Welcome to sunny Perth (Boorloo in the language of the local Whadjuk Nyoongar people, who are the traditional owners of the land on which Perth is now located), where your adventure begins. Leave the city, driving north to Nambung National Park to explore The Pinnacles. These are ancient rock sculptures that rise out of the desert. From here continue on through Geraldton to visit to Western Australia’s own Pink Lake at Port Gregory before we reach the quiet beach town of Kalbarri, where you’ll stay the night.
Today take a short drive to Kalbarri National Park. Hike around some of the park’s diverse scenery, including Murchison Gorge, Nature’s Window and the amazing Kalbarri Skywalk. It’s a steep descent into Z-Bend Gorge. After lunch it's time to relax and check out the seaside cliffs and coastal gorges. Take a walk from Natural Bridge to Island Rock keeping a lookout for dolphins and migrating whales (seasonal). Enjoy a stunning west coast sunset over the Indian Ocean.
An early departure this morning will see us take in the beautiful Shell Beach, which is one of only two beaches in the world composed entirely of shells. Get back on the road and continue towards Denham and Shark Bay. This afternoon you can relax by the pristine shores of Monkey Mia or maybe take an optional sunset sail onboard a local catamaran.
This morning head to the beach and see if you can spot some marine life in Monkey Mia. The beach is well known for their resident dolphins. The idyllic shores around the Francoise Peron National Park are perfect to stretch the legs and admire another slice of Western Australian coastline. The next stop is back at the base of the Shark Bay peninsula where you’ll see the fascinating stromatolites at Hamelin Pool. These marine rock formations are some of the world’s oldest and largest living fossils. After a short break, continue along the highway to Coral Bay – known as the ‘Jewel of the Northwest’.
Today explore picturesque Coral Bay, home to the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef. Snorkel equipment is available to hire, or you could cruise the reef in a glass-bottom boat to observe the tropical life teeming below the surface. The marine park is home to 250 species of coral and over 500 species of fish. In the late afternoon, it’s a short drive to our campsite at Yardie Creek in Cape Range National Park, near Exmouth.
Spend the morning snorkelling right off the beach in the stunning Cape Range National Park. Depending on the time of year, you have the option to snorkel or scuba dive in search of whale sharks and manta rays. Perhaps take a visit to Vlamingh Head Lighthouse, one of the few places in Australia where you can see the sun both rise and set. Enjoy taking a wander around the town of Exmouth before settling down for the night in our permanent campsite.
Head inland today through the vast cattle stations of the Pilbara region. The sparsely populated Pilbara desert is known for its red earth and rich mineral deposits. In the afternoon pass through the little town of Tom Price, which is renowned for its iron ore mining. Continue on to your campsite overlooking the magnificent Hamersley Range in Karijini. Before you go to sleep, take a minute to gaze up at one the most magnificent night skies you’re ever likely to see.
Today explore the almighty gorges of Karijini National Park. Formed over 2500 million years ago, the Hamersley Ranges feature some of the most unusual landforms on Earth. You’ll be able to take some great photographs while you’re here. Hike deep into the gorges, where you’ll come across cascading waterfalls and fresh waterholes ideal for swimming in. Dales Gorge and Circular Pool, Fortescue Falls, Fern Pool and Weano Gorge are just some of the places you can visit. This part of the journey is a real highlight.
Today is a long day of travel through WA's vast Pilbara Outback. Travel south via the outback mining town of Newman, the iron ore Mecca of the north. Continue through many large historical sheep and cattle stations (some over 1 million acres in size) and modern mining centres. Share your last night together at one of our outback campsites.
Leave early as you'll travel to the gold mining town of Mt Magnet. A short break and once more we are on our way to Perth (Boorloo in the language of the local Whadjuk Nyoongar people, who are the traditional owners of the land on which Perth is now located). As the kilometres slip by we soon find ourselves in the wheat and sheep farming districts north east of Perth. Early afternoon will find us at the picturesque town of New Norcia, built as a mission by Benedictine monks in the 1840’s. As the day draws to a close we arrive back into Perth where the trip come to an end.
