Active Escape Expedition

Perth – Margaret River – Pemberton – Albany – Esperance – Kalgoorlie – Hyden – Fremantle – Rottnest Island – Cervantes – Geraldton – Kalbarri – Monkey Mia – Carnarvon –  Exmouth (Ningaloo Reef) –  Exmouth (March Tour) –  – Exmouth – Geraldton – Perth

This tour is a dream for multi-active travellers who love hiking, kayaking, cycling, sandboarding and snorkeling. You get to discover the maritime wonders of the colorful coral coast, the giant trees in the southwest, the mystic deserts in the outback, “Dreamtime” mythology at a campfire with a local Aborigine – all accessible without domestic flights!

HIGHLIGHTS

• ACTIVE TOUR
• MARGARET RIVER WINE TASTING TOUR WITH BICYCLE
  
• TREE TOP WALK / VALLEY OFT HE GIANTS / PORONGORUP SKYWALK
  
• SANDBOARDING LANCELIN DUNES
  
• DIDGERIDOO DREAMING TOUR WITH LOCAL ABORIGINE IN MONKEY MIA
  
• KAYAK & WILDLIFE ADVENTURE TOUR 4X4 IN FRANCOIS PERON PARK
  
• GLAS-BOTTOM-BOAT TOUR NINGALOO REEF
  
• SWIM/SNORKEL WITH SEALS
  
• NINGALOO REEF SWIM WITH WHALE SHARKS (MARCH)
  
• NINGALOO REEF SWIM WITH MANTARAYS (OCTOBER)
  
• ROTTNEST ISLAND INCLUDING BICYCLE HIRE
  
• «OLD PRISON» ACCOMMODATION IN FREMANTLE
  

SERVICES INCLUDED

TRANSPORT & ACCOMMODATION

• Transport in an air-conditioned 4WD bus with a maximum of 12 passengers per vehicle
• Accommodation during the tour 20x in Hotels/Motels (shared ensuite in Monkey Mia) and 2x Fremantle Prison YHA

ENTRY FEES

• Entry fees National Parks, World Heritage Area Shark Bay, World Heritage Area Ningaloo Coast, Busselton Jetty, Margaret Rive wine tasting tour with bicycle, Cape Leeuwin, Tree Top Walk & Valley of the Giants, Granite Skywalk, Super Pit Tour Kalgoorlie, Wave Rock, Camel farm, Rottnest Island incl. bicycle hire, Swan River Cruise Fremantle – Perth, sandboarding Lancelin, Swim/Snorkel with seals, Didgeridoo Dreaming Tour Monkey Mia, 4×4 Day Tour Francois Peron NP, Shark Bay Interpretive Centre, Glass-Bottom-Boat cruise (incl. snorkelling gear), Whale Shark Swimming Tour Exmouth (March), Humpback Whale Swimming Tour Exmouth (October)

MEALS

• Meals (8x B – Breakfast / 2x L – Lunch / 1x D – Dinner)
• Free cold non-alcoholic drinks during driving

EXTRAS

• Comprehensive information kit in vehicles

LANGUAGE

• English speaking guiding
• 24/7 English/German/French emergency assistance
  

ITINERARY

Day 1 Arrival in Perth

Individual transfer from Perth Airport to your Hotel in the heart of the City. You will be meeting your fellow travellers during a welcome dinner.

Day 2 Perth – Margaret River

On our drive towards Margaret River we pass Mandurah and Bunbury. In Busselton, we will visit the longest timber piled jetty in the southern hemisphere. The fascinating coast of the famous Canal Rock formation is close by. Afterwards our tour continues to Australia’s most south-westerly point, Cape Leeuwin. This is the point where the Indian and Southern Ocean meet. From here the nearest landmass is Africa to the west and Antarctica to the south. After our visit to picturesque Hamelin Bay we drive to our accommodation in Margaret River.

Day 3 Margaret River – Pemberton

Today we are exploring the Margaret River Wine region, which is one of the most renowned wine areas of Australia, by bicycle. Based on its Mediterranean climate, its outstanding wine, its relaxed atmosphere and excellent surf zones Margaret River has become quickly a very popular holiday destination. We have the opportunity to enjoy some wine tastings at some of the most renowned vineries. We then travel along the coast of the Southern Ocean through farmland into the Karri Forest region of Pemberton.

Day 4 Pemberton – Albany

After today’s breakfast, courageous visitors will have the opportunity to climb a spiral ladder to the platform of the “Gloucester Tree” in Pemberton. The Valley of the Giants, a section of forest appropriately named for its huge trees, is our next destination. Tree Top Walk offers an amazing bird’s eye view to this window of the past. Much of the vegetation in this region is unique to the southwest of Western Australia. In the afternoon, we will visit William Bay National Park with its bizarre Elephant Rocks and popular swimming beach Green Pool. The colours of the ocean and coastline are beyond words and will inspire you. We reach Albany, Western Australia’s first settlement, in the evening.

Day 5 Albany

Today we will visit Porongurup National Park. Here we will hike up to the fantastic rock formation Castle Rock. The Granite Skywalk offers some breathtaking 360 degrees views. A City tour and the magnificent panorama view from Mt. Clarence overlooking King George Sound, where the first settlers landed in 1826, let you realize Albany’s importance to Western Australia.

Day 6 Albany – Esperance

The tour continues with a drive through farmland in the Stirling Range. The many different varieties of plants originating in the Stirling Range are mainly due to its insular location. This mountain range is a climatic island and the plain is typical for its dry and warm weather conditions. If time and weather conditions permit we will have the opportunity for some hiking towards Bluff Knoll, the highest peak of the Stirling Ranges. In the late afternoon, we will arrive in Esperance.

Day 7 Esperance

You will enjoy the scenic Great Ocean Drive with its highlights Rotary Lookout, Twilight Beach and Pink Lake. We are then visiting Cape-Le-Grand National Park with its scenic, turquoise bays and extended white beaches. In Lucky Bay, one of the most picturesque beaches in the whole world, we will be going for a walk along this fantastic coastline.

Day 8 Esperance – Kalgoorlie

Leaving the gorgeous Southern Ocean behind us today, there is still 400km of sealed road in front of us! At Norseman starts the Eyre Highway which crosses the 1,500km wide Nullarbor Plain towards Adelaide. However, we are heading north and will eventually arrive at the so-called “Golden Mile” in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. A sight-seeing tour of “Kal” – how the locals call it, completes our knowledge of the past of Australia’s richest gold mine.

Day 9 Kalgoorlie – Hyden

In the course of the morning a visit to the mine site “Super Pit” – Australia’s biggest open cut gold mine – enables us to capture impressions of the unbelievable ratio and dimensions on the Australian continent. By tracing the footsteps of the first gold seekers we will be reaching Coolgardie and leaving Western Australia’s Golden Mile. From here we will be following the track of the Emu Fence Road in a southerly direction to Hyden.

Day 10 Hyden – Fremantle

After breakfast, we will visit the famous and astounding “breakers wave” the ‘Wave Rock’. There is enough time to explore and learn about the story of this unbelievable natural wonder. In York, the oldest inland settlement in Western Australia, take a walk back to the time of the first settlers. The old, well-preserved houses with the original facades still bear witness to the atmosphere of the pioneer days. A visit to an Emu farm is another highlight where we learn interesting details about this astonishing native animal, one of Australia’s emblem figures. Early evening, In the evening we reach our special accommodation, the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Fremantle Prison”

Day 11 Fremantle – Rottnest Island – Fremantle

Enjoy the crossing to Rottnest Island, which is famous for its crystal-clear waters and pristine beaches. The island awaits you with its raw coastline, limestone cliffs, salt lakes and picturesque coves. The island can be explored particularly well be bike, because the traffic is strictly limited. You will come in contact with a unique flora and fauna and of course with those Quokkas so well known for this island. In the late afternoon you say goodby to this interesting nature reserve. The deluxe ferry trip will bring you back to the mainland safely and comfortably.

Day 12 Fremantle – Perth

Fremantle is known for its harmonious combination of culture, maritime history and entertainment. The old well-maintained and renovated houses boasting their original facades bring forth still today the atmosphere of the pioneer’s time. Captain Cook cruise will then take you on a comfortable and safe trip up the Swan River to Perth City. Enjoy glorious views along the River. Perth, situated on the Swan River, is the sunniest city „Down Under“. We visit Kings Park to take in a magnificent view of the city, Swan River and the Darling Ranges. A tour into downtown Perth shows you the shopping and business areas, as well as St. George‘s Terrace the financial centre, where you can find a contrast of old and new architecture.

Day 13 Perth – Cervantes

After pick up from your hotel we are leaving Perth headed north along the coast towards Lancelin. This small fishing and tourist town is well known for its lobster industry and the biggest white sand dunes of Western Australia. We will enjoy these mountains of sand and for those wanting more adventure, your adrenaline will be pumping as you sand board down these massive dunes. From here, we are heading to Nambung National Park. The Pinnacles are among the most visited natural wonders of the state. Thousands of limestone pillars rise out of a stark landscape of yellow sand. There is ample time to explore the area and to take some colourful photos from these amazing formations. These impressions of lights and colours will stay with you for many years to come.

Day 14 Cervantes – Geraldton

Today we will visit Western Australia’s second largest colony of Australian sea lions – an unbelievable aquatic experience. If you are keen, jump into the water and interact with these playful creatures. We head north along the coast towards Geraldton, the sunniest town in Western Australia. A visit to Mount Scott gives you the opportunity of an outlook over the town of Geraldton and Grey’s Bay. Here is also the memorial for the victims of the sunken warship HMAS Sydney II. Our sightseeing tour concludes by visiting the architecturally interesting St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in the town centre.

Day 15 Geraldton – Kalbarri

Sometimes bright bubblegum pink, sometimes lilac, and occasionally even red, the waters of Hutt Lagoon can be an extraordinary sight on the drive between Port Gregory and Kalbarri. It’s the extremely high level of salinity that gives the lagoon its unusual hue, and its vibrancy changes with the seasons and time of day. From here we enter the Kalbarri National Park. You can experience some of the most picturesque grazing land as well as the rough coastline. We have the possibility for a walk along the cliff to various vantage points. “Meanarra Hill” offers great views of Kalbarri and Gantheaume Bay.

Day 16 Kalbarri – Monkey Mia

Back to Kalbarri National Park today. We are going to see The Loop & Z-Bend. After a short walk to Natures Window we will be rewareded with breathtaking views into the Murchison Gorge. Depending upon the season, our drive through the Kalbarri National Park to the World Heritage area of Shark Bay will be escorted by the famous wildflowers. In the afternoon, we arrive in Monkey Mia, home of the well-known dolphins. Nearly every day of the year they come to the shore to give you a unique experience that will never be forgotten. Today’s highlight is a tour with a local Aborigine who will introduce us into the indigenous culture. Enjoy the dreamtime stories and the sound of the didgeridoo under the clear and bright night sky of Australia’s Outback Coast.

Day 17 Monkey Mia

Today, we will explore the UNESCO listed World Heritage Area of Shark Bay with a local guide. Along the way, we stop to look for bush foods and learn about medicinal plants and uses, animal tracking and much more. Once we arrive at our kayaking destination, we unload the kayaks, put on our safety vests and conduct a safety induction then paddle out across beautiful crystal-clear waters. Spot turtles, rays, sharks, fish, birds and the elusive dugong when in season and other amazing marine life. Enjoy a relaxing swim or a casual snorkel in one our many beautiful shallow bays and walking through amazing spectacular landscapes.

Day 18 Monkey Mia – Carnarvon

In the morning you have the opportunity to come face to face with these famous dolphins. Before our first stop at Shell Beach we pay homage to this World Natural Heritage area with a visit to the Shark Bay Interpretive Centre in Denham. We will stop again, this time at Hamelin Pool where the world best known colony of stromatolites can be admired. Typical „Outback Australian impressions” will accompany you on the drive to Carnarvon.

Day 19 Carnarvon – Exmouth (Ningaloo Reef)

After enjoying breakfast our today’s destination will be beautiful Coral Bay. Here, we will encounter the 260 km long natural wonder of the Ningaloo Reef. Specialists say that the marine life of this reef is more abundant than that found at the Great Barrier Reef. As the reef is not far from shore it can be readily available to discover with the aid of snorkel and flippers on an outing in a glass-bottom- boat. The shallow water of the reef is the homeland to various sea creatures, such as corals, unusual sea stars, crustaceans and over 500 species of different fishes. In the afternoon we take up our journey to Exmouth. With an average of 3,500 hours of sunshine per year, Exmouth is one of the sunniest places on earth.

Day 20 Exmouth (March Tour)

We start the day with a boat cruise from the Exmouth Marina to the tip of the North West Cape. A long the way we’ll take in the sites that make Ningaloo unique: the Navy Pier, Mildura Wreck, Vlamingh Head Lighthouse and Lighthouse Bay. The marine adventure then begins with an introductory snorkel on the beautiful inner Ningaloo Reef. We are waiting for the spotter plane to notify us that a whale shark has been found. This day, swimming and snorkelling so close to that majestic big fish, will provide you with unforgettable memories that you will keep all your life. After a delicious lunch and if time permits, we head back to the inner reef to conclude the day with a reef snorkel. You may have the opportunity to see manta rays and humpback whales from the boat.

Day 21 Exmouth

Today we take up our journey to Cape Range National Park. Breathtaking views from Vlaming Head Lighthouse across North West Cape, beautiful Ningaloo Reef and gigantic antennas of the Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt. During our short stroll in Mandu Mandu Gorge we are looking out for some rare inhabitants, Black Footed Rock Wallabies. Turquoise Bay creates the perfect scenes for some relaxation, contemplation on the many impressions of the past days, and the temptation of the effervescent Indian Ocean for a refreshing swim. Late afternoon we return to our accommodation in Exmouth.

Day 22 Exmouth – Geraldton

Today we have to say goodbye to this fantastic part of Western Australia. Leisurely drive back to Geraldton.

Day 23 Geraldton – Perth

Breakfast at the hotel. Leaving Geraldton, we head south to New Norcia. The only Benedictine Mission in Western Australia and its Spanish atmosphere will invite you to a break. This carefully chosen, beautiful piece of land represents an important era of Australian history. We arrive back in Perth where this round trip concludes.