On your arrival in Perth, if required we will meet and greet you at Perth Airport for your complimentary transfer to your hotel in Perth. The tour will officially start with dinner where you will meet your fellow travelers and the KOT crew.

En-suite Hotel Room (InterContinental or similar), Perth (D)

After departing Perth, we make a quick stop at Kings Park where Mt Eliza gives spectacular views of the Swan River and City of Perth. We then head north along the scenic Indian Ocean Drive to one of the most renowned landscapes in Australia, the “Pinnacles.”

Located in the Nambung National Park, thousands of huge limestone pillars rise from the shifting yellow sands of the Pinnacles Desert. After lunch we will travel through the historic towns of Dongara and Greenough, the home of the famous leaning trees before checking into your hotel at Geraldton where we spend the night. We arrive in time to wander along the newly developed foreshore.

En-suite Hotel Room, Geraldton (B,L,D)

Departing Geraldton we visit the HMAS Sydney Memorial and pay a moving tribute to the sailors who lost their lives on HMAS Sydney during World War II (you will learn more about this in Shark Bay). Not only is this a unique memorial, it is also a fantastic vantage point to view the wider City of Geraldton and Champion Bay.

Heading north we pass through undulating farmland and the “flat top” hills of the historic farming and mining town of Northampton, where we make a brief stop. We continue on to Hutt Lagoon and the Pink Lakes of Port Gregory, the site of one of the earliest shore based whaling stations in Australia.

We then continue North along the coast where we will have views of the southern end of the treacherous Zuytdorp Cliffs that stretch in an almost unbroken line for 300 km and were the site of so many early Dutch shipwrecks. You can easily see why this is known as the “Shipwreck Coast”. We arrive at Kalbarri, the mouth of the Murchison River, for dinner.

En-suite Hotel Room, Kalbarri (B,L,D)

This morning we head into the Kalbarri National Park with our first stop being to walk in the clouds as we visit the newly built Sky Walk. This provides an incredible view of the Murchison River valley below and the display gives insight into the recent history of the Nanda people. We then continue to Natures Window where we see the gorges up close.

After a lunch stop we enter the Shark Bay World Heritage Listed Area. Rare and abundant flora and fauna, along with world class examples of Earth’s ecological processes are what qualify Shark Bay for World Heritage status. Add the incredible colours of red sand dunes against turquoise waters and you have a truly remarkable place.

We will make a couple of stops along the way to admire this incredible region before arriving at Monkey Mia for our two night stay.

En-suite Chalet, Monkey Mia Resort, (B,L,D)

After a glorious sunrise over the tranquil waters of Disappointment Reach you will be ready to enjoy one of Australia’s best known up-close wildlife experiences. Here you can stand within metres of wild bottlenose dolphins which visit the shores every morning. We then enjoy a catamaran sailing adventure in Shark Bay Marine Park, keeping an eye out for the bay’s precious marine life including dugongs, dolphins, sharks and huge sea turtles.

After lunch we make the short drive to Denham, the historic pearling port, where we visit the Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery Centre. This centre gives a great insight into both the post European history of the region as well as that of the Malgana, Nhanda and Yingkarta people. From Denham you can see Dirk Hartog Island on the horizon, the place of the first recorded European arrival on Australian soil.

The afternoon can be spent at your leisure at the Resort including swimming and beach walking. You may like to do the easy Wulyibidi Yaninyina trail with incredible birdlife and views.

En-suite Chalet, Monkey Mia Resort, (B,L,D)

After the previous relaxing day we continuing our journey northwards along the West Australian coast, but not before we visit some further attractions in Shark Bay. Not to be missed is the short stroll along the elevated board walk at Eagle Bluff that has impressive views over the sparkling waters of Freycinet Inlet, and we may even be lucky to spot sharks swimming in the shallow waters.

A little further south we make a brief stop at Shell Beach where you can walk and marvel at the seemingly endless white stretch of beach composed entirely Shark Bay cockle shells. This shell beach is 70km long and 10m deep. Shell bricks used to be quarried from the beach.

On our way back to the highway we enjoy a picnic lunch at the Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve and visit the historic Old Telegraph Station which remained in use until 1978.

A short distance away is the original wool export port of “Flagpole Landing” and the location of the World’s best examples of living stromatolites. We then continue to Carnarvon for our overnight stay.

Carnarvon is famous for its “upside down river,” the Gascoyne, where under the dry sands abundant fresh water is found that irrigate the lush tropical plantations in the rich alluvial soils along its banks.

En-suite Hotel Room, Carnarvon (B,L,D)

This morning we will explore Carnarvon and visit the Carnarvon Space & Technology Museum that played a key role in the manned moon landings in the 70’s. The museum with its satellite dishes, relics and authentic displays has something for everyone.

Heading further north towards Exmouth we will discover the eastern side of the Cape Range National Park which is a spectacular place of rugged limestone ranges, breath taking deep canyons on the Exmouth Peninsula and with views to Exmouth Gulf.

Our first stop is the Charles Knife Canyon drive that takes us on a steep winding road up to the top of the range. Located at the top is a lookout that has spectacular views into the canyons and seawards to Exmouth Gulf to the east. On top of the range we will visit the historical Wapet Oil Well No. 3 site where oil was first discovered in Australia.

Arriving at the popular tourist town of Exmouth we will check in to our hotel where we’ll stay for the next 3 nights.

En-suite Hotel Room, Exmouth (B,L,D)

Today is a free day to relax or take advantage of one of the many activities that Exmouth and Ningaloo has to offer. It is whale shark season (March-July peak) so why not pre-book a whale shark encounter. Other guests may choose snorkelling, diving, a scenic flight or fishing charter, while some choose to relax and wonder around the town of Exmouth or visit the Ningaloo Aquarium and Discovery Centre.

Please ask us in advance so we can help you arrange this.

En-suite Hotel Room, Exmouth (B,L,D)

Today we get to explore the western side of the Cape Range National Park. It is one of the few areas in Australia that can boast a Range to Reef experience. The rugged stone country of Cape Range descends to arid coastal plains and drifting sand dunes, then on to the turquoise waters of the coral reefs and ocean depths of Ningaloo Marine Park which hosts the famous annual whale shark migrations.

Our first stop is the Cape Range Lighthouse situated high up on the northern tip of the Cape Range. It offers great 270 degree views of Exmouth Gulf and the Ningaloo Marine Park.

Our next stop is “Milyering,” the Cape Range National Park Discovery Centre. Housing interpretive displays and audio visual facilities, the centre holds a wealth of information on the marine park and the local environment.

Continuing southwards we will get to enjoy one of the area’s main attractions, the Yardie Creek Gorge. This ancient tidal gorge has deep blue water, red limestone cliff faces and a wonderful array of birds and wildlife including the rare black-footed rock wallaby. You will have ample time to take the walking trails to the top of the gorge.

After a leisurely picnic lunch we make our way back North stopping at Turquoise Bay, which is famous for its crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches and great snorkelling. Here you will have the opportunity to snorkel and swim.

We head back to Exmouth for dinner.

En-suite Hotel Room, Exmouth (B,L,D)

Today we leave behind the Coast and head to the Outback!

We set off early as it is a long drive to the largest rock, or inselberg, in the world, Mt Augustus. Known as Burringurrah to the Wajarri people, this sandstone mountain rises 715m above the surrounding landscape and dominates the horizon from over 50km away.

En-suite Cabin, Mt Augustus Tourist Park (B,L,D)

We will complete the 49 km Mt Augustus Loop Drive and make many stops including Cattle Pool, part of the Lyons River. We will do some short, easy hikes through the day. Keep an eye for the red kangaroos, euros and bungarras (perenties). For keen birdwatchers we hope to see spinifex pigeons, crimson chats, sacred kingfishers, blue-winged kookaburras and mulga parrots.

At the end of the day we enjoy a sunset drink and barbecue overlooking the rock.

En-suite Cabin, Mt Augustus Tourist Park (B,L,D)

Today we set off early as we head for one of Western Australia’s most remarkable National Park’s, Karijini.

We mark our way past the Ashburton River and through the Hamersley Ranges. We are now in the Pilbara.

We arrive at our luxury accommodation for our two night stay.

En-suite Safari Tent, Karijini Eco Retreat (B,L,D)

Today is a full day exploring the wonders of Karijini National Park. This will include a number of walks and swimming spots and sights throughout the area. We will visit Joffre Falls Lookout and Fortescue Falls. For the more adventurous there will be trails to walk and crystal clear swimming holes to take a refreshing swim.

We call into the Visitor Centre to learn more of the history and geology of this ancient region.

En-suite Safari Tent, Karijini Eco Retreat (B,L,D)

Leaving behind Karijini we have some great stops as we head back to the coast. We make our way through the heart of the Pilbara to Millstream-Chichester National Park. Here we have a break at the spring fed Python Pool.

We continue our journey through historic Roebourne before arriving at Point Samson.

En-suite Chalet, Point Samson (B,L,D)

In the morning we set off to explore the Karratha and surrounds. This includes a stop at the restored ghost town of Cossack, the birthplace of WA’s pearling industry.

We continue onto Dampier where we visit the Red Dog statue before going to Murujuga National Park on the Burrup Peninsula. This National Heritage Listed site has over 1mln petroglyphs (rock engravings) dating as old as 50,000 years.

We then continue our journey north to Port Hedland where we join a Twilight Port Tour to learn more about the port and how important the region is to the Australian economy.

En-suite Hotel Room, Port Hedland (B,L,D)

Today will see us leave the Pilbara behind and reach the Kimberley as we head north along the North West Coastal Highway.

Along the way we will stop at the southern end of 80 Mile Beach at Cape Keraudren. Here the famous Rabbit Proof Fence once met the ocean.

We continue north, skimming the edge of the Great Sandy Desert before reaching Eco Beach in time for a well-earned drink watching the iconic Kimberley Sunset.

En-suite Cabin, Eco-Beach Resort (B,L,D)

Today our adventure comes to an end as we make the 90 minute drive into Broome where we drop you at the airport or your accommodation.

(B)