DESCRIPTION
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 Wheatbelt 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 Wave Rock with “The Humps” and “Hippos Yawn,” 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 Walkers Hill Vineyard in Lake Grace!. 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, Silo Art 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 Ongerup where guests can experience the Malleefowl sanctuary. The sanctuary 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). Contingent upon time allow some free time to shop and enjoy a gourmet ice cream/sweet treat/coffee at a local cafe before heading to Wavecrest Resort in Hopetoun for our two overnight stays
Day 4 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
· After lunch we drive back into Ravensthorpe on the way viewing some roadside artwork – part of a local Art Exhibition. We also pull up alongside the old Elverdton gold-copper mine shaft and headframe to take some photos
· Once in Ravensthorpe guests are free to tour the Visitor Centre and the Museum and perhaps enjoy afternoon tea with ice cream and coffee! If time permits a quick visit to the Palace Hotel to say hello to the locals!
· A day of entrapment by wildflowers and local experts is followed by a dinner at the Wavecrest Resort
Day 5 Rangelands, Cultural Sites, Mine Shafts and Artwork
· We pack up and depart around 9.00am from Hopetoun and 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
· Then we take another nature drive to view the birdlife and wildflowers in the Ravensthorpe Range followed by a quick visit to 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)
· We then travel through wheat and sheep country past the old Lake Biddy town site with a quick stop on our way to Hyden and the Wave
Rock Resort for a two night stay
Day 6 Waves and Humps
· Breakfast is at 7.30am and then we proceed on a refreshing early morning walk to Wave Rock and ‘Hippo Yawn’ and we head to the Bush Cafe for morning tea. We depart
again for the Humps and Mulka’s Cave, and learn the name’s link to an Indigenous legend of forbidden love between skin groups and visit a ‘gnamma hole’, which is a man-made cavity that stored rain water for Indigenous peoples
· After lunch at the Wildlife Centre and Museum in Wave Rock we enjoy taking in the Wave before afternoon refreshments. Later we
take in and enjoy a sundowner by the lake and then return to the Hyden Hotel for an evening meal
Day 7 Art and Tin Horse Trails and Outback Vineyards
· We pack up ‘leaving only footprints’ (departing at 8.30am) and travel to Kondinin and then Kulin for morning tea at “Acres of Taste” followed by a tour along the famous “Tin Horse Highway” and the nearby site of the “Kulin Bush Races” on our way to Lake Grace.
· We have a quick visit to the conservation area on a nearby lake followed by lunch and wine tastings at ‘Walkers Hill Vineyard’, Australia’s most inland winery, where shiraz and chardonnay grapes have flourished
· After a brief stop at the Lake Grace Visitor Centre and Inland Mission 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 painted grain 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!
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 a 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 trough 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
Terms and Conditions apply and all enquiries to Wayne Monks at [email protected]
