**WAITLIST ONLY AT THIS STAGE DUE TO UNPRECEDENTED INTEREST. HOWEVER REGISTER AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST** Join the tall ship "South Passage", Queensland's sail training ship, for a sailing adventure along the Queensland coast. See Voyage Flyer.   Nomads are not taking over the entire ship, but rather blending in with other members of the general public. However you would all be working together in Roger's watch. Everyone sleeps in a communal cabin, and there are shared toilet facilities, which is a small discomfort to pay for the experience of sailing in the same manner that Captain Cook did. GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: A basic level of fitness and dexterity is required to move around the ship while it is moving. You need a spirit of adventure, and to embrace working as a team to assist sailing the ship. However, no prior sailing experience is required and you will be trained on the job. At times you might have to be awake at night for up to 2 hours to assist in running the ship. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: The ship is named South Passage. She is built on the same lines as a New York Pilot Schooner, and has a total length of 30 metres.  Each day we will find a picturesque anchorage, possibly go for a bushwalk, or go snorkelling. We decide the schedule depending on wind conditions and opportunity.  The emphasis is on having a good time and getting a range of experiences – not just hard-core sailing. You will never be bored!  The voyage is 7 days long and costs $2,128 per person. This includes accommodation onboard the night before the voyage. This cost does not include transport to/from the embarkation/disembarkation ports, but includes everything once you are on board including all on-board meals. You need to arrive the day before (Friday 29th) as we will have an onshore welcome dinner (not included) the night before departure. South Passage does not have any powered winches, so we rely on your manpower to sweat the lines and do all tasks required to run the ship, in the same manner as the ancient mariners.  Of note, South Passage is a dry ship, and there's no smoking on board. Roger's experience is that you will not miss this since there are so many activities to challenge your senses and keep you occupied. A great chance for a detox.  BOOKING: Bookings are on a first in first served basis. Contact Phil Woodgate (the skipper) on 0419 640 973 or rpswoodgate@gmail.com to register interest, or to book.  You can also contact Roger on 0400 283 623 if you have any questions. Please also click Get Tickets on this page so Roger knows you are interested (with no commitment). However you will need to pay a deposit closer to the departure to confirm your place. Payment will be direct to South Passage and not through Nomads. Details of this will be provided later to all interested persons. At present the voyage has not been opened to the public so we have open slather. FURTHER INFORMATION: southpassage.org.au, the official South Passage website.  MEETING TIME | LOCATION: Refer to the Voyage Flyer.   You have to arrive the day before the voyage departs. We have a welcome dinner (around 5pm the night before) to get to know your fellow sailors. The voyage departs promptly the next morning (boats don't wait!!). All sailors need to be on board by 10pm the night before. Don't book flights out of Townsville before about 8pm on the day of disembarkation (Friday 5th June) as there can be delays.  DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: A long way!! Best to fly to/from Townsville, Queensland. This airfare is not included in the voyage cost above.  Roger can advise on the best way to get to the embarkation port. FOOD: All meals are provided on board (but not the welcome dinner the night before departure). All food preferences are catered for. APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: It is generally balmy. However, if we get some rain it can be cool. A packing list will be provided. LEADER: Roger H. | Email LeaderRogerH@nomads.org.au if you have any questions. Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.   HOME   BACK TO LIST OF EVENTS   MEMBERSHIPS  

Our regular monthly social night - this month at the Palace Hotel, Camberwell.  GRADE: Social.  ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: Join us for our monthly social evening where members can enjoy a meal, talk about upcoming events, compare notes on past activities and float ideas on events they would like to see run. Do you want to see more of a particular activity, or do you have a particularly favourite area of Victoria you would like to share with others? Do you have an idea for a walk we haven't done before? If so, we'd love to hear from you. Everyone is welcome – new members are especially invited to any of the monthly Nomads social evenings. See the Palace Hotel website for more details, including their reasonably priced menu. Tuesday night is "Burger & Beer Night!" Three burgers to choose from plus a schooner for $29. BOOKING: By Sunday 31st May. To register, click on Get Tickets. Unsure if you've already booked? Click View my bookings. MEETING TIME | LOCATION: 7pm at the Palace Hotel, 893 Burke Rd, Camberwell. MAP REFERENCE: Google map goo.gl/maps/crgZLRcfdTs2GPSN6. PUBLIC TRANSPORT: The Palace Hotel is directly opposite Camberwell Station. Alternatively, catch tram 72 to stop 64 (Camberwell Station). LEADER: Alan D. | Email LeaderAlanD@nomads.org.au if you have any questions. Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.   HOME   BACK TO LIST OF EVENTS   MEMBERSHIPS  

Enjoy a long weekend of activities in Echuca/Moama over the King's Birthday holiday weekend, from Saturday 6th to Monday 8th June. Echuca and Moama are effectively the same town, within easy walking distance of each other. Echuca is on the Victorian side of the Murray River and Moama is on the NSW side. ** The accommodation for this event is fully booked. If you find your own accommodation, please get a DAYTIME ACTIVITIES ONLY ticket to join the group. ** GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Various, depending on the activities undertaken - a range of activities will be on offer. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: We have booked some accommodation in Echuca as outlined below. There are lots of interesting walk options as well as other activities such as a Murray River Boat Cruise. The activities planned are: Sat 6 Jun 11am-11:50am: Meet up upon arrival at the Pastoral Hotel (directly opposite Echuca Station) then stretch your legs with a short walk to the Saturday Farmer's Market and through part of the Banyula State Forest. Sat 6 Jun 1pm: Lunch at the Pastoral Hotel. Afterwards check in to accommodation. Sat 6 Jun 6pm: Assemble at Annesley House, 71 Annesley St, Echuca for a BBQ dinner. Sun 7 Jun 10am: Assemble at Port of Echuca ready to board the PS Canberra for a Murray River cruise departing at 10:15am. Sun 7 Jun 11:30am: Walk along the Scenic Drive Circuit then beside the Campaspe River, with a picnic lunch along the way (see route map). Sun 7 Jun 6:30pm: Dinner at the Caledonian Hotel, 110 Hare St, Echuca. Mon 8 Jun 10:15am: Having checked out of the accommodation, meet at the Nirebo Motel, 251 Hare Street, Echuca to walk to Moama, including a circuit to Moama Beach, ending at the Moama Bowling Club.   Mon 8 Jun 12:30pm: Lunch at the Moama Bowling Club, 6 Shaw St, Moama. Mon 8 Jun 1:30pm: Walk a circuit around Horseshoe Lagoon then walk back to Echuca via the Banyula State Forest.  Mon 8 Jun 3:50pm: Assemble at Echuca Station to catch the 4:07pm service back to Melbourne. BOOKING: By Friday 22 May, or ASAP to ensure you don't miss out. Payment will be requested by 22 May, after which refunds can only be provided if somebody is able to take your place. To register click on Get Tickets. VISITORS should purchase a 1-month Temporary Membership (cost $8) prior to booking for this weekend. WAITING LIST: Accommodation is limited, but a Waiting List will be available. If needed, we'll endeavour to book additional accommodation, but it will probably be more expensive. You can also organise your own accommodation and join the group for each day's activities (in which case you should purchase a DAYTIME ACTIVITIES ONLY ticket). BED PARTNERS: A second person can occupy a queen bed at no additional charge. If wanting to share a queen bed with your partner, please specify their first and last name in the PARTNER NAME field, but do NOT purchase a separate ticket for your partner. PAYMENT: No payment is required at the time of booking, but payment will be requested subsequently (you'll be able to use PayID to the leader's phone number, or you can bring cash if you prefer). The prices quoted for each ticket are the expected prices assuming all beds are filled. If some beds are unoccupied, the prices may be slightly higher. CRUISE (optional): Our itinerary will allow you to (optionally) take a 1-hour cruise on a 1923 wood-fired paddle steamer (highly recommended if you haven't done this previously; cost $35 full or $32 concession). If you wish to do that, you should book your own ticket for the Sunday 7 June 10:15am PS Canberra Cruise. We suggest you book the cruise by around 24 May if planning to do it. TRAIN: Book your (extremely inexpensive) train travel on the vline.com.au website (depart Southern Cross at 7:30am on Sat 6 June, depart Echuca at 4:07pm on Monday 8 June). Unsure if you've already booked with The Nomads? Click View my bookings. POTENTIAL ACTIVITIES: Our activities are now mostly planned - see above - but you will have some free time to check out some of the following options: Port of Echuca Discovery Centre (admission free) | Echuca Distillery (Gin, Vodka, Agave & Whisky Crafted in Echuca Moama), 555 High St, Echuca | The Echuca Farmer's Markets on Saturday 6th June 8:30am to 1pm in Heygarth St | The Moama Market on Sunday 7th June 8am to 1pm at Kerrabee Soundshell, Moama. See Echuca Day Walks for more information about potential itineraries. COSTS: ACCOMMODATION: There will be accommodation costs as specified on the ticketing option that you select (unless you're arranging your own accommodation). MEALS: Many group meals will be organised at venues around Echuca, but you will also be able to dine at your accommodation whenever you prefer (for example, most people will probably have breakfast at their accommodation).  TOURS: The optional river cruise costs $35 full or $32 concession - you need to book your own ticket (for the cruise at 10:15am on Sunday 7 June).  TRANSPORT: Daily fares will be capped at $4 full or $2 concession to anywhere in Victoria (a Myki card will be required).  MEETING TIME | LOCATION: 7:15am at Southern Cross Station on Saturday to catch the 7:30am Regional Train to Swan Hill, changing at Bendigo for a Regional Train to Echuca. ** Note that some people will be catching alternative services ** MAP REFERENCE: Google map maps.app.goo.gl/E1mPtPFjAH7j6hLY8.  DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: 225 km, approximately 3 hours 20 minutes by public transport. PUBLIC TRANSPORT:  OUTBOUND: We will take the Regional Train to Swan Hill departing from Southern Cross at 7:30am, then change in Bendigo for the Regional Train to Echuca, which arrives at 11:18am. Other options include the Regional Train to Shepparton departing from Southern Cross at 9:16am and changing at Murchison East for a coach to Echuca, arriving at 12:46pm, or the Regional Train to Echuca departing from Southern Cross at 12:02pm, arriving in Echuca at 3:15pm. RETURN: We will take the Regional Train departing from Echuca at 4:07pm on Monday, arriving at Southern Cross at 7:29pm Other options include a Regional Train departing from Echuca at 12:07pm, arriving at Southern Cross at 3:29pm or a Regional Coach for Murchison East departing from Echuca at 3:07pm, then changing to a Regional Train for Southern Cross that arrives at 6:37pm. ABOUT THE ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: We were unable to secure enough accommodation at a single venue, so bookings have been made at the venues listed below (and shown on this Nomads King's Birthday Locations in Echuca map). Note that queen beds/private rooms can be shared between two people for no additional cost. Check-in for all venues is after 2pm, and check-out is by 10am or 11am. Annesley House AirBnB: A 4 bedroom house at 71 Annesley St, Echuca (700m from Echuca Station). Three rooms have a queen bed; the fourth room has two single beds. Total Cost Estimate (2 nights): Private room $206 | Single Bed $100. Echuca Motel: Apartment at 268 Ogilvie Ave, Echuca (2 km from Echuca Station): Two rooms each with a queen bed plus a single bed. Total Cost Estimate (2 nights): $125 per bed. Nirebo Motel: Family room at 542 High St, Echuca (1.3 km from Echuca Station): Room has a double bed plus two single beds. Total Cost Estimate (2 nights): $125 per bed. River St AirBnb: A room that has 2 single beds in a private house (1.1 km from Echuca Station). Use of 2 bicycles available and breakfast is provided. Total Cost estimate (2 nights): $139 per bed.  FOOD: Food will generally be purchased in Echuca, either dining at local venues, or purchased from local supermarkets to dine at our accommodation. One communal BBQ will be organised at the Annesley House accommodation. APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Comfortable walking boots/shoes and dress according to the weather forecast. Echuca is generally drier than Melbourne, and tends to be cooler at night but warmer during the day. Travel as lightly as possible - bedding and towels are supplied. Just bring changes of clothing for the three days, including contingencies for cold or wet weather. LEADER: Alan D. | Email LeaderAlanD@nomads.org.au if you have any questions.  Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.   HOME   BACK TO LIST OF EVENTS   MEMBERSHIPS