Private Perth to Broome Tour – 10 Days

Day 2 – Kalbarri to Shark Bay Monkey Mia

Kalbarri National Park, The Loop, Nature’s Window, Stromatolites, Shell Beach

Kalbarri is nestled at the Murchison River mouth and surrounded by stunning coastline, soaring river gorges and protected bays. Today, we will visit the amazing Kalbarri National Park for spectacular views of the Murchison River Gorges to see The Loop and Nature’s Window; a natural rock arch that frames the upstream views.

From here we will journey to the Shark Bay World Heritage Area and marvel at the astonishing world-class natural attractions in the region. Shark Bay is well known for its white beaches, turquoise waters and rust-red sand dunes. It is primarily renowned for both its terrestrial and marine life. It is nature at its most pure.

Next stop is Hamelin Pool to view Stromatolites, which are one of the earliest forms of life to evolve on our planet. Living fossils, part of the earth’s evolutionary history. Further up we will visit Shell Beach which is home to billions of tiny Cardiid Cockle; the 60 km stretch of beach is covered to a depth of some seven to ten metres. A stop at Eagle Bluff will give you a scenic view over the coast; you might be lucky enough to spot Lemon Sharks, Stingrays, Turtles or Dugongs.

 Before dinner go for a walk along the beach to see the Dolphins or go for a refreshing swim.

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Accommodation: Monkey Mia Resort

Day 3 – Monkey Mia to Wooramel Station

Monkey Mia Cruise, Denham, Wooramel 

This morning, on day three of our Perth to Broome tour, experience a very special breakfast whilst watching the dolphins come in close to the shore. After breakfast walk to the beach to see dolphin feeding and hear all about their lives in Shark Bay.

Join a three-hour boat cruise to see the dolphins in their natural environment and other wonderful sea creatures of the Shark Bay area, including dugongs, turtles, stingrays, lemon sharks, nervous sharks and sponge dolphins.

After lunch, we head further north to Wooramel Riverside Retreat at Wooramel Station just south of Carnarvon.

Wooramel Station is a family owned working cattle, sheep, goat and outback station stay. The property occupies an area of 1430 square kilometres with 60 kilometres of coastline frontage to the Indian Ocean, backing onto the Shark Bay World Heritage area. There is much to do and see here.

This afternoon enjoy one of the highlights at Wooramel River Retreat is definitely experiencing the naturally heated therapeutic artesian bore baths.

The water is approximately 33 degrees with a high mineral content that is reputed to have soothing effects on tired muscles.

Go for a walk along the Wooramel River bank among the river gums take you binoculars this area is highly regarded for the bird life.

This evening enjoy a camp oven dinner to share with other people also staying at the retreat. One of the community highlights.

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Accommodation: Wooramel Riverside Retreat, Wooramel Station

Day 4 – Wooramel Station to Carnarvon

Carnarvon, Space and Technology Museum, Charles Knife Gorge, Exmouth

This morning we will take a self drive tour on part of the station to get a taste of station life on our 70km self  drive  4WD  Station Tour.  The track takes us out to the coastline where you can see the mouth of the river the 100 year old shearing shed that crosses over the highway and heads east along a windmill track before meandering back to the homestead along the river.

After lunch on to Carnarvon where the outback meets the coast.  A regional hub that provides essential services to the surrounding areas. The township lies at the mouth of the Gascoyne River and supports an extensive horticultural and fishing industries.

We visit the Carnarvon One Mile Jetty Heritage Precinct. The One Mile Jetty was built in 1897 and was the first port in Australia to transport commercial livestock by sea on a regular basis. State ships stopped in Carnarvon on average twice a week until they ceased operations in 1966.

This evening enjoy by a picnic dinner of local fresh Fish and Chips watching the sunset.

Accommodation: Carnarvon Best Western Motel

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Day 5 – Carnarvon to Exmouth

Carnarvon, Space and Technology Museum, Charles Knife Gorge, Exmouth

Carnarvon is a diverse and laidback town where the outback meets the coast. It is recognised as a food bowl region, well known for its bananas, mangos, and luscious seafood. There is a rich indigenous culture, as well as stations producing wool and cattle.

This morning visit the Carnarvon One Mile Jetty Heritage Precinct. The One Mile Jetty was built in 1897 and was the first port in Australia to transport commercial live stock by sea on a regular basis. State ships stopped in Carnarvon on average twice a week until they ceased operations in 1966

We visit Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum, Carnarvon Tracking Station and the OTC Satellite Earth Station. The station was built to support NASA’s Gemini, Apollo and Skylab programs. This is Carnarvon’s newest and highly rated tourist attraction; great fun for the kids, and the adults will learn all about how Carnarvon’s played its part in the space race.

Continue to Coral Bay for lunch and enjoy a swim or snorkel over the coral just of the beach.

On the way to Exmouth visit the Charles Knife Gorge for fabulous views of Exmouth Gulf. Enjoy a drive on the top of Cape Range with deep gullies and gorges dropping away below us. We end the day at the historical Wapet Oil Well No. 3 site before arriving into Exmouth for the evening.

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Accommodation: Mantaray  Ningaloo Resort Exmouth

Day 6 – Exmouth

Cape Range National Park, Yardie Creek, Turquoise Bay,

Swim with the Whale Sharks (optional in season)

We will spend today enjoying all the highlights of Exmouth, including a drive along the Indian Ocean Ningaloo Reef side of Cape Range National Park to visit scenic sights.

Join a cruise at Yardie Creek. View the stunning gorges, unique flora and fauna, aboriginal history and the beautiful natural environment.

After a picnic lunch, we head off to swim and snorkel at the famous Turquoise Bay. Drift over the colourful coral and see fish, rays and turtles.

Accommodation: Mantaray Ningaloo Resort Exmouth

Day 7 – Exmouth to Onslow

Ashburton Shire, Old Goods Shed Museum, Old Town Onslow

After an early breakfast, we travel to Onslow.

Today’s highlights include the ever-changing landscape which is characteristic of the Ashburton outback station countryside, a visit to the Nanutarra Roadhouse and Station which was established in 1879,

Onslow the oldest town in the Ashburton Shire, with a colourful history including pearl lugging and devastation by cyclone and Japanese bombing in World War II.

As we are approaching Onslow there are thousands of acres of tall rich red brown termite mounds and and closer to the coast salt lakes some of which are being harvested for commercial salt and chemicals

Since the establishment of Onslow Salt’s ponds, many species of bird and wildlife have been attracted to the area and you may see pelicans, cormorants, wading birds, sea eagles, as well as kangaroos, emus and wild turkeys during our visit.

Visit old Goods Shed Museum, see what life was like for the pioneers who settled the old town which was gazetted in 1883, and moved to its present site in 1925. At the old town see the ruins of the old jail and courthouse, wander around the old town.

Our overnight accommodation is overlooking Beadon Bay.

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Accommodation: Onslow Beach Resort Onslow

Day 8 – Onslow to Karratha

Red Dog Memorial, Dampier Rock Art Precinct, Dampier,  Hearson’s Cove

This morning as we travel to Karratha we will be touring through Station country, iron ore mining, natural gas parallel  with the coast on our left to the distance.

Karratha, a modern town, was developed in the 1960’s to accommodate the processing and exportation workforce of the Hamersley Iron Mining Company and, in the 1980s, the petroleum and liquefied natural gas operations of the North-West Shelf Venture. The name Karratha comes from the cattle station from which land was reclaimed and in the local Aboriginal language means ‘good country’ or ‘soft earth’.

Today we explore the region surrounding Karratha, including the famous Red Dog Memorial and the Dampier Rock Art Precinct.

This region comprises the 42 islands and islets of the Dampier Archipelago (including the Burrup Peninsula) and contains the highest concentration of rock ‘carvings’ in the world, dated between 6,000 and 20,000 years.

We will visit Hearson’s Cove, one of Western Australia’s prettiest beaches. Be sure to have your swimming costume handy as this is a beautiful spot to swim.

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Accommodation: The Range Karratha

Day 9 – Karratha to Port Hedland

Karratha, Roebourne,  Cossack, Point Samson, Port Hedland

Roebourne

The first ever town to be established between Geraldton and Darwin.  Roebourne holds the proud title of the oldest surviving town in the North West. The early architecture has been lovingly restored.

Visit the Old Roebourne Gaol, now the museum and art gallery,  picture convict and colonial life in 19th century Roebourne, when it was regarded as the capital of the North West.

It used to be a gold rush town Roebourne’s name honours John Septimus Roe, the first Surveyor General of Western Australia.

We visit the Roebourne Art Group.The Pilbara’s distinguished indigenous are centre featuring contemporary Australian Aboriginal art.

Cossack

Once the North West’s first pastoral, gold rush and pearling port. Today Cossack is a living ghost town with fine National Trust listed bluestone architecture.

After the migration of the pearling industry to Broome, the end of the gold rush and the opening of Point Samson jetty, the town was dissolved in 1910 and abandoned by 1950.

Cossack hosts the annual Cossack Art Award in July. Recognised as the most isolated acquisitive art exhibition in the world, and the richest award of its kind in Australia. We take a walk around the town to relive former times.

Point Samson

In contrast to the peaceful seaside town of today, it had a very active history as a deep water port, handling the third largest annual tonnage in WA. The port of Point Samson and its deep water jetty were built in 1902/03 to service Roebourne, the then boom town of Wittenoom and the developing community of Wickham. Point Samson is reknown for its fish and chips. Time for lunch.

This afternoon travel on to Port Hedland our overnight stay.

Our last stop of the day is at the Spinifex Hills Studios, which is home to the Spinifex Hill Artists (SHA). This group are Port Hedland’s only professional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist collective. You will be able to talk to the artists and maybe buy a painting to take home as a memento of your Western Australian adventure.

Accommodation: Esplanade Hotel Port Hedland

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Day 10 – Port Hedland to Broome

Eighty Mile Beach, Cable Beach Club, Broome

On our last day, we travel from Port Hedland to Broome. Along the way see vast stretches of the open landscape as the highway skirts the Great Sandy Desert. Keep an eye out for raptors, brolgas, bustards, willy-willy’s, wallaby’s, and of course the unspoiled coastline which is never far away.

We will stop for lunch at Eighty Mile Beach, which is the longest uninterrupted beach in Western Australia.

At Broome, we tour the township before checking into our fabulous accommodation at Cable Beach Club enjoy a sunset drink watching the camels on Cable Beach and our final dinner together.

Tour ends. You may wish to stay on in Broome or have Kimberley cruises to meet.

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While in Broome consider our Broome to the Dampier Peninsular 3 Day Tour

Visit Beagle Bay, Cape Leveque, Cygnet Bay with a two night stay at Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm