Featuring the Opera Scholars Australia at Naracoorte Caves Opera Scholars Australia assists in the development of young singers by providing scholarships, training and opportunities to perform in a variety of locations.

For the second time they will perform in the outstanding acoustic conditions in Blanche Cave at Naracoorte, where their voices need no amplification, to an audience of around 200 persons.

This concert is organised by Young at Heart Holidays, Australian Air Holidays and Seniors Coach Tours for their passengers. The Opera Scholars program will include items from well known musicals and operas.

Day 1 (L,D) MELBOURNE, VIA SOUTHERN COAST TO MT GAMBIER, ROBE, MILLICENT
Passengers are either met at their metropolitan home/hotel for transfer to Essendon Airport or provide their own transport to the airport. Free parking is available. We meet in the main Essendon terminal, Sharp Airlines counter. Refreshments are available prior to boarding our Fokker 50 flight, which takes us along the spectacular Victorian coast, with a loop at the Twelve Apostles and Cape Otway Lighthouse to ensure great viewing from both sides of the aircraft. We continue over Warrnambool, Portland and on to Mt Gambier, a flight time of approximately 1.5 hours. Our coach awaits at Mt Gambier and we travel to the seaside township of Robe for a highlight of the weekend, a crayfish lunch at the well-known Robe restaurant, Sails Blue (non-seafood eaters catered for). A little time in Robe and then to Millicent with its award-winning Museum. We return to Mt Gambier and our accommodation for two nights, the Mt Gambier Presidential Motel (or similar). Enjoy a welcome drink prior to dinner together.

Day 2 (B,L,D) PENOLA, NARACOORTE CAVES, OPERA IN THE CAVES, COONAWARRA
This morning we visit Penola. Enjoy this delightful small town, the Mary MacKillop Centre, the Schoolhouse and Petticoat Lane, the art, craft and wine tasting centres. Maybe enjoy a morning coffee here (own expense). Lunch today at Chardonnay Lodge. During the afternoon we continue to Naracoorte Caves. Time to enjoy the stunning floodlit cave formations in Alexandra or Fossil Cave. Afternoon tea includes a pre-show glass of champagne prior to taking our seats in Blanche Cave for the highlight of our weekend holiday, Opera in the Caves, featuring the stunning voices of Opera Scholars Australia, singing many operatic favourites. Stars of the future! Commenced in 2010, this new event is organised and sponsored by the Young at Heart group. Following the concert we enjoy dinner at Hollicks Winery and Restaurant at Coonawarra before returning to Mt Gambier around 9:30 p.m.

Day 3 (B,L) PORT MACDONNELL, MT GAMBIER, MELBOURNE
A leisurely morning as we visit picturesque Port MacDonnell, visit the Maritime Museum and enjoy a guided tour of this seaside village. Morning cuppa at Dingley Dell Conservation Park, where Adam Lindsay Gordon lived and wrote in a small cottage in the park. Visit the unique Blue Lake and enjoy guided tour of Mt Gambier with its many colonial buildings prior to a delightful Sunday lunch together. Reboarding our Fokker 50 we depart Mt Gambier at 4:00 p.m. for Melbourne’s Essendon Airport, complimentary drinks as we fly, arriving at approximately 5:30 p.m. Home transfers for those wishing to use this service completes a most enjoyable holiday including the second annual performance of Opera in the Caves.