Victoria’s fine country gardens at the peak
spring flush. Meet the gardeners behind each masterwork. See old favourites and
cutting edge new gardens. It’s a gentle road around rural Victoria with
generous hospitality and glorious gardens

.DAY 1  THU 7 NOV

HOME TO MELBOURNE

Meet your Ross Tour leader at Sydney Domestic
Airport for your flight to Melbourne. Or meet up in Melbourne. We’ll head off
to Cranbourne Botanic Gardens, a showcase of Australian flora that will give us
a whole new appreciation of our unique Aussie plants; all designed with
contemporary flair. See the whole garden in the comfort of the Garden Explorer
Bus. Drive down the Mornington Peninsula and check into the Flinders Hotel for
four nights. Welcome dinner included tonight.

Flinders Hotel, Flinders

DAY 2  FRI 8 NOV

HERONSWOOD GARDEN

We are heading to Heronswood this morning, the
home of Diggers Seeds, showcasing flowers and plants for Australian conditions.
The garden changes throughout the year with inspiring planting combinations of
perennials and heirloom vegetables. Lunch will be served in the historic
Heronswood House built in 1864.

Flinders Hotel, Flinders

DAY 3 SAT 9 NOV

 BROUGHTON HALL

Two private gardens today will challenge your
ideas of what a garden means. Each garden sits comfortably in its own special
‘space’. Meet the owners and learn the ‘how and why’, of each of the
gardens.Generous hospitality raises the bar and makes this a happy and
comfortable experience.

Flinders Hotel, Flinders

DAY 4  SUN 10 NOV

CRUDEN FARM

Cruden Farm this morning, one of Australia’s
most iconic and beautiful country gardens; the garden and beloved former home
of the late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch. Lunch is included today. Travel back to
Flinders to visit a romantic and contemporary coastal garden that will
challenge your ideas of what a garden really means.

Flinders Hotel, Flinders

DAY 5  MON 11 NOV

FLINDERS TO BALLARAT

Catch the morning ferry from Sorrento to
Queenscliff then take the Great Ocean Road to a unique coastal garden created
by landscape designer Peter Shaw. Peter is widely admired for his coastal
landscapes that are distinctively Australian. Travel on to Ballarat, one of the
most famous gold-mining towns in Australia.

Craig’s Hotel, Ballarat

DAY 6  TUE 12 NOV

THE STONES & CERES HOMESTEAD

The Stones is the first stop this
morning.Settled by Cornish miners, this historic property dates to 1857. The
current owners took over nine years ago, with little experience gardening in
this land of savage frosts and searing dry summer heat. They learned the
climatic language, and the plant limitations it governed and expanded their
repertoire of plants. The garden suits its unpretentious and visually quiet
surroundings.Next stop is lunch with Jane Charles at Ceres Homestead in
Learmonth. As soon as you enter the estate, you are enveloped in a sense of
history, romance, capture and connection. Jane’s warm welcome and generous
hospitality is legendary. Afternoon visit Clunes, picture perfect gold mining
town from 1851.

Craig’s Hotel, Ballarat

DAY 7  WED 13 NOV

SCARSDALE & BALLARAT BOTANICAL GARDEN

You’ll fall in love with this charming flower
garden at Scarsdale. Plant stands are encrusted with succulents and the garden
is filled with iris, roses and perennials laid out with a magic sense of play.
Next stop is Ballarat’s Botanical Garden, one of Australia’s most significant
cool climate gardens, for a peep into the famous conservatory.

Craig’s Hotel, Ballarat

DAY 8  THU 14 NOV

BABBINGTON PARK

The home and garden of celebrity chef Annie
Smithers, Babbington Park, is our first stop this morning. There’s a lot going
on in this exciting farm and garden. A cute flower farm is next, then Annie
will cook for us our Farewell lunch today at ‘Du Fermier’ in Trentham.

Craig’s Hotel, Ballarat

DAY 9  FRI 15 NOV

BALLARAT TO HOME

The Garden of St Erth is Central Victoria’s
Diggers Club Garden. This secluded garden gem with a carefully curated
collection of cool climate plants and historic orchards. Continue to Melbourne
airport for homeward flights.