Untamed Pilbara & West Coast

Perth
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The northern reaches of Western Australia unite some of the most diverse, and dramatic, landscapes in the country. From yawning red-rock gorges to blissfully blue marine parks, powdery white beaches to fiery orange sunsets, a colourful journey awaits. Your itinerary takes you from below the surface of the sea at Ningaloo Reef, to soaring above it at Horizontal Falls, with Karijini, the Pinnacles and Monkey Mia just some of the postcode-perfect places in between.

Departure dates

From 10/07/2024 to 02/09/2024

What's included

Highlights.
Launch into the sky at the Carnarvon Space Museum, then take a deep dive below the surface while cruising World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef.
Noongar culture and Dreamtime history shine bright on an adventure through Yanchep National Park with charismatic Derek Nannup.
Your national park fees protect the places you visit, ensuring this fragile part of the world will be around for future generations to enjoy.
We’ll forgive you for not wanting to leave Karijini National Park, a magical place where waterfalls drop into turquoise rock pools.
A salve for the soul.
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• Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide • 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Ningaloo Coast & Shark Bay.
• Centrally located premium hotels • Arrival and departure private airport transfers.
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Itinerary / more information

  • Day 1 Multicultural Broome delivers many surprises, from its eclectic restaurants to its long pearling history - the pristine waters produce some of the most prized pearl oysters in the world. Discover Broome's other standout attraction: its sunsets. Follow locals to the sand on Cable Beach and salute the end of your first spectacular day in WA, glass of bubbles in hand.
  • Day 2 Which direction should you choose to venture today? Head north deep into the Kimberley where the Horizontal Falls reveals the power of nature. Get some perspective of the tides here on an optional scenic flight. Or perhaps veer off to a pearl farm, to witness the precision that goes into growing and harvesting these gems. Or simply enjoy Broome's tropical climes, strolling along 22-kilometre Cable Beach, hunting for dinosaur footprints and browsing boutiques.
  • Day 3 At first glimpse of the Pilbara, you may well think you've been transported to Mars. The soil couldn't get any redder, the skies any wider, the rock formations any more dramatic, much of the countryside streaked with mineral deposits. People are few and far between until you reach the town of Port Hedland. There are plenty of local characters to meet over dinner at your hotel.
  • Day 4 Love at first sight? It's likely to happen at Karijini National Park. This is nature amplified, a place of immense gorges and deep, dark chasms; waterfalls and gem-like rock pools. This red slice of the Hamersley Range is a magnet for nature lovers, not only for the earthly delights but also the creatures that call the cliffs home. You're hundreds of kilometres from the nearest town, so expect dazzling stargazing from your safari tent.
  • Day 5 It took billions of years to create the geological wonders of Karijini: the striking red escarpments and the quiet gorges all enveloped by tall gums. You have a single day to explore, so bring your stamina and sense of adventure. You're heading deep into the national park, discovering hidden nooks and waterholes just begging you to swim in them. Things get hot here - why not dive in?
  • Day 6 It's an epic commute across the Pilbara from inland Karijini to Exmouth on the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Coast. While you're driving, dream about all the marine creatures that await in Ningaloo Reef. Many fish and cetaceans live here year-round, but some larger-than-life visitors only drop in at certain times, on their migratory path.
  • Day 7 Steel yourself for a few 'pinch-me' moments today. You could choose to snorkel (with an ethical operator) over Ningaloo Reef. Time of year pending, you may have whale sharks and possibly humpback whales in your company. Nothing quite prepares you for the initial moment you glimpse these gentle giants up close. Or, spend your day strolling the sand and cruising with dolphins at sunset. The choice is yours.
  • Day 8 You don't need to get your hair wet to experience the sheer wonderment of Ningaloo Reef. A Coral Bay glass-bottom boat cruise gets you within a whisker of turtles, colourful coral and an embarrassment of fish. You won't know where to look, although your on-board naturalist will help guide your gaze. From staring at the sea to staring at the stars: your next port of call is the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum. Did you know it played a role in the 1969 moon landing? Just one fascinating fact you'll learn from your passionate guide.
  • Day 9 While stromatolites might sound like something belonging in a cave, these 'living fossils' grow in the water at Hamelin Pool. Rock-like in appearance, they're actually alive, and reveal what life might have been like 3.5-billion years ago. Remarkably, this is the world's most abundant colony of them. It's just one of the natural allures of the state's World Heritage listed Shark Bay, which is also characterised by Shell Beach, formed from billions of coquina bivalve shells.
  • Day 10 Sparkling turquoise water, powdery white sand, ochre dunes - Monkey Mia knows how to dial up the drama. And then there are the wild resident dolphins, which famously swim to shore every morning to splash about in the shallows and interact with humans. It's a hard act to follow. Perhaps choose an optional sunset cruise, or get some perspective of the bay on an optional scenic flight?
  • Day 11 Kalbarri National Park is known for many things: its gorges, towering coastal cliffs and rare wildlife among them - spot peregrine falcons from Hawks Head Lookout. And then there are the wildflowers, which bloom and blanket much of the countryside in spring, transforming it into a floral wonderland. Arriving in Geraldton, pay homage to sailors lost off the WA coast during WWII at the HMAS Sydney Memorial.
  • Day 12 Two final wilderness highs provide a fitting end to this journey of contrasts. Within Nambung National Park, the Pinnacles create a moonscape that appears plucked from a science fiction film, its staggering collection of natural limestone structures jutting into the sky. It's a spiritual place, as is nearby Yanchep National Park. Here, on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER(R) Experience, Noongar man Derek Nannup's Dreamtime stories tell the tale of how the land was created. His tours are hands-on, so expect to taste bush tucker and try the didgeridoo. Arriving in Perth you have a Farewell Dinner to swap contact details with your new friends and reminisce about your western adventure.
  • Day 13 How do you pick a favourite adventure from the last 12 days? You don't have to - let them all shine in equal measure in your memory.
  • Prices quoted valid for sale until 08 May 2024 unless otherwise stated or sold out prior.
  • Price is per person and subject to availability. Accommodation (if included) is based on twin share unless otherwise stated.
  • Airfare (including internal flights) is not included unless otherwise stated and, if included, is economy class unless otherwise stated.
  • Local payments, "trip kittys" or food funds may apply and may be payable direct to the supplier on arrival or to your travel agent prior to your departure. Where applicable, these payments are included in the total price quoted.
  • Gratuities are not included unless otherwise stated.
  • Additional conditions and travel restrictions may apply. Please enquire for further details.
  • Prices shown are fully inclusive of taxes, levies and government charges current at time of publication.
  • Additional levies, government charges and other applicable fees may apply and are beyond our control.
  • Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply depending on date of travel.
  • Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge.
  • Prices shown are for payments made by cash in store or Bpay.
  • These prices are a guide to the best price. Prices are correct as at 03 May 2024 and are subject to change without notice, due to matters outside our control, such as adverse currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, taxes and airfare increases. Please enquire for further details.

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