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Whales and Wine of the South West

from £1077 excluding flights

  • 8 nights
  • Year round
Home Destinations Australasia Australia Whales and Wine of the South West

Highlights

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Spot humpback and southern right whales on a whale watching cruise

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Join an exclusive group tour of Margaret River wineries

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Cruise around Rottnest Island in search of marine life

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Meet the quokka - possibly Australia’s most endearing marsupials

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Take a Treetop Walk through the Valley of the Giants

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Uncover the fascinating history of Albany

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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Explore at leisure

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

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Activities included

This itinerary features a range of included activities

Overview

The lush green forests and fertile vineyards of Australia’s South West provide the backdrop to this coastal adventure, whilst marine wildlife can be found in abundance off-shore. Follow a beautifully rugged coastline in search of dolphins, whales, seals and more. Along the way explore deep caves, isolated lighthouses, towering karri forests, and the world-renowned wineries that lie scattered throughout the Margaret River region. Continue along the south coast to historic Albany, one of Australia’s oldest towns and gateway to national parks, hiking trails and pristine sandy beaches.

This fantastic introduction to the South West includes a guided winery tour at Margaret River, a memorable day trip to Rottnest Island in search of quokkas, sea lions and dolphins, and a whale-watching cruise to spot humpbacks and southern right whales. Time is also available to explore at leisure, perhaps uncovering the history of whaling at Albany’s fascinating museum, testing your nerves on a Treetop Walk amongst giant tingle trees, or hiking the rugged clifftops and pristine beaches of the region’s numerous national parks.

Note: the annual whale migration occurs between May and December. This self-drive itinerary is available year-round, but would not include the chance to see whales outside of these months.

Itinerary

On arrival in Perth you will be met and transferred to your hotel for a 2-night stay. The capital of Western Australia is a laid-back city sitting on the banks of the Swan River.

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. Your Rottnest experience ends with the leisurely ferry transfer back to Perth. Lunch is included today.

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Collect your rental car this morning and make your way south to Margaret River. You may wish to stop along the way at the excellent Dolphin Discovery Centre at Bunbury, or walk the length of the Busselton Jetty, which at 2kms is the longest wooden jetty in the southern hemisphere. On arrival in Margaret River check in to your accommodation for a 3-night stay.

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Set out on a 2-hour whale watching cruise (included), departing from Augusta (May-August) or Dunsborough (September-December). During the annual migration over 35,000 humpbacks make their way along the Western Australia coastline, as well as blue whales and southern right whales. You may also encounter common and bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals and a wealth of sea birds. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore the coast, perhaps visiting the lighthouses at Cape Naturaliste or Cape Leeuwin, discovering the region’s cave networks or taking a relaxing stroll along one of the many nearby beaches.

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Margaret River is well known for its award winning wines and fine food. Enjoy a full day guided winery tour visiting five different establishments from boutique wineries to mass producing vineyards. Meet the vintners and gain behind-the-scenes access to some of WA’s best vineyards. During the tour you will enjoy exclusive wine pairings and a delicious lunch platter.

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Leave the coast and head inland into towering karri forests. With a relatively short drive to Pemberton, there is plenty of time to stop along the way and stretch your legs on forest hikes. A couple of kilometres from Pemberton is Gloucester National Park, home to the famous Gloucester Tree. This behemoth was once used as part of a chain of ‘lookout trees’, to spot forest fires. The lookout platform is 53 metres above ground and climbing up to it is definitely not for the faint-hearted!

Continue your drive towards Walpole and the south coast, travelling through several national parks. Follow the S7 South Coast Highway to the impressive Valley of the Giants, a forest of immense tingle trees which are best viewed from the Tree Top Walk. This 600 metre long steel walkway is 40 metres high and meanders through the forest canopy, offering spectacular views over the forest to the surrounding hills. Back on solid ground, the Ancient Empire Walk takes you into the heart of a grove of veteran tingle trees. These giant eucalypts date back over 400 years and are found nowhere else on earth. Your final destination today is the historic town of Albany.

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Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Albany and the surrounding area. Albany reveals a tempestuous past as a landing point for incarcerated convicts, as well as being home to a once thriving whaling industry. The former whaling station now houses a fascinating interactive whale museum, whilst the National Anzac Centre offers a deeply personal memorial to the 41,000 Australian and New Zealand armed forces that departed from Albany for the Great War. Beyond the town Torndirrup National Park is well worth a visit, with its jagged granite coastline boasting wave-beaten rock formations and stunning views out over the Southern Ocean. From May to October it’s possible to stand on the shore and watch southern right and humpback whales in King George Sound, as well as spotting sea lions, dolphins and sea birds. The more energetic may wish to climb up Stony Hill for views across Albany to the distant Stirling Ranges.

Set on the journey from Albany back to Perth, perhaps stopping for supplies at one of the wineries along the route.

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Accommodation Options

With a wide choice of accommodation in Australia, we can mix and match different grades and styles to suit your personal preference – from hotels, motels and self-catering apartments to boutique B&Bs and idyllic lodges in stunning locations.

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Prices and Departures

Price from £1077 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 airport transfer on arrival in Perth
  • Rottnest Island full day tour, including wildlife cruise and lunch
  • Whale watching cruise
  • Wine and dine full day winery tour, including lunch
  • 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
  • No surcharge guarantee
  • Full financial protection

This itinerary starts from around £1,077 per person, based on 2 sharing a room with private bathroom in standard hotels, and rental of an intermediate vehicle.

Prices may vary depending on departure date and booking date, as well as any changes to the included components. The final cost of a tailored holiday will be based on the level of accommodation, size of vehicle, included activities, travel season, and how far in advance it is booked. We will confirm the exact price for your holiday in your individual quotation, based on your chosen travel dates and inclusions.

As Standard, Complete Piece of Mind

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The World's Great. Pass it On

To mark our 40th anniversary, we've launched our Education Bursary Fund to help disadvantaged school children experience the wonders of travel. A percentage of revenue from every holiday booked will go into the bursary fund to pay for at least 40 students to join one of our school trips abroad.