Express interest in escaping the city and slow things down with a supported small-group mid-week getaway to beautiful Orange, NSW. These relaxed 3-night breaks are designed for blind and low-vision travellers wanting a mix of respite, social connection and memorable local experiences — with the added bonus of quieter venues, relaxed pacing and more personal interactions. Stay together in a comfortable 3-bedroom cottage with a spacious backyard — your home base for a few calm days of fresh air, good company and new experiences. Choose Your Style of Getaway! You can tailor the trip to suit your interests: 🍷 The Foodie Escape Local produce, wineries and sensory tasting experiences 🌿 The Explorer Escape Gentle adventures, nature and hands-on activities Small Groups, Real Support! Travel with up to 4 guests and experienced Cocky Guides support guides in a relaxed, social environment. Support ratios available: - 1:1 support - 1:2 shared support - 1:3 shared support (Price varies depending on support level) What’s Included: - 3 nights cottage accommodation - Transport during the trip - Group support guides - Winery tasting experience Social outings and tailored activities quoted on request Guests contribute $50 per person to a shared food kitty for group meals. Pricing - From $1,125 per person (based on 1:2 support with two travellers), plus a $150 non-refundable personal contribution deposit. Maximum group: 4 travellers + 2 support guides Rooming: mix of twin share and limited solo availability Relax, try something new and enjoy a holiday where everything is designed so you can simply participate and connect — without the weekend crowds. Enquire now to check upcoming mid-week dates or request your preferred travel style.

Join a supported small-group weekend getaway to vibrant Orange, NSW — the perfect option if you enjoy a little more atmosphere, activity and social energy. These 3-night breaks combine respite and relaxation with the buzz of a weekend in wine country. Expect lively venues, local events and plenty of opportunities to connect with others while still travelling at a comfortable pace. Stay together in a welcoming 3-bedroom cottage with a spacious backyard — your home base for a fun and social long weekend. Choose Your Style of Getaway! Tailor the trip to match your interests: 🍷 The Foodie Escape Bustling cellar doors, local produce and sensory tasting experiences 🌿 The Explorer Escape Hands-on activities, town experiences and relaxed outdoor adventures Small Groups, Real Support Travel with up to 4 guests and experienced Cocky Guides support guides in a friendly, social environment. Support ratios available: - 1:1 support - 1:2 shared support - 1:3 shared support (Price varies depending on support level) What’s Included - 3 nights cottage accommodation - Transport during the trip - Group support guides - Winery tasting experience Social outings and tailored activities quoted on request Guests contribute $50 per person to a shared food kitty for group meals. Pricing - From $1,467 per person (based on 1:3 support with three travellers), plus a $150 non-refundable personal contribution deposit. Maximum group: 4 travellers + 2 support guides Rooming: mix of twin share and limited solo availability Enjoy the atmosphere of a lively regional town, meet new people and experience Orange at its most vibrant — with support there whenever you need it. Enquire now to check upcoming weekend dates.

Discover Sydney through touch, sound, stories and great company on this immersive half-day adventure designed for blind and low-vision travellers. We’ll begin with one of Australia’s most recognisable buildings, the Sydney Opera House, where we’ll enjoy a personalised tactile and audio-described architectural tour. Go beyond simply hearing about the building as we explore its extraordinary design, textures, spaces and stories with a specialist guide. From Sydney’s modern architectural masterpiece, your Cocky Guides leader will take you back to where the city began. Wander through the narrow colonial streets and laneways of The Rocks, discovering the characters, controversies and stories that helped shape modern Australia. Our second great Sydney icon is the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We’ll walk onto the pedestrian walkway to experience the scale, sounds and atmosphere of the famous “Coathanger” from above Sydney Harbour. We’ll finish with time for lunch at a historic Rocks pub, where you can enjoy a cold Aussie brew and wood-fired pizza featuring native Australian ingredients. It’s a brilliant introduction to Sydney — two icons, two very different periods of architecture, and more than 200 years of stories in one accessible experience. Itinerary 9:00 am – Meet at Circular Quay Meet your Cocky Guides leader at Circular Quay Train Station, next to Hungry Jack’s. From here, we’ll make our way along Circular Quay towards the Sydney Opera House. 9:30 am – Sydney Opera House Accessible Architectural Tour Meet our specialist Sydney Opera House guide for a 60-minute personalised tactile and audio-described tour. Explore the architecture, design and fascinating stories behind this World Heritage-listed building through detailed description and tactile interpretation. 10:30 am – From Modern Sydney to Colonial Sydney After leaving the Opera House, your Cocky Guides leader will guide you around Circular Quay and into The Rocks, transitioning from the bold modern architecture of the Opera House to the sandstone, laneways and colonial history of Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood. 11:00 am – The Rocks Walking Tour Enjoy approximately 60 minutes exploring The Rocks, hearing stories of convicts, settlers, pubs, characters and events that helped build the nation we know as Australia today. 12:00 pm – Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk It’s time for our second Sydney icon. We’ll make our way onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge pedestrian walkway, experiencing the enormous scale of the bridge and the sounds and atmosphere of Sydney Harbour from above. 1:00 pm – Historic Pub Lunch Return to The Rocks for a relaxed lunch at a historic pub. Choose from wood-fired pizzas featuring native Australian ingredients and, if you like, enjoy an Aussie beer or other refreshment. Lunch and drinks are at your own expense. Around 2:15 pm – Return towards Circular Quay After lunch, we’ll make our way back through The Rocks towards Circular Quay, with time to soak up a little more of Sydney’s harbour atmosphere. 3:00 pm – Experience concludes at Circular Quay Price $147 per person + $25 non-refundable personal contribution The supported experience includes 1-in-3 Cocky Guides support, the personalised Sydney Opera House tactile and audio-described tour, a 60-minute guided walk through The Rocks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge pedestrian walkway experience and support throughout the day. Lunch and drinks are at your own expense. Places are limited for this special accessible experience. Book today to secure your spot.

Southern Highlands Explorer Day Trip, where we step back in time and experience the golden age of rail travel on a memorable spring day in the Southern Highlands. Join Cocky Guides for a relaxed and social journey to Bowral aboard a heritage train, including the thrill of travelling behind historic Steam Locomotive R766. Hear the locomotive working as we climb into the Highlands, feel the rhythm of heritage rail travel, smell the steam and smoke, and listen for the whistle echoing through the countryside. Cocky Guides has reserved two private heritage compartments, each normally seating eight passengers. To provide more space and a comfortable social experience, we’re limiting each compartment to just six Cocky Guides travellers. Compartments are fitted with tables and are located in a heritage FS carriage, which is not air-conditioned — all part of the old-world rail experience. Our destination is Bowral during one of the most colourful weekends of the year. Admission to Tulip Time at Corbett Gardens is included, giving us the afternoon to experience the gardens, spring atmosphere and heart of Bowral. There will also be plenty of time to enjoy lunch at your own expense. Your Day From 8:00 am – Sydney Central Station Cocky Guides support will be available at Central Station from 8:00 am. Meet your tour leader and fellow travellers before making our way to our private heritage compartments. 8:30 am – Depart Sydney Central Our rail adventure begins behind heritage diesel locomotives as we travel through Sydney's suburbs. 9:15 am – Depart Granville Travellers may choose to join the train at Granville. Please note that Cocky Guides support will not be available at Granville before boarding, so travellers joining here will need to independently meet the group aboard the train. From 9:15 am – Cocky Guides support available at Glenfield 9:45 am – Depart Glenfield Travellers can also join us at Glenfield, with Cocky Guides support available at the station from 9:15 am. As we continue towards the Southern Highlands, historic Steam Locomotive R766 takes over for the climb towards Bowral. Settle back in our private compartments and enjoy the sounds, movement and atmosphere of steam-powered rail travel. 11:50 am – Arrive Bowral 12:00 pm to 3:15 pm – Tulip Time at Corbett Gardens We'll make our way to Corbett Gardens for Bowral's Tulip Time Festival, with admission included in your day trip. Enjoy the spring gardens and festival atmosphere with Cocky Guides support, along with plenty of time to enjoy lunch at your own expense at one of Bowral's cafés, pubs or eateries. 3:15 pm – Make our way back to Bowral Station 3:40 pm – Depart Bowral 5:10 pm – Arrive Glenfield 5:40 pm – Arrive Granville 6:30 pm – Arrive Sydney Central Station Our Southern Highlands Explorer concludes after a full day of heritage rail, steam, spring gardens and good company. Cost & Support The supported day trip is $400.50 per person, based on 1:3 support, plus a $50 non-refundable personal contribution to confirm your place. Your experience includes the return heritage train journey, reserved Cocky Guides private compartment seating, Tulip Time admission at Corbett Gardens and Cocky Guides support throughout the day. Lunch and personal purchases are at your own expense. Joining the Tour: You can join the heritage train at Sydney Central, Granville or Glenfield: - Central: Cocky Guides support available from 8:00 am; train departs 8:30 am. - Granville: Train departs 9:15 am; no Cocky Guides pre-boarding support is available. - Glenfield: Cocky Guides support available from 9:15 am; train departs 9:45 am. With only two private compartments limited to six Cocky Guides travellers each, this special spring day trip has a maximum of 12 places. This will sell out fast. Book today to secure your spot!

White Cane Mingle is a relaxed and inclusive social gathering hosted by Cocky Guides in partnership with Moorebank Sports Club. Together, we are creating a welcoming space for blind and low-vision people, their families, friends, and supporters to connect, share experiences, and build lasting community. Held at Moorebank Sports Club on selected Wednesdays at 10:30 am throughout the year (at least six times annually), White Cane Mingle offers a friendly environment to meet others, enjoy conversation, and become familiar with the venue at a comfortable pace. Each session includes a light orientation of the space, opportunities to build confidence in social settings, and the chance to develop meaningful connections with people who share similar experiences. Kellie Hayes, Director of Cocky Guides Australia, says the initiative is designed to make social connections more accessible and enjoyable. “White Cane Mingle creates opportunities for connection, independence, and confidence. In partnership with Moorebank Sports Club, we are building a welcoming and supportive community hub for blind and low-vision people across Sydney’s south-west.” Sessions are always held on Wednesdays at the same time, making it easy to plan ahead and attend when it suits you. Complimentary transport may be available from nearby suburbs and local train stations - Liverpool and Holsworthy, when requested in advance through the booking page. Everyone is welcome.

Turn up the music and kick off summer with a weekend of classic rock, good company, coastal scenery and beach vibes in Wollongong. Our weekend begins with a huge day at the Sounds of Rock Festival at Bulli Showground, headlined by international soft-rock legends Air Supply. They’ll be joined by an incredible line-up of Australian and international favourites including The Black Sorrows, Mental As Anything, Ross Wilson, Dragon, Toni Childs and 1927. After the festival, there’s no need to rush home. We’ll stay overnight in the heart of Wollongong at the Harp Hotel, with a choice of solo or twin-share rooms. And if you’ve still got some energy left after the final song, you’ll be perfectly positioned to enjoy Wollongong’s Saturday-night atmosphere. Sunday changes the pace. We’ll ease into the day with coffee and a relaxed exploration of Wollongong Botanic Garden, head north for lunch in the sunshine at Wombarra Bowls, then spend the afternoon at beautiful Coalcliff Beach. Relax on the sand, take a dip, enjoy the sounds of the ocean or simply find a shady spot and unwind before our late-afternoon journey back to Sydney. It’s a simple summer escape: live music on Saturday, gardens and the beach on Sunday, and plenty of time to enjoy it all. Day 1 – Saturday 5 December Sydney → Sounds of Rock Festival → Wollongong 10:00 am – Depart Central Station Meet your tour leader and fellow travellers before departing Sydney for the Illawarra. 10:50 am – Leumeah pick-up Our second pick-up point before continuing south towards Bulli. Around midday – Arrive Bulli Showground Get ready for an afternoon and evening of live music at the Sounds of Rock Festival. The 2026 line-up features: - Air Supply - The Black Sorrows - Mental As Anything - Ross Wilson - Dragon - Toni Childs - 1927 Settle in and enjoy a summer festival atmosphere with hours of classic hits and live performances. Evening – Check in at the Harp Hotel, Wollongong Following the festival, we'll make the short journey into downtown Wollongong and check into the Harp Hotel. Choose between a solo room or twin-share accommodation. Still wanna dance? For those who aren't ready for the night to end, you're staying right in the heart of Wollongong and can enjoy a little more of the city's nightlife before calling it a night. Day 2 – Sunday 6 December Garden, Bowls & Summer Beach Vibes Morning – Relaxed start Enjoy a sleep-in and an easy Sunday morning before checking out of the hotel. Mid-morning – Wollongong Botanic Garden We'll start with a coffee before exploring the beautiful Wollongong Botanic Garden. Take your time enjoying the different plants, scents, textures, birdlife and peaceful surrounds. Lunch – Wombarra Bowls We'll follow the coast north for a relaxed lunch at Wombarra Bowls. Grab something to eat and enjoy a classic Sunday lunch overlooking the beautiful northern Illawarra. Afternoon – Coalcliff Beach Then it's time for some genuine summer beach vibes. Spend the afternoon at Coalcliff Beach swimming, relaxing on the sand, dipping your feet in the ocean or simply enjoying the sea breeze and spectacular coastal surroundings. 3:30 pm – Return journey to Sydney We'll leave Coalcliff around 3:30 pm for the journey home, with a drop-off at Leumeah followed by Central Station. Two days. One massive music festival. A night in Wollongong. Gardens, lunch by the coast and an afternoon at the beach. That's summer sorted. This supported weekend event is $1,175 per person, plus a non-refundable personal contribution based on your chosen room type: Solo room: $150 personal contribution Twin-share room: $75 personal contribution per person Your personal contribution is required to secure your place and preferred room type. There are only a limited number of solo and twin-share rooms available, so we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment. Secure your spot, choose your room and get ready for a weekend of live music, good company and summer beach vibes!