Wings & Wine Weekend Escape View Basket

Sydney - Bathurst - Temora - Griffith - Canberra - Sydney

4-6 April, 2014

Escape aboard the iconic Southern Aurora sleeper train on a unique adventure through southern NSW. Your on-board excursion celebrates the creativity of regional winemakers with dinners and functions showcasing their vintages. Be enthralled by a special airshow of rare war birds at Temora’s famous aviation museum and explore the rail, war and art museums of Canberra in one entertaining weekend rail cruise. Savour the toasting and tasting in the long shadows and deep colours of country sunsets on the last weekend of daylight saving. Mid-autumn is an ideal time in the bush for cruising through the countryside in one of our truly great trains.

Highlights

• Sunset banquet in Bathurst
• Wine makers reception in Griffith
• ‘Liquid Geography’ lunch in Canberra
• War birds air-show in Temora
• Rail, War and Art museums in the ACT
• Fine dining and bar on board the Aurora
• Cosy overnight sleeper accommodation

Your Tour Leaders

Scott McGregor has been involved in the media for over 30 years as an actor, presenter, writer and producer. Graduating from NIDA in 1979, he appeared in a wide range of stage, film and TV roles and has presented and hosted numerous prime-time ratings winners including two series of his own Railway Adventures. He is currently working on his third book, Railway Revolutions, and operates 'Ruwenzori' - his Orient Express style tourist retreat near Mudgee, NSW. His travel company, Railway Adventures, is an extension of many years of leading memorable railway journeys around the world.

Jeff Watson works as a freelance journalist, film maker and writer; his area of expertise is aviation, with special interest in the extraordinary people within that world. He is a familiar face from more than 40 years work in the media and is well know for his presenting of Beyond 2000, Getaway, 60 minutes and Four Corners, just to name a few. His many documentaries include Spitfire Over Australia, Curtiss Kittyhawk, The Ansett Story, Qantas: 50 years of QF1 and the doco drama The Last Plane Out Of Berlin. Jeff’s books include Heads I Win, The Best of Travellers Tales and a biography of Clive Caldwell, Killer Caldwell: Australia’s Greatest Fighter Pilot. Jeff has been a trustee of the Powerhouse Museum and an Australia day Ambassador. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, an honorary member of the Spitfire Association of the RAAF and Patron of the Australian Air League.

David Lowe has been making, appreciating and promoting wine for more than 35 years. He began work at Rothbury and progressed to become Chief Winemaker. In 2000 David established Lowe Winery in Mudgee. A pioneering ‘flying’ winemaker with a penchant for Bordeaux, David is also a wine consultant and an accredited wine show judge. He has been the recipient of many industry awards, trophies and medals, including Best Zinfandel at the 2003 International Wine Challenge and the Qantas Cup for the Best Australian Chardonnay (1985). Lowe’s 2009 Zinfandel was awarded the ‘Wine of the Show’ at the 2011 Australia / New Zealand Organic Wine Show. He is a prominent wine industry advocate and holds several key positions including Vice President of the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia, Vice President of the NSW Wine Industry Association and President of the Mudgee Wine Grape Growers Association.

What's Included

• 2 nights accommodation in twin share or single compartments
• All meals and morning and afternoon teas
• Complimentary wine and beer with evening meals, and Sunday lunch
• All museum and gallery entrances.