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Western Reef Adventure

from £1075 excluding flights

  • 11 nights
  • Year round
Home Destinations Australasia Australia Western Reef Adventure

Highlights

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Cruise around Rottnest Island in search of marine life and quokkas

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Marvel at the limestone formations of the Pinnacles

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Explore the geological wonders of Kalbarri National Park

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Swim with dolphins and whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef

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Discover the wilderness of Shark Bay World Heritage Site

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Encounter bottle-nosed dolphins and pelicans at Monkey Mia

Why this trip...

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Tailor made

This itinerary can be tailor made to suit you and is intended to give you a guideline of what is possible in a given timeframe

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Well-researched route

We've put our years of experience into creating this well-paced itinerary that includes the places we know you'll enjoy

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Explore at leisure

With the route, transport and accommodation sorted, each day offers the freedom to explore

Overview

Explore Australia’s sunset coast on this spectacular self-drive holiday from Perth to Exmouth on the North West Cape. Enjoy the region’s unique wildlife both on and in the water, as well as scenic highlights from the geological wonders of Nambung and Kalbarri National Parks to the pristine beaches pristine beaches of Rottnest Island and Monkey Mia.

The endless coastline from Perth to Exmouth is home to deserted white sand beaches fringed by the inviting blue waters of the Indian Ocean. Here you will find World Heritage sites and marine reserves, home to an array of wildlife including sharks, whales, dolphins and dugongs, as well as the spectacular Ningaloo Reef Marine Park with its incredible coral gardens and abundance of brightly coloured fish.

Itinerary

Arrive in the laid-back city of Perth, the capital of Western Australia situated on the banks of the Swan River and check-in to your hotel for a 3-night stay.

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Spend the day at leisure to explore the highlights of the city and Fremantle. You may like to visit Kings Park Botanical Gardens, Cottesloe Beach or historic Fremantle with its cosmopolitan cafes and restored historic buildings.

Spend time on beautiful Rottnest Island, where you can meet friendly quokkas and cruise in search of marine wildlife. Your day starts with a scenic ferry cruise along the Swan River and across to Rottnest Island. Here you can explore white sand beaches, swim in the turquoise waters or enjoy watching the comical quokkas, small marsupials who are one of the island’s star attractions. Later board the ‘Eco Express’ boat for a full circumnavigation of the island, following the craggy coastline and keeping your eyes peeled for fur seals, dolphins and, between September and November, humpback whales. Enjoy a leisurely ferry transfer back to Perth. Lunch is included.

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Collect your rental vehicle and depart Perth for Cervantes. Nearby lies the unique Nambung National Park, home to the strange limestone formations known as the Pinnacles. Literally thousands of these limestone pillars, standing up to 4 metres tall, dot the barren landscape here and are well worth spending some time exploring.

Depart Cervantes and continue to the town of Kalbarri, a town of contrasts. The surrounding area is rich in history, wildflowers (in season) and spectacular scenery. The rocky wild coast north and south of the town has claimed many ships, dating back to the very first Europeans to venture this way. Kalbarri National Park is right on the doorstep of the town and covers 186,000 square kilometres, through the heart of which flows the Murchison River with some 85 kilometres of gorges.

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Visit the gorges and formations carved by the Murchison River in Kalbarri National Park. Short walks provide easy access to spectacular lookouts. If time permits, hike the Z-Bend, a 1.4km return walk, considered by many to offer the most breathtaking view in the park. Gazing down, the gorge plunges 150 metres to the river below where river redgums create a striking contrast against the earthy Tumblagooda sandstone.

Set off for the journey to Shark Bay. You may wish stop en route to visit the famous Hamelin Pools to view the oldest living organisms on our planet, the stromatolites. Admittedly not much to look at, these living fossils are direct descendants of the oldest form of photosynthetic life on earth, and can be traced back 3.5 billion years! Monkey Mia is set on an isolated beach in Shark Bay and has created international interest with its resident dolphins, as well as being home to one of the world’s largest dugong populations.

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You may wish to take part in an early morning dolphin feeding on the beach. You will then join a full day lagoon, kayak and snorkel tour. You will hopefully see dugongs, as well as other marine life which may include sea snakes, turtles and dolphins.

Continue your journey to Carnarvon, situated at the mouth of the Gascoyne River. Here you will find plantations of mangoes, pawpaws, bananas, oranges and grapefruit.

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Depart Carnarvon for Coral Bay. Coral Bay is in a lagoon formed between the Ningaloo Coral Reef and the coastline. The Reef is the longest continuous and most accessible reef complex in Western Australia, extending from north of Point Murat, round North West Cape, and south to Amherst Point, a distance of about 260 kilometres.

Spend the day at leisure – you may wish to join a cruise in search of the Ningaloo Reef Marine Park’s many manta rays, turtles, dolphins and dugongs, or simply hire a snorkel and explore the reef directly from the beach! From April to July each year Ningaloo hosts some of the ocean’s most striking visitors, huge whale sharks. Swimming with these gentle giants is highly recommended.

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Drop off your rental car at Learmonth Airport and depart.

Accommodation Options

We have selected accommodation for this holiday in a mix of mid-range hotels and motels, but with a wide choice available in Western Australia, we can adapt to suit your personal preference mixing different grades and styles.

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Prices and Departures

Price from £1075 excluding flights

Airfares start from around £730 per person and are quoted separately to the holiday price. When enquiring, our Travel Specialists will provide the best fare possible from your preferred airline / airport.
Note: Airfares tend to be cheaper the earlier you book.

What's Included

  • Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
  • Car rental throughout
  • Private transfer on arrival in Perth
  • Rottnest Island day tour with wildlife cruise
  • Full day lagoon, kayak and snorkel tour in Monkey Mia
  • 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
  • No surcharge guarantee
  • Full financial protection

This itinerary starts from £1,075 per person, based on 2 sharing a room in standard accommodation, and vehicle rental with GPS.

Prices may vary depending on departure date, or should you prefer alternative categories of accommodation or vehicle size. Please contact us for a detailed quote based on your preferred travel dates, vehicle category and style of accommodation, or to tailor this itinerary.

Tailor made trips

As independent destination specialists, we are able to tailor make holidays to suit you, be that customising the itineraries shown on this website or creating something bespoke.

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Travelling sustainably

We believe travel is about finding the right balance between minimising our impact on the environment and broadening minds through new experiences and cultural interaction.