DAY 1
PERTH
Today you will be met by our friendly and professional Tour Directors. This afternoon we take an informative tour of the city including scenic Kings Park. Kings Park also features the Perth Botanic Garden and here we enjoy a wander through the magnificent display of the area’s wildflowers. We later check-in to the luxurious Crown Promenade at the Burswood Entertainment Complex for our overnight stay. (D)
OVERNIGHT : Crown Promenade
DAY 2
WAVE ROCK AND HYDEN
This morning we depart Perth and travel east through the John Forrest National Park. Visit York and the historic York Motor Museum before continuing to Hyden, arriving midafternoon. This tiny town located in Western Australia’s semi-arid wheat belt is home to the fascinating and unique geological formation known as Wave Rock. (B.L.D)
OVERNIGHT : Hyden Wave Rock Motel
DAY 3
COOLGARDIE AND KALGOORLIE
Today we depart Hyden and continue our travels towards the far-east mining district of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Since 1893 the area of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has produced over 50 million ounces of gold, one of only 4 districts in the world to have reached such a milestone. We arrive this afternoon and enjoy a town tour followed by a tour of the incredible Super Pit mine. The Super Pit is now nearly 600 metres deep, 3.5 km long and 1.5 km wide! Enjoy expert commentary from your local guide as we drive along internal haul roads and get up close to the operations of this massive mine. (B.L.D)
OVERNIGHT : Rydges Kalgoorlie
DAY 4
NORSEMAN AND ESPERANCE
This morning we head south through the villages of Kambalda and Norseman to the seaside town of Esperance. Along the way there are generally some spectacular wildflower displays that we will stop to enjoy. Upon our arrival at the coast we take the scenic Great Ocean Drive which includes Rotary Lookout, the Pink Lake and Australia’s first wind farm. This 40 kilometre loop showcases Esperance’s spectacular coastline of tranquil bays, soaring cliffs and beautiful beaches. (B.L.D)
OVERNIGHT : Comfort Inn Bay of Isles Motel
DAY 5
ALBANY AND STIRLING RANGE NATIONAL PARK
This morning we travel west through Ravensthorpe and Jerramungup stopping along the way for lunch. Later this afternoon we visit Bluff Knoll Lookout in the majestic Stirling Range National Park and enjoy a guided tour before arriving in the whaling town of Albany. (B,L,D)
OVERNIGHT : Dog Rock Motel
DAY 6
ALBANY
This morning we visit the 'Discovery Bay Tourism Experience', a magnificent whaling museum in Albany. Take an interactive journey through the last operating whaling station in Australia, supported by a series of audio visual displays, artefacts and whaling history. This afternoon we board a catamaran for a spectacular whale watching cruise in Albany’s harbour followed by a self-guided audio tour at the National Anzac Centre. (B,L,D)
OVERNIGHT : Dog Rock Motel
DAY 7
ANCIENT EMPIRE AND VALLEY OF THE GIANTS
Today we travel to the Walpole-Nornalup National Park, home to a grove of veteran Karri and Tingle trees known as the Ancient Empire. These are some of the largest trees in the world, measuring up to 16 metres around the base. To get a closer look, we'll visit the world class Valley of The Giants Tree Top Walk which soars gently upwards amidst the Tingle foliage to a world of birds and flowers. We also visit the Gloucester Tree, the second highest fire lookout tree in the world. (The tree can be climbed by the more adventurous).This afternoon we arrive at Karri Valley Resort on Lake Beedelup. Enjoy a free afternoon at the resort and enjoy activities such as trout fishing, bush walking, canoeing, bike riding and more. Alternatively, just sit back and relax on your lakeside balcony (B,L,D)
OVERNIGHT : Karri Valley Resort
DAY 8
CAPE LEEUWIN AND MARGARET RIVER
Departing Pemberton this morning we head to Cape Leeuwin where we join a local guide for a tour of the old historic lighthouse. Later this morning we head into Margaret River, Western Australia’s premium wine growing region which boasts over 40 world class wineries. After lunch, enjoy free time in the Margaret River township before checking in to the Stay Margaret River for our overnight stay. (B,L,D)
OVERNIGHT : Quality Inn Margaret River
DAY 9
BUSSELTON AND FREMANTLE
This morning we depart Margaret River to visit Busselton on Geographe Bay and take time to wander the 1.7 km jetty, the longest in WA. Travel via the Tuart forests to Bunbury, where we take in the impressive view over the harbour and city from the local lookout. We then continue on through Australind and Mandurah before arriving in the cosmopolitan city of Fremantle mid-afternoon. Located at the mouth of the Swan River, Fremantle is a major Australian port city and serves as the port for Perth. It's also been ranked as one of the best cities to travel to in the world. This afternoon we'll enjoy a tour of the town before checking into our hotel. (B,L,D)
OVERNIGHT : Esplanade Hotel by Rydges
DAY 10
FREMANTLE, ROTTNEST ISLAND, SWAN RIVER, PERTH
This morning enjoy a visit to the Western Australian Maritime Museum. This spectacular museum has six themed galleries, one of which houses the famous racing yacht Australia II, with the winged keel that won the America’s Cup. The museum also houses the retired HMAS Ovens Submarine which was built in 1969 and donated to the museum. Later this morning we depart Fremantle B-Shed jetty and take a ferry transfer to Rottnest Island! A new inclusion on this tour! Here we enjoy lunch and an informative coach tour visiting the island's most spectacular locations with insightful commentary. You might even meet a quokka or two along the way! After some free time, sit back and relax while the Rottnest Express ferry back from the island takes you up the Swan River all the way back to Perth. (B.L.D)
OVERNIGHT : Crown Promenade
DAY 11
NAMBUNG NATIONAL PARK (THE PINNACLES) - KALBARRI
After breakfast the South West Explorer passengers depart the tour, while we trek north to the famous Nambung National Park, home to the interesting formations known as the Pinnacles. Here thousands of limestone pillars rise from the shifting yellow sands, resembling a landscape from a science fiction movie. This afternoon continue north through Geraldton and on to the small scenic town of Kalbarri. (B,L,D)
OVERNIGHT : Kalbarri Edge Resort
DAY 12
KALBARRI NATIONAL PARK
Today we enjoy exploring the Kalbarri National Park including a visit to Red Bluff, which features a lookout with panoramic ocean views from atop the 100m cliffs, a perfect vantage point to spot whales, dolphins and other marine life. From here, we visit Z-Bend to take in the vibrant displays of wildflowers, renowned as being some of the best during the wildflower season. Later we visit the new $20 million Kalbarri Skywalk, a breath-taking project featuring twin skywalks which float more that 100 meters above the Murchison River Gorge. (B,L,D)
OVERNIGHT : Kalbarri Edge Resort
DAY 13
SHARK BAY MARINE CRUISE - MONKEY MIA
This morning we continue our journey north, arriving in Denham for lunch before heading to Monkey Mia on Shark Bay. World Heritage Listed in 1991, Shark Bay is one of only 16 sites worldwide that satisfy all four criteria for World Heritage listing. It features one of the largest and most diverse seagrass beds in the world and is home to 10% of the world’s dugong population. There’s a myriad of other marine life including dolphins, whales, manta rays, turtles and sharks. The best way to experience Shark Bay is on a cruise, so this afternoon we’ll board a modern catamaran and head off to spot the bay’s rich marine life. (B,L,D)
OVERNIGHT : Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort
DAY 14
DENHAM, HAMELIN POOL AND GERALDTON
This morning we visit the Shark Bay Discovery Centre, which celebrates the region's rich biodiversity and explores the area’s World Heritage listing. We then head south and enjoy a visit to the Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve, one of only a few places in the world with marine stromatolites, or ‘living fossils’. This afternoon we continue south to Geraldton, where we’ll overnight at the Ocean Centre Hotel on the beachfront. (B,L,D)
OVERNIGHT : Ocean Centre Hotel
DAY 15
WILDFLOWER WAY AND NEW NORCIA
After breakfast we visit the magnificent HMAS Sydney II memorial - the second memorial recognised to be of national significance outside of Canberra. Completed in 2001, the memorial has become the country's premier site for honouring the 645 Australian sailors who were lost off the Western Australian coast during a World War II battle with German raider HSK Kormoran. The location of both wrecks remained a mystery for over 66 years until they were located in March 2008 by the Finding Sydney Foundation.
Departing Geraldton, we return to Perth along the "Wildflower Way". We also travel via Australia’s only monastic town, New Norcia. Here we take a tour though this interesting village which was, once upon a time, locked up behind closed doors. We arrive back at the Crown Promenade late this afternoon for the final night of the tour. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel. (B,L,D)
OVERNIGHT : Crown Promenade
DAY 16
PERTH - FAREWELL
This morning we experience a gold pouring at the historical Perth Mint before the tour concludes. You will then be transferred to the airport or your accommodation if staying on in Perth. (B)
