Adelaide to Perth

Welcome to the seafood capital of Australia, Port Lincoln! Your local guide will greet you at the airport on your arrival around midday, before you delve straight into following your tastebuds. To taste the gourmet delights of Port Lincoln is a must for any visitor! Meet Tony Ford, one of Port Lincoln and South Australia’s best chefs at his Boston Bay Winery for a late lunch of seafood and wine pairing. Cook your own fish whilst learning about the various wines grown here along with sampling some of Port Lincolns very best seafood. This winery is the world’s closest vineyard to the ocean, and the locals often joke that pruning needs to be done at low tide so the crayfish don’t bite you!

Two nights Southpoint Beach House

An early start this morning, depart for beautiful Coffin Bay. This area is of outstanding beauty, sapphire waters, world famous oysters and is home to a variety of important species of flora and fauna. There are no other comparable systems of bays and inlets in such compact form anywhere on the coast, which is why this area is classified as a maritime wilderness area. This morning’s experience is something that will embed itself firmly into your memory for years to come. Local Nauo Aboriginal, Jody Miller and a Wirangu tribe member, are outstanding individuals looking to preserve their traditional stories, values and cultures by sharing the knowledge of their traditions from the soul. Be completely absorbed as you learn about their fascinating Indigenous culture through hands-on activities such as collecting and foraging for bush-tucker, understanding the amazing diversity of the bush medicine to be found, listening to their captivating story-telling and ancient history as you interact with your hosts to truly form an understanding of the local culture, community and history of this area, well before white man came along. You may even have the opportunity to experience some traditional methods of bush cooking and of course, tasting is a must.  As seafood is a major part of this region, we tempt you with another lunch of fresh seafood platters at Coffin Bay 1802 Oyster Bar & Restaurant (or similar) overlooking the pristine waters and oyster leases that have made the town, and it’s world famous oysters. This afternoon, we excite you with a cruise where you will be joining a local oyster farmer and cruising out to ‘The Brothers’ islands to observe the seabirds, seals and dolphins that call this area home.

Whilst cruising, learn about the humble oyster, the process of farming these oysters, shuck your own oysters and of course, oyster tasting – the freshest oysters you have ever tasted! Your expert oyster farmer will explain how and what they are doing to keep their industry sustainable for years to come and how they are lessening the impact on the environment. The larger island of ‘The Brothers’ in the Mount Dutton Bay Conservation Park, is of paleontological significance because of the presence of sub-fossil bones of six species, including an extinct kangaroo and a giant flightless bird. Elegant bottle-nosed dolphins are common within the turquoise Coffin Bay waterways, and common dolphins are frequently seen in offshore waters. Please note the cruise is weather dependent. This evening, return to your hotel to freshen up, before a five minute stroll to El Giorno’s for a tasting menu. Savour a mixture of local fresh seafood and land products that of course are all locally produced. Start off with a tasting of Hiramusa yellowtail kingfish sashimi, southern blue-fin tuna sashimi and Coffin Bay oysters – natural – Tokyo – pickled ginger, soy sauce, mirin & wasabi. Entrée is followed with Devilled scallops – wrapped in bacon, with steamed rice and chilli cream sauce, salt and pepper calamari and Kinkawooka mussels – cooked in tomato, onion & garlic sauce. If you are still wanting more, then the main course is next – King George Whiting – cooked in Coopers pale ale beer batter, prime samm lamb steaks and Spanish king prawns – Spencer Gulf wild catch king prawns cooked in tomato & black bean sauce.

This morning, you will continue along the Eyre Peninsula to the last town before the Nullabor – Ceduna. This area is one of the most contrasting, isolated and dramatic regions on the Eyre Peninsula. The landscape is full of hidden secrets and foot-print free beaches where Southern Right Whales folic in the water. Heading west, the landscape flatters and the treeless Nullabor Plain begins.

Overnight in Ceduna in beach front accommodation

Today you will fly to the town of Forrest which is on the Perth to Sydney railway line on the Nullarbor.  It has a permanent population of two.  Your accommodation here is a former settlers cottage, which has been re-purposed as accommodation.  On a moonless night, you can walk away from the accommodation to the end of the runway (to get away from the lights) and have “the everlasting glory of the stars” from horizon to horizon.  Dingoes howling in the distance.  Both magical and eerie. 

Overnight in Forrest in a Settlers Cottage

Continuing on, today you will fly to the biggest city in the Australian outback, Kalgoorlie. This town is a vibrant mix of gold rush history, grand colonial buildings and immense mining operations, surrounded by some of the most dazzling spring wildflowers and eerie gold-rush ghost towns. This afternoon, it is time for a real slice of gold rush life and Goldfields culture, check out the Kalgoorlie-Boulder WA Museum, the Royal Flying Doctor’s Visitor Centre and the art galleries featuring the works of Aboriginal and Goldfields artists.

Two nights in Kalgoorlie

Today, set off for a short drive to your outback destination. Start with an informative bushwalk where you learn how to recognise the tracks of local wildlife, gather bushtucker and learn Wongutha names and uses for local plants and animals. Visit culturally significant sites, hear ancient Dreaming stories, learn about traditional tools and hunting weapons and experience the world’s oldest living culture. Traditional bush damper and Billie tea are included.

Today you will leave the goldfields behind and fly to the coastal town of Esperance. Fly over the pink bubblegum coloured lake, located on Middle Island which is approximately 130km by sea to the east of Esperance. Lake Hillier is an A-class Nature Reserve with extremely high environmental protection protocols. It is situated in a very remote location which is difficult to access and best seen from above. This afternoon, head just out of town to one of only a few wetlands in Western Australia recognised under the Ramsar Convention. Supporting a habitat of around 20,000 waterbirds, it’s also home to bandicoots, possums and frogs. Enjoy a wonderful walking trail (called Kepwari, which roughly translates to ‘place of moving water’) around Wheatfield, Windabout and Woody Lakes. 

Two nights in Esperance

This morning is about exploring as you head to one of Western Australia’s best known and most spectacular National Parks – Cape Le Grand National Park. Pristine and perfect are two words that reflect the absolute beauty of this park. Here you will find an ocean coloured all imaginable shades of blue, sand so white and fine it squeaks between your toes and the iconic sight of kangaroos sunbathing on the beach at Lucky Bay.  The afternoon is yours at leisure.

Today you will fly to the winelands of Margaret River. Your home for the next two nights is in a private country house-cum-hotel which delivers a truly delectable culinary retreat in the heart of wine country. This afternoon, you have the opportunity to visit art galleries and produce stores such as The Margaret River Chocolate Factory, Providore, Olio Bello and Vasse Virgin olive farms rounds off a truly spectacular day…includes a 3 course winery lunch with 2 glasses of wine per person. This evening, enjoy a wonderful cultural experience with Aboriginal learnings. Enjoy a short guided bushwalk identifying traditional medicine plants and learning the local Noongar connection with the region. Next venture into the Ngilgi cavern (pronounced Nil-ghee) to learn the Dreaming legends of the cave and hear a mesmerising didgeridoo performance.

2 nights Cape Lodge Margaret River 

Set off on an epicurean experience of the stunning Margaret River wine region through a selection of boutique, iconic and artisan wine producers, it is an adventure through all five senses – sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste and is ideal for those who love a sensory indulgence! The day begins with an exclusive and unique wine pairing experience at Passel Estate, with each of their award winning wines paired with artisanal and handcrafted chocolate encased bon bon’s. Continue on to visit Voyager Estate for an interactive tour of the vineyards and winery on board a Land-Rover Defender, followed by a portfolio wine tasting in the cellar door. From there you can take your healthy appetite through to the restaurant and experience a journey of the senses with a 4-course Discovery menu. After lunch, you will have an opportunity to meet the owner and winemaker at one of the regions genuine artisan wine producers, or set off to discover the hidden sights and scenery of Australia’s premium wine region!

This morning you will fly to Perth where your journey ends on arrival.

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