All prices quoted are based on a staff to guest ratio of 1 to 4. If you have a higher support need this will be an additional cost. The SHV Terms and Conditions and an Application Form can be downloaded from our website.
Overnight accommodation in Ballarat before and / or after the holiday can be arranged.
Unless otherwise advised all holidays will depart from the Bus Terminal Rubicon Street Redan at 10.30am on the first day of the holiday and arrive back at 4.30pm on the last day of the holiday.
Please note that from 1st July 2010 we are required to add GST to our holidays. The GST amount has been factored into the advertised holiday price.
Train Lovers
Monday 12th to Thursday 15th December
$950 (includes GST)
Price of $900.00 is based on the guest having a free pensioner travel voucher. Fare cost if a travel voucher not available $47.20 Concession Ballarat Albury return Monday morning we depart Ballarat for Melbourne on the Sprinter train. We will then board the CountryLink train to Albury for three nights.
Enjoy a friendly challenge on the pool table or match your skills on the table tennis table. Relax with your friends in the swimming pool, listen to CDs, watch some of the many in-house DVDs and Videos or curl up with a good read from the library, alfresco dining in the huge landscaped pergola.
Queenscliff
Five nights dates to be advised
$1600 (includes GST)
We hope you can join us for this holiday at Queenscliff. Listen to the sound of the ocean as it breaks on the sea shore, swim, collect sea shells, feed the sea gulls, join in a beach cricket game or just relax under an umbrella, the choice will be yours.
Ocean Grove
Five nights dates to be advised
$1600 (includes GST)
Take time out to relax at Ocean Grove, stroll along the beach and feel the sand between your toes, sleep-in if you choose, enjoy BBQs, make new friends and start 2012 with a relaxed, happy holiday.
Werribee Zoo and Slumber Safari
Saturday and Sunday
$630 (includes GST)
Please note this overnight adventure is subject to at least 4 persons booking to participate.
Take a walk on the wild side and see animals roam freely at Werribee Open Range Zoo. The extensive grounds, developed around the picturesque Werribee River, are home to animals from the grasslands of Africa, Asia, North America and Australia.
Discover the sights and sounds of the African savanna as you come face-to-face with magnificent wildlife. Head out on safari across grassy plains where you'll find rhinos, giraffes, zebras and antelopes grazing together on the savanna.
Slumber Safari Saturday. This multi-award-winning accommodation experience allows you to get close to the action of Africa and makes an ideal getaway. Enjoy a rare opportunity to camp overnight with the animals in the comfort of luxurious safari tents. This is truly an unforgettable 'Out-of-Africa' experience.
The fully hosted experience includes up-close animal encounters, a sumptuous African barbecue feast and an evening of fun around the campfire. Sleep in the luxurious canvas safari tents and awake to watch the savannah come to life while enjoying a delicious cooked breakfast.
The Slumber Safari begins at 3.00pm, but we will arrive at Werribee Open Range Zoo earlier in the day to experience the Zoo, before we head to the campsite to immerse ourselves in the sights and sounds of the African savannah. Wake up to the magic of your own Out-of-Africa adventure on an overnight Slumber Safari at Werribee Open Range Zoo.
Hobart Escape
Friday 10th to Monday 13th February
$1320 (includes GST)
Friday morning fly to Hobart and spend the next three days exploring this beautiful city. A day trip to Port Arthur is included in the itinerary and a visit to the famous Cadbury factory for some yummy chocolate. Arrive back in Ballarat Monday afternoon.
Pampering Weekend
Friday 2nd to Monday 5th March
$970 (includes GST)
Spend the weekend being spoilt with a massage and beauty treatment provided by Angelika at Temple Cleansing.
Enjoy the company of your fellow travellers while sharing beauty secrets and soaking up the sunshine on the balcony.
The accommodation and health / massage rooms are all located in one spacious building close to Geelong so a bit of shopping therapy is included.
The inviting gardens are just the spot to share a relaxing drink and BBQ once everyone has been given a makeover.
Horsham Country Music Festival
Thursday 22nd to Sunday 25th March
$1170 (includes GST)
Horsham is a welcoming city and this will be the fifth festival the city has played host to. Music lovers will be spoilt for choice with venues that include Robert's Place, Horsham Plaza and the Horsham Soundshell all a buzz with music and song.
Canberra Music Festival - Exhibition Park Canberra
Thursday 5th to Monday 9th April
$2200 (includes GST)
For five days Exhibition Park in Canberra dresses up and becomes a magic place, filled with colour and sound. Hundreds of the world's best musicians perform daily, in a non-stop flow of entertainment across twenty two fabulous venues. Every day is packed with sessions that you can join in and sing along with or dance to the music and become part of the celebration.
Once you walk through the gate you will not want to leave.
Phuket
Thursday 3rd to Wednesday 9th May
$3100 (includes GST)
Phuket is dotted with resorts to meet very need; the hardest decision will be selecting where to stay at Patong. Phuket is one of the favorite vacation destinations in the world. People love the scenery, the action and the cheap shopping. Whether you want a quiet or a more active holiday Phuket is a great destination to visit. You have all the partying you want and shopping galore.
The palm tree lined beaches and the crystal white sand and clear water are another reason why tourists come as well. The nightlife in Phuket is also why many people keep coming back year after year. Most of the happenings are in Patong where the large clubs in Bangla Road give a party atmosphere to the nights.
Patong is a shopper's haven with new malls opening with unique local boutiques and international retailers.
The area is rich in history with temples and Big Buddha statues to visit.
Football Weekend
$650 (includes GST)
Once the draw for 2012 is available we will lock in a weekend for the football.
Ballarat and the Melbourne Zoo
Monday 4th to Friday 8th June
$970 (includes GST)
Step back in time and experience Australia's exciting gold rush days at Sovereign Hill. Set on a former gold mining site, this award winning outdoor museum recreates in fascinating detail the hustle and bustle of life in the 1850's. There is much to see and do. In the diggings you can pan for REAL gold!
MELBOURNE ZOO Spend the day exploring the Melbourne Zoo which has 320 species from around the world on view.
Gold Coast Getaway
Thursday 14th to Tuesday 19th June
$2890 (includes GST)
We will fly direct to the Gold Coast from Melbourne and spend our time visiting the following tourist attractions.
Price includes return airfare, accommodation, meals and sightseeing as listed.
Adelaide Train Lovers
Tuesday 7th to Friday 10th August
$1390 (includes GST)
The Overland travels three times per week Melbourne to Adelaide all year round. We will drive to Ararat to board the train mid-morning after it has travelled to Ararat via Geelong on the way to Adelaide.
We will spend three nights in Adelaide. There is so much to see in this vibrant city and the service of an Adelaide Greeter will be organized to show us around. From the Torrens Lake situated in the north of the city, to markets, museums and the city view from Light's Vision we are sure to enjoy our stay before catching the 7.25am Friday Overland back to Ararat. We will then travel back to Ballarat in the SHV vehicle.
Farm Experience
Friday 17th to Monday 20th August
$1050 (includes GST)
Our farm experience holiday will give us the opportunity to get close to the farm animals each day. We will be able to pat and feed them and enjoy such simple pleasures as eating the chook eggs that we have collected.
Farm life will allow us to unwind in a tranquil setting away from our normal pace of life and the noise and activity of suburbia. We will be able to relax and watch the sun set each evening and weather permitting, enjoy cooking marsh mellows on the open fire.
Apart from experiencing farm life, we will be enjoying day trips to nearby towns and while there we can shop in peace and take in the tourist attractions.
Coffs Harbour
Monday 3rd to Monday 10th September
$2300 (includes GST)
We will take our time driving to Coffs Harbour, stopping along the way at the Ettamogah Pub, Dog on the Tucker Box and other tourist attractions.
During our stay we will enjoy the wonderful climate and relaxed life style. We will sample the delicious bananas at the Big Banana, picnic in the Botanical Gardens, visit the Pet Porpoise Pool, the Zoo, take one of the many forest drives in the area and dine at the local clubs.
Mildura Country Music Festival
$1650 (includes GST)
The date will be advised when published by the organisers.
We love the freedom of Mildura and the value for money that we can offer our guests. The majority of the shows are multi-artist concerts and the musical entertainment is amazing with everything from talent quests like the Top of the State, to crowd winners like the Girl's Night Out or the Rockabilly Show. The venues, 20 in all, provide all-day entertainment.
Perth Experience
Thursday 25th to Tuesday 30th October
$2760 (includes GST)
Experience Perth for a great holiday as the area has bustling markets, inner city parks, outdoor dining and amazing marine experiences.
Perth is situated beside the widest stretch of the meandering Swan River and the locals enjoy 3000 hours of sunshine a year as it is Australia's sunniest capital city. While in Perth we will explore Kings Park, take a Swan River Scenic Cruise, and visit Fremantle and the historic buildings in the port.
We will experience the Perth Hop on Hop off buses for which the city is famous.
Echuca
Friday 9th to Monday 12th November
$1100 (includes GST)
Echuca is a fascinating place to visit and is steeped in the history of the great Murray River. The town has shops that have kept the historical look and feel and as you stroll down the main street, you can feel yourself transported back to a time when life was less hectic. This experience is very relaxing.
The Port of Echuca is an authentic working steam port and is home to Australia's largest fleet of steam driven paddle steamers. We will enjoy a peaceful river cruise on one of the paddle steamers and take in the many points of historical interest on the banks of the Murray. After our cruise we will enjoy a leisurely walk along the historic wharf, which provides a valuable insight into how the Port operated in its heyday.
No trip to Echuca is complete without a visit to the Great Aussie Beer Shed. The shed is a museum crammed full of beer and brewing history and houses over 16,000 beer cans from Australia and around the world. There are also many other interesting pieces of equipment and memorabilia associated with Australian beer and brewing history.
We will also visit the National Holden Museum, which contains 40 vehicles making it Australia's largest collection of Holden cars. The museum also has rare film footage of the history of the Holden, an interesting photographic exhibition and a great souvenir shop.
Phillip Island
Friday 7th to Monday 10th December
$1250 (includes GST)
During our Phillip Island holiday, we will see handmade chocolates being made at the chocolate factory and we will enjoy some of the delicious products.
We will visit the Koala Conservation Centre for an up close and personal experience with the koalas in their natural habitat and enjoy the spectacular scenery of the area.
The main highlight of the holiday will be a visit to the one of Australia's most popular tourist attractions, the Phillip Island Nature Park. Here we will be able to enjoy the wonder of the evening penguin parade, as the penguins emerge from the ocean to find their way to their burrows. We will be literally only a couple of meters away from these busy little creatures, as they scurry underneath the viewing board walk on their homeward journey. This nightly ritual attracts hundreds of people each time and it is the experience of a life time.
Torquay
Sunday 6th to Friday 11th January
$1700 (includes GST)
Take time out to relax in Torquay, stroll along the beach and feel the sand between your toes, sleep-in if you choose, enjoy BBQs, make new friends and start 2013 with a relaxed, happy holiday.
Anglesea
Monday 14th to Saturay 19th January
$1700 (includes GST)
We hope you can join us for this holiday in Anglesea. Listen to the sound of the ocean as it breaks on the sea shore, swim, collect sea shells, feed the sea gulls, join in a beach cricket game or just relax, the choice will be yours.
8 Day Cruise
Date and Price to be advised
We will experience the enjoyment and relaxed atmosphere of shipboard life, eating superb meals and living in comfortable accommodation, as we take part in the many exciting activities that are provided for our entertainment.
Each day will be action packed with bingo, movies, "horse races" and talent shows. Each evening we will dine in luxurious surroundings before being delighted with some of Australia's most entertaining performers in spectacular stage shows.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of cruising is that you can switch off from the normal routine of daily life and lose yourself in the relaxing atmosphere. It is magical to take a stroll along the decks and watch the ocean drift by and the sunsets can be breathtaking. If the timing is right we might be lucky enough to see some porpoises or whales as we travel along.