West Coast Explorer, Perth - Broome Self-Drive, Australia

Itinerary Highlights

Wander through a desert of mystical limestone pinnacles said to have formed 25, 000 years ago
Explore the rugged terrain and spectacular gorges of Kalbarri National Park
Witness sociable dolphins swim close to the shore and try to spot turtles and manta rays swim by
Stroll along Broome's pristine Cable Beach and watch spectacular sun sets over the Indian Ocean
Best time to travel March - October

What's Included

Accommodation Throughout
Car Hire
International Flights

16 nights from £5,295 per person

Sarah

Travel Specialist

01244 722 137

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Travel along Western Australia's wild coastline and through its remote regions on our 16-night West Coast Explorer fly-drive from Perth to Broome. Leave the cosmopolitan city of Perth with its cityscape of towering skyscrapers on the banks of the Swan River and head into outback territory where you will see more kangaroos than other vehicles on the road.

This spectacular stretch of coastline offers many treasures and attractions along the journey including the mystical Pinnacles Desert where you will wander through a forest of hundreds of limestone formations that are said to have formed 25,000 years ago. Hike through spectacular gorges and over rugged terrain at Kalbarri National Park, watch social dolphins and manta rays swim close to shore at Monkey Mia and swim offshore at Exmouth over the pristine Ningaloo Reef.

Your adventure will take you deep in to Western Australia's outback to Karijini National Park, a unique landscape of chasms, gorges and emerald rock pools. Your West Coast Explorer adventure ends in Broome where you can relax and soak up the sun rays at the spectacular Cable Beach. Broome is the gateway to the magnificent Kimberley region where you can join 4WD adventures to Windjana Gorge or Cape Leveque or take to the sky on a spectacular flightseeing tour over the Buccaneer Archipelago.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Perth

Collect your rental vehicle from the depot at Perth Airport and make your way to your city hotel. The remainder of the day is free for you to settle into your hotel and explore the city of Perth. For impressive sweeping views of the Swan River and Perth’s skyline, head up to Kings Park, one of the world’s largest inner-city parks.

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Day 2 Perth

Enjoy a full day discovering Perth or take a drive to Fremantle; here you can peruse the markets, visit the historic Fremantle Prison and Western Australian Maritime Museum. For an island getaway, take the ferry to the picturesque Rottnest Island and explore the island by bicycle in search of your own secluded beach or bay. Keep a look out for the resident quokkas, the island’s famed marsupial.

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Day 3 Perth to Cervantes (125 miles)

Cervantes

Travel north to Cervantes, a laidback fishing village and gateway to Namburg National Park. Wander through the mystical Pinnacles Desert, home to hundreds of limestone formations that are said to have formed 25,000 - 30,000 years ago. Arrive early and you may see western grey kangaroos grazing on vegetation in the park. Visit Lake Thetis to marvel at stromatolites, some of the planet's oldest living fossils. Overnight at Pinnacles Edge Resort

Day 4 Cervantes to Geraldton (140 miles)

Geraldton

Continue your journey on to Geraldton. Stop at Jurien Bay Marine Park and explore the underwater world. Snorkel amongst tropical fish and soft corals, and if you’re lucky you may have an encounter with sea lions and dolphins! Step back in time with a visit to Central Greenough Historic Settlement and wander through restored pioneer buildings from the 1860’s. Geraldton is blessed warm sunny weather and beautiful white sand beaches.Hotel – The Geraldton Apartment Hotel

Day 5 Geraldton to Kalbarri (97 miles)

Kalbarri

Drive along the North West Coastal Highway towards Kalbarri. Spend the afternoon exploring the spectacular gorges and rugged terrain of Kalbarri National Park. Take a short walk to Meanarra Hill Lookout for 360-degree views of the Murchison River and Kalbarri. Hiking trails take you to spectacular rock formations such as Natures Window, which perfectly frames Murchison River, and Hawks Head where you will enjoy breathtaking gorge views. The Kalbarri Skywalk at the West Loop is suspended 100-metres above the Murchison River is a major attraction of the park. Overnight at Kalbarri Edge Resort

Day 6 Kalbarri

Blue Holes Beach offers exceptional snorkelling and thriving marine life if you wish to view the region under the water, or if you prefer to stay dry, take an optional scenic flight to view the region from the air. A variety of flights are available including a 20-minute flight over Kalbarri and its coastal cliffs or a 45-minute scenic flight over Pink Lake.

Day 7 Kalbarri to Denham (232 miles)

Denham

Today’s drive will take you through red desert-like landscapes. To your west is Toolonga Nature Reserve, home to the Hamelin Skink – a lizard that only exists in this area. Stop at Hamelin Pool, one of only a handful of locations where rare living marine stromatolites can be found. Turn off towards Denham, visiting Shark Bay where billions of tiny coquina bivalve shells make up the 69-mile Shell Beach. Overnight at Heritage Resort Denham

Day 8 Monkey Mia

Located in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, Monkey Mia is famed for its friendly and sociable dolphin population. Other marine encounters include spotting turtles, manta rays, whales and dugongs from the shore or by boat. There are several 4WD tours and scenic flights that will take you in to the unspoilt wilderness of Francois Peron National Park and the remote Dirk Hartog Island, a breeding ground for loggerhead turtles. Overnight at Heritage Resort Denham

Day 9 Denham to Carnarvon (204 miles)

Carnarvon, Western Australia

Stock up on fuel and water for your drive north to Carnarvon through barren and remote landscapes. Carnarvon is a palm-fringed coastal oasis and is a popular wind and kite surfing destination. From June to November, you may spot migrating whales from atop the cliffs at Cape Cuvier. Catch the Coffee Pot Train to One Mile Jetty to soak in spectacular rugged coastal views. Overnight at Hospitality Carnarvon

Day 10 Carnarvon to Exmouth (227 miles)

Exmouth

From Carnarvon, continue north towards Exmouth. Turn off at Coral, the gateway to the astonishing colours of Ningaloo Reef, rich in marine life that rivals that of the Great Barrier Reef. Whatever time of year you visit, you’re sure to see a wildlife spectacle; either turtles nesting November to February, swimming with whale sharks between March and August and spotting migrating humpback whales from June to October. Overnight at Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort

Day 11 Exmouth

Enjoy a complete day of relaxation in the small resort town of Exmouth, or take a tour out to the Ningaloo Reef for a snorkelling or diving experience amongst the colourful corals and tropical fish. 4WD tours to the rugged Cape Range National Park or glass bottom boat tours are popular activities from Exmouth, or during June to November you can swim with giant manta rays. Overnight at Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort

Day 12 Exmouth to Karijini (400 miles)

Karijini

We suggest an early start today as the journey is 400 miles. Ensure you stock up on fuel, water and provisions beforehand, as you will be driving deep into remote outback country. During July to September colourful wildflowers carpet the desert floor and rocky landscape. Pass the iron ore mining town of Tom Price, then arrive at Karinji National Park where the earth has been carved over two billion years. Overnight at Karinji Eco Resort

Day 13 Karijini National Park

Karijini

Discover spectacular chasms, sparkling waterfalls, emerald rock pools, and plunging gorges in Karinji National Park on a guided tour. For the more adventurous and active, spend the day hiking, abseiling, and climbing through deep narrow gorges and sliding off four-metre-high waterfalls on a canyoning adventure with professional guides. If you wish to witness the vast Pilbara region from the air, take to the skies on a helicopter tour. Overnight at Karinji Eco Resort

Day 14 Karijini to Port Hedland (245 miles)

Port Hedland, Western Australia

Leave Karinji National Park and travel north along the Great Northern Highway to Port Hedland, the gateway and port to Australia’s massive iron ore exports from the surrounding Pilbara region. Tour BHP’s Nelson Point facility, where ships are loaded with iron ore, and you will gain an insight into the workings of one of the world’s leading iron ore producers. Wander the streets on a self-guided street art tour. Overnight at Hospitality Port Hedland

Day 15 Port Hedland to Broome (389 miles)

We suggest an early start, ensuring you have stocked up on fuel, water and provisions for your drive through the Great Sandy Desert and along the Indian Ocean coastline to the remote beach resort of Broome. Stop for a picnic lunch at 80-mile beach, about half way between Port Hedland and Broome. This area is one of Australia’s most important sites for migratory shorebirds.

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Day 16 Broome

Broome was built on the pearling trade and has created a multicultural melting pot which is evident in its mix of colonial and Asian architecture in the town’s Chinatown. Broome is most famed for its 14-mile white-sand Cable Beach and memorable sunsets. Broome is the gateway for tours to the magnificent Kimberley region, Windjana Gorge, Buccaneer Archipelago, and Cape Leveque.

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