15 Days Perth - Nullarbor Plain - Flinders Range - Alice Springs Tour

Tour Highlights:

• Margaret River Wine Region with Wine Tasting
• Cape Leeuwin - Australia's most south-westerly point
• Tree Top Walk and Valley of the Giants
• Esperance with its stunning beaches
• Golden Mile Kalgoorlie with Super Pit Tour
• Port Lincoln - Australia's oyster capital
• Flinders Range National Park with Arkaroola Jeep Tour
• Lake Eyre Scenic Flight
• Coober Pedy - Opals and overnight stay in an underground hotel

Itinerary:

Day 1: Perth - Pemberton

On our drive towards Margaret River, we pass Mandurah and Bunbury. In Busselton, we will visit the longest timber-piled jetty in the southern hemisphere. The fascinating coast of the famous Canal Rock formation is close by. The region around Margaret River, which is one of the most renowned wine areas of Australia, welcomes us with its relaxed atmosphere. Here, you have the opportunity to enjoy a wine tasting at one of the most renowned wineries. Afterwards, our tour continues to Australia's most south-westerly point, Cape Leeuwin. This is the point where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet. From here, the nearest landmass is Africa to the west and Antarctica to the South. We then travel along the coast of the Southern Ocean through farmland into the Karri Forest region of Pemberton.

Accommodation: Pemberton Hotel, Pemberton

Day 2: Pemberton - Albany

After today's breakfast, courageous visitors will have the opportunity to climb a spiral ladder to the platform of the "Gloucester Tree" in Pemberton. The Valley of Giants, a section of forest appropriately named for its huge trees, is our next destination. Tree Top Walk offers an amazing bird's eye view to this window of the past. Much of the vegetation in this region is unique to the southwest of Western Australia. Via Denmark, we reach Albany, Western Australia's first settlement.

Accommodation: Quality Apartments Banksia Gardens, Albany

Day 3: Albany - Hyden

A city tour of Albany and the magnificent panoramic view from Mt Clarence overlooking King George Sound, where the first settlers landed in 1826, lets you realise the importance of this town to Western Australia. Afterwards, we will be exploring "Natural Bridge and The Gap" in Torndirrup National Park. The tour continues with a drive through farmland in the Stirling Range. The many different varieties of plants originating in the Stirling Range are mainly due to its insular location. The mountain range is a climactic island and the plain is typical for its dry and warm weather conditions. Late afternoon, we will arrive in Hyden.

Accommodation: Wave Rock Motel, Hyden

Day 4: Hyden - Kalgoorlie

After breakfast, we will visit the famous and astounding "breakers wave", the 'Wave Rock'. There is enough time to explore and learn about the story of this unbelievable natural wonder. From here we will be following the track of the Emu Fence Road in a northerly direction towards Southern Cross. By tracing the footsteps of the first gold seekers, we will be reaching Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie's Golden Mile. A visit to the Kalgoorlie Base of the RFDS which was established back in 1937 gives you an insight into the busy operation servicing the goldfields and beyond. A short city sightseeing tour completes our day.

Accommodation: The Plaza Hotel, Kalgoorlie

Day 5: Kalgoorlie

In the course of the morning, a visit to the mine site "Super Pit" -- Australia's biggest open-cut gold mine -- enables us to capture impressions of the unbelievable ratio and dimensions of the Australian continent. Now we start to realise the differences of gold mining of the past and present. From Menzies, a former gold mining town, a duty track brings at to Lake Ballard. The highlight is the amazing and not-to-be-expected sculpture park spread out on the dry salt plains of the lake. The artwork is a collection of 51 different steel sculptures by Antony Gormley. They stand against the dramatic backdrop of the lake's dry salt bed. Back in Kalgoorlie, we visit the original corrugated iron shed and bush ring that was once the Two-Up school. Two-up is a traditional Australian gambling game that is periodically still played here.

Accommodation: The Plaza Hotel, Kalgoorlie

Day 6: Kalgoorlie - Esperance

Leaving the Golden Mile behind us, there is still 400km of sealed road in front of us today! At Norseman starts the Eyre Highway, which crosses the 1,500km wide Nullarbor Plain towards Adelaide. However, we are heading south and will visit Cape Le Grand National Park with its scenic, turquoise bays and extended white beaches. Esperance, which by the local Aboriginals is called "Gabba-Kyle", (meaning 'the place where the water is shaped as a boomerang') is our stop for the night.

Accommodation: Hospitality Motel, Esperance

Day 7: Esperance - Balladonia

We farewell this picturesque coastline with a scenic drive along the Great Ocean Drive with its highlights Rotary Lookout, Twilight Beach and Pink Lake. Afterwards, we travel north to Norseman. This is the starting point of the Eyre Highway, which crosses the 1,500 km wide Nullarbor Plain towards Adelaide. Impressions of Australia's outback will accompany you on our journey, travelling east.

Accommodation: Balladonia Hotel, Balladonia

Day 8: Balladonia - Nullarbor

Of course, we will be stopping to have the road sign "Australia's longest stretch of road" photographed! In Eucla, we will be visiting the ruins of the Telegraph station, opened back in 1877. Soon we will be passing the border to South Australia. We will have to adjust our watches and pass the quarantine station. The journey toward today's destination continues relatively close to the south coast.

Accommodation: Nullarbor Hotel/Motel, Nullarbor

Day 9: Nullarbor - Port Lincoln

Today's main attraction, the lookout Head of Bight within the Great Australian Bight Marine Park, will be visited only a short time after leaving Nullarbor. This majestic bluff is stunning and breathtaking. We do even have good chances to observe giant humpback whales. Via Ceduna, we will continue our eastbound journey to Port Lincoln, Australia's oyster centre. After our time in the sheerly deserted and treeless Nullarbor Plain, we feel like being back in a major city again.

Accommodation: Port Lincoln Hotel, Port Lincoln

Day 10: Port Lincoln - Port Augusta

After breakfast, a leisurely and scenic drive brings us to Coffin Bay. By visiting one of the many oyster farms open to the public, you are given an insight into the lucrative oyster industry - tasting included. In the afternoon, we are heading to Port Augusta.

Accommodation: The Standpipe, Port Augusta

Day 11: Port Augusta - Arkaroola (Flinders Range)

After breakfast, we leave Australia's South Coast. Travelling north, we pass Hawker and get into the inland parts of South Australia. Soon we will be able to spot the Flinders Range on the horizon. This range, which stretches almost 500km in a north-south direction, is of an important geological significance. This geological formation, which is supposed to be more than 580 million years old, formed an incomparable landscape. A landscape so unique, it can only be found and experienced in the Australian Outback.

Accommodation: Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, Arkaroola

Day 12: Arkaroola (Flinders Range) - Marree

This morning, we will be enjoying an adventurous 4WD tour within Flinders Range National Park. We will be visiting spectacular lookouts in this rampant and primarily part of this world. Sillers Lookout offers a breathtaking and unforgettable view. In the afternoon, we continue our journey in the comfort of our touring vehicle.

Accommodation: The Marree Hotel, Marree

Day 13: Marree - Coober Pedy

Marree is a very important traffic junction in the Australian Outback: From here, the Birdsville Track leaves in a north-easterly direction to Queensland. However, we will be travelling in a westerly direction on the Oodnadatta Track. The relatively well-maintained track leads us to William Creek. In this township, which reminds us of the backdrop of a Western Movie, we will be boarding a small aircraft. You enjoy gorgeous bird's eye views on enormous Lake Eyre, which marks Australia's deepest point. De facto, the usually dried-out lake is 12 metres below sea level. Unfortunately, time is ticking away, and we have to farewell this unique location. We will arrive in Coober Pedy early evening and check into our rooms in an underground hotel.

Accommodation: Desert Cave Hotel, Coober Pedy

Day 14: Coober Pedy

Today, we will be discovering Coober Pedy. This dusty township with a population of about 2,000 people is also known as the "opal capital" of the world. No wonder that the name of the traditional inhabitants "kupa-piti" means "hole of the white man". The so-called Breakaways, a fracture in the terrain, guarantees great and colourful photo opportunities. After we have visited "dingo fence", we will be returning to Coober Pedy at about lunch time. The rest of the afternoon is simply for leisure or for you to find your perfect opal.

Accommodation: Desert Cave Hotel, Coober Pedy

Day 15: Coober Pedy - Alice Springs

Today, we will have a leisurely drive into the Northern Territory. We are heading north on Stuart Highway and will soon be leaving South Australia. Stop at the Henbury Meteorite Craters Conservation Reserve. After some more enjoyable travel, this fantastic tour concludes at your hotel.

Included Services:

• Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with a maximum of 12 passengers per vehicle
• Accommodation during the tour 14x in Hotels/Motels (including 2 nights in an underground room)
• English-speaking guiding
• German-speaking guiding
• French-speaking guiding and other languages on request only.
• Entry fees all National Parks, Wine Tasting, Lighthouse precinct at Cape Leeuwin, Wave Rock, Super Pit Kalgoorlie, Coffin Bay Oyster Farm Tour, 4WD Tour Flinders Range, Small Aircraft Scenic Flight Lake Eyre
• Meals (14x Breakfast, 1x Dinner)
• Free drinking water
• Comprehensive information kit in vehicles.
• 24-hour English/German/French emergency assistance
• Satellite telephone, 2-way radio and First-Aid kit inclusive defibrillator on board