A guide will accompany you on each day’s walk. The itinerary may alter depending on local conditions and weather.
Day 1: Perth to Pinnacles + Yued Ponar Trail, Mt Lesueur National Park
7km
We will leave the city at 7:30am and head to one of Western Australia’s most iconic destinations. The Pinnacles (Nambung National Park) is one of the strangest landscapes you will ever experience. Take a short walk around this limestone “forest” before we hit the road again towards our first big walk.
Our afternoon walk is at the stunningly pristine Mt Lesueur National Park. One of the best wildflower spotting locations in WA, this 7 km loop walk has some fabulous views and many endemic wildflower species. There are definitely some challenges to this walk, with some rocky ground and a few ascents, but it is doable for the everyday walker, and well worth the effort.
After the walk, we will head the short distance to Jurien Bay, where we will stay at the Jurien Bay Motel Apartments, and dinner will be a typical country pub meal down at the local.
Accommodation: Jurien Bay Motel Apartments
Day 2: Wildflower tour at Hi Vallee Farm, Coalseam Conservation Park and Geraldton
3km
Wildflowers, wildflowers and more wildflowers! This is a really easy day, with a short drive out to Hi Vallee Farm in Badingarra, to meet local floral icon Don Williams and his wife Joy. Don will take us on a tour of his property, sharing all his knowledge from years in the bush. Whether you are a casual lover of colour, or a real flower geek, a few hours with this local character is a morning well spent.
After Don and Joy’s place, we will head north (2.5hrs) and roll out the yellow carpet! Whilst you may never have heard of Coalseam Conservation park, you have definitely seen photos of the carpets of colourful everlasting flowers. We have timed the departure of this tour to give us the best chance to see the everlastings at their peak, but nature can be cruel, so there are no guarantees.
There is a flat easy 3km walk within Coalseam which we will do, taking our time to enjoy one of Western Australia’s most memorable experiences.
From Coalseam it is about a 1.5 hr drive to Geraldton, where we will base ourselves for the next two nights at a local 3.5 star motel.
Accommodation: Geraldton
Day 3: A day tour of the Abrolhos Islands
It’s an exciting day today as we hop on our own charter planes and fly over to the Abrolhos Islands, about 80 km off the coast of Geraldton. We’ll take a scenic flight over the chain of islands, learning about their history and infamous shipwrecks, before setting down at East Wallabi Island. Here you can enjoy a short guided nature walk and a snorkel in the pristine waters. We return to Geraldton mid/late afternoon and then head up to the picturesque HMS Sydney memorial lookout for sunset drinks and nibbles.
Accommodation: Geraldton
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Kalbarri National Park, Murchison River Gorge
9km
We start the day with a 1hr 45min drive to Kalbarri. We’ll have a wonderful day today exploring some of the ancient gorges of the Murchison River. We’ll visit Natures Window and walk the 9 km Loop Trail, which takes us from the top of the gorge wall, down into the beautiful gorge itself to walk beside the river. If the weather’s nice, you might enjoy a refreshing swim in the cool water at lunch time.
In the afternoon, we’ll have an easy exploration of the Z Bend Gorge where we will take a short stroll and soak up the tranquil atmosphere.
Accommodation: Kalbarri Edge Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Kalbarri National Park
8km
The views along the Kalbarri coast are nothing short of spectacular – with pink and red layers of sandstone cliffs contrasted against the turquoise Indian Ocean. We’ll walk the length of the Bigurda Trail in the morning. This trail stretches for 8 km along the top of the sea cliffs from Eagle Gorge to the Natural Bridge.
In the afternoon we’ll explore the coastal areas closer to town, including a 3 km loop walk around Mushroom Rock and Rainbow Valley.
Accommodation: Kalbarri Edge Resort
Day 6: Drive to Denham, and across to Dirk Hartog Island
Accommodation: Dirk Hartog Eco Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Dirk Hartog Island
14km + 6.5km optional extra
Accommodation: Dirk Hartog Eco Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Morning Ferry to Denham and the dolphins of Monkey Mia
We have an early morning ferry back to the mainland, but just as well, as we have a 10am date with the dolphins! One of Western Australia’s much loved experiences, see the resident bottlenose up close and personal.
The tour ends just after lunch, with wet feet and a drop off at the airport. We recommend booking a flight after 1:30pm back to Perth (cost of flight not included in tour price ~$150-$300 or more during peak season). For those returning to the East Coast, there should be plenty of time to make an evening flight.
Beautiful walks in the daytime, relax with fellow walkers each evening
As much as this walk is a fantastic outdoor experience, it’s also a social experience, giving you a chance to enjoy the companionship and support of like-minded people.
Enjoy a cuppa with a slice of home-made cake for morning tea, and fresh healthy lunches, surrounded by nature. Finish each day with a delicious, nutritious dinner with the group.