Today you have a full free day to explore this tropical hideaway. Take your time to discover the charms of the town, indulge in the delightful pearl boutiques, and embark on a leisurely stroll along the magnificent Cable Beach, stretching over 22 kilometres. Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Chinatown, with its colourful streets and cultural offerings. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can choose to embark on an optional tour that will take you to breathtaking destinations. One such experience is a visit to a pearl farm, where you can witness the fascinating process of pearl cultivation and learn about the rich history of the industry. Marvel at the intricate craftsmanship and discover the allure of these exquisite gems. Alternatively, you may opt to venture further afield and explore the natural wonders of the area. Speak to your Travel Director about the possibility of joining a scenic flight, soaring above the landscape to witness the awe-inspiring sights from above (all own expense). Tonight, join your fellow travellers for dinner overlooking Cable Beach.
The striking colors of the Pilbara - rich red earth streaked with minerals - set the scene today. In Port Hedland visit the world’s largest bulk export port.
Experience a true frontier on a Karijini National Park tour, where deep gorges carve through the landscape, waterfalls cascade from rugged escarpments, and remote turquoise rock pools glisten like hidden gems. The wilderness is wilder, the colours brighter, the air clearer. Your Karijini tour weaves deep into the national park. It took billions of years to create the geological wonders you see: the red layered cliffs, the quiet gorges, the soaring gum trees, and distinctive termite mounds. It covers a staggering 630,000 hectares in the Hamersley Range, making it WA’s second-largest national park.
Journey through rugged terrain back towards the coast - destination Karratha. Known for its significant role in the mining and resource industry. Stop in at Ngajarli (Deep Gorge) and follow the trail to see incredible petroglyphs and learn about its indigenous history. Finally, pay a visit to Red Dog Statue, the canine larrikin with a wandering heart, and learn why he is famous in this region.
There are a few (hundred) kilometres of Pilbara region to cover between Karratha and Exmouth on the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Coast. On your hypnotic journey, just imagine all the magical marine creatures you might glimpse when you dive into Ningaloo Reef – Exmouth is the gateway. But your focus here should be firmly on the ocean, whether you’re swimming in it or cruising above it. Your accommodation is only meters from the waterline, so you can be assured of a mesmerizing view on the North West Cape.
Steel yourself for a few ‘pinch-me’ moments today. Opt to snorkel (with an ethical operator) over Ningaloo Reef. Time your visit right, and you could have whale sharks and possibly humpback whales in your company. Nothing quite prepares you for the moment you glimpse these gentle giants up close, gliding gracefully through schools of fish. It’s a full day of unbridled, and unrivalled, marine immersion. We understand if you’d prefer to stay dry, and instead choose to book a sunset cruise (both own expense). Or simply spend the day strolling the sand on the lookout for dolphins. The choice is yours.
You don’t need to get your hair wet to experience the sheer wonderment of Ningaloo Reef. A Coral Bay glass-bottom boat cruise through the marine sanctuary gets you within a whisker of turtles, colourful coral and fish. You won’t know where to look, although your on board naturalist will help guide your gaze. Who could blame you for wanting to linger? But Carnarvon calls, the beacon its not-so-under-the-radar satellites. The unassuming Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum played a huge role in global history, helping to beam the 1969 moon landing to TV sets around the world. That’s just one of its claims to fame, as you’ll discover touring the gallery’s collection.
While stromatolites might sound like something belonging in a cave, these ‘living fossils’ grow in the water at Hamelin Pool. Rock-like in appearance, they’re actually alive, and reveal what life might have been like 3.5-billion years ago, when there was no other complex life on Earth. Remarkably, this is the world’s most abundant colony of them. It’s just one of the natural allures of the state’s World Heritage listed Shark Bay, the largest bay in Australia with more than 1,000 kilometres of beaches. Not all of them are sandy – welcome to Shell Beach. Here, the snow-white colour comes from billions of tiny coquina bivalve shells, up to 10 metres deep and stretching for 70 kilometres. And just when you thought the outlook couldn’t get any prettier, you arrive at Monkey Mia.
Every morning, Monkey Mia’s wild dolphins swim close to shore where the National Park Rangers explain the feeding habits of these friendly mammals that they know by name. After watching the famous dolphins swim into shore (Note: As dolphins are wild their appearance cannot be guaranteed) enjoy a leisurely breakfast overlooking the calm waters of the bay. The rest of the day is free for you to explore or relax.
Kalbarri National Park is known for many things: its gorges, towering coastal cliffs and rare wildlife that you can witness from the Kalbarri Skywalk. If you’re here during wildflower season, there are the wildflowers, which bloom and blanket much of the countryside in spring, transforming it into a floral wonderland. Arriving in Geraldton, pay homage to sailors lost off the WA coast during WWII at the HMAS Sydney Memorial. Then discover the rest of the seaside town at your own pace, wandering the foreshore, or visiting the cathedral.
Two final wilderness highs provide a fitting end to this journey of contrasts. Within Nambung National Park, the Pinnacles create a moonscape that appears plucked from a sci-fi film, its staggering collection of natural limestone structures jutting into the sky – some are 3.5 metres high. For all their mysterious appeal, geologists tell us the spires were formed 30,000 years ago when an inland sea receded. It’s a spiritual place, as is nearby Yanchep National Park. Here, on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, your Aboriginal guide’s stories tell the tale of how the land was created from an Aboriginal perspective. This tour is hands-on. Think tasting native bush tucker, smelling medicinal plants, and maybe even trying to play the didgeridoo. Arriving in Perth you have dinner to swap contact details with your new friends and reminisce about your western adventure.
How do you pick a favourite adventure from the last 13 days? You don’t have to – let them all shine in equal measure in your memory.