ITINERARY

DAY 1 | WEDNESDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2027

1ST OF 4 NIGHTS AT HOTEL SHAMROCK, BENDIGO

MELBOURNE CITY AND MELBOURNE AIRPORT, TO BENDIGO (D):

Guests are collected by private air-conditioned coach. The coach will make one stop in Melbourne’s city centre at 12:00pm and a second stop at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport at 12:45pm.

From Melbourne Airport we travel to Bendigo by private coach. The journey takes approximately two hours.

On arrival in Bendigo we check into Hotel Shamrock, a grand 19th-century hotel. The hotel is conveniently situated in the city centre on Pall Mall.

We gather in the early evening to meet our Tour Leader, Graham Abbott, who will introduce the tour and this evening’s concert. Together we enjoy a delicious dinner, and before the evening concert we attend the festival’s VIP welcome drinks function.

We then attend the Opening Gala of the Bendigo Chamber Music Festival at the Capital Theatre. The Capital Theatre, built in 1873, is a unique piece of Bendigo's heritage, providing a modern stage and state of the art technical facilities in a magnificent auditorium featuring ornate Victorian plaster-work and recently refurbished seating.

DAY 2 | THURSDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2027

2ND OF 4 NIGHTS AT HOTEL SHAMROCK, BENDIGO

BENDIGO CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL (B):

We start the day with a private In-Conversation hosted by Tour Leader Genevieve Lang with cellists and Co-Directors of the Festival, Chris Howlett and Howard Penny. Chris and Howard will discuss the festival program with Genevieve Lang, and following the In-Conversation, Genevieve will give an introduction to today’s performances.

Following this private event, we enjoy a full day at the Bendigo Chamber Music Festival attending first the Morning Recital.

Time is allowed for lunch after the recital. In the early afternoon we attend our first Inside and Out Conversation Concert. Following the concert, you might like to stroll back to the hotel, or take a walk through the beautiful Rosalind Park and Conservatory Gardens.

In the early evening we enjoy the first Dusk Series concert at the Beehive Building Bendigo. The Beehive Building, also known for a time as the Sandhurst Mining Exchange, is a 19th-century building located on the historic thoroughfare of Pall Mall in the centre of Bendigo.

We then attend our second Evening Concert at the Capital Theatre.

DAY 3 | FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2027

3RD OF 4 NIGHTS AT HOTEL SHAMROCK, BENDIGO

BENDIGO CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL (B, D):

Our second full day at the festival begins with a talk by Genevieve Lang about today’s performances. After this we have the exclusive opportunity of attending a rehearsal by festival musicians.

We then attend the Morning Recital and afterwards time is allowed for lunch.

In the early afternoon we attend our second Inside and Out Conversation Concert.

In the early evening we attend our second Dusk Series concert at the Ulumbarra Theatre. ‘Ulumburra’ means ‘gather together’ or ‘meeting place’ in the language of the local Dja Dja Wurrung people. The building cleverly combines the heritage-listed 1860s penitentiary architecture of the Sandhurst Gaol and contemporary design.

Prior to the evening concert, we enjoy a private dinner with musicians who are performing in the festival. We then attend our third Evening Concert in the Capital Theatre.

DAY 4 | SATURDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2027

4TH OF 4 NIGHTS AT HOTEL SHAMROCK, BENDIGO

BENDIGO CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL (B, L):

Our final full day at the festival begins with a talk by Tour Leader, Genevieve Lang. We attend the Morning Recital, and then enjoy a special long lunch organised by the festival.

Following lunch, the afternoon is free. Guests have the option of attending the festival’s Community Concert, or they might like to do some exploration of Bendigo. Guests might be interested to visit the Golden Dragon Museum. Chinese heritage is a significant part of Bendigo's cultural identity. From the goldrushes of the 1850s large numbers of Chinese people arrived and settled in Australia. The Golden Dragon Museum has a rich collection of objects, textiles, photographs, documents and oral histories, including what is believed to be one of the oldest and longest imperial dragons in the world.

In the early evening we attend the final Dusk Series concert, and then the final Evening Concert at the Capital Theatre.

DAY 5 | SUNDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2027

BENDIGO TO MELBOURNE AIRPORT AND MELBOURNE CITY (B, L):

In the morning we have the final talk by Tour Leader, Genevieve Lang, and following this we attend the festival’s Farewell Concert presented in the Capital Theatre.

Following the concert, we enjoy lunch together and then travel by private air-conditioned coach to Melbourne. The coach will make one stop at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport at approximately 4:30pm and a second stop in Melbourne’s city centre at approximately 5:15pm.

INCLUSIONS

3–7 FEBRUARY 2027 (5 DAYS)

AUD$XXX PER PERSON TWIN SHARE

Single supplement: AUD$XXX
Deposit payment 1: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due at time of booking)
Deposit payment 2: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due on 3 October 2026)
Final payment due: 1 December 2026

INCLUSIONS:

• Performances: Platinum Festival Pass to the Bendigo Chamber Music Festival. This includes access to 13 performances in addition to an optional Community Concert.

• Tour Leader: Tour Leadership and private talks about the music by Genevieve Lang.

• Tour Manager: An experienced Tour Manager to accompany the group throughout the tour.

• Exclusive Experiences: Exclusive experiences including sitting in on a rehearsal, attending a private In-Conversation with the Co-Directors of the festival and attending an exclusive pre-concert dinner with musicians performing in the festival.

• Hotel: Four nights' accommodation at the centrally located Hotel Shamrock Bendigo.

• Travel: Land travel by private air-conditioned coach from Melbourne to Bendigo on 3 February 2027 and from Bendigo to Melbourne on 7 February 2027. Please note that journeys between performance venues will be by foot.

• Meals/Drinks: Breakfast each morning at the hotel. Two dinners and two lunches with wine, water and tea/coffee.

• Entry Fees and Guided Tours: Entrance fees for museums, art galleries etc. as stated in your itinerary. Expert local guides at some sites.

• Tips: Tips for drivers, local guides and meals included in your itinerary.

• Information Pack: Comprehensive pre-tour information pack.

EXCLUSIONS:

• International/Domestic Travel: Hayllar Music Tours can provide you with a quote. Phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 (0) 2 9669 9181 or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com

• Travel Insurance: Please note that travel insurance is recommended for tours within Australia. Hayllar Music Tours can organise your travel insurance for you. Please contact them at phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 (0) 2 9669 9181 or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com

• Meals: Lunches and dinners not nominated in your itinerary.

• Personal Expenses: Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and mini-bar.

• Activities in Free Time: Costs associated with any activities suggested for you in your free time.

SMALL GROUP SIZE

The tour will operate with 8 people. The maximum number on the tour will be 20 people.

FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED - Level 1

For the benefit of the tour group, all members of the tour must have the ability to:

• negotiate airports and railway stations without wheelchair assistance;

• use a combined shower/bath (please note that we cannot guarantee walk-in shower facilities at all hotels);

• embark / disembark coaches without assistance;

• handle your own luggage (where porterage services are unavailable).

BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

Please note that booking terms and conditions apply. Click here for the booking terms and conditions.

BENDIGO CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL