ITINERARY:

Please note, the accommodation and sightseeing tours from Perth are pre-booked, but the road trip itinerary is flexible for you to make stops where you please and explore your desired attractions and areas of personal interest. Travel times are a general indication based on direct routes without stops.

Day 1: Fly to Perth
Arrive in Perth, pick up you hire car at the airport and make your way to the hotel for the next 3 nights. Enjoy having the centre of Perth on your doorstep with many top attractions within easy reach of the hotel's CBD location.

Day 2: Free day in Perth and Swan River Cruise
Explore Perth at your leisure today. You may wish to visit the Botanic Gardens at Kings Park, WACA cricket ground, historic Perth Mint, Swan Bell Tower, Royal Yacht club and St Georges Road. Five minutes’ walk from the centre of Perth is the cultural hub of Northbridge, renowned for its shopping, cafés, restaurants and entertainment venues. The neighbourhood is home to Perth's Chinatown and offers great coffee and brunch options, vintage stores, local fashion, homewares and small bars. This historic city of Fremantle is another popular place to visit. You can peruse the shops and markets, view the charming sandstone buildings and enjoy a tram ride that takes in many of the sights of Fremantle.

Today includes a cruise on the Swan River, which can be enjoyed during the day or at night. It’s a perfect way to take in the majesty of this pristine city. As you sit back and glide down the river, enjoy seeing the city skyline from the river and take in points of interest like the Old Swan Brewery, South Perth, Burswood Peninsula and Claisebrook Cove.

Day 3: Rottnest Island Tour
Visit spectacular Rottnest Island, the “Emerald Isle in a Sea of Sapphire”, only 19 kilometres off the mainland coast. Join a guided tour of the island allowing you to explore the stunning beauty of this A-Class natural reserve in air-conditioned comfort, taking in the amazing fauna and flora of the island, stunning beaches, woodlands and incredible salt lakes.

This 4-hour all-inclusive island tour takes in all of Rottnest’s must-see locations featuring the Wadjemup Lighthouse, Henrietta Rocks, Oliver Hill Gun Fortification and Tunnels and the majestic look-out point at the rugged Cathedral Rocks and Cape Vlamingh. All major habitats are covered on this amazing tour, including Rottnest’s cultural and historical heritage ranging from maritime and military history right up to future developments. Finish the day by exploring the island settlement or enjoy a drink at the Rottnest Quokka Arms Pub.

Day 4: Drive Perth to Geraldton (425 km approx. 4.5 hours)
Today you begin the drive north. If you choose to take the Indian Ocean Drive to Geraldton, you’ll be able to enjoy breathtaking ocean vistas and panoramic beach views.
Popular side trips and places to stop en route include Yanchep National Park with a Koala Boardwalk and the interactive science learning centre at Gravity Discovery Centre and Gingin Observatory. Ledge Point is famous for fresh seafood and crayfish and Nambung National Park is well-known for being the location of the dramatic Pinnacles.

Day 5: Drive Geraldton to Monkey Mia (435km approx. 4.5 hours)
Head further north from Geraldton along the North West Coastal Highway. You can break the journey with a refreshment stop at a roadhouse or Northampton, one of Western Australia’s oldest towns.

In the heart of Western Australia's Shark Bay, Monkey Mia is a place of recognised natural beauty and a World Heritage landmark. For 2 nights you’ll get to stay at RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, situated within the Shark Bay World Heritage Area that’s home to one of the world’s best-known dolphin encounters. Holidaymakers can enjoy a truly unique experience in unspoiled surrounds and look out for the friendly dolphins that visit the bay each day.

Day 6: Monkey Mia Free Day
Take the day to explore more of Monkey Mia or enjoy all the facilities of the resort. Make use of having your hire car to explore all that this spectacular region has to offer. Nearby is the township of Denham and you can take a day trip to Shell Beach or other beautiful coastal locations. Take an Aboriginal tour to learn more about the local heritage, join a wildlife cruise to see dugongs, whales and turtles – whatever you decide to do while you’re here, it’s bound to be amazing!

Day 7: Drive Monkey Mia to Kalbarri (400km approx. 4.10 hours)
Rejoin the North West Coastal Highway heading south. Stops along the way can include Stop at Hamelin Pool Stromatolites. Here you can experience a close encounter with the oldest living marine fossils and get a glimpse of life on Earth over 3,500 million years ago. Shark Bay World Heritage Drive is your gateway to the living fossils, rare marsupials and extraordinary landscapes that have earned this region World Heritage status. Arrive in Kalbarri and watch the sunset reflect on the dramatic coastal rock formations that have been shaped by the forces of nature over 400 million years.

Day 8: Kalbarri Free Day
Kalbarri is a holiday hotspot for families, nature-lovers and thrill seekers. Today is free to venture to the rugged coastal cliffs of Kalbarri National Park. The roads into the park take you to various lookout points, including the breathtaking Nature's Window, The Loop and Z-Bend Gorge, and the new Kalbarri Skywalk. Take one of the coastal gorge walks and watch the cliffs turn to vivid red in the setting sun. Enjoy a fresh seafood feast for dinner at one of the many local restaurants, such as Finlay's Kalbarri, then sit back and relax under the stars at the outdoor cinema.

Day 9: Drive Kalbarri to Perth (590kms approx. 7 hours)
Prepare yourself for a long drive south today. Great stops along the way (some with short detours) include The Pinnacles Desert, Hillarys Boat Harbour, and HMAS Sydney II Memorial. Other popular stops include Yanchep National Park, Pink Lake Lookout, and AQWA The Aquarium Of Western Australia.
Your trip concludes today when you drop off the car at the airport. We hope you enjoyed exploring Western Australia and if you’d like to stay longer, let your travel designer know.

Please note: The day by day descriptions published are intended as an indicative guide only. Travel by nature is unpredictable. Weather patterns, road conditions, public holidays, travel restrictions and a multitude of other factors may necessitate itinerary changes that ultimately are for the client’s benefit. It is essential that clients are flexible and open minded in this regard.