Book Now

ITINERARY

Let Australian plant lover Colin Barlow 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
Wednesday 9 September 2020
Home – Perth (D)

Meet our Ross Tour Leader Colin Barlow at Perth Airport. Check in to the Duxton Hotel, our luxurious home near the Swan River for 2 nights. Get to know your fellow travellers at our welcome dinner tonight.

Accommodation: Duxton Hotel, Perth

DAY 2
Thursday 10 September 2020
Fremantle (B/D)

This morning we head to one of Perth’s wildflower hotspots, Wireless Hill Park. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through this bushland park, taking in the spectacular sight of blooming wildflowers. Panoramic views of the city and Swan River are breathtaking! After free time to explore and have lunch in Fremantle, we visit the wildflowers of South Beach. Then it’s north to Bold Park, Perth’s largest urban bushland park so see their stunning spring wildflower display! Finish the day at Perth’s iconic Cottesloe Beach with dinner and sunset views overlooking the beach’s crystal clear waters and white sands.

Accommodation: Duxton Hotel, Perth

DAY 3
Friday 11 September 2020
Perth to Albany (B/L)

Today we head south to the historic port town of Albany. Our scenic route takes us through majestic forests of Marri Red Gums and ancient towering Jarrah trees. En route, stop for lunch at Kojonup, go hunting with Colin for delicate spider and cowslip orchids, and enjoy some of the best scenery Western Australia has to offer! Check into our Albany hotel, home for the next 4 nights. Albany sits on the south coast of WA, considered one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. The South West also has one of the world’s best wildflower displays! Tonight is free to relax and explore this stunning location.

Accommodation: Best Western, Albany

DAY 4
Saturday 12 September 2020
Valley of the Giants (B/L)

A bucket list day! Ascend to the treetops of some of the tallest trees on earth. The Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk gives you a bird’s eye view of ancient red tingles (Eucalyptus jacksonii) – trees which occur nowhere else in the world and whose origins trace back to Gondwana! Climbing 40 metres into the forest canopy and meandering through the treetops for 600 metres, the walking trail is the first of its kind, designed to maximise views and minimise human impact.

Accommodation: Best Western, Albany

DAY 5
Sunday 13 September 2020
Albany (B/L)

Explore the unique beauty of WA’s ancient southern coastline and incredible floral diversity. First, we head to the Gap and Natural Bridge to witness the power of nature in creating these extraordinary landforms. Hold onto your hat here, their beauty will blow you away! The nearby Regional Wildflower Centre is a botanic hotspot with over 10,000 indigenous plants, many rare and endangered, to see here: the floral effect is simply stunning! Immerse yourself in the beauty of wildflowers then step back in time at the historic Whaling Station to gain insight into the transformation of Albany from whaling to whale watching.

Accommodation: Best Western, Albany

DAY 6
Monday 14 September 2020
Stirling Ranges(B/L)

Explore the beautiful and diverse Stirling Ranges and Poronguurup NP 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.

Accommodation: Best Western, Albany

DAY 7
Tuesday 15 September 2020
Albany to Hopetoun(B/L/D)

Travel east today and see a floral highlight at the Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show. For the last 38 years, this show has become one of the biggest & best in WA! The festival showcases local wildflowers. Over 500 botanically identified specimens are on display. Check into our Hopetoun Motel for 3 nights.

Accommodation: Wavecrest Village, Hopetoun

DAY 8
Wednesday 16 September 2020
Fitzgerald River National Park (B/L)

More wildflowers today in Fitzgerald River National Park including Qualup Bells, Possum banksias, regelias, the bell-fruited mallee, Scarlet Banksia and the ‘jug’ flowers of Albany Woolly Bush. Recognised as one of the most botanically significant parks in Australia, Fitzgerald River National Park is home to nearly 20% of Western Australia’s flora species, many of them endemic. We’ll find a perfect shady picnic spot!

Accommodation: Wavecrest Village, Hopetoun

DAY 9
Thursday 17 September 2020
Ravensthorpe (B/L)

We’re off to explore the triangle between Hopetoun, Jerdacuttup and Ravensthorpe, recognised as one of the most botanically significant areas in Australia. See banksia artwork painted wheat silos and the Ravensthorpe Ranges.

Accommodation: Wavecrest Village, Hopetoun

DAY 10
Friday 18 September 2020
Hopetoun to Esperance (B/L/D)

Take the cross-country road through wetlands and mallee country to Esperance. See water birds and iconic wildflowers including red kangaroo paw and pretty lemon flowers of the grey cottoneheads, Conostylis. Check into our motel overlooking Esperance Bay for 2 nights with dinner included this evening.

Accommodation: Best Western, Esperance

DAY 11
Saturday 19 September 2020
Cape Arid (B/L)

We’re travelling east today to 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!

Accommodation: Best Western, Esperance

Day 12
Sunday 20 September 2020
Esperance to Hyden (B/L/D)

As we head north today, we travel through Salmon Gum country where graceful pink barked eucalypts and carpets of wildflowers colour the dry landscape. At Hyden, visit the world-famous Wave Rock – a 2,700 million-year-old granite rock that’s 15m high, 110metres long and looks remarkably like a giant wave about to break! Picnic lunch en route and dinner at the Wave Rock Motel.

Accommodation: Wave Rock Motel, Hyden

DAY 13
Monday 21 September 2020
Hyden to Perth (B/L)

Travel back to Perth through the famous Western Australian Wheatbelt Country. Stop at Corrigin, charmingly known as the ‘Town of Windmills’ due to the abundant supply of groundwater. Almost every home had a windmill until 1960 when the town was supplied with scheme water. Carpets of everlasting daisies and fabulous proteaceae plants including banksias, grevilleas, hakeas and dryandras are a feature of this area. Check into the Duxton Hotel in Perth for the next 2 nights.

Accommodation: Duxton Hotel, Perth

DAY 14
Tuesday 22 September 2020
Kings Park (B)

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. At the 56th Kings Park Festival, there will be show-stopping floral displays. Farewell Dinner at the Duxton tonight.

Accommodation: Duxton Hotel, Perth

DAY 15
Wednesday 23 September 2020
Perth – Home (B)

Say goodbye to Perth and friends today as we head to the 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. 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

Book Now