The lush green forests and fertile vineyards of Australia’s South West provide the backdrop to this coastal adventure, whilst marine wildlife can be found in abundance off-shore. Follow a beautifully rugged coastline in search of dolphins, whales, seals and more. Along the way explore deep caves, isolated lighthouses, towering karri forests, and the world-renowned wineries that lie scattered throughout the Margaret River region. Continue along the south coast to historic Albany, one of Australia’s oldest towns and gateway to national parks, hiking trails and pristine sandy beaches.
This fantastic introduction to the South West includes a guided winery tour at Margaret River, a memorable day trip to Rottnest Island in search of quokkas, sea lions and dolphins, and a whale-watching cruise to spot humpbacks and southern right whales. Time is also available to explore at leisure, perhaps uncovering the history of whaling at Albany’s fascinating museum, testing your nerves on a Treetop Walk amongst giant tingle trees, or hiking the rugged clifftops and pristine beaches of the region’s numerous national parks.
Note: the annual whale migration occurs between May and December. This self-drive itinerary is available year-round, but would not include the chance to see whales outside of these months.
Itinerary
On arrival in Perth you will be met and transferred to your hotel for a 2-night stay. The capital of Western Australia is a laid-back city sitting on the banks of the Swan River.
Your day starts with a scenic ferry cruise along the Swan River and across to Rottnest Island. Here you can explore white sand beaches, swim in the turquoise waters or enjoy watching the comical quokkas, small marsupials who are one of the island’s star attractions. Later board the ‘Eco Express’ boat for a full circumnavigation of the island, following the craggy coastline and keeping your eyes peeled for fur seals, dolphins and, between September and November, humpback whales. Your Rottnest experience ends with the leisurely ferry transfer back to Perth. Lunch is included today.
Rottnest Adventure with Wildlife Cruise
Collect your rental car this morning and make your way south to Margaret River. You may wish to stop along the way at the excellent Dolphin Discovery Centre at Bunbury, or walk the length of the Busselton Jetty, which at 2kms is the longest wooden jetty in the southern hemisphere. On arrival in Margaret River check in to your accommodation for a 3-night stay.
Set out on a 2-hour whale watching cruise, departing from Augusta (May-August) or Dunsborough (September-December). During the annual migration over 35,000 humpbacks make their way along the Western Australia coastline, as well as blue whales and southern right whales. You may also encounter common and bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals and a wealth of sea birds. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore the coast, perhaps visiting the lighthouses at Cape Naturaliste or Cape Leeuwin, discovering the region’s cave networks or taking a relaxing stroll along one of the many nearby beaches.
Whale Watching, Augusta
Margaret River is well known for its award winning wines and fine food. Enjoy a full day guided winery tour visiting five different establishments from boutique wineries to mass producing vineyards. Meet the vintners and gain behind-the-scenes access to some of WA’s best vineyards. During the tour you will enjoy exclusive wine pairings and a delicious lunch platter.
Wine and Dine Winery Tour, Margaret River
Leave the coast and head inland into towering karri forests. With a relatively short drive to Pemberton, there is plenty of time to stop along the way and stretch your legs on forest hikes. A couple of kilometres from Pemberton is Gloucester National Park, home to the famous Gloucester Tree. This behemoth was once used as part of a chain of ‘lookout trees’, to spot forest fires. The lookout platform is 53 metres above ground and climbing up to it is definitely not for the faint-hearted!
Continue your drive towards Walpole and the south coast, travelling through several national parks. Follow the S7 South Coast Highway to the impressive Valley of the Giants, a forest of immense tingle trees which are best viewed from the Tree Top Walk. This 600 metre long steel walkway is 40 metres high and meanders through the forest canopy, offering spectacular views over the forest to the surrounding hills. Back on solid ground, the Ancient Empire Walk takes you into the heart of a grove of veteran tingle trees. These giant eucalypts date back over 400 years and are found nowhere else on earth. Your final destination today is the historic town of Albany.
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Albany and the surrounding area. Albany reveals a tempestuous past as a landing point for incarcerated convicts, as well as being home to a once thriving whaling industry. The former whaling station now houses a fascinating interactive whale museum, whilst the National Anzac Centre offers a deeply personal memorial to the 41,000 Australian and New Zealand armed forces that departed from Albany for the Great War. Beyond the town Torndirrup National Park is well worth a visit, with its jagged granite coastline boasting wave-beaten rock formations and stunning views out over the Southern Ocean. From May to October it’s possible to stand on the shore and watch southern right and humpback whales in King George Sound, as well as spotting sea lions, dolphins and sea birds. The more energetic may wish to climb up Stony Hill for views across Albany to the distant Stirling Ranges.
Set on the journey from Albany back to Perth, perhaps stopping for supplies at one of the wineries along the route.
Prices & departures
What's Included
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Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
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Car rental throughout
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Private airport transfer on arrival in Perth
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Rottnest Island full day tour, including wildlife cruise and lunch
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Whale watching cruise
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Wine and dine full day winery tour, including lunch
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24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
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No surcharge guarantee
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Full financial protection
From £1077 Excluding Flights
8 Nights
Year Round
Prices are per person based upon 2 sharing, subject to availability. Your Travel Specialist will confirm the exact price based upon your tailored requirements, inclusions, and travel dates.
Make this trip yours
Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.
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Walrus spotted hauled out on ice
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We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch.
Experts with real experience
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Lauren
Travel Specialist
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Rosie
Travel Specialist
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Jo
Travel Specialist
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Kieran
Travel Specialist
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Ben
Travel Specialist
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Phoebe
Travel Specialist
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Gary
Travel Specialist
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Jenna
Travel Specialist
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Dawn
Head of Customer Experience
