Western Australia
• PERTH • BUSSELTON/MARGARET RIVER • PEMBERTON •
• ALBANY • ESPERANCE • KALGOORLIE • CERVANTES •
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Departure
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Departure
- Overview
- Highlights
- Map & Itinerary
- Trip Inclusions
- Transport & Accommodation
- Reviews
- FAQs
On this railway adventure, set with a backdrop of springtime wildflower colour, we’ll tick all the WA travel boxes and more as we explore all the highlights by a variety of train and coach.
Departure Location: | Perth, Australia | |
Return Location: | Perth, Australia | |
Tour Date: | 13 Sep 2024 - 26 Sep 2024 | Tour Code: 2409WAR |
Tour Code: | 2409WAR | |
Price: |
Per person twin share: $7680 Single Supplement: $1450 |
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Deposit (per person): | $500 | |
Final payment due by: | 14 July 2024 |
Highlights of your tour
- Sail to picturesque Rottnest Island
- Ride the quaint Oliver Hill narrow-gauge railway
- Ride the Prospector Train from Perth to Kalgoorlie
- Witness the world-famous coastline in Esperance
- Explore Albany, Western Australia’s oldest colonial settlement
- Ride the Hotham Valley Railway’s SteamRanger train
- Visit the Margaret River region for a wine tasting tour
- Scenic drives through national parks, including the Stirling Ranges
Your Journey
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After breakfast in the hotel this morning, transfer by coach to Fremantle, the departure point for our Rottnest Island Ferry. On arrival in Rottnest, take some time to explore the main settlement before meeting our coach for our Grand Island Tour. On this approximately 3.5-hour round trip we’ll take in all of the island’s must-see locations, cultural and historical heritage, and exquisite flora and fauna including the famous quokkas.
The tour includes a ride on the iconic Captain Hussey train, a narrow-gauge railway built to service the military operation before World War Two, which showcases the beauty of the island’s south side on a 90-minute return journey. We’ll also enjoy a tour of the Oliver Hill Gun and Tunnel Fortification and have a light lunch before returning to the Main Settlement.
Take some more free time to explore the island before our late afternoon ferry departure and coach transfer back to Perth.
The evening is free for you to enjoy Perth at your leisure.
Overnight: Doubletree Northbridge, Perth (B, L)
This morning, travel the short distance to the Swan Valley for a ride on the Bennett Brook Railway. The railway operates steam and diesel trains over six kilometres of 610mm narrow gauge track, providing a unique railway experience through the bushland of Whiteman Park in Perth’s northern suburbs. Bennett Brook Railway is owned and operated by members of the WA Light Railway Preservation Association Inc, a group of rail buffs who share an interest in the narrow gauge railways of WA. The Bennett Brook Railway holds a unique collection of steam, diesel and petrol-engine locomotives from various industrial and tourist light railways in WA and Queensland. This fleet includes one of the oldest operating diesel locomotives in Australia (built in 1939), which used to haul gold ore in Kalgoorlie. The Railway also owns two former South African Railways NG15 class locomotives, which are considered the largest and most powerful non-articulated narrow gauge steam locomotives in the world.
On arrival, you will first take part in a railway workshop tour before riding one of their steam locomotives through scenic bushland.
Enjoy lunch and travel by coach to the quaint village of Dwellingup, our departure point for the Hotham Valley Railway’s SteamRanger train. The Ranger travels leisurely westward departing at 2pm, to Isandra Siding, 14 km away. On the return journey this iconic steam locomotive ascends Western Australia’s steepest and most spectacular climb, the Darling Range Escarpment. Travel a total of two hours on the train and then travel a further two hours by road south to the busy hub of Busselton.
The town is home to Busselton’s 1865 timber-piled jetty – the southern hemisphere’s longest jetty at 1,841 metres. The Stocker Preston Express electric jetty train that travels along the jetty, took its maiden voyage in 2017 and is powered by solar panels – the first of its kind in Australia.
After checking into our hotel, enjoy dinner which will be served on arrival.
Overnight: The Amalfi Resort, Busselton (B, L, D)
This morning, head to the Busselton Jetty to ride the quaint little train all the way to the end of the jetty. From glimpses of dolphins frolicking to spotting local fishermen snaring their catch of the day, the Jetty Train trip promises to deliver something for everyone.
Once at the end of the jetty, explore one of only six underwater observatories in the world as you discover the depths of Geographe Bay by descending 8 metres below the water’s surface to view some of the 300 different marine species. You will see Australia’s greatest artificial reef which is host to an inspiring forest of vividly-coloured tropical and sub-tropical corals, sponges, fish and invertebrates.
Later, travel the short distance to Yallingup in Margaret River and enjoy lunch at Lamont’s on Smiths Beach, a cosmopolitan venue with a dining terrace.
Splendidly nestled on a ridge, surrounded by the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park with spectacular views out to the Indian Ocean, it’s easy to see why Australian Traveller magazine’s 100 Best Towns in Australia places the Margaret River Region’s spectacular town of Yallingup in the top spot, ahead of long-time frontrunners Noosa and Byron Bay.
After lunch, there’s time to walk along the pristine white sandy beaches to the tranquil crystal clear lagoon and through the town. The landscape is so inspiring that an arts precinct, with more galleries than anywhere else in the Margaret River Region, has developed just off Caves Road. The food and wine is fantastic and there’s plenty of variety with restaurants and cafes and premium wineries.
Moving on, travel south via the town of Margaret River to the incredible Mammoth Cave. This magical cave is a natural time capsule; home to ancient fossil remains of long-extinct giant animals. Mammoth Cave is a self-guided cave, where visitors explore along the boardwalks and platforms, through the majestic chambers of the cave. This is much more than a cave – it is a complete nature experience.
Later, travel to the coastal town of Dunsborough and dine at Palmer’s Winery Restaurant. Established in 1977, the Palmer Winery & Restaurant is one of the first vineyards opened in Margaret River. Return to your hotel in nearby Busselton after dinner.
Overnight: The Amalfi Resort, Busselton (B, L, D)
This morning, travel south to view the Karri forests near Boranup and visit the scenic Cape Leeuwin and its massive lighthouse. This historic lighthouse is situated at the most south-westerly point of Australia, at the tip of a spectacular peninsula – where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet.
Stop for a quick takeaway lunch at your own cost at Nillup Village and arrive in Pemberton. Centrally located in the ‘Southern Forests and Valleys” region the quaint timber town of Pemberton is one of the green jewels in Australia’s South West. With their towering Karri forests, rich agricultural lands and stunning Southern Ocean providing rich experiences and adventure options for every visitor. This spring expect to see the forests veiled in a cascade of purple, white and yellow wildflowers.
On arrival, we’ll head directly to the Pemberton Tramway Company for a spectacular 80 minute journey through towering Karri and Marri forests over trestle bridges spanning rivers and streams along one of Australia’s most majestic rail lines. In springtime, you will find the forest is resplendent with colourful wildflowers. As you admire the breathtaking view on the journey, your tram driver gives an informative commentary on the forest, the Tramway and the history of the region.
Later, visit the tall Karri trees of Gloucester National Park, including the Gloucester Tree with its lookout point. On arrival, check into the hotel and enjoy dinner.
Overnight: The Karri Valley Resort, Pemberton (B, D)
Depart Pemberton by coach this morning and travel to Albany, stopping along the way at the iconic and impressive Valley of the Giants Treetop walk in Tingledale, an internationally recognized attraction that takes you up close and personal with some of the world’s biggest timber giants – Western Australia’s majestic Tingle Trees.
Following this, we’ll enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant, The Marron Tale Café and Marron Farm. This restaurant specialises in freshly caught, live and cooked Marron which are unique to the area. Marron are the largest freshwater crayfish in Western Australia – and the third largest freshwater crayfish on Earth. The cafe also serves a range of other delicious homemade meals including burgers, pastas and salads.
A further two hours away is Albany. The town is the oldest European settlement in the state; it was settled in 1826, shortly before Perth. Albany is now the bustling commercial centre with a genteel decaying colonial quarter, a waterfront in the midst of sophisticated redevelopment and a hectic sprawl of malls and fast-food joints.
Check into your hotel and enjoy dinner together.
Overnight: Emu Point Motel & Apartments, Albany (B, L, D)
This morning, you will explore one of the oldest colonial settlements in Western Australia, Albany. We’ll begin with a visit to the Historic Whaling Station, where you can view an intact whale processing factory and fully restored whale-chasing ship. Later, travel to nearby Misery Beach which was named Australia’s Best Beach by Tourism Australia in its 2022 list of Australia’s Top 20 Beaches. This beach with its grim history as a whaling station and hideaway for convicts, is home to turquoise waters and powder-white sands.
Take a short detour and drive along the spectacular coastline, from Torndirrup National Park’s high cliffs to the spectacular Natural Bridge and The Gap. Heading back into town, we’ll explore the oldest surviving house in the state, the Patrick Taylor Cottage Museum, built in 1832.
Albany was served by the Albany Progress passenger train from Perth from 1961 until 1978. The railway station reopened as a tourist information centre in 1994 which you’ll visit on this morning’s tour. After the passenger service stopped, eight surplus coaches were leased and later sold to the Hotham Valley Steam Railway and still run on the mainline today.
Enjoy some free time to explore the town and have lunch at your leisure before heading to the award-winning National ANZAC Centre, which uses multimedia and interactive technology to tell the stories of and pay tribute to the Anzacs. The Centre looks out across King George Sound, offering a spectacular and symbolic view of where the convoys gathered and left. We’ll take some time exploring the Centre and its surroundings before driving along Marine Drive to look-out to the calm waters of King George Sound and stop at Middleton Beach’s white sands.
Return to the hotel for a free afternoon and evening.
Overnight: Emu Point Motel & Apartments, Albany (B)
Depart Albany early to experience an area of Australia which produces the widest variety of wildflowers, the great gem of Great Southern Western Australia.
First visit the Porongurup National Park which is home to over 700 native plant species and at least 300 macrofungi species. It’s here where you’ll find the Tree-In-The-Rock. Extending its roots down through a crevice, this mature Karri tree clings to existence on a granite boulder. Meander along the short and easy 600 metre loop trail beneath Karri and Marri trees past Karri Wattle, Australian Bluebell and tassel bush to Bolganup Creek and return back to Tree-in-the-Rock picnic area.
Moving on, we’ll travel by road past Mt Barker, Western Lookout, Central Lookout via the 42 kilometre Scenic Drive through the Stirling Ranges National Park, which encompasses the only major mountain range in the southern half of Western Australia. We’ll drive through the heart of the park, winding past the unique landscape and soaking up ever-changing views of rugged peaks and stunning wildflowers.
Stop for lunch at the well stocked Jerramungup Cafe and Fuel and continue on the main road which travels past Fitzgerald River National Park to Ravensthorpe. The landscape here is dotted with colourful wildflowers including banksias, hakeas, bottlebrush, feather flowers, Quaalup bell, orchids and many others. The highlight today is visiting the highly acclaimed 2024 Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show where you will be amazed to see such a large collection of flora. The town enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate and the festival is home to 1,400 species of flora.
After a long, but very satisfying day, you’ll arrive in Esperance at 6pm. Boasting some of the best beaches and bluest water in Australia, Esperance is known as a coastal paradise. After checking into your hotel, enjoy dinner at the excellent Taylor St Quarters restaurant in town.
Overnight: Hospitality Inn, Esperance (B, L, D)
After breakfast this morning we’ll board our coach for the scenic Great Ocean Drive, a 40 km loop along Esperance’s superb coastline. Along the way we’ll make stops at lookouts to take in the sweeping views of the bay, do some whale watching and visit the Cannery Arts Centre which houses exhibitions and offers a fantastic viewpoint of Esperance Bay.
On our return to Esperance we’ll enjoy lunch together at the excellent Lucky Bay Brewery and wander the centre of town to enjoy the annual 2024 Esperance Wildflower Festival which has specimens of over 600 wildflower species on display. You will also visit the Esperance Museum, which houses an excellent collection of historical artefacts from the area, as well as a W919 locomotive.
The afternoon and evening is free for you to unwind. In your free time, why not visit Cindy Poole Glass Gallery and Mermaid Leather Workshop.
Visitors to Esperance should not miss a visit to Cindy Poole Glass Artist– ‘Gallery Experience,’ where sustainability, creative design and authentic craftsmanship converge within layers of glass to embody and celebrate the stunning natural beauty of the Western Australian environment and pay homage to nature. At the Mermaid Leather Workshop, you will experience Australia’s only fish and shark leather specialist. Sit down and relax while you discover how one turns raw Barramundi, Snapper, Groper and Shark fish skins into a unique and exciting leather.
Overnight: Hospitality Inn, Esperance (B, L)
Drive south east this morning past colourful wildflowers including dense thickets of showy banksia to Cape Le Grand.
This ancient, rugged coastline has large granite outcrops, and idyllic white beaches. You’ve seen the pictures of unbelievably white sand and clear blue waters, well this is where you’ll find it! The highlight here is the picture perfect Lucky Bay, one of Australia’s top beaches where you will see western grey kangaroos soaking up the sun on the beach.
Travel back via Esperance to the historic Gibson Soak Hotel and Shop in the small settlement of Gibson. This friendly pub, which first opened in 1896 and a great place for a cold beer and a hot feed, and if you ask around, the locals will tell you that no one leaves The Soak hungry! Moving on, pause in the town of Norseman, once the second-richest goldfield in Western Australia, next to the Golden Mile of Kalgoorlie and arrive in Kalgoorlie just before dinner.
Kalgoorlie Boulder is the site of the famous “Golden Mile” and is Australia’s largest outback city where mining, history and bushland combine to excite your adventurous nature. After the initial goldrush phase, it soon became clear that the Golden Mile contained an enormous amount of gold, which could be extracted by underground mining, leading to the formation of mining companies and a permanent population.
Check into your hotel and enjoy a free evening. There’s several restaurants within walking distance of your hotel but the coach is on call to transfer the group and back for dinner.
Overnight: Quest Yelverton, Kalgoorlie (B, L)
This morning, you will step aboard the City’s Tourist Tram, “Ruby” and appreciate why Kalgoorlie’s trams were such an integral part of the city’s identity. The tramways began operation in 1902 and a year later, the first electric tram was ordered from Philadelphia. Tramcars came in two sizes and were remarkable in their speed. The small trams were four-wheeled with two motors, the large double bogeyed and had four motors. The smaller trams could travel 50 kilometres per hour, the larger trams could reach 70 kilometres per hour and had electric lights.
“Ruby” will travel on the old tram routes from yesteryear and visit the Town Hall, the WA School of Minerals and Rock Museum, the iconic Super Pit, one of Australia’s largest open-pit gold mines, the suburb of Boulder and a Timber Workshop on a morning city tour.
After the tour, enjoy lunch together and travel the short distance to Coolgardie, known as the ‘Mother of the Goldfields’. Although Coolgardie is now known to most Western Australians as a tourist town and a mining ghost town, it was once the third largest town in Western Australia (after Perth and Fremantle) due to the gold rush in the 1890s. Here we’ll enjoy some free time to explore the historic town visiting the Coolgardie Museum, the historic railway station and Warden Finnerty’s Residence where you will enjoy Devonshire tea under the trees.
Return to Kalgoorlie where you will have some free time to visit some heritage buildings and statues and the Museum of the Goldfields.
Meet at 6pm for dinner at The Balcony Bar and Restaurant at the historic Palace Hotel. You will dine on the renowned balcony at this 1897 establishment, with a wonderful view of the historical Hannan Street.
Overnight: Quest Yelverton, Kalgoorlie (B, L, D)
An early start this morning will see us checking out of our hotel, taking along our boxed breakfast and transferring to the station to board the Prospector train. First opened in 1971, the Prospector was Australia’s fastest operating passenger service at the time. The train covers 653 kms from Kalgoorlie to Perth in eight hours on an iconic journey into the Golden Outback. Sit back, relax, and take in the rainbow-hued wildflowers and quaint towns as we travel to the town of Toodyay, arriving at 12.30pm.
It is here where you’ll stop at the quirky Coca Cola Café and Museum for lunch. The restaurant is a 1950s style cafe serving retro tucker, foot tapping music and features a unique collection of Coca-cola memorabilia collected over a 45 year period. Have lunch and sip a coca cola and take in the visual mastery of a branding and marketing icon through the ages, with this extensive collection of cans, bottles and hilarious memorabilia.
At 1.30pm drive two and half hours to the Pinnacles Desert in the Nambung National Park to tour the park. The Pinnacles are amazing natural limestone structures, formed approximately 25,000 to 30,000 years ago after the sea receded and left deposits of sea shells. Over time, coastal winds removed the surrounding sand, leaving the pillars exposed to the elements. The Pinnacles range in height and dimension – some stand as high as 3.5 metres! Some are jagged, sharp-edged columns, rising to a point, while others resemble tombstones.
The Pinnacles Desert is surrounded by coastal plains, white sand dunes, and beautiful swimming beaches. The shifting dune systems and low heathland support a rich variety of flowering plants. This vegetation bursts into flower from August to October, creating a memorable spectacle. Blooming wildflowers and vistas of wattles stretch from horizon to horizon.
Drive the short distance to the town of Cervantes, your home for the night. Cervantes is a crayfishing town and is renowned for its fresh crayfish (Western Rock Lobster). The town was named after a ship that was shipwrecked nearby. The ship, in turn, was named after Spaniard Miguel de Cervantes, author of the epic novel Don Quixote. Most of the streets are named after cities, regions and rivers in Spain.
Tonight we’ll enjoy dinner together at the trendy Cervantes Bar and Bistro.
Overnight: Pinnacles Edge Resort, Cervantes (B, L, D)
Enjoy breakfast and travel to Lake Thetis. This lake is one of the few places in the world where you can see living thrombolites. Thrombolites are closely related to stromatolites and are commonly regarded as ‘living fossils’, and the thrombolites at Lake Thetis are estimated to be around 3,000 years old. It is believed that the lake became isolated from the sea approximately 4,800 years ago, after sea levels dropped and coastal dunes formed around the lake. A 200 metre universally accessible boardwalk at the edge of the lake provides a great vantage point from which to see the thrombolites.
Travel north to Jurien Bay and to the Lesueur National Park, a botanic oasis that will delight all nature lovers. It’s a haven to over 900 plant species including 10% of Western Australia’s known plants – acacias, hibbertias, melaleucas, many species of orchids, they’re all here! In springtime the park transforms into a wildflower wonderland. The vibrant colours will have you reaching for your camera!
Enjoy lunch in Cervantes – a visit wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Lobster Shack – the Indian Ocean Rock Lobster Factory restaurant in Cervantes. Later, travel south and arrive in Perth at 5pm.
We’ll re-group later in the evening for a special farewell dinner and drinks at a nearby restaurant, the Sentinel Bar and Grill.
Overnight: Doubletree Northbridge, Perth (B, L, D)
After breakfast this morning our tour comes to an end. Transfer to the airport for flights home, or onward for other adventures. (B)
For those interested in doing the Indian Pacific Railway before or after the tour starts:
The 4 day/3 night Indian Pacific train departs Perth once a week every Sunday and then arrives in Sydney on Wednesday. Our tour finishes on Thursday morning.
The 4 day/3 night Indian Pacific train departs Sydney once a week every Wednesday and arrives in Perth on Saturday at 3pm which doesn’t fit with the tour which starts at 6pm on Friday.
Please note that departure times and prices are subject to availability and may vary. For further information or to make a booking, please contact our office.
What's included
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13 nights’ accommodation in comfortable, centrally-located hotels
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13 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 9 dinners
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Complimentary drinks with welcome and farewell dinners
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Seven train experiences, mostly heritage trains and trams
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All transport mentioned in the itinerary
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A Railway Adventures tour leader throughout
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Comprehensive sightseeing with expert local guides
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Excursions / entrance fees to attractions listed in the itinerary
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Tipping and gratuities
What's not included
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Airfares
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Airport transfers on arrival and departure (contact our office for options)
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Excursions / entrances listed as optional in the itinerary
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Items of a personal nature e.g. telephone, laundry, mini bar
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Travel Insurance
Some ways you’ll travel
The best train trips possible, private luxury coach for off-train travel, guided walking where suitable, and other appropriate and appealing options to make exploration easy
Oliver Hill Railway, Rottnest Island
Western AustraliaProspector
KalgoorlieRottnest Island ferry
Western AustraliaHotham Valley Railway
Western AustraliaSome places you’ll stay
Hand-picked hotels and resorts based on location, customer feedback, value and atmosphere. Please Note: Hotels of a similar standard may be substituted.
Doubletree Northbridge
Hospitality
Quest Yelverton
Our track record
Hear from some of our adventurers that have already ridden the rails with us.
FAQs
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