Day 1 – Perth to Fitzgerald River National Park – Stokes National Park
DEFAULT PICK UP: YHA Perth, 07:00am
Our adventure starts by travelling East over the Darling Ranges. After a morning break at the historic Our adventure begins as we travel East over the Darling Ranges. After a morning break at the historic township of York we continue our journey south. Our lunch stop will be at the Hippo Yawn and Wave Rock, where there is the opportunity to have a look at this amazing rock formations. After lunch we drive further south to our camp near the coast of the Fitzgerald River National Park, an internationally recognized world biosphere reserve with plenty of beautiful beaches and rugged coastline. (LD)
Day 2 – Fitzgerald River National Park-Stokes National Park – Esperance – Cape le Grand National Park
After a mornings hike up East Mt Baron we drive along the coast and arrive into Esperance with time to have a look around. The town is still remote but once you see the magnificent surrounds of the granite, bush and beach you can only wonder for how much longer this area can keep its quaint charm.
Get set for some of Australia’s most beautiful scenery. This area of Western Australia has no less than 9 National Parks, which is testament to its beauty and uniqueness. We take in the most spectacular of all, Cape Le Grand National Park. Stunning blue seas mix with powder white beaches and secluded bays allow for stops and swims in what can only be described as a nature lover’s paradise. A short drive brings us to the Cape Le Grand National Park where we set up camp only meters from a picture postcard beach. We will have some lunch at Cape Le Grand National Park and the rest of the afternoon is free to explore this stunning coastal park with its white sandy beaches and crystal clear water through many of the coastal bushwalks or just simply relax on the beach. (BLD)
Day 3 – Cape le Grand National Park – The Nullarbor
Get up early this morning and take a walk down to the beach, while you are still at Cape Le Grand National Park. You might even encounter a kangaroo on the beach – it doesn’t get any more Aussie than that!We are starting the morning with a hike at Frenchmen’s Peak. Frenchman’s Peak rewards you with stunning views of the bay and islands of the Recherche Archipelago. After this morning hike it is time for lunch and then we head back through Esperance and north to the Eyre Highway to start our journey east bound, for our overnight camp.
People say the sky in Australia looks bigger than elsewhere. Tonight you get an IMAX sized version of the great southern night sky. Pick out the star sign constellations, the Southern Cross, planets and be amazed by the show of shooting stars so prevalent in the clear skies of the desert plain. No photograph or movie could ever do justice to this night sky spectacular. This is something you can only experience.. (BLD)
Day 4 – The Nullarbor – Koonalda Homestead
Today will certainly give you a sense of the size of this vast and ancient land. The Nullarbor Plain is the largest piece of limestone in the world and is internationally recognised for its hidden treasures beneath the ground. It has an internationally recognised cave and lake system and is the source of many international divers who come here to explore this unique landscape.
See the way the desert can devour an entire town and head west across Australia’s great plain. We head towards Eucla, after checking out the old town of Eucla which struggled and lost in its battle against the ever encroaching desert sands, the reality of the Nullarbor really hits you!
We stop for the night at Koonalda Homestead one of the original settler’s homesteads, once used as a service station on the old Eyre Highway just over the South Australian boarder and get prepared to be bedazzled by one of nature’s greatest show in the sky again. (BLD)
Day 5 – Koonalda to Coodlie Park Farm
The majestic Nullarbor cliffs, the famous wombat/camel/kangaroo road sign are some of the sights today. At the Head of the Bight we stop to take in the staggering sheer drop of the Bunda Cliffs where Australia suddenly and dramatically ends and drops into the ocean.
We stop at the Wombat/Camel/Kangaroo sign and you can have your picture taken with Australia’s signature post card. We drive onto the Nullarbor Plain and across the dingo fence while travelling through Yalata Aboriginal lands. In the afternoon we are heading to the Ceduna Arts and Cultural Centre. Here you will learn more about the different styles and meaning behind many forms of Indigenous art. Having a short stop at Streaky Bay for any supplies and then later in the afternoon we arrive at Coodlie Park bush camp. This working farm has traditional cropping, sheep and a project of tree planting on their own land to offset their own carbon emissions (BLD)
Day 6 – Coodlie Park Farm Retreat
This morning we head out to swim with the ever cheeky and playful sea lions and dolphins at Baird Bay. A pristine coast line and sanctuary for a multitude of land and sea animals. This outsource adventure done by Baird Bay eco tours is an optional experience ($195 p.p.). It is a 3-4 hour tour that will remain a beautiful memory for the rest of your life. We need to have your decision of doing the sea lions and dolphin swim before tour departure.
Having had lunch at the picnic spot at Bairds, onto Murphy’s Haystacks, incredible granite rock formations sculptured into wondrous and weird shapes over millions of years. We then head for Talia Caves and the Lake Newland Sand dunes to go sandboarding. (BLD)
Day 7 – Coodlie Park – Mikkira Station
This morning we travel on toward Elliston to do the great ocean tourist drive and a last look at the amazing cliffs of the bight at Locks Well, 378 steps to the beach. Travelling on to Port Lincoln for lunch. You will be able to discover a little bit of Port Lincoln on your own for an hour. Then out to Mikkira.
Mikkira Station is where we camp on a private campground with Koalas in nearly every tree. We have time to go for a walk around the property to see some Giant Yakkas and see if you can find some koalas in the Manna Gum. (BLD)
Day 8 – Port Lincoln – Port Neill
For those who have pre-booked the sharks through Nullarbor traveller, today is an extreme adrenalin day! Those that dare come face to face with the Great White Shark, this is an optional experience ($495 p.p.) which includes a video highlights of your experience. Up at 5.30 am to board the vessel by 6.30 am.
For those not wishing to be quite so extreme, we head out to Whalers Way Conservation Park for some spectacular and stunning coastlines. If we are lucky we will see some kangaroos and emus in this privately owned Flora and Fauna Reserve. This drive is followed by a walk in the Lincoln National park and to have a relaxed lunch and maybe a swim, then a visit to Glen Forest Wildlife Park and visit the wildlife you saw on the Nullarbor up close. You even get to hand feed some of the animals. (BLD)
Day 9 – Port Neill to Adelaide
We head through Whyalla and into Port Augusta and the Wadlata Cultural Centre that helps provide answers to the many questions about the formation of the Nullarbor, Flinders Rangers, and the formation of Australia as a continent. It also takes you on an interpretative walk through the life of the new frontier pioneers. We then head to the Southern Flinders Ranges, Mount Remarkable National Park for lunch and a walk through Davey’s Gully. After lunch we hit the road for one last time and head for South Australia’s capital city Adelaide. (BL)
B = Breakfast | L = Lunch | D = Dinner
