:
42 days or more—loss of deposit
29-41 days: 50% of fare plus deposit
30 days before and the Day of departure: 100% of the fare
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