West Coast & Ningaloo Reef Adventure (Northbound)

Day 1: Perth / Nambung National Park / Geraldton

Meet your group early this morning for a welcome meeting in Perth (Boorloo in the language of the local Whadjuk Nyoongar people, who are the traditional owners of the land on which Perth is now located), then enjoy the scenery on the drive to Geraldton. Along the way, you’ll stop at the largest dunes in Western Australia and The Pinnacles Desert at Nambung National Park where natural limestone pillars tower above the sand to create an otherworldly landscape. From here, continue along the scenic Indian Ocean Drive via Cervantes and the Leaning Trees of Greenough and arrive in Geraldton in the afternoon. Join your leader for a walk around town to learn about the region’s maritime history, see St Francis Xavier Cathedral, and perhaps spot some seals as you stroll along the waterfront at sunset. Tonight is yours to enjoy at your leisure.

Accommodation

• Motel (1 night)

Included Activities

• Geraldton – Leader-led town walk
• Indian Ocean Drive – Leaning Trees of Greenough
• Coral Coast – Lancelin Sand Dunes
• Nambung National Park – The Pinnacles Desert

Meals Included

There are no meals included on this day.

Special Information

Today’s first meeting and pick up will take place at our hotel in Perth at 8.30am this morning. It’s very important that you are on time today as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time, and then head up the West Coast right away. We recommend you arrive a day earlier. Today’s total driving time is approximately 5 hours.

Day 2: Northampton / Kalbarri National Park

After a leisurely breakfast, head to our first destination of the day, historical Northampton. Join your leader for a walk around Northampton, one of the oldest towns in Western Australia, and admire dozens of historically significant buildings dating back to the 1800s. You’ll also visit a First Nations art gallery to see some beautiful pieces being made, and if you are lucky have the chance to meet the artists. After you leave Northampton, you’ll visit the Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake and spend time at Kalbarri National Park where you can appreciate the park’s diverse scenery including Nature’s Window, Z Bend lookout and the amazing Kalbarri Skywalk. You’ll spend tonight at a well-located resort.

Accommodation

• Resort (1 night)

Included Activities

• Coral Coast – Hutt Lagoon (Pink Lake)
• Kalbarri National Park – Z Bend, Nature’s Window & Kalbarri Skywalk
• Northampton – Ku’arlu Mangga (Good Nest) Gallery visit

Meals Included

• Breakfast

Special Information

Today’s total driving time is approximately 3 hours.

Day 3: Kalbarri National Park

After breakfast, jump on a boat at the Kalbarri marina and set sail for the open ocean where you’ll learn about the local rock lobster industry and help pull up some lobster pots and re-bait them, ready to catch more delicious rock lobster before you return to the marina. The rest of the day in Kalbarri is yours to enjoy your way. Opt for a relaxing day at the beach or sign up for one of the many optional activities that are available in Kalbarri.

Accommodation

• Resort (1 night)

Included Activities

• Kalbarri – Rock Lobster boat tour

Optional Activities

• Kalbarri – Chinamans Beach – Free
• Kalbarri – Local Hikes – Free

Meals Included

• Breakfast

Day 4: Shark Bay / Monkey Mia

After breakfast, you’ll spend the morning driving to Monkey Mia. Along the way visit the Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve and see marine stromatolites, or ‘living fossils’, which are widely regarded as the best of their kind in the world. You’ll also enjoy a stop at beautiful Shell Beach, one of only two beaches in the world composed entirely of shells. Continue towards Denham and Shark Bay where you can stroll along the Eagle Bluff boardwalk and enjoy the view from the lookout. This afternoon is yours to relax on the pristine shores of Monkey Mia until later on when you’ll join an evening First Nations experience where you will learn about Gutharraguda (Shark Bay) from the Nhanda and Malgana people. Try your hand at playing the didgeridoo or traditional conch shell and taste some bush tucker prepared by your hosts over the open fire. Tonight you’ll stay at a beachfront resort overlooking Shark Bay.

Accommodation

• Cabin (1 night)

Included Activities

• Shark Bay – Eagle Bluff Boardwalk
• Shark Bay – Shell Beach
• Shark Bay – Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve
• Monkey Mia – Didgeridoo Dreaming Night Tour

Meals Included

• Breakfast

Special Information

Today’s total driving time is approximately 4.5 hours. Please note that the evening First Nations experience may not be available on all departures of this trip. If it is unavailable it will be replaced with a sunset cruise in Shark Bay.

Day 5: Shark Bay / Monkey Mia / Carnarvon

After breakfast, watch Parks & Wildlife rangers feed the resident bottlenose dolphins at Monkey Mia and learn about these animals and other local marine life. You’ll also have the opportunity to check out some of the delicious produce along the Gascoyne Food Trail and snap a photo at the Carnarvon Space and Technology Centre which was created to support NASA’s Gemini, Apollo and Skylab programs. Stop at the Gascoyne Aboriginal Heritage and Cultural Centre and learn about the region’s culture and country from its First Nations custodians on the way to Carnarvon where you’ll spend the night.

Accommodation

• Motel (1 night)

Included Activities

• Monkey Mia – Dolphin Experience
• Carnarvon – Gwoonwardu Mia Gascoyne Aboriginal Heritage and Cultural Centre

Meals Included

• Breakfast

Special Information

Today’s total driving time is approximately 5.5 hours.

For more information about the Monkey Mia Dolphin Experience and Intrepid’s Animal Welfare Guidelines, please see the Responsible Travel section of the Essential Trip Information.

Day 6: Coral Bay / Ningaloo Reef / Exmouth

Today is an early start. After a stop to photograph the Carnarvon Cactus Farm, one of the town’s quirkiest sights, you’ll drive to picturesque Coral Bay, home to the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef. Join your group for a glass-bottom boat tour where you can see up to 250 species of coral and more than 500 species of colourful fish. Take to the waters with a snorkel. Further along the coast take a stroll to Vlamingh Head Lighthouse. This evening, take a walk around Exmouth, relax at your hotel or perhaps join your group for a casual farewell dinner at one of the restaurants in town.

Accommodation

• Lodge (1 night)

Included Activities

• Ningaloo Reef – Glass Bottom Boat Cruise & Snorkelling Experience
• Exmouth – Vlamingh Head Lighthouse

Meals Included

• Breakfast

Special Information

Today’s driving time is approximately 6 hours.

Day 7: Exmouth

Today your trip comes to an end after breakfast. Say goodbye to your fellow travellers and head back to Exmouth airport or, if you booked additional accommodation, you can enjoy an extended stay and perhaps book one of the tours which are available here such as swimming with whale sharks, snorkelling adventures or diving with manta rays.

Optional Activities

• Cape Range National Park – Snorkel with the Whalesharks (seasonal only) – AUD450

Meals Included

• Breakfast

Special Information

Please note that swimming with whale sharks is not included on this trip and is an optional activity. It is very important that you pre book any Whale Shark experiences, as this can sell out far in advance. Please also note that whale sharks visit the region between mid-March and mid-September only, so please make sure you schedule your trip accordingly if you would like to include this experience in your trip.