South Western Australia Explorer

After a breakfast, we travel into Perth to spend some time at the WA Museum Boola Bardip, a place to share Western Australia’s many stories. The Museum features eight permanent galleries, each with its own distinct theme and displays, which has been developed in consultation with around 54,000 people from around WA. We then make our way down to Jetty precinct to board our 11.15am Swan River Cruise from Barrack Street Jetty to Fremantle. Sit back and relax as we cruise the Swan River whilst listening to our Captains detailed and entertaining commentary. Admire the waterfront scenery of Perth’s downtown skyline, upscale suburbs and yacht clubs - not to mention the beautiful cliff faces of Black Wall Reach, the famous Point Walter “Spit” (as the locals call it) and Perth’s iconic “Blue Boat House”, the Crawley Edge Boat Shed. Disembark in Fremantle at 12.30pm, with the remainder of the day at leisure to check out some the attractions along Victoria Quay and waterfront precinct within the beautiful historic port city. After a freshen up we enjoy a delicious banquet dinner at Sala Thai Restaurant. Overnight Fremantle: Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges

Daily: Breakfast & Dinner

Today we travel down through the Wheatbelt towns of Lake King and Ravensthorpe, along the way witnessing seasonal wildflowers and scenery of the waterways and wetlands that have been shaped over millions of years by the climate and geology. Regardless of it being a wet or dry season, the salt lakes offer stunning scenery and great photo opportunities. After a couple of photo stops along the way we arrive in Ravensthorpe to see the silo murals, where it took 31 days, 338 litres of paint and countless trips up and down for Fremantle-based, Dutch-born artist Amok Island to execute the Six Stages of Banksia Baxteri across three stout CBH Group silos. After some refreshments we continue our journey southeast to Esperance where we head out along the Great Ocean Drive, taking in the stunning scenery, several lookouts including the Pink Lake Lookout and Rotary Lookout plus the wind farms, beaches and lagoons. Time permitting, we stop by the Taylors Street Jetty precinct before checking into our motel for freshen up and dinner. Overnight Esperance: Hospitality Esperance

Daily: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After an early breakfast we say goodbye to Esperance and begin our drive across to Albany via the Stirling Range National Park. After a comfort stop at Ravensthorpe, we reach the Yongergnow Australian Malleefowl Centre for lunch and visit to the aviaries and interpretive displays. Our drive up to the Bluff Knoll Car Park and return is quite breath-taking. The park is one of the world’s most important areas for flora with 1500 species, many of which grow nowhere else. We then continue our drive down into Albany to settle into our accommodation before dinner in Together & Co Restaurant.

Overnight Albany: Hilton Garden Inn

Daily: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Our morning has us viewing the impressive Albany Wind Farm as we drive around Princess Royal Harbour en-route to the Torndirrup National Park and The Whaling Station Museum. We enjoy stops at the Albany Wind Farm, Natural Bridge and The Gap and again at the Blowholes before arriving at Albany’s historic Whaling Station. Our private guide takes us through the stories of the workers, the whales and their place in the economic and social history of Albany. We are then free to roam the deck of the Cheynes IV ship, the whale oil tank theatres and fascinating photo and artefact galleries plus take a walk through the Wildflower Garden or Wildlife Park if time permits. After a light lunch at Whaler’s Galley Cafe, it’s back around to Mount Clarence, passing by the dynamic Silo Art to our next stop where we experience the Anzac Legend at Albany’s award winning National Anzac Centre. The symbolic location at the summit of Mt. Clarence and Mt. Adelaide stretches from the centre of Albany to the shores of King George Sound and Middleton Beach and overlooks the actual location from which over 41,000 Australians and New Zealanders left Australia shores bound for the Great War. After our tour through the centre, we have time to explore the Mount Clarence Parkland’s containing the Mount Clarence Memorial and Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum. From Mount Clarence we travel back to our motel where time will allow us to rest up and refresh before dinner back in the on-site restaurant.

Overnight Albany: Hilton Garden Inn

Daily: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast we depart Albany and head through the National Parks and State Forest’s to Walpole and then into the Walpole Wilderness region where we visit the “Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk”. On arrival we have the option of purchasing a cuppa from the coffee van or cool drink from the Gift Shop. Then to appreciate the beauty of the forest, we can stroll along the Tree Top Walk, suspended 40 metres high into the canopy of the ancient tingle forest, or for land lovers we can follow the Ancient Empire ground level boardwalk. Following our walks we have time to visit the Visitors Centre and Gift Shop before our drive across to Pemberton. In Pemberton we enjoy some leisure time to purchase lunch before visiting the Pemberton Railway Station for our 2.00pm Tram journey, which meanders its way through towering Karri Forest resplendent with colourful wildflowers, crossing over trestle bridges spanning rivers and streams along one of Australia’s most majestic rail lines. Following our wonderful rail experience we check out the impressive Gloucester Tree, a towering Karri that was once used as a watchtower for bushfires. We then head up to Manjimup to check into our motel with time to relax before dinner in the Cabinet Restaurant. Overnight Manjimup: Kingsley Motel

Daily: Breakfast & Dinner

After an early breakfast and checkout, we travel south to the Donnelly River Boat Ramp to board our Karri to the Coast Cruise. Enjoy the informative and interactive commentary from Peter, covering the ecology, history and geology of the area, and view its beautiful native flora and wildlife. After a brief walk on the sandy beach of the Southern Ocean, we cruise back up the river while enjoying some refreshments, which includes Peter’s “fantastic” muffins. Following our cruise we depart for Cape Leeuwin, the most southern west tip of Australia. Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is one of only two places in the world that has guided vessels where the two great oceans meet. On arrival we partake in a guided tour of the heritage precinct. As an alternative, those fit and able may instead take up the option to tour the lighthouse, which includes 186 steps! This tour needs to be pre-booked. We then make our journey into Margaret for check in and freshen up before dinner.

Overnight Margaret River: Grand Escape Resort

Daily: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This morning, we enjoy breakfast and then travel down to the Mammoth Cave, part of the Margaret River Show Caves. The Mammoth Cave is one of the larger caves in the South-West with huge caverns and majestic formations. This awe-inspiring cave is a natural time capsule and home to ancient fossils and cave formations including stalactites and stalagmites of extraordinary length and size. Further north, we stop by Flametree Wines for lunch and to taste world renowned wines at the cellar door. This afternoon we indulge a little more as we visit The Margaret Chocolate Company for a fascinating insight into the world of chocolate, with free chocolate tastings, interactive displays and viewing windows to watch the chocolate products being made. Right next door is The Providore, a food and wine lovers paradise, voted one of Australia’s Top 100 Gourmet Experiences by Australian Traveller Magazine. Our last stop for the day is at MadFish Wines where we discover the legend behind the winery, enjoy some tastings, grab a glass or two, and enjoy this beautiful region before heading back to our accommodation to relax before dinner.

Overnight Margaret River: Grand Escape Resort

Daily: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

breakfast and checkout, we enjoy a bit of leisure time to explore the Margaret River shopping village before beginning our journey back towards Perth. Our first stop at Busselton is to board the Stocker Preston Express Train, which takes us the length of the jetty to the Underwater Observatory. We then descend 8-metres below the ocean’s surface to gaze at the natural wonders that lie beneath the jetty. Observe the jetty piles that have created Australia’s greatest artificial reef, host to an awe-inspiring forest of vividly coloured tropical and sub-tropical corals, sponges, fish and invertebrates. After our tour, we enjoy a light lunch at the Kyst Restaurant and Bar before continuing up through Bunbury and Mandurah. We stop by the Mandurah War Memorial, designed by award-winning architects Hames Sharley, with water flowing through the monument and into the estuary echoing the lapping of the tide at Anzac Cove. The pillars rising from the water recreates the physical journey and emotional tension of the soldiers who courageously stormed the beaches and rose from the trenches to face the conflict that confronted them. From Mandurah it’s about an hour’s drive into Perth to check into our waterfront accommodation overlooking the Swan River and Barrack Street Jetty. After a freshen up, the evening is at our own leisure for dinner with plenty of dinning venues to choose from.

Overnight Perth: DoubleTree by Hilton Waterfront

Daily: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Our day begins with a guided tour of The Perth Mint, taking us through the grand heritage building, vault and original melting house, uncovering the extraordinary stories about Western Australia’s golden history. Our tour also includes the world class Gold Exhibition, and the amazing spectacle of a traditional gold pour which takes place inside the original 1899 melting house. Next, we visit the Bell Tower home of the Swan Bells and Anzac Bell plus an evergrowing collection of antique bells, clocks and bell-related material from all over the world. This afternoon we enjoy some leisure time to browse at Elizabeth Quay, the new waterfront precinct on the banks of the Swan River. We then head back to our accommodation to prepare for our farewell dinner at the Reel Kitchen.. Overnight Perth: DoubleTree by Hilton Waterfront

Daily: Breakfast & Dinner