ITINERARY

Let Australian plant lover Angus Stewart introduce you to the diverse natural wonders of southern Western Australia. Meet milkmaids, honeypots, green kangaroo paws and mountain bells in the wild, and catch the extravaganza of the Kings Park Wildflower Festival.

DAY 1
Saturday 15 September 2018
Home – Perth (D)

Meet your tour leader, Angus Stewart at Sydney Airport for the flight to Perth. Check into the Duxton Hotel located right in the centre of town. A welcome dinner tonight so we can all meet up.

Accommodation: Duxton Hotel, Perth

DAY 2
Sunday 16 September 2018
Guilderton (B/L)

The sand plain country of Guilderton is loved for its unique flora. Watch out for the largest flowered of all the eucalypts, one you won’t see anywhere else on earth. Picnic lunch overlooking the rugged Western Australian coastline amongst Geraldton Wax. Evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Duxton Hotel, Perth

DAY 3
Monday 17 September 2018
Perth (B/L/D)

Head south to the historic port town of Albany, gateway to the unique flora of the WA south coast. Visit Albany’s Historic Whaling Station decommissioned in 1978, it was the last to operate in Australia. Located on the picturesque southern coast of King George Sound. Enjoy a walk around the Regional Wildflower Garden including a preservation and propagation of rare and endangered plants that showcases the unique biodiversity of this region. It’s a botanic hotspot with over 100,000 indigenous plants to see here.

Accommodation: Best Western, Albany

DAY 4
Tuesday 18 September 2018
Valley of the Giants (B/L)

Travel west along the coast. Delicious BBQ breakfast on the road! Visit Walpole and Nornalup National Park, D’Entrecasteaux National Park conservation area of wild, pristine beauty with white beaches, rugged coastal cliffs and towering karri forests. Wander through the Tree Top Walk on a spectacular lightweight bridge in the Valley of the Giants.

Accommodation: Best Western, Albany

DAY 5
Wednesday 19 September 2018
Northcliffe (B/L)

Travel to Northcliffe along the Chesapeake Road into the Karri forests of Shannon National Park. Lunch included en route. Evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Best Western, Albany

DAY 6
Thursday 20 September 2018
Stirling Ranges(B/L)

Explore the diverse Stirling Ranges and Mount Barker regions today, some of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. There are more than 1500 species of plants in the Stirling Ranges alone. Watch out for some of the 148 bird species, including electric blue fairy wrens, brilliant parrots and soaring majestic wedge-tailed eagles. Lunch on the road.

Accommodation: Best Western, Albany

DAY 7
Friday 21 September 2018
Albany to Hopetoun(B/L/D)

Travel east today, first to Ongerup to see iconic local fauna of this region, particularly the endangered malleefowl. A floral highlight at the Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show. For the last 30 years, this show has become one of the best in WA. There are hundreds of species of wildflowers on display. Lunch and dinner included.

Accommodation: Hopetoun Motel, Hopetoun

DAY 8
Saturday 22 September 2018
Fitzgerald River National Park (B/L)

More wildflowers today in Fitzgerald River National Park. We are hoping to spot Qualup Bells, Possum banksias, regelias, the bell-fruited mallee, Scarlet Banksia and the ‘jug’ flowers of Albany Woolly Bush. We’ll find a perfect picnic spot in the shade to enjoy lunch.

Accommodation: Hopetoun Motel, Hopetoun

DAY 9
Sunday 23 September 2018
Jerdercuttup (B/L)

A cafe breakie to get us going. Then we’re off to explore the triangle between Hopetoun, Jerdacuttup and Ravensthorpe, recognised as one of the most botanically significant parks in Australia. A long table lunch in celebration of the Ravensthorpe Flower Show is waiting for us in the Town Hall at Jerdacuttup.

Accommodation: Hopetoun Motel, Hopetoun

DAY 10
Monday 24 September 2018
Hopetoun to Esperance (B/L/D)

Take the cross-country road through wetlands and mallee country to Esperance so we’ll see water birds and iconic wildflowers including red kangaroo paw and pretty lemon flowers of the grey cottoneheads, Conostylis. Check into our beachfront motel in Esperance with dinner included this evening.

Accommodation: Best Western, Esperance

DAY 11
Tuesday 25 September 2018
Cape Arid National Park (B/L)

We’re travelling east today to Cape Le Grande and Cape Arid National Park. Bring binoculars and telephoto lens as bird watching is on the agenda: Cape Barren geese, Western Ground Parrots and Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos. Whale watching too. Picnic amongst a wealth of flora here; banksias, ground orchids, flowering melaleucas and the nude grevillea! Top it off with stunning coastal views.

Accommodation: Best Western, Esperance

Day 12
Wednesday 26 September 2018
Esperance to Hyden (B/L/D)

It’s a pretty road inland from Esperance through Salmon Gum country to Ravensthorpe and on to Hyden. Visit Wave Rock 2,700 million years old and 15 metres high. A huge grey and red coloured granite rock, in the formation of a giant wave about to break. Picnic lunch and dinner included.

Accommodation: Wave Rock Motel, Hyden

DAY 13
Thursday 27 September 2018
Hyden to Perth (B/L)

Travel back to Perth through the famous ‘Wheatbelt’ country. Catch up with many members of the famous Proteaceae family; hakeas, dryandras, banksias, grevilleas and if we’re lucky carpets of everlasting daisies. Lunch stop in Narrogin, the largest town of the Wheatbelt. Check back into the Duxton Hotel. Evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Duxton Hotel, Perth

DAY 14
Friday 28 September 2018
Kings Park (B/D)

It’s festival time in Perth’s famous Kings Park, a most fitting way to end our botanic journey. The 400-hectare Botanic Garden boasts more than 1,700 native species. Stop at Wireless Hill for stunning views across to city skyline as well as a diverse display of wildflowers. Relive recent memories at our Farewell Dinner at the Duxton tonight.

Accommodation: Duxton Hotel, Perth

DAY 15
Saturday 29 September 2018
Perth – Home (B)

After breakfast, transfer to Perth Airport for flights home.

HOW TO BOOK

To secure your booking and make your deposit, please complete our online booking form.
You will be contacted by a Ross Tours Travel Manager to confirm your details and preferred method of payment.

CANCELLATIONS

Cancellations received 180-120 days prior to departure will incur loss of deposit.
Cancellations received between 119-60 days prior to departure will incur a 50% cancellation fee.
Cancellations received between 59-30 days prior to departure will incur a 75% cancellation fee plus any non-recoverable costs incurred.
Cancellations received within 30 days prior to departure will incur 100% cancellation fee.
Cancellations must be sent in writing.

Cancellation fee is based upon the total amounts paid including tours, airfares and all other travel arrangements.
All prices in Australian Dollars. Prices based on minimum 15 passengers. Price is based on departure from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne. Price from NZ and other Australian ports available on application. Ask us about other sightseeing and travel arrangements including pre and post tour accommodation, transfers, stopovers and other tours.
Please refer to the Ross Garden Tours standard terms and conditions