Sunday 1st November – Wednesday 4 November 2015

photo by Henry Owen

A grand adventure to the Emirates Melbourne Cup

and Victoria’s heritage high-mountain

and wine country.On the Legendary

Southern Aurora

in association with

Hosted by Scott McGregor

• Winetastingwelcomeandfarewelldinnersinthediningcar• TourtheheritagetownsoftheVictoria’sNorth-Easthighcountry• VisittheSpringFestivalatBright• AllSaintsWinerytastingandgourmetdinneratRutherglen• Fulldayat“EmiratesMelbourneCupDay”• Viewthewinningpostfromyourreserved‘Lawn-stand’seating• Entrytotheentertainmentandcarnivalatmosphereof‘ThePrecinct’• NostalgictravelaboardthelegendarySouthernAurora®withprivatesleepingcompartments,2diningcarsand2loungecars• All-inclusivepackage,unpackonceandrelax

• SYDNEY • RUTHERGLEN • BEECHWORTH • FLEMINGTON • SYDNEY •

DepartCentralonyouriconicsleepertraintothehistorictownsofnorthernVictoria.CelebratewithalavishdinneratAllSaintswineryinRutherglen.RollonovernighttoMelbourneandyourfulldayextravaganzaat‘EmiratesMelbourneCupDay’includingaccessto‘ThePrecinct’and‘Lawn-Stand’seating.Backawinner,savourtheatmosphereandcelebratethelegendsofthetrack–bothtrainandhorse!

PROGRAMDay 1 - SunDay 1 november

YouradventurebeginsintheearlyafternoononPlatform1atCentralStation.Thetraincrewandyourhostswillbeonhandtomeetyouandshowyoutoyourcompartment,yourhomeawayfromhomeforthenext3days.JoinyourhostsandfellowtravellersforawelcomechampagnereceptionasthetrainpullsoutofCentralStationonitsvoyagesouth.

ThesceniclateafternoonjourneyalongtheSouthCoastanduptherainforestescarpmenttoRobertsonandMossValerevealsspectacularviewsofthemountainsandocean.AstwilightdescendsandthetownsandvillagesoftheSouthernHighlandsrollby,dinnerwillbeservedinthediningcars.YoursocialeveningcontinuesintheloungecarsthenretreattoyourcosycompartmentforthenightasthetrainmeandersthroughtheSouthWestSlopestowardsVictoria.(D)

AT A GLANCE

Day 2 - monDay 2 november

Morning light illuminates the rolling hills and farmingcountry and a lavish 3 course breakfast awaits in thediningcars.Wedisembarkaround9.00amforascenicmorning coach journey through the Victorian highcountry. First stop is Yackandanda, a National TrustVillage,whereyouhavetimetowandertheleafystreets,grabacoffeeandexplorethegalleries,giftshopsandantiquestores.The annual Spring Festival is in full swing when wepull into Bright which is known for its picturesquetown-scape.Theofferings includearangeofboutiquestores,cafésandrestaurants,abrewery,museumsandgalleries. Here you have time to enjoy lunch at yourleisure before we continue onto Beechworth and avisittothehistoricHeritageCourtHouse,theOldGaoland the many charming shops and landmarks in thisdelightfuloldgold-miningtown.

We return to the train for some down time beforetransferringtotheiconicAllSaintswineryintherichwine-makinghubofRutherglen.Setamongstoneofthemostspectacular vineyard settings in Australia, the historicestateisamust-seedestinationforwineandfoodlovers.Enjoywinetastingandaqualitythree-coursedinnerbycandle-lightinthe‘CellarRoom’beforereturningtotheSouthernAuroraforanightcapintheloungecarsandagentleovernightjourneytoMelbourne.(B/D)

Day 3 - TueSDay 3 november (b/D)

AfterbreakfastinthediningcarswetransferbycoachdirecttoFlemingtonRacecourse.Thedaygetsunderwaywiththefirstof10racesstartingmidmorning.Ourdualpackagemakes iteasywithaccess to the fashionable‘Precinct’areaandreservedseatinginthe‘Lawn-Stand’.

Located opposite the winning post, the Lawn StandoffersspectacularviewsofFlemingtonracecourseandMelbourne’s city skyline. The Precinct is the perfectplace for racegoers looking to immerse themselves inthesocialatmospherethattheMelbourneCupCarnivalisrenownedfor.

ThePrecinctisanoutdoorenclosureinarelaxedsettingamidst market tables, chairs and umbrellas with allmanner of amenities including live entertainment andasuper-screenviewof themorning races.Aselectionof take-away and gourmet refreshments are availableforpurchasenearbyandifyou’refeelinglucky,bettingfacilitiesandbookmakerarealsoathand.Racecourseadmissionandaracebookareincluded.There’splentyof time and space to soak up the excitement— andyou’llhaveagreatvantagepointforthebigrace.

The celebration continues back on the train with asumptuous dinner as we begin the journey along themainlinetowardNSW.Thiseveningwillalsoshowcaseaselectionofwinesfortastingpriortoyourmainmealandwecanexpect toberoundingofftheeveningwithtalltalesofvariouswinnersandlosersintheloungecars.

Day 4 - WeDneSDay 4 november (b)

The Southern Highlands in all its Spring splendourrollsbyasweenjoyourfullbreakfast.Notlongafterthecitycomesintoviewwe’llbesayingourfarewellsto new found friends and crew. You can expect tobe pulling into Central around 11.00am concludingafullandfunadventureonthe“TheMelbourneCupCarnivalExpress”.

Tour PrICe: $2475

InCLuSIonS:

• 3nightsaccommodationintwinshareorsinglecompartments• Fullbreakfasteachmorninginthediningcars.• 2dinnersonboardthetrainand1dinneratAllSaintswinery• Lawn-stand and The Precinct ticket to the Emirates

MelbourneCupDay,racebookincluded• WinetastingsatAllSaintsandonboardthetrain.

TheEmiratesMelbourneCupIs the crowning glory of theMelbourneCupCarnival and thepinnacleoftheAustralianracingcalendar.Eachyearthousandsof racegoers flock to Flemington to watch the best stayinghandicap in theworld andwitness history in themaking as anew legend is born and the winning connections bestowedAustralia’smostfamoussportingtrophy.Itreallyisthe‘racethatstopsanation™’.

NoteAs the stand isuncovered, it is subject toweather conditionsso it is recommended that racegoers dress appropriately andbringalongtherequiredprotectioneg:sunscreen,wetweatherclothing etc.A smart dress code applies to all Precinct ticketholdersandasitisanoutdoorenclosureaswell,itissubjecttoweatherconditions.

The SouThern aurora

TheSouthernAuroraisaniconofAustralia’srailwaystory,morethan 50 years old and still going strong. It originally operatedbetweenMelbourneandSydneyandfirstranon16April1962asthepremiertrainforthenewstandardgaugelinelinkingthetwocitiesinthatyear.Builtasanallfirst-classsleeperserviceitincludedsilver-serviceinthediningcarsandbarfacilitiesintheloungecars.Itlastranon2ndAugust1986andwastransferredtomuseumgroups forpreservation. Ithasbeenmaintained inoperationalconditioneversince.

Today the train is operated by Transport Heritage NSW andmanaged by staff and volunteers at ‘Trainworks’, the statespremier rail heritage Museum at Thirlmere and is hauled byheritagediesellocomotivesfromthemuseumscollection.Muchortheoriginal1960’sdesignofTheSouthernAurorahasbeenretainedandthepreservationofthetraininitsoriginalstyleis an important part of the museum’s agenda. There are twoDiningCarswithbusygalleykitchensandtwoloungecarswithfullbarserviceforsocialisingandrelaxation.

Privateseatingandsleepingaccommodationisprovidedintwotypesofcoaches.

1. Twinettes,forcouples;featurealongseatfordayuseandintheeveningtheseatfoldsdowntoformthelowerbunkandanupperbunkfoldsdownfromthewallabove.Thereisasmallen-suitewithafolddownbasinandtoiletunitandashower.Limitedhangingandstoragespaceisprovidedandspaceunder the seat for luggage. Teaandcoffeemakingfacilitiesareprovidedattheendofthecoach.

2. Romettes,forsingletravellers;featureaseatfordayusethatfoldsdownto formabed forovernightuse.Thecompactroomalsohas a small basin/toilet unit. A shower room isprovidedattheendofthecoachalongwithteaandcoffeemakingfacilities.Thereislimitedhangingandstoragespaceabove,besideandbelowtheseat.

NBThetrainispartofaheritagecollectionandismaintainedinitsoriginalcondition.Itisnotarefitted“luxury”trainbutoffersastyleoftravelthatisauthentic,charmingandcomfortable.

ThIS Tour IS oPeraTeD by GuIDePoST TourS, a DIvISIon of SCT TraveL GrouP In ConjunCTIon with Scott McGreGor’S railway adventureS