Itinerary Highlights
- Drive through karri forests, follow the rugged southern coastline and journey into the remote outback
- Savour sweeping views of Perth's skyline from Kings Park or wander the historic streets of Fremantle
- Sample some of Australia's finest wines in the Margaret River region or explore underground caverns at Ngilgi Cave
- Best time to travel November - April
What's Included
- Accommodation Throughout
- Car Hire
- International Flights
Jasmine
Travel Specialist
Discover Western Australia’s southern region on our 11-night, flexible fly-drive. This itinerary will take you from the sparkling skyscrapers of Perth and historic port of Fremantle to Western Australia’s premier wine region, Margaret River.
Take dramatic coastal walks, explore the underground caverns of Cape Naturaliste and drive through forests of lofty karri and jarrah trees. Explore the dramatic Great Australian Bight coastline, stopping at the charming seaside town of Albany with its colonial architecture and history of the ANZAC’s and whaling industry.
Dive into the crystal-clear waters and stroll along the white sand beaches of Esperance, before cruising the Recherche Archipelago, where there are regular sightings of Australian fur seals, dolphins and white-bellied sea eagles.
Travel to Western Australia’s outback and immerse yourself in the country’s gold mining culture; take a tour of Super Pit where over 900,000 ounces of gold are mined each year. Complete your tour with a well-deserved day at the beach at one of Perth’s seaside resorts.
Itinerary
Day 2 Arrive Perth
Collect your vehicle from the airport and make your way to your hotel in the heart of Perth. You’ll have the remainder of the day to stroll through the acclaimed Kings Park where you will be treated to panoramic views of Perth’s modern skyline. This evening we suggest trying the array of dining options at Barrack Street Jetty, or the edgy restaurants of hip neighbourhood Mount Lawley.
Day 3 Perth
Perth and its surrounds offer a vast choice of attractions and activities to suit most people’s interests. Cruises up the Swan River take you in to Western Australia’s oldest wine region where you can stop for wine tastings. Thirty minutes south of Perth is Fremantle where you can wander through the historic streets lined with colonial buildings, or why not spend the day at one of Perth’s sandy beaches?
Day 4 Perth to Margaret River Region (163 miles)
You will leave Perth today to travel to Western Australia’s premier wine region, Margaret River. You will pass through popular beach resorts of Busselton and Bunbury, where wild dolphins often swim right up to the shore. We suggest stopping at Ferguson Valley where you can wine and dine at one of the area’s fine restaurants or award-winning wineries while soaking up the stunning backdrop of forests, rolling pastures and vineyards.
Day 5 Cape Naturaliste and Margaret River Region
The Margaret River region is renowned for its world-class wineries and dining as well as its top-rated surf beaches, coastal walks and ancient caves. Explore the underground caverns and exquisite stalactites and stalagmites of Ngilgi Caves. Visit one of Margaret River’s premier wineries to sample some of Australia’s finest chardonnays and cabernets. We suggest ending the day watching the sun setting over the Indian Ocean at Cape Naturaliste lighthouse.
Day 6 Margaret River Region to Albany (230 miles)
Travel inland across karri and jarrah tree forests, stop at one of Nannup’s cosy tea rooms or peruse the art galleries and antique shops. At Lake Muir Observatory, a popular picnic spot, you can wander along the boardwalk through wetlands and a nature reserve. Continue to the charming city of Albany, this is where the first convoy of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, who became known as ANZACs, departed for the battlegrounds of the First World War.
Hotel – Beach House at Bayside
Day 7 Albany
Albany’s coastline is breathtaking and it also here that the first European settlers set foot in Western Australia. Around 50 of Albany’s colonial buildings remain, many are now museums, galleries and restaurants. Take the 30-minute self-guided walk along the Amity Trail to learn more of the city’s history. Other highlights include the Historic Whaling Station museum and the state-of-the-art National Anzac Centre where personal stories unfold through interactive and multimedia displays.
Hotel – Beach House at Bayside
Day 8 Albany to Esperance (300 miles)
Pass through Porongurup National Park, one of the best areas to witness Western Australia’s abundant wildflowers from August to early December. Continue through Stirling Range National Park, home to Bluff Knoll, Western Australia’s second-highest peak. Pass the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fitzgerald River National Park, home to almost 20 per cent of Western Australia’s plant species. Visit July – October for the chance to witness southern right whales at Point Ann.
Hotel – Esperance Island View Apartments
Day 9 Esperance
Follow the 25-mile Great Ocean Drive circular loop taking in beautiful coastal scenery, and sheltered white sand beaches such as Twilight Beach and Ten Mile Lagoon where you can swim in their crystal-clear waters. Take a cruise through the Recherche Archipelago where there are regular sightings of Australian fur seals, dolphins and white-bellied sea eagles.
Hotel – Esperance Island View Apartments
Day 10 Esperance to Kalgoorlie (244 miles)
Today you travel north into the outback, to Kalgoorlie, in the heart of the Goldfields. Call in at the small mining town of Kambalda on the north shore of Lake Lefroy, a giant Salt Lake popular for land sailing and sometimes used for land speed record attempts. Catch a spectacular outback sunset from Mount Charlotte then wander down Kalgoorlie’s lively Hannan Street, lined with pubs, bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
Hotel – Hospitality Kalgoorlie
Day 11 Kalgoorlie
Immerse yourself in Australia’s gold mining heritage with a visit to the Kalgoorlie-Boulder WA Museum where you can admire the largest collection of gold bars and nuggets in the state. Take a tour of the Super Pit, one of the world’s largest open-cut mines, which still produces 900,000 ounces of gold every year. Drop in at Kalgoorlie’s Royal Flying Doctor Service visitor centre for an insight into one of Australia’s legendary organisations.
Hotel - Hospitality Kalgoorlie
Day 12 Kalgoorlie to Perth (375 miles)
Stop at Coolgardie, the birthplace of Western Australia’s gold rush. The town is one of the nation’s best-preserved mining towns with many heritage buildings remaining today. Stop at Merredin to visit the railway museum where you will find a beautifully preserved railway station and 1897 steam engine. Enjoy afternoon tea in the historic town of York before the last leg of your journey to Perth.
Jasmine
Travel Specialist
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