Phil Dudman is a horticulturist, designer, writer and broadcaster. His recent book, ‘Down-to-Earth Garden Design’ characterizes Phil’s approach to gardening; easy, straight-forward, and never complicated. Phil is a seasoned traveller too, having travelled extensively across Australia, Europe and Asia in search of great sites, great food, great people and of course great gardens. Following short stints in architecture and business and a few years fronting a Sydney rock ‘n’ roll band, he finally succumbed to his true horticultural calling in his late 20’s. In the past 30 years, Phil has contributed to many of Australia’s leading gardening magazines, written three books for ABC Books and worked as a TV presenter on channel nine’s Garden Gurus. He is also the host of ABC Radio’s Good Gardening program. Phil is looking forward to meeting you.
We enjoyed the entertaining and informative presentations given by Phil on the coach and during garden visits.
I had met Phil previously and knew that he would be a good leader with his laid back down to earth style.
VIEW ITINERARYDAY 1 Monday 11 March, 2024 Mornington
On arrival at Melbourne Airport, no later than 1.00 pm, we
will be met by our private coach and driven through the
picturesque countryside to the Mornington Peninsula. A
welcome dinner is included this evening for tour members
to get to know one another. Phil Dudman will outline the
activities and program of the tour.
DAY 2 Tuesday 12 March, 2024 Mornington
Today we travel to visit some of the best gardens in
Australia. Our first visit is to Heronswood Gardens, home
of the Diggers Club and our first Diggers Foundation
garden. In 2011 the Blazey’s gifted ownership of the
Diggers Club to the Diggers Foundation, which strives
to conserve historic gardens, buildings and to protect
heirloom seeds. We will have lunch at the Fork to Fork
restaurant, where the vegetables and fruits served include
heirloom selections picked straight from the gardens. This
is followed by a tour of the gardens and a stroll through
Diggers nursery and gift shop to browse their large range
of heirloom vegetables, flowers, and fruit plants for
sale. In the afternoon we will visit the Garden Vineyard,
featured in Monte Don’s Around the World in 80 Gardens.
The garden incorporates walled gardens and gorgeous
perennial borders. Phil and the tour manager will meet
those wishing to have dinner together in the lobby.
DAY 3 Wednesday 13 March, 2024 Mornington
Our first visit today is to Dame Elisabeth Murdoch’s garden
of Cruden Farm. The star attraction is the main driveway,
which features over 100 established lemon scented gum
trees. In truth, there are many gardens to enjoy, each one
different in style, plantings, and mood. Each area was
carefully planned by Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and Michael
Morrison. To this day Michael is still implementing Dame
Elisabeth’s long-term plans for various areas across the
garden. The Picking Garden truly reflects the changing
seasons at Cruden Farm and during spring, summer and
autumn is alive with thousands of blooms and glorious
colour. Where food was once grown, as the children left
home, Dame Elisabeth replaced fruit and vegetables with
more and more blooms. The Walled Garden, originally
designed by influential Australian landscape designer Edna
Walling, has undergone changes since it was first planted
out in the early 1930s. We continue with a visit to The
Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. Phil will take us on
an exploration of the spectacular landscape which has a
dramatic red sand garden, rock pool waterways, eucalypt
walk and exhibition gardens all featuring Australian plants.
Day 4 Thursday 14 March, 2024 Daylesford
This morning we visit Karkalla, the two-acre private garden
of celebrated landscape designer Fiona Brockhoff. Fiona
specializes in naturalistic landscapes that incorporate
low maintenance drought tolerant plants both native and
exotic. There will be many useful ideas for us to take home
from her gorgeous garden. We continue to Daylesford for
our four-night stay. We have free time on arrival to explore
Daylesford’s array of boutique shops.
DAY 5 Friday 15 March, 2024 Daylesford
This morning we visit St Erth our second Diggers
Foundation garden. We will see beds full of hardy
perennials and incredible edibles grown with Diggers
heirloom seeds. We will have free time for lunch before
we travel to visit Marilyn’s Wildflowers near Bendigo. It is
a 4ha property with 2ha of Australian wildflowers used
for floristry. It is in a garden style borrowing the natural
landscape of the Box Ironbark Forest as a background.
The backbone of the garden is local native plants with
many stunning grafted wildflowers from W.A. including
Qualup Bells, Verticordias, Darwinias and Boronias.
There is also a vegetable garden and orchard and a small
nursery. This evening Phil will meet those wishing to dine
with the group.
DAY 6 Saturday 16 March, 2024 Daylesford
Our first visit this morning is Lambley, the wonderful
garden of acclaimed plantsman David Glen. Situated
around an old farmhouse in the hot dry windswept plains
of the Central Victorian Goldfields, it features a wide
range of colourful, frost and drought hardy plants and is
a vibrant showcase of Glen’s clever design abilities. The
extensive organic veggie garden includes trial gardens
for vegetables and flowers. In the afternoon we visit the
Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Founded in 1858, it covers
an area of forty hectares divided into three distinct
zones with a central area preserving the ‘Gardenesque’
style of the Victorian pleasure garden. Located on the
western shore of picturesque Lake Wendouree, is the
conservatory, a highlight of the gardens that is full of
spectacular begonias. Later in the afternoon we’ll have
free time to enjoy Ballarat’s ornate architecture, fine
regional art gallery and coffee shops.
DAY 7 Sunday 17 March, 2024 Daylesford
This morning we will travel to Macedon to visit several
gardens. We first visit Duneira Estate. This unusual
and remarkable 15.4 hectare property and garden was
purchased in the 1870s by Suetonius Officer and are
considered to be of ‘outstanding cultural significance’
by the National Trust of Australia; several of the trees
are listed on the Register of Significant Trees of Victoria.
We continue to Shepherds Bush. At 870 metres above
sea level, Shepherd’s Bush is a 1.5 hectare garden
and is the highest residence on the mountain. The
garden showcases many cold climate plants including
rhododendrons, maples, conifers, viburnums and
dogwoods. We continue with a visit to Stephen Ryan’s
garden. Meander through the woodland plantings,
stumble across the circular lawn complete with orchard
and neighbouring vegetable garden and enjoy the pond
with nearby ‘Cluckingham Palace’ which houses the
ducks and chickens. After free time for lunch, we visit
Simon Rickard’s garden. Fighting the urge to become
a mere collector, Simon has attempted to wrestle his
eclectic botanical tastes into a coherent, composed
garden. Full of exuberant colour, flowers, foliage plants,
and exotic rarities from around the world, Simon’s garden
aims to challenge and inspire visitors. We return to our
hotel late afternoon.
DAY 8 Monday 18 March, 2024 Melbourne
Today we travel to the Dandenong Ranges to visit two
stunning gardens. We first visit Cloudehill, our third
Diggers Foundation garden. A maze of stone walls and
jewel-like garden rooms are set within woodlands of
historic cool climate trees. We will have an included
lunch here as the food is as good as the gorgeous views.
In the afternoon, we travel to the Dandenong Ranges
Botanic Garden. In 2013, Phillip Johnson and Wes
Fleming’s Trailfinders ‘Australian Garden’ exhibit became
the first ever Australian entry to win Best Garden at the
Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show. This
‘Australian Garden’ has been re-created on over 7,000
square meters of previously unused space for locals and
visitors to enjoy in the Dandenong Ranges. We continue
to our hotel in Melbourne.
DAY 9 Tuesday 19 March, 2024 Melbourne
This morning we travel to visit the house and garden
of Rippon Lea. Now owned by the National Trust the
house was completed in 1868 for Frederick Sargood. He
moved in with his wife and nine surviving children and
seventeen staff. Sargood was a keen gardener with a
particular interest in orchids and ferns. During our visit
we walk through the arched, cast-iron lattice work to
enter the wonderful 19th century fernery, which contains
rare and native ferns. We continue to the Melbourne
Botanic Gardens which covers 36 hectares. We will visit
Guilfoyle’s Volcano. Built in 1876 as a water storage
for the gardens, it was recently restored as part of a
landscape development project. It has commanding
views of the city and showcases low water use plants.
Boardwalks and a viewing platform give visitors an
opportunity to explore this remarkable feature of
Melbourne Botanic Gardens. The remainder of the
afternoon is free for sightseeing or shopping.
DAY 10 Wednesday 20 March, 2024 Melbourne
Today we visit the Melbourne International Flower and
Garden Show, the biggest and best show of its type in the
Southern Hemisphere and ranked in the top five flower
shows in the world. Floral displays fill the world heritagelisted
Royal Exhibition Building and the surrounding
Carlton Gardens. Around the building are landscape
displays created by some of Australia’s most talented
landscape designers. Phil will give those interested a
tour of the display gardens – pointing out elements used
by the designers that we can incorporate in our own
backyards. While keen gardeners will want to spend all
day at the show, others may also take time to visit the
adjacent Melbourne Museum. This evening we will have
dinner at a nearby restaurant to say goodbye to Phil and
other tour members.
DAY 11 Thursday 21 March, 2024 Departure
The morning is free for individual activity. We travel to
the airport about noon for a flight home and the tour
concludes.
| TWIN FARE PER PERSON | SINGLE FARE |
|---|---|
| $5,550 | $6,049 |
Touring can involve a considerable amount of walking and stair climbing in the places visited and it is important that all tour participants have a level of physical fitness that allows them to take part in this activity without the need of assistance from others.
Tour Operator: Travelrite International Pty Ltd. (ABN 64 005 817 078) (Travelrite) is the tour operator.
Tour Costs: The tour costs are based on airfare, general transport, accommodation costs and foreign exchange rate at 14 March 2023. Travelrite reserves the right to alter the costs if any of these factors change, giving any passenger that has booked the right to withdraw with a full refund of monies paid or modify arrangements. No alterations to price will be made within 60 days of departure from Australia.
Deposit and Payments: A deposit of $750 per passenger is required at the time of booking. Full payment will be required 62 days before departure of the Garden Tour. A 1.5% administration fee will be charged on payment by credit card.
Cancellation Conditions: Cancellations within 62 days of departure will result in the loss of all monies paid. Cancellation outside 62 days from departure will result in a cancellation fee of $750 per person.
Travel Insurance:
Travel insurance is recommended to cover the
costs of cancellation fees due to illness, death in family, etc.
Minimum Tour Numbers and Conditions:
The tour has
been priced on the basis of a minimum number of passengers
having booked 60 days prior to departure. Travelrite reserves the
right to cancel the tour, giving a full refund of all monies paid or
offer arrangements to proceed with the tour at a modified cost.
Travelrite reserves the right to change advertised entrances if
necessary for the smooth operation of the tour.
Refunds:
The tour is based on arrangements, which do not allow
for any refunds in respect to sightseeing, accommodation, meals,
airfare or other services not utilized after the tour has commenced.
Tour Participation:
Children under 5 years of age are ineligible on coach & cruise tours. Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Passengers with disabilities are welcome on Travelrite & Cruise Offers tours provided they are accompanied by a companion capable of providing all necessary assistance, and do not require special assistance from Travelrite & Cruise Offers personnel. Travelrite and Cruise Offers reserves the right to refuse to carry anyone if it is felt the individual cannot cope with the requirements of coach & cruise tour travel and who may require services and facilities that Travelrite & Cruise Offers cannot guarantee will be available. You agree to not hold the Travelrite & Cruise Offers responsible for any decision made by any of them or any service provider to refuse to carry you, provide any facilities or accommodation to you or to provide any service to you.
Responsibilities: Travelrite International Pty Ltd is the tour organiser. Travelrite acts only as agents in the making of arrangements with carriers, hoteliers and others for the tour. As a result we cannot accept liability for any act or omission whatsoever, whether negligent or otherwise of those carriers, hoteliers or other persons providing services in connection with the tour over whom we have no direct or exclusive control. We do not accept responsibility for any injury, damage, loss, delay, change of schedule or any other events which are beyond our direct control, such as, but not limited to, war, flood, fire, civil disturbance, terrorism, acts of god, acts of Government, or any other authorities, accidents to or failure of machinery or equipment, or industrial action. Baggage is at own risk throughout the tour. The contract shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Victoria, Australia and any legal action must be undertaken in Victoria.
Delays and unforseen events::
You engage Travelrite to book this tour on your behalf and you acknowledge that Travelrite acts as your agent for the purpose of making contracts between you and the various providers of accommodation, transportation and other services that comprise the tour. Travelrite may without reference to you provide or make available to you, or may as your agent engage any third party to provide or make available to you, any good or service which Travelrite reasonably believes is necessary for your benefit to maintain the tour itinerary, repatriate you or otherwise accommodate, transport or sustain you in circumstances in which the tour itinerary fails wholly or partly for any reason. You appoint Travelrite your attorney for this purpose. You agree to pay Travelrite any cost thereof and you indemnify Travelrite in respect of any cost it incurs in this regard. Travelrite advises you to obtain travel insurance generally including in respect of the risk that any such good or service may become required.
How to Book: Bookings can be made by sending full names and addresses of intending tour members with a deposit of $750 for the garden tour.Please send to:
Travelrite International Pty Ltd
423 Whitehorse Road Balwyn, Victoria 3103
Further information or a booking form can be obtained by telephoning Travelrite International on the following numbers:
Toll Free: 1800 630 343
Telephone (03) 8803 6868
Email balwyn@travelrite.com.au
https://www.travelrite.com.au/
About Travelrite International: Travelrite International Pty Ltd (ABN 64 005 817 078) is a well-established travel company which has been marketing throughout Australia for over 40 years and operating in Victoria for more than 43 years. It has an ATAS accredited offices at Balwyn, which is also accredited with IATA. As such they directly represent the major airlines of the world and all major domestic and international hotel, tour and transport operators. Travelrite International Pty Ltd is a full member of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents – AFTA.
“The whole tour was wonderful and the group was a good mix of personality. The gardens visited were interesting and varied.”
“Very enjoyable. Good mix of people in the group.”
