Western Reef Adventure

Western Reef Adventure

from £1,134 excluding flights

  • 11 nights
  • Year round
01737 214 250
Open today, 9am - 5pm
Our opening hours are:
  • Monday – Saturday
  • 9am to 5pm
  • Sunday
  • Closed
Call us: 01737 214 250
Enquire Now nordic team doug kington bw

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western australia murchison river lookout kalbarri national park istk

Western Reef Adventure

from £1,134 excluding flights

  • 11 nights
  • Year round

Customers rate Discover the World

Average score 4.8/5

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Highlights

In pictures
western australia rottnest island inquisitive quokka istk

Cruise around Rottnest Island in search of marine life and quokkas

western australia pinnacles desert istk

Marvel at the limestone formations of the Pinnacles

western australia overlooking murchison river kalbarri istk

Explore the geological wonders of Kalbarri National Park

western australia ningaloo whale shark istk

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...

Aoraki Mt Cook National Park tailor made white

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

The itinerary shown is an example of this self-drive holiday. We have many other route recommendations which can be tailored to your requirements. Please discuss with our Travel Specialists who can put together a bespoke itinerary for you.

Day 1 Perth

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.

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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Day 2 Perth

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 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.

Day 3 Perth - Rottnest Island - Perth

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.

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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Day 4 Perth - Cervantes (201 km)

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.

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.

Day 5 Cervantes - Kalbarri (378 km)

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.

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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Day 6 Kalbarri

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.

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.

Day 7 Kalbarri - Monkey Mia (395 km)

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.

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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Day 8 Monkey Mia

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.

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.

Day 9 Monkey Mia - Carnarvon (350 km)

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.

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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Day 10 Carnarvon - Coral Bay (230 km)

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.

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.

Day 11 Coral Bay

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.

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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Day 12 Coral Bay - Learmonth (119 km)

Drop off your rental car at Learmonth Airport and depart.

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.

Discuss your options with our Travel Specialists.

Excursions

Prices and Departures

Price from £1,134 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 £1,134 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.

Meet our expert

nordic team doug kington bw
One of our specialists
Meet Doug

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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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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.

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