Coach and Mini bus tours

Picturesque Picton

Arrive in Picton in time for morning tea at a local park where our guide will join the coach.  When ready, the coach will depart for a tour of historic Picton sites while hearing stories of its early characters.

The first land grant in the area, "Jarvisfield," sets the scene in the district.  Travel on to the railway and hear of the difficulties of railway construction through the hilly terrain to continue the Great South Line.  View the Station Master's residence and the Fur and Feather Factory before continuing to the 1839 Georg IV Inn, then be amazed by the engineering feat of the Stonequarry Viaduct.  Nestled in the surrounding hills, Picton affords pleasing views and a friendly village atmosphere.

Complete the tour by viewing many early buildings and churches.  Lunch can be arranged at a local venue to suit your budget.  Picton tours have two options, a two and a half hour tour, or extend your visit to a leisurely full day.



English Villages of the Southern Highlands

Meet your guide at the Mittagong Visitor Information Centre before proceding to morning tea at Lake Alexander or Winnifred West park.  Climb the Mittagong Range and follow the ridgeline for wonderful views as we pass many of the stud farms for which the area is famous.  Stop in your choice of village and stroll the main street, hearing stories of the pioneers of the area or visit a typical country church.  This tour travels through very scenic country with little walking.  Options for the afternoon include a walkig tour of historic Berrima or wend your way through historic Bowral, viewing Bradman Oval and the streets where Ginger Meggs was filmed.  Lunch can be arranged at your choice of local venue.



Colonial Campbelltown

This full day tour of colonial Campbelltown includes a gentle stroll along historic Queen Street to view the fine heritage precinct.  Stories of Campbelltown's pioneers & Fisher's Ghost will entertain as we visit the Cattle Tanks, the last works in NSW to be built by convict labour, Holly Lea, St Johns or St Peters churches and the Warby barns.  Entry to Glen Alvin, a fine example of a colonial Georgian home is recommended.



Parramatta Heritage Tour

Spend a full day exploring Parramatta's cultural heritage sites and buildings with a local historian and accredited guide.  Visit your choice of twelve historic sites plus entry to one historic property e.g. Old Government House, Elizabeth Farm or Hambledon Cottage.  A street tour with lively commentary about this city known as, "The cradle of the nation," can include Lake Parramatta Reserve and the Female Factory (convict womens gaol) A cathedral visit can also be arranged.  Lunches arranged at a choice of local venues to suit your budget. 
Parramatta is the best kept secret of all Greater Sydney Toursim sites.



Sacred Spaces Tour

Join this tour for an insight into a variety of cultures and religions as we visit diverse churches and temples throughout western Sydney.  Visit your choice of Hindu, Lao, Kmer, Chinese and Vietnamese Temples.  Dutch, Russian Orthodox and Croation cultural spaces also available.  Visit four places throughout the day and take a scenic frive past others.  Bring a camera to capture intricate temple carvings.
Tour protocols:
Be prepared to remove shoes to enter some temples.
Modest clothing required - no shorts or bare midriffs.

Death or Liberty Tour!

Take part in the Battle of Vinegar Hill!
Receive a name tag and become a redcoat, rebel or settler as we follow the footsteps of the uprising throughout the day.  We will visit all the relevant rebellion sites and learn of "your" part in the uprising and the consequences of taking part.  An unusual interactive tour which travels through four local government areas from Castle Hill to Vinegar Hill.  Understand the desperation of the rebels, vulnerability of the settlers and military skills of the redcoats.



Windsor in Flood and Fire

The years 1864 and 1874 saw the town of Windsor and the Hawkesbury area fall victim to two equally devastating disasters, flood and fire.  In this full say tour, follow the line of the 1864 flood, visiting sites of flood, refuge and drownings as your guide explains the flood and its aftermath.  In the afternoon stroll the streets of Windsor, ravaged by the 1874 fire, hearing tales of heroism and pathos experienced by Hawkesbury pioneers.



Head for the Hills!

Visit the newest attraction the in Hills District, Bella Vista Farm Park, (see next entry below) which was known as Elizabeth Macarthur's Seven Hills Farm before ownership by the Pearce family brought it to fame as the most productive orange orchard in the colony.  View the main house and seven slab farm outbuildings, milking bails etc.  Continue along the Northern Road to Heritage Park, scene of a major convict uprising before lunching at one of the many venues in the Hills.  After lunch visit one of the many garden centres for which the area is noted.  Other entries available.

Bella Vista Farm Park 

Bella Vista Farm Park is a largely intact farm of great cultural significance.  It was an area continuously farmed on the Cumberland Plain between 1799 and 1974.  It has historic association with the establishment of the wool industry in Australia during its ownership by John and Elizabeth Macarthur between 1801 and 1820.

The farm was reputedly the largest and most successful citrus orchard in the colony while in the hands of the Pearce family.

Included in the tour are:

• · Bella Vista Homestead
• · Kitchen Wing and schoolroom
• · Slab buildings – the farm shop
• · Fitzgerald’s cottage and coachhouse
• · The barn and implement shed
• · The stables and packing shed

Bella Vista can be visited as a component of a whole day tour of the Hills Shire, (Prices on Application) or as a 2 hour tour for groups of 10 or more.


Ghost & Gothic Tours
Whispering Bones

The Original St John’s Cemetery Tour. By day or by night. Come if you dare.

Walk with the spirits of colonial pioneers

Visit the graves of murderers and missionaries, convicts and criminals. Be enthralled with surprising true tales of strange happenings in early Parramatta;

• Whose bodies were carried to the grave by the chain gang?
• Why was a funeral held for a leg?
• How and where were suicides buried?
• Which woman killed a policeman and who was Miss Sportly?

All will be revealed on this tour

Tours run on the second Friday of each month and cost $25.00. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a torch. Supper included. Bookings essential

Three cemeteries available for tours by day or night at any time by appointment.  St Johns Cemetery (above)  All Saints where those on the fringes of society were buried, lunatics, orphans & servants.  St Patricks, the oldest Catholic cemetery in Australia with a very Irish character.

Female Factory Tour
(Convict Women’s Gaol)

Take a gentle stroll around the exterior of the Female Factory Buildings.

Walk in the footsteps of female convicts as you visit their place of incarceration.  Hear stories of prisoners noted as “These most licentious women, the very dregs of Society”

Be moved from pathos to laughter by their antics.  Explore their lifestyle, escapes and riots.  What were their crimes?

A powerful story of women’s place in history.  Are their spirits still there?

Tours run on the forth Friday of each month and cost $20.00 Wear comfortable closed shoes and bring a torch. Tour available for groups any time, by day or by night, bookings essential

Walk the Wicked Waterfront. (Sydney)

Take a gentle 2 – 2 ½ hour stroll around Sydney’s waterfront and hear chilling tales of sites, crimes and characters.

Including

• · The Brown Bear Lane Murder
• · The Amorous Dentist
• · An Assassination attempt on the Astronomer
• · Captain Longmuir pickled in a barrel of spirits
• · Battling Ships off Campbell’s Wharves
• · The Eccentric “Flying Pieman”
• · The Parramatta River Murders
• · And much, much more…..

By Day or Night, Wear Walking Shoes, This walk includes stairs.  Cost $20.00


For bookings contact Past Times Tours

(02) 9686 6861
pasttimestours@optusnet.com.au