SOUTH WEST ODYSSEY WHALE WATCHING EXPERIENCE

Direct bookings save 15% on the website prices for tours

Costs above include 15% commission and for a small group of 10 guests – group of 20 guests also feasible

Costs exclude 3 days in Margaret River with McLeod Tours

Price shown is twin share only

THEME: Discover the South West with its massive karri forests, the Wheatbelt and Great Southern with its history of European settlement and colonisation, the stories about the original custodians of the land the first nation’s peoples, visit Albany and multi-cultural Katanning against the backdrop of the incredible painted murals in local towns as part of the “Public Silo Art Trail” along with some stunning wildflowers and hear about the rivalry between the Swan River Colony established in Perth and the first colonial settlement at Albany in 1826.

Travel to Augusta for a maritime journey viewing Humpback Whales and other marine life

Visit Wave Rock with “The Humps” and “Hippos Yawn,” see extraordinary wildflowers, the PUBLIC silo large-scale art trails in Newdegate, Pingrup, Albany and Katanning, learn about Broomehill and the gold prospectors who trekked along the Holland Track to the Goldfields and view other treasures like the Historical Whaling Station, National Anzac Centre and Premier Mill Hotel all complimented with wine tastings at Walkers Hill Vineyard in Lake Grace! 

Enjoy a health and wellness session and tour of a sustainable property within a very relaxing and restful country setting overlooking the Kalgan River Valley.

This tour will leave some long lasting memories and life-long friendships.

Day 1     Humpbacks, Rivers, Karri Forests and Vineyards

The previous evening we all catch up at the Settlers Tavern for a social drink and a meal

We depart Margaret River at 8.00am for a one day extension to the south west tour with a marine journey from the coastal town of    Augusta to view Humpback Whales with Naturaliste Charters

Following the morning adventure we stop for a lunch break in Augusta and then in the afternoon we enjoy a river cruise up the Blackwood River with Augusta River Cruises to take in the mighty landscapes and river scenery to experience some bird watching

Later on we take a scenic drive back to Margaret River after a day of enjoying river and seascapes. The evening sundowner is followed by an evening meal

Day 2     Karri Forests, Rivers and Tree Tops

 We depart Margaret River at 8.00am for our crossing of the Blackwood River via Nannup into Bridgetown for a quick visit. Then we depart and travel in a south easterly direction toward Manjimup and then Pemberton for morning tea

Following the break we head through extensive karri forests to Walpole for late lunch, which is then followed with a walk amongst the treetops before heading to Denmark for wine tastings and afternoon tea on our way to spending spend two nights in Albany at the Dog Rock Motel with dining at Lime 303 a classy restaurant which is part of the motel complex

Day 3     Whales and Anzacs

In the morning we start the day afresh at 8.30am and travel in the footsteps of people living at the first colonial settlement in Western Australia in late 1826. The settlement was originally a military outpost and part of the Colony of NSW and called Frederick Town (this changed in 1831 when it was formally proclaimed part of the Swan River Colony) and renamed Albany in 1832

We travel out to the “Natural Bridge,” the “Gap” and Albany’s Historic Whaling Station, where you can step aboard the former Cheynes IV Whalechaser ship. We can enjoy the region’s wildflower garden and the wildlife park. Lunch is planned in Whaler’s Cafe that flanks the picturesque views across the islands to the mainland

The afternoon activities include a visit to the National Anzac Centre and the Convoy Lookout which offers a truly unique opportunity to absorb the reality of Australia’s and New Zealand’s first contingent of 30,000 troops to WWI who were anchored in a large convoy in King George Sound (October 1914)

We take a journey around the coast line to Middleton Beach, to view spectacular beaches and coastline, which offers locals and tourists alike, aquatic beauty and tranquillity before enjoying this session - Pilates Mat class suited to all levels followed by a meditation and breathwork session to enhance flexibility, strengthen the core, and promote mental clarity and relaxation - and tour of a sustainable property within a very relaxing and restful country setting overlooking the Kalgan River Valley

The final night of the stay in Albany is a dinner at Lime 303 restaurant 

Day 4     Mountain Country, Birds, Silo Art and Cultural Sites

Next day with a departure at 8.00am we travel past the artwork on the wheat silo at the Port before driving to Middleton Beach and then stop to view the ocean at Emu Point where guests learn about Oyster Harbour. There is much to discover, the recovery programs for the sea grasses, the commercial farming and re-establishment of local oysters using an artificial reef system. Enjoy the estuarine birdlife as you learn about the history of the Kalgan River, the early French and British navigators, and finally as the meeting place for the Kalgan and King Rivers

We then travel via Lower King and Nanarup Road to view the Indigenous fish traps at Oyster Harbour. The local Indigenous Menang peoples of the Noongar nation trapped different fish species as a major food source.  You will see cultural sites over 6,000 years old

Morning tea is then taken at Emu point Cafe before travelling to the Porongurup Range

Then as we travel through the Stirling Range we take a trip to the carpark lookout at Bluff Knoll, the highest peak being 1099 metres above sea level. It is known as the ‘place of many eyes’ or Pualaar Miial, by Indigenous Noongar people. We enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding plains and see if we can spot black cockatoos, birds of prey, purple-crowned lorikeets, scrub wrens and other birds in their natural habitat

We then take a detour drive heading along the Horsepower Highway to Gnowangerup to view all the old tractors and other artwork that reflects the country regions of WA

In the meantime lunch is being scheduled at the Yongergnow Malleefowl Centre Ongerup where guests can experience the Malleefowl sanctuary. The sanctuary is part of the National Malleefowl Recovery Program to protect Malleefowl and their habitat. This country is known for the massive deforestation or clearing of vast ecologically rich and diverse Eucalyptus Mallee

After lunch we make a quick visit to the Ongerup Railway Museum and wildflower display before heading to we depart to Pingrup and then proceed to Newdegate where we arrive to take some photo shots of the painted wildlife artwork on the wheat silos (part of the FORM Public Silo Art Trail)

We then travel through wheat and sheep country past the old Lake Biddy town site with a quick stop on our way to Hyden and the Wave Rock Resort for a two night stay

Day 5     Waves and Humps

Breakfast is at 7.30am and then we proceed on a refreshing early morning walk to Wave Rock and ‘Hippo Yawn’ and we head to the Bush Cafe for morning tea

We depart again for the Humps and Mulka’s Cave, and learn the name’s link to an Aboriginal legend of forbidden love between skin groups and visit a ‘gnamma hole’, which is a man-made cavity that stored rain water for Indigenous peoples

After lunch at the Wildlife Centre and Museum in Wave Rock we enjoy taking in the Wave before afternoon refreshments. Later we
take in and enjoy a sundowner by the lake and then return to the Hyden Hotel for an evening meal

Day 6     Art and Tin Horse Trails and Outback Vineyards

We pack up ‘leaving only footprints’ (departing at 8.30am) and travel to Kondinin and then Kulin for morning tea at “Acres of Taste” followed by a tour along the famous “Tin Horse Highway” and the nearby site of the “Kulin Bush Races” on our way to Lake Grace. 

We have a quick visit to the conservation area on a nearby lake followed by lunch and wine tastings at ‘Walkers Hill Vineyard’, Australia’s most inland winery, where shiraz and chardonnay grapes have flourished

After a brief stop at the Lake Grace Visitor Centre and Inland Mission we continue our journey to Pingrup to view the painted wildlife artwork on the wheat silos (again part of the FORM Public Silo Art Trail) to photograph the painted grain silos

Next stop is Nyabing “Hub” to enjoy afternoon refreshments before a stop at Badgebup to see how the local Indigenous Ranger program is going

Our final stop is Katanning for two overnight stays. Guests stay at the Premier Mill Hotel. The Premier Mill Hotel is a converted roller flour mill, refurbished into modern accommodation, with an accompanying restaurant and cafe.  End the day by partaking in a traditional Australian pastime, a ‘Sundowner’, at the downstairs Cordial Bar at the Premier Mill Hotel, before tucking into a delicious meal at the nearby Royal Exchange Hotel. This is a tour favourite experience!

Day 7     Pioneers and Prospectors, Kokoda Track and Mosques

Start the day at 8.30am by finding out about the history of Katanning with a special guest historian who will impart the secrets of this famous town. Learn about the unique personalities that developed the railway line and opened up the hinterland for sheep and cropping

Then we depart to another famous icon in Western Australia, Broomehill. Famous for the remarkable ingenuity of John Holland and his team, who in April 1893, carried their meagre supplies on horseback through harsh terrain to cut a shorter route for gold seekers to the new gold discoveries in the outback. In Broomehill we can enjoy morning tea at the historic Henry Jones Café and listen to several enthralling stories about Holland and the gold seekers who trekked over 533kms to the newly discovered goldfields in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie in the 1890’s. Guests walk the town looking at remnants of the early prospectors

Then following morning tea we meet and chat to local community leader Alep at the “The Daily Grind” where we also enjoy a lunch with Malay cuisine before heading off to finding out about how modern multi-cultural Australia is reflected in the celebration of Islamic culture and the opening of a local Mosque in Katanning along with viewing the painted wildlife artwork and other local features around this incredible town

After lunch we head off to Kojonup for afternoon tea at Kodja Place along with viewing the old barracks, the spring and the historic water trough and learning more about Brigadier Potts and the Kokoda Track of WW11

At Kodja Place we view the Indigenous and settler handcrafted tools before enjoying billy tea and damper and chatting to the local Indigenous person “Billy” along with enjoying local wine and cheese tastings and other platters before departing back to Katanning

Again end the day by partaking in the traditional Australian pastime, a ‘Sundowner’, at the delicious meal and getting that feeling of being spoilt for choice!

Day 8     Cultural Art, Bart the Sheep and Woolsheds

We depart Katanning at 8.30am and head for Dumbleyung to learn about the “ace” Donald Campbell’s world speed lake exploits, visit Wuddi Tours Indigenous tours shop and take a short tour if time permits to visit local cultural sites and their bush garden before travelling to Wagin to view the massive merino sheep “Bart” and have morning tea at Cresswell’s Antiques

Then we depart for Narrogin and Williams Woolshed for lunch where guests may also like to wander through the adjacent Shearing Shed Museum. This land, in the Wheatbelt region, has seen millions of sheep grazing and crops stretching skyward from the early settlement days of the early – mid 1800’s. Wool raised on this land fetched record prices in Britain during the Industrial Revolution feeding the growth of the weaving industry

Finally we head out of the Wheatbelt toward Perth through the General Darling Ranges, named by Captain James Stirling’s Government Botanist, Charles Fraser, and known locally as ‘Darling Range or the ‘scarp’ and once we arrive back in the WA capital the tour ends at the Hotel Rendezvous in Scarborough on the beachfront