DAYS
13
Style
Accommodated
EX
Perth – Perth
From
$7,975.00
OVERVIEW
Next Tour: 12th - 24th October 2024
HIGHLIGHTS
- Dryandra Woodland National Park
- Hopkins Nature Reserve
- Wave Rock
- Recherche Archipelago Cruise
- Fitzgerald River National Park
- Waychinicup National Park
- Stirling Ranges
- Tree Top & Old Empire Walks in the Valley of the Giants
UNCOVER THE UNIQUE NATURE OF WA’S SOUTHWEST NATIONAL PARKS
Few areas in Australia are blessed with the number and variety of national parks found in WA’s south west. They offer breathtaking beauty and diversity – rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, magnificent wildflowers and some of the world’s tallest forests.
It is also one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. Almost 80 percent of the plant species are found nowhere else on earth. The varied range of wildflowers, forests and native animals all contribute to the rare and unique nature of the region. It is also renowned for its abundance of birdlife as most of WA’s endemics occur here.
You will experience a vast array of habitats where you will see other wildlife. We’ll be walking through open woodlands, outback arid areas, coastal heaths, peppermint trees, karri forests and on an offshore island.
Itinerary
| Day 1 | Perth - Dryandra - Narrogin | We’ll leave Perth around 7.30 am and head southeast to Dryandra Woodland National Park. Dryandra is an incredibly scenic area with magnificent woodlands and spectacular wildflowers in spring. Many interesting eucalypt species and flora are found here; it is also of international importance for birds and mammals, including the most exquisite of marsupials, the striped numbat. Although the numbat is probably Dryandra's best-known inhabitant, woylies, tammar wallabies, brushtail possums, tawny frogmouths, kangaroos and wallabies are regularly seen by visitors to Dryandra. More than 100 species of birds live in the area, including the mound-building mallee fowl. We will spend the afternoon exploring the area before enjoying a BBQ dinner. After dinner, we will take a spotlight walk in Narrogin. Accommodation: Motel Narrogin LD |
| Day 2 | Narrogin - Wave Rock - Hyden | This morning we’ll leave Narrogin and continue our journey eastward to Hyden. During the day, we will pass through the wheatbelt towns of Harrismith and Kulin. Kulin Shire has an abundance of excellent wildflower reserves. They are as rich and varied as any in the world. Hopkins Nature Reserve comes to life in early spring and is a critical flora conservation area. Roadside flora will also be abundant during the day. When we arrive in Hyden, we’ll have time to visit one of WA’s biggest waves despite being far from the ocean. The famous ‘Wave Rock’ formation has been 700 million years in the making and rises 15 metres above the outback ground. Venture further into this ancient landscape and discover a wide variety of striking geological features. Many are also the subject of fascinating Indigenous Dreamtime stories and the site of beautiful Indigenous rock art. Accommodation: Motel Hyden BLD |
| Day 3 | Hyden - Norseman | We'll pass through a semi-arid zone on our travels from Hyden to Norseman. This area offers many interesting geological highlights, including McDermid Rock and the Breakaways. Accommodation: Motel Norseman BLD |
| Day 4 | Norseman - Esperance | This morning we’ll head south to Esperance. We’ll travel via the Old Coach Road, visiting some natural history and historical sites along the way. Accommodation: Motel Esperance BLD |
| Day 5 | Esperance | Today we’ll visit Cape Le Grande, National Park. Cape Le Grand is characterised by wild coastal scenery, rugged granite peaks and sweeping heathlands. Popular features in the park include attractive bays with wide sandy beaches set between rocky headlands. This habitat is home to Western Grey Kangaroos and many shore birds. Accommodation: Motel Esperance BLD |
| Day 6 | Esperance - Recherche Archipelago Crusie - Woody Island - Esperance | Today we’ll set off on a morning cruise from Esperance through the Recherché Archipelago to the waters around Woody Island. Woody Island Nature Reserve is approximately 15km off the coast of Esperance and is one of nature’s wonders. The island is one of the one hundred islands in the Recherche Archipelago, known to locals as the Bay of Isles. The waters around the island make for great sightings of spectacular wildlife. All sorts of marine life thrive in these waters, including fur seals, sea lions and dolphins, and a range of birds, including Cape Barren Geese and White-breasted Sea Eagles. Mid-afternoon, on return to the mainland, there will be time to visit Lake Mortijinup, where the birdlife and wildflowers should be plentiful. Accommodation: Motel Esperance BLD |
| Day 7 | Esperance - Hopetoun | We’ll leave Esperance this morning and begin our journey westward to the Fitzgerald River National Park. Our drive takes us past Pink Lake and Stokes National Park (featuring one of the most picturesque estuaries along WA’s southern coast). We can also expect a great display of roadside wildflowers on the way to Hopetoun. Accommodation: Motel Hopetoun BLD |
| Day 8 | Hopetoun - Fitzgerald River National Park - Bremer Bay | Today we’ll find ourselves on the doorstep of the Fitzgerald River National Park, one of Australia's largest and most botanically significant National Parks. Nearly 20 per cent of WA’s flora species are found in the park, many of which only occur here. Our first point of interest is Mt Barren (which we’ll visit if the access road is open). We’ll continue our botanical journey travelling through the national park. We’ll see many plant varieties here, including the Royal Hakea, Regelia Bottlebrush, Prostrate Banksia, Quaalup Bell, Whipstick Mallee and Trigger plant. Accommodation: Bremer Bay Motel BLD |
| Day 9 | Fitzgerald River National Park | Today we’ll have the entire day to spend exploring the natural wonders of the west end of the Fitzgerald River National Park. The park covers over 120,000 acres and houses a wide variety of habitats, including heathlands, wetlands, scrublands and rugged mountains (by Australian standards). We will walk the trails and may climb one of the mountains to enjoy the excellent views. The bird life here is abundant, ranging in size from large Emus to tiny Emu-wrens, Fairy Wrens and Thornbills. Accommodation: Bremer Bay Motel BLD |
| Day 10 | Bremer Bay - Waychinicup N.P. - 2 Peoples Bay - Albany | We will have an early start this morning to allow for a trip to Waychinicup National Park. We’ll visit Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve boasting unspoilt coastal scenery. We will look and listen for the rare Noisy Scrub bird. Accommodation: Motel Albany BLD |
| Day 11 | Albany - Stirling Range - Albany | Today we’ll see the wonders of the Stirling Range National Park. On the way to the park, you can observe the change in the vegetation to tall species of Eucalyptus, Jarrah and Marri. The Stirling Ranges are a striking feature of the landscape, with five peaks over 3000 feet high that rise abruptly from the coastal lowlands. The area receives more rainfall than its surrounding districts, allowing plants to thrive here that are not found elsewhere. Accommodation: Motel Albany BLD |
| Day 12 | Albany - Denmark - Manjimup | Leaving Albany, today we’ll continue west and enter the main Karri belt near Denmark. We’ll walk through the Karri forest, enjoying the wildflowers and wildlife. A visit to the Tree Top Walk and the Old Empire Walk in the Valley of the Giants will be a highlight of the day. Accommodation: Motel Manjimup BLD |
| Day 13 | Manjimup - Perth | Leaving Manjimup behind, we head to Perth. Our journey will take us through the coastal town of Bunbury, where we will explore the wildlife found at Big Swamp and then onto Mandurah. Our tour ends with our arrival in Perth in the late afternoon. BL |
| NOTE: the above itinerary may be varied according to conditions and advice. |
availability
Places available
Inclusions
- Coates tour leader / driver
- Coates Naturalist leader
- Well maintained vehicle with all front facing, seat-belted, coach style seats
- Meals as per itinerary
- Morning tea each day
- Fresh fruit on board daily
- All national park entrance fees
- Woody Island Cruise
- Tree Top Walk
Trip Reviews
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