Secrets of Esperance (Perth to Perth)

Our adventure begins as we travel east from Perth over the Darling Ranges with our first coffee break in the historic township of York, WA’s oldest inland town. A bit more driving and you’ll be eating lunch in the shadow of Wave Rock. By late afternoon, we’ll have arrived in Fitzgerald River National Park, an internationally recognised world biosphere.

This is our biggest day of driving travelling around 10 hours with stops along the way. Walking time is about an hour. Tonight we swag camp at Fitzgerald River National Park which has toilet but no shower facilities. Lunch and dinner are provided.

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Begin the morning with a brisk hike up East Mt Baron, one of the three quartzite peaks that make up the Barren Range. Legs stretched, we’ll take the coastal route into Esperance for a coffee break and mosey around.

Then get ready for some of Australia’s most spectacular scenery with this part of WA having no less than 9 National Parks where we camp at the most spectacular of all, Cape Le Grand National Park. The ocean here is practically transparent, the local eastern grey ‘roos are regularly sunbaking on the beach and the sand at Lucky Bay has twice been judged Australia’s whitest.

Enjoy a free afternoon here and how you spend it is wholly up to you. Set out on a coastal bushwalk, splash about in the sea, fiddle around with your camera aperture or just kick back with your new buds along the beach.

Today we travel 3 hours with stops along the way. Walking time is about 3 hours and you’ll be swag camping with toilet and shower facilities at Cape Le Grand. All meals are provided.

The views from the top of Frenchman’s Peak are pretty impressive, so this morning the top of Frenchman’s Peak is where we go. Following the walk, it’s back in the bus for the drive into the Stirling Ranges, with a lunch stop near Esperance along the way. Depending on the time of the year in spring we might seek out the beautiful wildflowers or in the heat of summer some secret swimming spots.

Today driving time is about 6 hours and walking time is about 4.5 hours. Tonight we swag camp at a private camp ground in the Stirling Ranges with shower and toilet facilities. All meals are provided.

Today’s an early start as we visit the oldest mountain range in the world, the unique Porongurups which rise from the landscape like an island.  Set out on a two-hour hike through some spectacular forests to Castle Rock which is a bit of a climb but worth every bit of effort as you are rewarded with breathtaking views over the region.

Then traveling along Western Australia’s answer to Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, you’ll be treated to superb views of sun-bleached boulders, turquoise seas and dramatic red-rock cliffs shaped by eons of crashing waves and rolling tides. Visit the Gap, Natural Bridge, Elephant Rocks and Green Pools for a swim in a sheltered swim and then a stop at the largest Tingle Tree in Western Australia.

Today we drive about 4 hours and walk about 1.5 hours. Tonight we stay in Quinninup Caravan Park which has shower and toilet facilities and all meals are provided.

Discover the pristine wilderness region of Walpole before tantalising those tastebuds as we spend the rest of the day tasting our way around the Margaret River region visiting boutique wineries, breweries, a chocolate factory and a cheese factory, sampling as we go. Cheers to that.

Today we drive approx 5 hours making stops along the way. Tonight, we swag camp at a camp ground with shower and toilet facilities with all meals are provided.  There is even limited phone charging here.

On the last day of the trip you’ll wake to the now-familiar warble of kookaburras and cockatoos before heading to Dunsborough where you’ll meet Wardandi custodian Josh, who will introduce you to the world’s oldest living culture with his authentic and personal interpretation.  Go deep down into the Ngilgi Cave for a memorable didgeridoo cave experience, taste native foods, discover bush medicine and experience traditional fire lighting on this unique indigenous cultural experience.

As our 6 day tour from Perth draws to an end as we have our final lunch and swim at the popular tourist town of Busselton, where it’s hard to miss the 19th-century Jetty stretching 1.8km into Geographe Bay.  One last stint on the road see’s us arriving into Perth around 6pm and although there are no formal activities planned it is usual for the group to get together and reflect on the big journey together over a few drinks and meal (at own expense).

Today we drive approx. 4 hours and please make sure you have booked your Perth accommodation prior to departure.