Journey Through the Best of South West WA: 8-Day Adventure of Coastal and Inland Marvels | 12 -19 Oct 2025

We depart Perth this morning and head to the town of York for our morning break. This quaint village is full of beautiful old buildings and there is little doubt that it is one of the best-preserved and restored nineteenth-century towns in Australia. At lunch time we arrive in the town of Hyden where we have lunch at the Wildflower Café. This afternoon we see one of Western Australia’s most famous landmarks, Wave Rock. Located just 4 kilometres east of Hyden, geologists believe the original formation was vertical but has been sculptured and coloured by chemicals over 2,700 million years to take on its wave-like character. With our locally based guide to show us around it will be a fascinating afternoon.

Hyden Wave Rock Hotel Motel 

(Breakfast and dinner at motel | Lunch Wildflower Café)

Today we head south to the stunning Stirling Ranges National Park for great views of Bluff Knoll, the highest and one of the most spectacular peaks in south western Australia. We soak up the views while enjoying our picnic lunches. We continue on this afternoon and make our way to Albany, one of the oldest settlements in Western Australia, known for its stunning coastlines and rugged cliffs. Albany also holds the honour of being the birthplace of the Anzac story and is home to the National Anzac Centre, where we have the privilege of visiting today. The state-of-the-art museum uses multimedia, interactive exhibits and historical artefacts to create a deeply personal connection with the past and pay tribute to those who served in WWI. Later this afternoon we check into our accommodation to settle in for the next two nights.

Hilton Garden Inn Albany | 2 nights 

(Breakfast and dinner at motel | Packed lunch included)

This morning we join Albany Ocean Adventures for a cruise through King George Sound. Leaving the marina we look forward to seeing the historic sights plus an abundance of wildlife as well as enjoying the natural beauty of the area. Morning tea is served onboard as our skipper provides interesting commentary about what we are seeing. After the cruise we drive to nearby Frenchman Bay, the location of Albany’s Historic Whaling Station, which now records the history of whaling here. We enjoy lunch here before a guided tour of the station. On the way back we make a couple of stops to view the southern coastline of the Torndirrup National Park. There are numerous natural attractions here including The Gap and The Bridge – each providing great views of the coast.

(Breakfast and dinner at the motel | Lunch at Whalers Galley Cafe)

Leaving Albany behind, our first stop for the day is the area known as the “Valley of the Giants” in the Walpole National Park. We divert from the main highway and travel through this dense forest of unique hardwood tingle trees where we are booked for a Tree Top Walk! 40 metres up in the canopy, we explore this world-class tree-top walk which soars gently upwards amidst the tingle foliage and opens a world of birds and flowers that most people never see. Today’s lunch will be at the Manjimup Heritage Park, where we will also visit the PowerUp and State Timber Museums. Discover the history of the State’s timber industry and how it continues to play an important role for people living in the Southern Forest Region, and learn about the evolution of electricity in Western Australia. We finish the day by arriving in Busselton, and checking into our accommodation, situated ideally with the beach at the back door.

Abbey Beach Resort, Busselton | 2 nights 

(Breakfast and dinner at motel | Lunch at PARK Manjimup Café)

Margaret River is one of the most unique destinations, known for its world-class wine alongside unspoilt coastline, stunning inland rivers, and ancient underground caves. This morning we drive south along the scenic Caves Road which takes us past the Margaret River mouth to Mammoth Cave. The magical, gothic-like limestone cave is a natural time capsule, home to the ancient fossil remains of the long-extinct giant animals known as Australian Megafauna. After a guided tour here, we visit the Cave Works Interpretive Centre where we will learn more about the formation and history of caves within the region. Next, we travel south to Cape Leeuwin stopping for lunch at the Augusta Hotel, overlooking the Hardy Inlet. We then take a look at the historic Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. The lighthouse is situated at the most south-westerly tip of Australia, standing at the point where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet. A visit to Margaret River would not be complete without a wine tasting so we finish off our day at the beautiful Leeuwin Estate Winery, one of the founding wineries in the Margaret River region.

(Breakfast and dinner at the motel | Lunch at Augusta Hotel)

This morning we call into iconic Busselton Jetty, extending 1.8 kilometres across stunning Geographe Bay, it is the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. We jump aboard the leisurely train, taking in the 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean as we journey across the calm, clear waters. At the end of the jetty is the Underwater Observatory, allowing us to experience one of Australia’s greatest artificial reefs. Descending eight metres below the surface, we’ll be led through the natural wonders that lie beneath the jetty. Departing Busselton travel north up the coast, pausing in Bunbury to purchase lunch. This afternoon we arrive in Fremantle where we conclude our day in style by joining Captain Cook Cruises for their one-way Fremantle to Perth Cruise.

Pan Pacific Perth 

(Breakfast and dinner at hotel | Lunch at own expense)

Today our tour sadly comes to an end. We make our way to Perth Airport to board our flight home. We arrive home this afternoon after a fantastic adventure to South West WA.

(Breakfast at the hotel | Lunch at own expense)