SOUTH WEST EDGE WILDERNESS ESCAPE TOUR

We require 10 visitors on this tour in a 12 seater people carrier to make it worthwhile. 

See price below for the single supplement at $4,790

THEME: Discover the South West with its massive karri forests, the South East and Great Southern with its history of European settlement and colonisation, the stories about the original custodians of the land the first nation’s peoples, visit Frenchmen’s Peak and Cape Le Grande near Esperance with its white sandy beaches, see extraordinary wildflowers, the PUBLIC silo large-scale art trails in Newdegate, Pingrup, Ravensthorpe, Albany and Katanning, travel into the core of a biosphere reserve - the Fitzgerald River National Park with a local guide to experience nature at its best, learn about Broomehill and the gold prospectors who trekked along the Holland Track to the Goldfields and view other treasures like the Historical Whaling Station, Anzac Centre and Premier Mill Hotel all complimented with wine tastings at well known vineyards in the Great Southern! This tour will leave some long lasting memories and life-long friendships.

Day 1     Karri Forests, Rivers and Vineyards

·       The previous evening we all catch up at the Settlers Tavern for a social drink and a meal

·       We depart Margaret River at 8.00am for our crossing of the Blackwood River via Nannup into Bridgetown for a quick visit. Then we depart and travel in a south easterly direction toward Manjimup and then Pemberton for morning tea

·       Following the break we head through extensive karri forests to Walpole for late lunch, which is then followed with a walk amongst the treetops before heading to Denmark for wine tastings and afternoon tea on our way to spending spend two nights in Albany at the Dog Rock Motel with dining at Lime 303 a classy restaurant which is part of the motel complex

Day 2     Whales and Anzacs

·       In the morning we start the day afresh at 8.30am and travel in the footsteps of people living at the first colonial settlement in Western Australia in late 1826. The settlement was originally a military outpost and part of the Colony of NSW and called Frederick Town (this changed in 1831 when it was formally proclaimed part of the Swan River Colony) and renamed Albany in 1832

·       We visit the Sandalwood Shop for morning tea and a tour before returning to Albany

·       We travel out to the “Natural Bridge,” the “Gap” and Albany’s Historic Whaling Station, where you can step aboard the former Cheynes IV Whalechaser ship. We can enjoy the region’s wildflower garden and the wildlife park. Lunch is planned in Whaler’s Cafe that flanks the picturesque views across the islands to the mainland

·       The afternoon activities include a visit to the National Anzac Centre and the Convoy Lookout which offers a truly unique opportunity to absorb the reality of Australia’s and New Zealand’s first contingent of 30,000 troops to WWI who were anchored in a large convoy in King  George Sound (October 1914)

·       Finally take a journey around the coast line to Middleton Beach, to view spectacular beaches and coastline, which offers locals and tourists alike, aquatic beauty and tranquillity before the final night of the tour with a dinner at Lime 303 restaurant

Day 3     Mountain Country, Birds, Artwork and Cultural Sites

·       Next day with a departure at 8.00am we travel past the artwork on the wheat silo at the Port before driving to Middleton Beach and then stop to view the ocean at Emu Point where guests learn about Oyster Harbour. There is much to discover, the recovery programs for the sea grasses, the commercial farming and re-establishment of local oysters using an artificial reef system. Enjoy the estuarine birdlife as you learn about the history of the Kalgan River, the early French and British navigators, and finally as the meeting place for the Kalgan and King Rivers

·       We then travel via Lower King and Nanarup Road to view the Indigenous fish traps at Oyster Harbour. The local Indigenous Menang peoples of the Noongar nation trapped different fish species as a major food source.  You will see cultural sites over 6,000 years
old

·       Morning tea is then taken at Emu point Cafe before travelling to the Porongurup Range

·       Then as we travel through the Stirling Range we take a trip to the carpark lookout at Bluff Knoll, the highest peak being 1099 metres above sea level. It is known as the ‘place of many eyes’ or Pualaar Miial, by Indigenous Noongar people. We enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding plains and see if we can spot black cockatoos, birds of prey, purple-crowned lorikeets, scrub wrens and other birds in their natural habitat

·       We then take a detour drive heading along the Horsepower Highway to Gnowangerup to view all the old tractors and other artwork that reflects the country regions of WA

·       In the meantime lunch is being scheduled at the Yongergnow Malleefowl Centre where guests will experience and learn about the Malleefowl sanctuary. This is part of the National Malleefowl Recovery Program to protect Malleefowl and their habitat. This country is known for the massive deforestation or clearing of vast ecologically rich and diverse Eucalyptus Mallee

·       We make a quick visit to the Ongerup Railway Museum and wildflower display before heading to Ravensthorpe via Jerramungup where we arrive late in the afternoon to take some photo shots of the artwork on the wheat silos (part of the FORM Public Silo Art Trail) and contingent upon time allow some free time to shop, enjoy a gourmet ice cream/sweet treat/coffee at a local cafe before heading to Esperance several hours away for two evenings staying in town on the foreshore. An evening meal is enjoyed at a nearby restaurant

Day 4     South Coast - Quaint Bays, Turquoise Blue Waters with Pristine Sandy Beaches 

·       Next day with a departure at 8.30am we depart for Frenchmen’s Peak, Cape Le Grande and Lucky Bay with the magnificent coastline dotted with bays and sandy beaches

·       We enjoy the morning and then head back to Esperance for lunch at a nice cafe on the foreshore

·       In the afternoon we drive westward out to Twilight Cove nestled at the end of a long sweeping coastline

·       We then proceed to return to Esperance where following afternoon tea some free time may be available to enjoy the coastal
setting followed by an evening “sundowner” and meal

Day 5     Memorials, Flora, Artwork and Mine Shafts

·       Next morning we arise and depart for Hopetoun and the Wavecrest Resort via Ravensthorpe

·       On the journey we stop at Ravensthorpe for morning tea and then to pay a visit to the local Visitor Centre and Museum and chat to the locals

·       Then we travel just out of Ravensthorpe to pay respects to the local Indigenous Noongar peoples who were massacred in the 1860’s at the Indigenous Memorial Site at Kukenarup just off the South Coast highway followed by a short trip into the Cocanarup TImber Reserve to view the salmon gums and river crossing

·       Viewing along this drive you may sight Carnaby's Black Cockatoos (Spring time), wildflowers, other birdlife, old growth Salmon Gum woodland and Jam Tree mid storey and perhaps Sandalwood trees

·       This is followed by lunch in Ravensthorpe before proceeding along the Hopetoun Road to view the artwork and stop at the old Elverdton
gold-copper mine shaft and headframe to take some photos before arriving at Wavecrest Resort

·       Here we disembark for two nights stay and guests may have some free time to view the coastline and walk the main street and check out the local hotel

·       Then we head back to the Resort for dinner

Day 6     Wildflowers and Biospheres

·       After an early rise and breakfast we are in good shape at 8.30am for a morning adventure with a local guide who has a Bachelor of Environmental Science: Conservation & and Wildlife Biology. He takes us into the Fitzgerald River National Park, the core of the internationally recognised Fitzgerald Biosphere Reserve along with an internationally recognized Ramsar Wetland,  to observe the stunning array of wildflowers and bushland backing onto wild coastal and marine eco-systems with incredible
ocean views

·       We then pack up and head back toward Hopetoun for lunch at a local café before heading to Ravensthorpe where guests are free to tour the town before having a sundowner at the “local” Palace Hotel and then heading back to the Resort

·       A day of entrapment by wildflowers and local experts is followed by a dinner at the Wavecrest Resort

Day 7     Rangelands, Mine Shafts and Artwork

·       We pack up and depart around 8.30am from Hopetoun and we arrive for a nature drive to view the birdlife and wildflowers in the Ravensthorpe Range followed by a quick visit to an another old copper-gold mine shaft at Mt Catlin before heading to Lake King

·       We can view more roadside art works as we travel to the Lake King Tavern for lunch. Following lunch we then proceed to Newdegate
where we arrive to take some photo shots of the painted wildlife artwork on the wheat silos (part of the FORM Public Silo Art Trail)

·       After Newdegate we continue our journey to Pingrup to view the painted wildlife artwork on the wheat silos (again part of the FORM Public Silo Art Trail) to photograph the silos

·       Next stop is Nyabing “Hub” to enjoy afternoon refreshments before a stop at Badgebup to see how the local Indigenous Ranger program is going. Our final stop is Katanning for two overnight stays. Guests stay at the Premier Mill Hotel. The Premier Mill Hotel is a converted roller flour mill, refurbished into modern accommodation, with an accompanying restaurant and cafe.  End the day by partaking in a traditional Australian pastime, a ‘Sundowner’, at the downstairs Cordial Bar at the Premier Mill Hotel, before tucking into a delicious meal at the nearby Royal Exchange Hotel. This is a tour favourite experience!

Note:

The multi-cultural “Harmony Day” is also a major featured highlight of this tour with Night Markets and Festival so the March Itinerary will factor this into the tour which remains at 9 Days

Day 8     Pioneers and Prospectors, Kokoda Track and Mosques

·       Start the day at 8.30am by finding out about the history of Katanning with a special guest historian who will impart the secrets of this famous town. Learn about the unique personalities that developed the railway line and opened up the hinterland for sheep and cropping

·       Then we depart to another famous icon in Western Australia, Broomehill. Famous for the remarkable ingenuity of John Holland and his team, who in April 1893, carried their meagre supplies on horseback through harsh terrain to cut a shorter route for gold seekers to the new gold discoveries in the outback. In Broomehill we can enjoy morning tea at the historic Henry Jones Café and listen to several enthralling stories about Holland and the gold seekers who trekked over 533kms to the newly discovered goldfields in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie in the 1890’s. Guests walk the town looking at remnants of the early prospectors

·       Then following morning tea we meet and chat to local community leader Alep at the “The Daily Grind” where we also enjoy lunch with Malay cuisine before heading off to finding out about how modern multi-cultural Australia is reflected in the celebration of Islamic culture and the opening of a local Mosque in Katanning along with viewing the painted wildlife artwork and other local features around this incredible town

·       After lunch we head off to Kojonup for afternoon tea at Kodja Place along with viewing the old barracks, the spring and the historic water tough and learning more about Brigadier Potts and the Kokoda Track of WW11

·       At Kodja Place we view the Indigenous and settler handcrafted tools before enjoying billy tea and damper and chatting to the local Indigenous person “Billy” along with enjoying local wine and cheese tastings and other platters before departing back to Katanning

·       Again end the day by partaking in the traditional Australian pastime, a ‘Sundowner’, at the downstairs Cordial Bar, at the Premier Mill Hotel, before tucking into a delicious meal and getting that feeling of being spoilt for choice!

Day 9     Cultural Art, Bart the Sheep and Woolsheds

·       We depart Katanning at 8.30am and head for Dumbleyung to learn about the “ace” Donald Campbell’s world speed lake exploits, visit Wuddi Tours Indigenous tours shop and take a short tour if time permits to visit local cultural sites and their bush garden before travelling
to Wagin to view the massive merino sheep “Bart” and have morning tea at Cresswell’s Antiques

·       Then we depart for Narrogin and Williams Woolshed for lunch where guests may also like to wander through the adjacent Shearing Shed Museum. This land, in the Wheatbelt region, has seen millions of sheep grazing and crops stretching skyward from the early settlement days of the early – mid 1800’s. Wool raised on this land fetched record prices in Britain during the Industrial Revolution feeding the growth of the weaving industry

·     Finally we head out of the Wheatbelt toward Perth through the General Darling Ranges, named by Captain James Stirling’s Government Botanist, Charles Fraser, and known locally as ‘Darling Range or the ‘scarp’ and once we arrive back in the WA capital the tour ends at the Hotel Rendezvous in Scarborough on the beachfront