Itinerary
Western Australia Rail & Road Adventure
August 2023
| Day 1 • Wed 30 Aug | ARRIVE PERTH Arrive in Perth and enjoy a special welcome dinner and drinks with your tour leader and fellow travellers in the hotel’s restaurant. Overnight: Doubletree Northbridge, Perth (or similar) (D) |
| Day 2 • Thurs 31 Aug | PERTH – ROTTNEST ISLAND – PERTH After breakfast in the hotel this morning, transfer to the station for the short trip by train to Fremantle, the departure point for our Rottnest Island Ferry. On arrival in Rottnest, take some time to explore the main settlement before meeting our coach for our Grand Island Tour. On this approximately 3.5-hour round trip we’ll take in all of the island’s must-see locations, cultural and historical heritage, and exquisite flora and fauna. The tour includes a ride on the iconic Captain Hussey train, a narrow-gauge railway built to service the military operation before World War Two, which showcases the beauty of the island’s south side on a 90-minute return journey. We’ll also enjoy a tour of the Oliver Hill Gun and Tunnel Fortification and have a light lunch before returning to the Main Settlement. Take some more free time to explore the island before our late afternoon ferry departure and coach transfer back to Perth. The evening is free for you to enjoy Perth at your leisure. Overnight: Doubletree Northbridge, Perth (or similar) (B,L) |
| Day 3 • Fri 1 Sep | PERTH – KALGOORLIE An early start this morning will see us checking out of our hotel and transferring to the station to board the Prospector train. First opened in 1971, the Prospector was Australia’s fastest operating passenger service at the time. The train covers 653 kms in eight hours on an iconic journey into the Golden Outback. Sit back, relax, and take in the rainbow-hued wildflowers and quaint towns as we travel. The buffet car offers options for breakfast and lunch on our way.We’ll arrive in Kalgoorlie at approximately 2pm, where our coach will transfer us to the iconic Super Pit, one of Australia’s largest open-pit gold mines. Take some time at the lookout before heading back to our hotel to check in and freshen up. We’ll enjoy a special dinner together later in the evening. Overnight: Quest Yelverton, Kalgoorlie (or similar) (B,D) |
| Day 4 • Sat 2 Sep | KALGOORLIE Enjoy a free morning in Kalgoorlie with a number of optional activities on the cards. You might like to make a stop at the Visitor Centre where you can pick up a headset and embark on a guided audio walking tour of the town, encompassing over 50 sites including heritage buildings and statues, and the Museum of the Goldfields. Alternatively, you could take a spectacular scenic flight over the surrounding area, including the striking salt lake, Lake Lefroy. Your tour leader will be on hand to assist with planning activities.At noon we’ll board our coach for the short transfer to Coolgardie, known as the ‘Mother of the Goldfields’. Here we’ll enjoy a local lunch and some free time to explore the historic town before returning to Kalgoorlie for a free afternoon and evening. Overnight: Quest Yelverton, Kalgoorlie (or similar) (B,L) |
| Day 5 • Sun 3 Sep | KALGOORLIE – ESPERANCE After breakfast this morning we’ll board our coach and head south towards Esperance, pausing in the town of Norseman on the way to stretch our legs and have some morning tea.Boasting some of the best beaches and bluest water in Australia, Esperance is known as a coastal paradise. On arrival we’ll enjoy a local lunch before exploring the Museum Village and its vibrant Sunday market. The Village includes a small collection of historic buildings now housing local shops and the visitor centre. Nearby is the Esperance Museum, housing an excellent collection of historical artefacts from the area, as well as a W919 locomotive. We’ll spend some time here before walking to our hotel nearby to check in and freshen up. Dinner this evening will be at a local favourite. Overnight: Hospitality Esperance (or similar) (B,L,D) |
| Day 6 • Mon 4 Sep | ESPERANCE After breakfast this morning we’ll board our coach for the scenic Great Ocean Drive, a 40 km loop along Esperance’s superb coastline. Along the way we’ll make stops at lookouts to take in the sweeping views of the bay and do some whale watching, the Pink Lake, where we can learn about why it is no longer pink, and the cannery arts centre which houses exhibitions and offers a fantastic viewpoint.On our return to Esperance we’ll enjoy lunch together before a free afternoon and evening to relax. Overnight: Hospitality Esperance (or similar) (B,L) |
| Day 7 • Tues 5 Sep | ESPERANCE – STIRLING RANGES NATIONAL PARK – ALBANY Depart Esperance by coach this morning for our journey west, with a brief stop in Ravensthorpe for morning tea and a wander. Along the way we’ll take a scenic drive through the Stirling Ranges National Park, which encompasses the only major mountain range in the southern half of Western Australia. We’ll drive through the heart of the park, winding past the unique landscape and soaking up ever-changing views of rugged peaks and stunning wildflowers. We’ll then continue to Ironwood Estate Wines for a short wine tasting, before continuing to Albany later in the afternoon where we’ll check in to our centrally located hotel, freshen up, and regroup later in the evening for dinner. Overnight: Country Comfort Amity Hotel, Albany (or similar) (B,L,D) |
| Day 8 • Wed 6 Sep | ALBANY This morning, embark on a full-day exploration of the oldest colonial settlement in Western Australia, Albany. We’ll begin with a visit to the Historic Whaling Station, where you can view an intact whale processing factory and fully restored whale-chasing ship. Heading back into town, we’ll explore the Brig Amity, an 1826 convict ship that tells the tale of the first European settlement of the west coast of Australia, and the oldest surviving house in the state, the Patrick Taylor Cottage Museum, built in 1832.Enjoy some free time to explore the town and have lunch at your leisure before heading to the award-winning National ANZAC Centre, which uses multimedia and interactive technology to tell the stories of and pay tribute to the Anzacs. The Centre looks out across King George Sound, offering a spectacular and symbolic view of where the convoys gathered and left. We’ll take some time exploring the Centre and its surroundings before transferring back to the town centre for a free evening. Overnight: Country Comfort Amity Hotel, Albany (or similar) (B) |
| Day 9 • Thurs 7 Sep | ALBANY – PEMBERTON Depart Albany by coach this morning and travel to Pemberton, stopping along the way at the iconic and impressive Valley of the Giants Treetop walk, an internationally recognized attraction that takes you up close and personal with some of the world’s biggest timber giants – Western Australia’s majestic Tingle Trees. Following this, we’ll enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant. This afternoon is at leisure and some downtime at the hotel before dinner. Overnight: The Best Western, Pemberton (or similar) (B,L,D) |
| Day 10 • Fri 8 Sep | PEMBERTON – AUGUSTA – BUSSELTON Today we explore the interesting variety on offer along the Southwest coast travelling first by coach to the port town of Augusta. Here you have some free time to explore before we travel up the coast to Margaret River where a winery visit is in order and some time for lunch. In the afternoon you’ll view the Karri forests near Boranup and then visit scenic Cape Leeuwin and its massive lighthouse before heading to our destination in the afternoon, the busy hub of Busselton. Our hotel is close to the beach and after checking in and some leisure time we’ll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight: The Sebel Hotel, Busselton (or similar) (B,D) |
| Day 11• Sat 9 Sep | BUSSELTON Enjoy a free day to explore Busselton and enjoy the facilities of the hotel. You might like to visit the 1.8km Busselton Jetty (the longest wooden-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere) and ride the quaint little train all the way to the end. Maybe explore the nearby museum or art gallery, do some shopping or simply relax in one of the many local cafes or restaurants. Later in the day we’ll regroup and travel by coach to a special dinner venue. Overnight The Sebel Hotel, Busselton (or similar) (B, D) |
| Day 12 • Sun 10 Sep | BUSSELTON – HOTHAM VALLEY RAILWAY – PERTH On the last full day of our journey we’ll depart Busselton and travel by coach to Dwellingup, our departure point for the Hotham Valley Railway’s Steam Ranger train. The Ranger travels leisurely westward, to Isandra Siding, 14 km away. On the return journey this iconic steam locomotive ascends Western Australia’s steepest and most spectacular climb, the Darling Range Escarpment. Enjoy lunch at a nearby café before taking a tour of the local area with the Forest Discovery Centre. In the mid-afternoon we’ll travel back to Perth, arriving in time for us to check back into our hotel. We’ll regroup later in the evening for a special farewell dinner and drinks at a nearby restaurant. Overnight: Doubletree Northbridge, Perth (or similar) (B, L, D) |
| Day 13 • Mon 11 Sep | PERTH After breakfast this morning our tour comes to an end. Transfer to the airport for flights home, or onward for other adventures. (B) |
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Central Coast NSW
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