Goldfields, Gwalia, South Coast, 12-Day Tour 24

Mundaring Weir, Northam

Pickup is at 2pm from your hotel accommodation to start our Kalgoorlie, Esperance, Albany, Margaret River, Fremantle 12 Day Tours.

Charles Yelverton O’Connor was the first Engineer-in-Chief of Western Australia.  In 1891 recruited by Sir John Forrest the Premier of Western Australia at the time CY O’Connor’s task was to improve the colony’s railways, roads, harbour and water supply.

In the 1890s prospectors made a rush for gold in Coolgardie. However, in the dusty, dry and searing heat another precious commodity proved even more elusive – water!

Cynics heralded the mission “A scheme of madness”

Mundaring Weir was constructed between 1898 and 1903 to deliver water 566km from Mundaring to Kalgoorlie.

We cross over the pipeline and continue to Northam.

Northam is second only to Fremantle in terms of historically significant buildings.  And third in the state in terms of heritage listed sights.

Visit the Cooperative Bulk Handling (CBH) Grain Silos which were the first to be painted in Australia. Painted as part of FORMS’s PUBLIC 2015 initiative. The silos’ bear artwork from Phlegn (UK) and Hense (USA).

At Northam view the grand homes and buildings of yesteryear at a time of wealth in the early 1900’s.  The arrival of the railway made Northam the major departure point for prospectors and miners heading east towards the goldfields

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Accommodation Farmers’ Home Hotel Northam

Day 2 –  Northam – Kalgoorlie

Merredin,  Southern Cross, Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie

Today we head east on the Great Eastern Highway to Kalgoorlie our overnight stay.

Merredin is on the Silo Art Trail Tour take out your camera to take some spectacular photos of this art work.  Western Australian street artist Kyle Hughes-Odgers completed the artwork across four of the 35-metre high silos August 2017.

Lunch today is at Southern Cross.  The major town centre of the Shire of Yilgarn is known by many as the Gateway to the Wheatbelt and the Goldfields. The name ‘Yilgarn’ is Aboriginal for ‘white stone’ or ‘quartz’.

Coolgardie is known to most Western Australians as a tourist town and a ghost town; it was once the third largest town in Western Australia. At this time, mining of alluvial gold was a major industry which was short lived. Coolgardie is also known as the Mother of Western Australia’s goldfields

The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is Australia’s largest Outback City with a population of over 29,000 people.  Kalgoorlie-Boulder is a dynamic and sophisticated regional centre.

In 1893 Paddy Hannan, Daniel Shea and Tom Flannagan first discovered gold in an area that is now known as Kalgoorlie the town became known as the “Golden Mile”.

Dinner Balcony Bar & Restaurant Palace Hotel

Accommodation Rydges Kalgoorlie Resort

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Day 3 - Kalgoorlie

Menzies, Lake Ballard, Leonora, Gwalia, Hoover House 

This morning visit Mt Charlotte Water Reservoir and Lookout. Mt Charlotte Water Reservoir is where the water from Mundaring Weir arrives and is distributed all over Kalgoorlie and further afield. The hill top provides spectacular views over Kalgoorlie, but it also provides a glimpse of the pipeline that allows Kalgoorlie to exist where it does.

The School of Two Up, and one of only two venues in the entire country where the Aussie gambling game of Two Up can be legally played all year round.

Lake Ballard “In Side Australia Art Instillation” is at one of Western Australia’s most unusual and remote cultural attractions – Inside Australia. The artwork is a collection of 50 black steel sculptures standing over 10 square kilometres of the white salt plain of Lake Ballard near the town of Menzies. Each sculpture represents one of the 131 local residents, whose bodies were scanned for casts.

Leonora Two hours from Kalgoorlie Leonora is the largest commercial centre north. Discovered and named in 1869 by the great pioneer of Western Australia, John Forrest, it has a picturesque main street and many historic buildings.

Gwalia The Gwalia Museum is located in former office of the original Sons of Gwalia goldmine. It is well worth a visit before wandering through the deserted homes in the ghost town of Gwalia.

While at Gwalia visit  Hoover House B&B, originally built in 1898 as a home for the mine manager. Herbert Hoover who commissioned the house later became 31st President of USA.

Accommodation Rydges Kalgoorlie Resort 

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Day 4 – Kalgoorlie – Esperance

Super Pit Tour, Kambalda, Norseman, Esperance.

This morning we join a tour of the Super Pit. Don high visibility vest and safety glasses and come and experience a tour of Australia’s largest gold producing mine, the Super Pit. You will be visitor inducted to the KCGM Super Pit and view the mining and milling operations through the Fimiston Milling Plant from the safety of the Mine-Spec Bus (Air-conditioned).

Be amazed by the size of the 793 dump trucks as we travel along the haul roads on site with the trucks.

We tour to Kambalda for lunch, Norseman and on to Esperance our two night stay.

The nickel town Kambalda is unique consisting of two separate towns seven kilometres apart, Kambalda East and Kambalda West. We visit Red Hill Lookout to view the expansive salt pan 40Km long Lake Leroy

At Norseman take a look at the life size Tin Camels that stand in the town as a tribute to the camel trains that carried mail and freight in the early days.

We continue to Esperance and to our accommodation for the next two nights at the Esperance Island View Apartments 

Accommodation Esperance Island View Apartments

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Day 5 – Esperance

Esperance Stonehenge, Cape Le Grand, Lucky Bay, Condinup, Wharton Beach

We tour to Wharton Bay. Wharton Beach offers magnificent coastal scenery, a superb beach of iridescent white sand and crystal blue waters. It is a photographer’s delight!

Your tour leader / driver puts it out there and firmly believes this is Australia’s best beach!!!

Enjoy an Aussie country lunch at the Condinup Tavern.

This afternoon we visit Cape Le Grand National Park and Lucky Bay. This beach is famous for its kangaroos which are often seen sunning themselves on the white sandy shoreline.

We also stop at WA’s very own Stonehenge, an exact sized replica of the famous landmark in England.  

Accommodation Esperance Island View Apartments

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Day 6 –  Esperance – Albany

Scenic flight Pink Lake Hillier on Middle Island, Ravensthorpe, Albany

This morning we take a scenic flight over Middle Island to view the dazzling pink Lake Hillier. This is one of the region’s best kept secrets and is rapidly becoming a ‘must do’ experience for nature lovers across the globe.

Lake Hillier is a bright pink lake situated on Middle Island, the largest of the islands that make up the Recherche Archipelago. From above the lake appears solid vivid pink.

Scientists have recently explained that many extremophile microbes, bacteria and organism play a large part in the colour of the astounding lake living in an extremely high salinity environment.

The spectacular scenic flight follows the stunning coast out to Cape Le Grand National Park, Duke of Orleans, and Cape Arid National Park and Esperance town.

Lunch at Ravensthorpe.

We continue further south to Albany our two night stay.

Accommodation Beach House at Bayside

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Day 7 – Albany   

The Gap & Natural Bridge, Whale World, Mt Clarence, Anzac Centre

Today we explore the scenic Albany region. Albany a port city is the oldest European settlement in Western Australia has a fascinating rich history which has been preserved with British and French connections.

Visit Torndirrup National Park to see iconic Natural Bridge and The Gap, which have stunning views of the southern coast. The Natural Bridge is a granite formation caused by the gradual wearing away of the rock by the Great Southern Ocean.

Enjoy lunch at Garrison restaurant on Mt Adelaide offering spectacular views of Princess Royal Harbour.

We visit Mt Clarence to see the Anzac Desert Corp Memorial with views over the Princess Royal Harbour and King George Sound. The impressive Anzac Desert Mounted Corps Memorial is a duplicate of the original statue erected in Suez in the 1930’s

Today Albany is known as the birthplace of the Anzac story and the home of the National Anzac Centre. Visit the remarkable display of the Anzac story. In late 1914 over 41,000 Australians and New Zealanders left Albany, bound for the Great War. This is their story.

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Accommodation Beach House at Bayside

Day 8 – Albany – Pemberton

The Valley of The Giants, Tree Top Walk, Pemberton

This morning experience forests that have connections with another time the Gondwana era.

The Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk is a stunning walkway through the canopy of the forest. You must experience the Tree Top Walk. Stroll among the upper branches of giant Tingle and Karri Trees for a “birds eye view” of the southern forests. This is a fun and exhilarating thing to do.

Some of the vegetation in this forest has origins that trace back 65 million years to the super continent Gondwana when Australia was joined with what are now Africa, India, Antarctic and South America.

Morning tea at Nornabar Nornalup. We drive through amazing tall old growth Karri forests to Manjimup. A amazing 80 percent of the entire Manjimup region is dedicated to forest and national parks.
The rich soils, fresh water and straight timbers were the big attraction that lured settlers to this spot in the late 1800s. Both Manjimup and Pemberton are very scenic with Tall Karri forests, agriculture, and vineyards,

Take lunch in Manjimup and continue to Pemberton and to Karri Valley Resort our overnight stay.

Manjimup has become internationally known for truffles. We visit Truffle Hill Wines to indulge in tasting and sniffing truffle food offerings in the Tasting Room.

Later travel to Karri Valley Resort located on the edge of Lake Beedelup and surrounded by the magnificent tall Karri Forest, the natural charm of Karri Valley Resort providing the perfect setting for everyone to enjoy.

Accommodation Karri Valley Resort

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Day 9 -  Pemberton – Margaret River

Pemberton, Augusta, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Boranup Forest,  Margaret River

This morning we tour to Augusta overlooking the Blackwood River and Flinders Bay to see the convergence of the Indian Ocean with the Southern Ocean at Cape Leeuwin. Join the tour of the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse Tower offering 360-degrees of the mainland, islands and the two oceans.

Later tour through Boranup Karri Forest, a fantastic soft adventure drive through towering Karri trees (some over 60 metres high!) with sunlight streaming onto their smooth bright trunks. At the beginning of the trail is a lookout overlooking Flinders Bay at Augusta in the far distance, and Hamlin Bay a short distance away.

We drive out to the spectacular coast to Surfers Point know for international Men and Women Surfing competitions. Spot Whales in season and local surfers catching waves before going to work

On to the unusual canal rocks on the Indian Ocean. Spectacular with or without ocean swells. Canal Rocks is a gallery of geological features of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste ridge.
Accommodation Smith’s Beach Resort

Day 10 – Margaret River region

A Taste of Margaret River 

Today visit three wineries and enjoying a delicious lunch.

You’ll sample not only the region’s best cuisine but talk to the winemaker and qualified wine experts of the winery we visit.

Brown Hill Estate a family-owned and operated vineyard established in 1995. Enjoy an inspection of the barrel room with the winemaker and then return into the winery to taste wine and hear the story of the making of the wine.

At Howard Park private specialised flight tasting of their Icon Wines. Owners the Burch family are a member of Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW) and is the largest family own wine operation in Western Australia.

Lunch highlighting modern Australia style cuisine is at Margaret Rivers founding wine estate Vasse Felix. 

Accommodation Smiths Beach Resort 

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Day 11 – Margaret River to Fremantle

 Cape Naturaliste, Busselton, Fremantle

This morning explore more of the Margaret River Region and visit Cape Naturaliste and take a walk on the Cape to Cape Trail which highlights spectacular vistas along the coast line and the Indian Ocean.  Visit romantic Meelup Beach.

Before heading to Fremantle visit Busselton Jetty for a walk.

Busselton Jetty is the longest wood pylon jetty in the Southern Hemisphere and juts two kilometres out into Geographe Bay.

Accommodation Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges

Day 12 – Fremantle, Swan Valley, Perth

Fremantle, Kings Park, Swan Valley, Perth

This morning we explore Fremantle visit Maritime Museum and Ship Wreck Museum which features the Dutch ship wreck Batavia and its account of mutiny, murder and greed.

At Kings Park take in the spectacular views of Perth City, Swan River and hills beyond. And take wonder around the internationally acclaimed botanical gardens for WA’s biodiversity of flora.

Our finale lunch is at Mandoon Estate in the Swan Valley.

Drop off Perth, Perth Airport, Fremantle

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