Stunning scenery & marine life in Western Australia

Tanya, Branch Manager at Worldspan Travel in Ferndown, had the amazing opportunity to take a Western Australia road trip from Perth with Anzcro. With over 30 years’ experience tailoring trips to Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific, Anzcro offer a wealth of knowledge to ensure customers get the most from their travel to these breathtaking destinations, which are often once in a lifetime trips, to literally the other side of the world:

“I was excited for my Western Australia road trip, travelling from Perth along the coast to Monkey Mia, famous for its wild dolphins. I flew with Qantas on the non-stop flight from Heathrow to Perth on the Dreamliner 787. This route is a non-stop 16.5 hours, and I was surprised at how quickly the time went! The crew were just great, my economy seat was very comfortable, and the inflight entertainment helped fill the journey. The crew mentioned that travelling on the 787 minimised jet lag, and I did feel relatively fresh and ready to last the rest of the day when we landed at lunchtime.

The next morning was the start of our road trip to Monkey Mia, via Kalbarri along the Mitchell Highway and the Indian Ocean Drive. It’s a total of 850 km / 530 miles, and our first leg was to take 6 hours with scenic breaks along the way. Our driver made a stop at a supermarket for water & snacks before we left the city, which was a great tip as a 2-litre bottle of water here was 80 cents, versus AUD$3.95 at a fuel station once on the road!  

After 2 hours we arrived at Jurien Bay which allowed us to stretch our legs with a walk on the beach and lunch in a typical Australian beach café. Back on the road again with another comfort break at Dongara and finally on to Geraldton for a poignant visit to the memorial to HMAS Sydney – the largest allied warship sunk in World War 2, with all 645 crew going down with the ship.

After another 2 hours or so we reached our first iconic National Park destination – Pink Lake at Port Gregory. Taking a pleasant stroll along the shoreline we could enjoy the striking colour of the lake before another walk to Castle Cove and the Natural Bridge. Our overnight stop at Kalbarri was a relaxed atmosphere, and a true feeling that we were in the Outback.

We spent the next day at Kalbarri National Park – a National Park Pass is required per vehicle, which can be obtained online or through Anzcro - 1 Day from AUD$17 or a 5 Day Pass for all Western Australia Parks from AUD$30. Our first stop was at Nature’s Window - an iconic location reached after an 800m walk, with views overlooking the Murchison River. The vivid blue skies, contrasting with the red rock and green vegetation was just stunning to see. We visited first thing in the morning and the temperature was very comfortable for November but do note that the heat increases later in the day, especially in the summer months. A fly net is also highly recommended as they can be really persistent!

Our next stop was the Z Bend for the best viewpoints in the park and a choice of 2 walks to choose from - again, the scenery was stunning, and the heat was manageable with spectacular views. Our final visit in the park was the impressive, cantilevered Skywalk platform over the gorge – a great thrill to do.

Leaving the park we travelled to our next destination, Monkey Mia in Shark Bay World Heritage Area. Surrounded by rusty red dunes and white sandy beaches, the waters around Monkey Mia are teeming with wildlife and this was a place I had wanted to visit for many years.

We took a catamaran cruise which gave us the opportunity to sail with dolphins, dugongs and turtles. It was a magical experience to be joined by 2, then 3, then 4 dolphins swimming alongside for quite a period. We had booked to experience the famous Monkey Mia dolphin encounter, where wild dolphins swim up to the shore to be hand fed by experienced dolphin trainers, but very sadly, nature being nature, the dolphins did not appear at the shore despite waiting for an hour, so I was glad to have done the sailing to have seen the dolphins up close. I thoroughly enjoyed our 2-night stay at Monkey Mia, where so much nature was on offer – we saw turtles, and they also have visiting sharks, rays and a variety of fish.

Before making the 2 day return journey to Perth we explored the Shark Bay area – seeing sharks swimming from a viewpoint at Eagle Bluff, walking along the idyllic Shell Beach visiting Shark Bay Aquarium.  The weather was perfect, with blue skies and the temperature in the high 20’s, it was a fabulous morning to experience what the Shark Bay offers before we started our 550km journey to Geraldton for the night.

The next morning, we had a quick look around Geraldton, visiting Point Moore Lighthouse and Point Denison before we continued to 3 Bays Walkway at Dynamite Bay for a final opportunity to walk along the coast and take in its stunning scenery.  We enjoyed lunch at the famous Lobster Shack in Cervantes, then set off again to stop at the famous Pinnacles in Nambung National Park. These natural limestone structures date back 25,000-30,000 years and you can drive or wander through the mysterious, otherworldly desert, soaking up views of the Pinnacles and the yellow earth. After a final 2 hours’ drive, we arrived in Perth by early evening.

The following day we visited Rottnest Island, where you have the choice to explore by bus, train, bike, e-bike, segway, hiking or sailing! The island is stunning - beautiful beaches with turquoise seas and nature in abundance, and the only place to see the adorable quokka’s - super-cute marsupials about the size of a cat.  A real must to do, and overnight stays are possible here too.

On our final morning in Perth we enjoyed a walking tour with Two Feet & a Heartbeat, through the huge and beautiful Kings Park, with the most glorious views over Perth, finishing at Elizabeth Quay for some refreshments before boarding our flight home.

This amazing trip was a fantastic blend of nature, wildlife and stunning scenery, which really made the most of beautiful Western Australia. Topped and tailed with the dynamic city of Perth, we delved into the Outback and beautiful National Parks, showcasing all the highlights of the region. I have made wonderful memories to last a lifetime.”  

Tanya’s Hotels:

Perth: Intercontinental Hotel – beautiful, centrally located and a 15 minute walk to Elizabeth Quay.

Kalbarri: The Edge Resort – my 1 Bed Apartment was huge with excellent amenities and friendly staff

Monkey Mia Resort: offering Beachfront Villas, Pool or Garden View rooms, Family rooms & Backpackers Dorms.  The food was fantastic, as were the staff.

Geraldton: Nesuto Apartments - walking distance to the marina and town centre, with Studios, Apartments, a swimming pool and BBQ area. Suitable for couples and Families.

Perth: Tribes Hotel Perth - a functional hotel, 10-15 minute drive from Elizabeth Quay and a 10 minute walk to Kings Park.

To plan your own Australian adventure please contact your local branch.