Destination's Journey

Tag: guided tour

  • Queen Victoria Building Sydney

    Queen Victoria Building Sydney

    Queen Victoria Building Sydney

    Built between 1893 and 1898, the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) is an iconic shopping destination in the heart of Sydney, Australia. Originally designed to replace the Sydney markets, the QVB housed a concert hall, coffee shops, showrooms, warehouses and a wide variety of tradespeople. Over time things changed, the concert hall became the city library, tenants left and others moved in. In the 1930’s the original Romanesque architecture was remodelled into the Art Deco style, while shop fronts were modified and internal galleries are floored over.

    As the building aged it deteriorated until there were constant calls for its demolition from 1959 to 1971. Fortunately this did not occur and the building underwent a refurbishment and restoration from 1982. Original plans, drawings and photographs were not available, so this was an envisaged refurbishment, done to the best abilities of the architects.

    Today with it’s floors and galleries restored it is a wonderful place to wander through, either browsing, shopping or eating.

    Tour

    We organised a tour through the building which takes visitors behind the scenes into places where the general public is not able to go. The guide gave a detailed history of the building explaining many of the design features.

    One of the major features of the building is the copper clad domes on the roof. Dominated by the large central dome, there are also 20 smaller cupolas on the roof. We were able to go through a service door and see the interior of several domes, being able to view their timber structure. We were also able to walk on the roof, getting a close up look at the dome’s exterior.

    The true beauty of the building though is the internal design, where the stained glass of the dome, ceiling and windows provide an amazing sight. Even the floor tiles are works of art and they are best viewed from one of the upper galleries. From here you not only get a get view of the interior, but a birds eye view of the tiles’ design.

    Unfortunately we didn’t get to climb the spiral staircase that is a feature of the upper floor. Apparently it is unsafe to take a group of tourists up it. Instead, this old staircase that used to be for maintenance access is now just a decoration.

    What Did We Think?

    This was a great tour, where we got to go behind the scenes. Being able to see inside the domes and onto the roof was great. The knowledge of the guide was amazing, not only could they talk about the building and answer questions but were also able to keep a group of tourists all heading the same way so that we stayed on time.

    Queen Victoria Statue
    Queen Victoria Statue
    The Queen Victoria Building and its domes
    The Queen Victoria Building and its domes
    Entrance staircase and stained glass window
    Entrance staircase and stained glass window
    Stained glass window over the entrance Queen Victoria Building
    Stained glass window over the entrance
    Spiral Staircase to the dome
    Spiral Staircase to the dome
    Spiral Staircase to the dome
    Spiral Staircase to the dome
    The dome from inside the building
    The dome from inside the building
    The Queen Victoria Building clock from the upper level
    The QVB clock from the upper level
    Looking down from the top level
    Looking down from the top level
    Three levels of the Queen Victoria Building
    Three levels of the QVB
    Three levels of the Queen Victoria Building and the dome
    Three levels of the QVB and the dome
    Wooden structure of one of the smaller domes
    Wooden structure of one of the smaller domes
    Internal structure of one of the smaller domes Queen Victoria Building
    Internal structure of one of the smaller domes
    The main dome from the roof Queen Victoria Building
    The main dome from the roof

    Our photos are available for purchase on

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

  • Broken Bay Pearl Farm

    Broken Bay Pearl Farm

    Broken Bay Pearl Farm

    Established in 2003, Broken Bay Pearl Farm is New South Wales’s only pearl farm. Although Sydney Rock oysters used for eating are farmed here, this is the first business to farm pearls.

    Located at Mooney Mooney on the Hawkesbury River, parking was at a premium, with some people on our tour parking at the Mooney Mooney Club and walking (only a 5-minute walk away). Starting at an old oyster shed, now used as a sales room and “Shellar Door”, we checked in and waited for the tour to start.

    The two-hour tour starts with a history of oyster harvesting in Australia. Archaeological evidence indicates that Aboriginal people (the Darkinjung and Ku-ring-Gai) fished for oysters at least 20,000 years ago. With colonialization, oysters were used for food and later for use in concrete, where their shells were used for lime. Pearl farming first commenced in Broome, Western Australia in 1946.

    Local pearl farming started when Agoya oysters were noticed growing on Sydney Rock oysters. This species of oyster produce beautiful mother of pearl, a prerequisite to make pearls. After trials, it was found they could be successfully farmed, leading to Broken Bay Oyster Farms.

    Mother of Pearl Oyster Shells Broken Bay Pearl Farm
    Mother of Pearl Oyster Shells
    Oyster Shells
    Oyster Shells

    The Tour

    After learning all about pearls, we boarded the catamaran for a one-hour cruise to see the oysters. On the way the guide stopped to show us Aboriginal rock carvings.

    Located next to a beautiful little beach, the oyster lease currently contained eight-month-old oysters, because others had been moved out to sea. This was because recent rain had flushed too much fresh water into the area, which was not good for their development.

    Our guide retrieved some from their baskets, so we had a chance for a close-up look at them. He then showed how pearls are seeded before they are returned to the water.

    Tour Boat Broken Bay Pearl Farm
    Tour Boat
    Train Bridge over the Hawkesbury River
    Train Bridge over the Hawkesbury River
    Aboriginal Fish Rock Carvings
    Aboriginal Fish Rock Carvings
    Beach Near the Oyster Lease
    Beach Near the Oyster Lease
    8 Month Old Oysters
    8 Month Old Oysters
    8 Month Old Oysters
    8 Month Old Oysters
    Oyster Growth Stages Broken Bay Pearl Farm
    Oyster Growth Stages
    Pearl Seed and Damaged Pearls
    Pearl Seed and Damaged Pearls

    What Did We Think?

    This was a great tour and something we hadn’t heard about before. Until discovering them, we had no idea about farming pearl oysters on the east coast, let alone being able to go on a tour. We really enjoyed the two hours we were there, because it was interesting and educational.

  • Cascade Brewery Tour Hobart

    Cascade Brewery Tour Hobart

    Cascade Brewery Tour Hobart

    How to Get There

    Only a five-minute drive from Hobart’s CBD in the foothills of Mount Wellington, the Cascade Brewery Tour is a must for lovers of beer and cider.

    The Cascade Brewery

    Having operated since 1824, the Brewery is Australia’s oldest, and a tour is a history lesson as well as beer making. Originally a sawmill but converted to a brewery because of the mountain water onsite, the building is still in use. The dates on the front of the building refer to the extension made in 1927 when new equipment required more height. This is still visible in the façade, where the material for the lower three floor differs from the upper levels.

    In addition to tours, the brewery offers meals and a bar in the old manager’s residence, where you can relax after the tour, or just enjoy a meal or drink.

    • Cascade Brewery
      Cascade Brewery
    • Lounge at the Cascade Brewery
      Lounge at the Cascade Brewery
    • Old Beer Keg
      Old Beer Keg

    The Cascade Brewery Tour

    Several different tours are available depending on age (16 years old and over can go on the extended factory tour that we did). An all ages tour caters for everyone, but does not enter the factory, nor does it offer beer and cider samples afterwards.

    A safety briefing and protective equipment (hard hat, glasses, gloves and hair net and fluoro vest) are given at the start of the tour. This not only ensures your safety, as your are touring a working brewery, but also keeps the beer making process safe from you.

    Unfortunately, no photos are allowed on the tour, so the secret of Cascades beer and cider process is still safe.

    The comprehensive tour follows the whole process from grain delivery to bottling, packaging and distribution. We found it all very interesting especially the brewing and malting part.

    We also found out that all waste products are used either on site or as animal feed. Nice to know that beer is environmentally conscious, as well as tasting great.

    There was also a look at cider production, which uses some of the apples Tasmania is famous for.

    Finishing the tour is a tasting platter of four beers or ciders. As we had a platter each, we were able to taste all of the beers and ciders on offer.

    Beer and Cider Tasting Platter Cascade Brewery Tour
    Beer and Cider Tasting Platter

    What Did We Think?

    This was a fun tour that we really enjoyed. Seeing the whole beer making process and then tasting the product was great fun. If you are in Hobart, it’s worth doing.

    To read other posts about Tasmania, click here.

    Our photos are available for purchase on