27 Day Grand WA Wildflowers & Red Centre
Departs: Tour Completed
27 DAY TOUR COST: from $6315 pp twin share
14 Day Brisbane – Perth Option
Departs: Wednesday 6th August 2008
14 DAY BRISBANE – PERTH OPTION: from $3418 pp twin share
14 Day Perth – Brisbane Option
Departs: Tuesday 19th August 2008
14 DAY PERTH – BRISBANE OPTION: from $3716 pp twin share
Head across the heartlands of New South Wales to join the Eyre Highway to Port Augusta. From here cross the vast expanse of the Nullarbor Plain, where the views of the Southern Ocean and the Great Australian Bight are awesome. In Western Australia discover the delights of the south west region of the state; Wave Rock, Albany, Augusta, the giant Karri Forests, Kalgoorlie and much more. In Perth there is time for sightseeing the capital city of the west before our journey northward to be greeted by the visual delight of Western Australia’s wildflowers. From the beauty of the wildflowers we strike out on an epic journey to encounter many areas discovered by our most famous explorers. Travel into the Northern Territory to experience the wonders of the Red Centre. Forget your cares and join us for an epic adventure that combines the Western Australian Wildflowers, the spectacular South West Coastline, the awe-inspiring Great Australian Bight Marine Park and Australia’s Red Centre. This is a journey that will leave you with everlasting memories of some of Australia’s most impressive scenery.
DAY 1 HERVEY BAY — MOREE (D)
Wednesday 6th August: An early start for passengers joining between Bundaberg and Caloundra. Brisbane and Gold Coast passengers join at Brisbane Roma Street Transit Centre at 9.00am. Travel west to Toowoomba and across the border at Goondiwindi. The Newell Highway takes us through vast agricultural area to Moree. Stay Burke & Wills Motor Inn.
DAY 2 MOREE — COBAR (BLD)
Thursday 7th August: Continue along the Newell Highway through the heart of New South Wales, see cotton fields and the extensive Pilliga Scrub country. At Coonabarabran view the rugged peaks of the Warrumbungle National Park. Join the Oxley Highway at Gilgandra and travel west to Cobar. Stay Town & Country Motor Inn.
DAY 3 COBAR — BROKEN HILL (BLD)
Friday 8th August: Head further west along the Barrier Highway. The channel water supply has transformed the area from an arid landscape to a green oasis. Travel to Wilcannia to tour the town and see the impressive sandstone buildings of a bygone era when Wilcannia was a key inland port for paddle steamers. Further across the barren wastelands of New South Wales to the "Silver City" of Broken Hill. Stay Old Willyama Motor Inn.
DAY 4 BROKEN HILL — PORT AUGUSTA (BD)
Saturday 9th August: Follow the Barrier Highway to Peterborough. Enjoy a little of the rugged beauty of the lower Flinders Ranges travelling through Horrocks Pass on our way to Port Augusta. Enjoy a guided tour of the unique Arid lands Botanic Gardens . Visit the award winning Wadlata Outback Interpretive Centre where "hands on" displays feature the history of outback South Australia. Stay Acacia Ridge Motel.
DAY 5 PORT AUGUSTA — CEDUNA (BLD)
Sunday 10th August: Join the Eyre Highway and pass through the wheat farming districts of Kimba and Wudinna to arrive at Ceduna, once noted for its White Pointer sharks and now its great telecommunications dishes are Australia's eyes and ears, absorbing a constant flow of the world's images and chatter. Stay Ceduna East West Motel.
DAY 6 CEDUNA — BORDER VILLAGE (BLD)
Monday 11th August: Venture across the Nullarbor Plain, pausing at whale viewing platforms where the majesty of the escarpments and the pounding of the Great Australian Bight by the Great Southern Ocean will have you mesmerised. From these vantage points we may be fortunate to view sightings of seals and whales. Various stops will be made to allow photographs of the beautiful coastal scenery as we cross into Western Australia. Stay Border Village Hotel Motel.
DAY 7 BORDER VILLAGE — NORSEMAN (BLD)
Tuesday 12th August: Near Eucla visit the old telegraph ruins almost completely buried by shifting white sands and see the tiny outpost settlement of Eucla. Our westward journey continues through Cocklebiddy and Balledonia, made famous when Skylab debris showered the town in 1979. We are almost at the end of our Nullarbor Crossing as we reach Norseman situated on the banks of Lake Cowan. Stay Norseman Best Western.
DAY 8 NORSEMAN — KALGOORLIE (BD)
Wednesday 13th August: Travel north through Kambalda to the colourful mining town of Kalgoorlie visiting the Miners Hall of Fame. Go underground, pan for gold, or walk through the historic precincts. Immerse yourself in the mining industry and discover the attractions that present the past, present and future prospectors and miners of Australia. Enjoy free time to purchase your own lunch and have a wander around the town centre. After lunch visit the Super Pit. This giant open-cut gold mine is 3.5 km long and 1.5km wide. View the mine from the viewing and information area before visiting the Super Pit Store to learn more about one of the World's largest gold mines. Stay Railway Hotel, Kalgoorlie.
DAY 9 KALGOORLIE — HYDEN (BLD)
Thursday 14th August: Journey the Great Eastern Highway to the gold mining town of Coolgardie, which retains many of its magnificent buildings associated with its rich and colourful past. Continue on to Merredin, divert southward through Bruce Rock to Hyden. On arrival enjoy a guided tour of the unusual Wave Rock. It is one of Australia's most famous landforms, a giant surf wave of multicoloured granite about to crash onto the bush below. Stand under it and feel rock power from over 2,700 million years ago, before dinosaurs roamed the earth! See also Hippos Yawn, a giant yawning mouth cast in solid rock. Stay Wave Rock Hotel Motel.
DAY 10 HYDEN — ALBANY (BLD)
Friday 15th August: The rugged beauty of the Stirling Ranges awaits us as we continue our journey southward through the botanic reserve abounding in wildflowers. After lunch travel into the lush south west region of Western Australia. On to Albany and the Torndirrup National Park to capture the breathtaking sights of the spectacular coastal formations including the ‘Blowholes’, ‘Natural Bridge’ and ‘The Gap,” a huge granite bridge-like suspension. Stay Fredrickstown Motel.
DAY 11 ALBANY — AUGUSTA (BD)
Saturday 16th August: Travel via Denmark to the Valley of the Giants. Walk along the Treetop Walk taking you through spectacular giant tingle trees 40 metres above the forest floor. For land lovers, try the Ancient Empire Gloucester Tree, a magnificent Karri housing the World’s highest tree-fire lookout. Rejoin your coach to see more wildflowers dotting the roads on the way to Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse where your local guide will explain the history of the old limestone lighthouse, guiding vessels at one of only two places in the World where two great oceans meet. Stay Augusta Hotel Motel.
Day 12 AUGUSTA — PERTH (BD)
Sunday 17th August: Just north of Augusta enter the underground world of the Jewel Caves. These limestone caves are considered some of the best in the world with unusual formations and coloured limestone. On to Margaret River to sample the World class wines for which the area is renowned. Pass through Busselton to view the longest jetty in Australia then visit the resort town of Bunbury. On arrival in Perth enjoy a scenic tour of this beautiful city before settling in to your accommodation. 3 Night Stay Comfort Inn Wentworth Plaza
DAY 13 PERTH FREE DAY (B)
Monday 18th August: Enjoy free time in Perth today. The day is yours to take an optional tour to Rottnest Island, relax, shop or visit friends in the Western Capital. A free evening to try the local cuisine or perhaps visit the Casino.
DAY 14 PERTH SIGHTSEEING (BLD)
Tuesday 19th August: Perth to Brisbane passengers join us today. Today see the many highlights of Perth. Start the day with a guided tour of Kings Park, a 400 hectare parkland showcasing Western Australia's unique wildflowers and colourful bird life. Then all aboard with Captain Cook Cruises enjoying wonderful views as you cruise the calm waters between Perth and Fremantle. On the return journey enjoy a delicious buffet lunch before arriving back in Perth early afternoon with free time to relax and prepare for your scrumptious smorgasbord dinner at Miss Maud’s Swedish Restaurant.
DAY 15 PERTH — KALBARRI (BLD)
Wednesday 20th August: Brisbane to Perth passengers leave us today. Travel north to the small fishing village of Cervantes and enter the Nambung National Park, home of the bizarre stud's of limestone pillars known as the Pinnacles. The ancient pillars rise from the yellow desert sand and vary in size from gigantic columns to slivers, the area makes for some great photos. Enjoy a picnic lunch before continuing on to Kalbarri. Two million years ago the Murchison River carved its way to the coast through a bed of sandstone, leaving a twisted, looped gorge over 80 km long. Enjoy dramatic views form Hawk’s Head Lookout over the Murchison River and see spectacular coastal cliffs at Red Bluff Lookout. Stay Kalbarri Palms Resort.
DAY 16 KALBARRI — MT MAGNET (BLD)
Thursday 21st August: This morning delve into the fascinating world of aquaculture as you enjoy a guided tour through the Kalbarri Seahorse Sanctuary .Biologists Wendy and Michael have been breeding seahorses for the pet industry for the past seven years and we will be accessing parts of the facility that may only be seen on guided tours. Following the tour enjoy a Devonshire morning tea. After the beauty of the coast head inland to Mt Magnet through Mullewa. The entire region, is a blaze of brilliant colour during the wildflower season from around August to October. Mullewa is particularly well known for its carpets of everlastings and the stunning wreath flower. Stay Mt Magnet Hotel.
DAY 17 MT MAGNET — LAVERTON (BLD)
Friday 22nd August: In Australia’s Golden Outback, Mount Magnet is one of the Murchison region’s original gold mining towns with the first find recorded in 1891. Today, it is both mining and pastoral industries which form the economic base of the Shire of Mount Magnet, however the beautiful wildflower blooms that can be seen between July and September each year also draw many tourists to the town. On leaving Mt Magnet head inland to Leinster, turning southward along the Goldfields Highway to Leonora. From here divert east to the small mining township of Laverton. Stay Laverton Chalet.
DAY 18 LAVERTON — WARBURTON (BLD)
Saturday 23rd August: This morning we start our trek arss the Great Central Road which is a part of the network of desert highways built under the leadership of the famous surveyor, the late Len Beadell, to service Woomera and the Giles meteorological station. Today we will enjoy morning tea and lunch along the track. Pass the salt Lake Throssel and Yeo Lake Nature Reserve. This afternoon arrive at Warburton, a remote roadhouse servicing outback travellers. Time permitting, we will visit the Tjulyru Cultural Centre and Art Gallery. Stay Warburton Roadhouse.
DAY 19 WARBURTON — YULARA (BLD)
Sunday 24th August: Today, pass Lake Farnham and Lake Christopher with the Rawlinson Ranges completing this picturesque backdrop. At Giles visit the Giles Weather Station for an informative talk and tour. Also view one of Len Beadell's graders used during the construction of the Gunbarrel Highway. The road now treks through the Petermann Ranges, delight in the brilliant colours of the Australian bush - the desert purples, reds and golds will form lasting memories. Pause at Docker River then at Lasseters Cave, see the campsite of Harry Lasseter, who survived for a month after being stranded by his camels in his search for his mythical gold. The Olgas (Kata Tjuta) approach on the final leg of our central crossing. After our adventurous journey, Yulara makes for a well earned rest. 2 Nights Stay Desert Gardens Motel.
DAY 20 YULARA (BD)
Monday 25th August: Up early to photograph the sunrise then an opportunity to climb Uluru for breathtaking views. Tour the base caves of Ayers Rock, see ancient Aboriginal rock painting and picturesque waterholes. Visit the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre and buy lunch at the resort. The afternoon is free for optional sightseeing and to prepare for our visit to the sunset viewing area at Uluru to enjoy refreshments while we watch the fascinating colour changes of Uluru at sunset.
DAY 21 YULARA — KINGS CANYON (BLD)
Tuesday 26th August: Travel Lasseter Highway to Curtain Springs Roadhouse for smoko. Divert from the Highway onto the Luritja Road. On arriving at the unique Kings Canyon, where a sheer cliff wall drops 300 metres, enjoy a picnic lunch and time to walk to the rim of the canyon to see the views over the valley, the lush Garden of Eden and weathered rock structures known as the Lost City. Alternatively, stroll along the canyon floor beside Kings Creek to capture breathtaking views. Stay Kings Canyon Resort.
DAY 22 KINGS CANYON — ALICE SPRINGS (BLD)
Wednesday 27th August: Travel through the distinctive landscapes of the Western MacDonnell Ranges. Here you will view a kaleidoscope of earthy reds, yellows, oranges and purples, enhanced by the central Australian sun as it moves across the sky. Visit Standley Chasm, Simpsons Gap, glimpse Namatjira Ghost Gums and pause at John Flynn's grave. Journey to Alice Springs for panoramic views from Anzac Hill. Tonight enjoy the enthralling Sounds of Starlight Theatre, including dinner and show. 2 Night Stay Desert Palms Resort
DAY 23 ALICE SPRINGS SIGHTSEEING (BLD)
Thursday 28th August: Today discover Alice Springs; start the day with a visit to the Old Telegraph Station. Enjoy morning tea and a tour of the station. Follow on with an inspection of the superb Alice Springs Desert Wildlife Park, showcasing the evolution of the desert landscape and featuring habitat displays of our unique desert reptiles and marsupials. After lunch enjoy a free afternoon to further explore 'The Alice' at your leisure, suggestions include the Cultural Precinct, Panorama Guth, John Flynn's Church or you may choose to shop for souvenirs.
DAY 24 ALICE SPRINGS — BOULIA (BLD)
Friday 29th August: Trek homeward across the seldom travelled Plenty Highway. Experience a diversity of scenery from the protruding peaks of the Harts Range to the large station properties which dominate the highway. The scenery is dramatic and provides a perfect backdrop for any photograph, giving just another glimpse at the splendour of Australia's wild heart. Cross over the border back into Queensland at Tobermorey and continue east to the far flung settlement of Boulia. Stay Boulia Desert Sands Motel.
DAY 25 BOULIA — LONGREACH (BD)
Saturday 30th August: Travel the lonely Kennedy Highway through the heart of The Channel Country and head east towards Winton. At Middleton enjoy morning tea and the outback hospitality of The Middleton Hotel. At Winton enjoy free time to purchase your lunch and explore the town centre. After lunch visit Arno’s wall, a modern wonder of art and architecture containing almost every household item you can imagine, including a kitchen sink. Play a tune on the Musical Fence before making our way to Longreach. Stay at Longreach Motor Inn
DAY 26 LONGREACH — ROMA (BLD)
Sunday 31st August: Longreach is a thriving regional centre that features all the services and facilities of a modern city, whilst retaining its simple rustic character and charm. This town was built around the sheep and cattle industries that thrive on the vast Mitchell grass plains. On our travel to Roma today we pass through Isisford, Blackall - famous for the wool scourers, Tambo the town of the Teddies and onto Roma to enjoy a farewell dinner. Stay Kings Motor Inn.
DAY 27 ROMA — HERVEY BAY (B)
Monday 1st September: Homeward bound after our wonderful Western Australia & Red Centre adventure. Farewell your new friends who have shared this wonderful holiday with you. All too soon we are back in familiar territory with arrival in Brisbane mid afternoon. Northbound passengers stay on board the coach for arrival into Maryborough and Hervey Bay early evening.