Whales and Wine of the South West

Spend time on beautiful Rottnest Island, where you can meet friendly quokkas and cruise in search of marine wildlife. 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.

Spend time on beautiful Rottnest Island, where you can meet friendly quokkas and cruise in search of marine wildlife. 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.

In pictures

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.

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.

In pictures

Set out on a 2-hour whale watching cruise (included), 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.

Set out on a 2-hour whale watching cruise (included), 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.

In pictures

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.

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.

In pictures

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.

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.

In pictures

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.

Set on the journey from Albany back to Perth, perhaps stopping for supplies at one of the wineries along the route.

In pictures