Burringurrah Mount Augustus Dirk Hartog Island 10 Day Tour 2024
- Duration: 10 Days (approx.)
- Location: Perth , WA
- Product code: Augustus
Experience
an Authentic Western Australian Outback Adventure
Day 1 –
7.30am pickup
Today we are travelling on the Great Northern Highway, touring
through premier agriculture country producing, wheat, canola, barley and Sheep
and cattle to our overnight stay at Dalwallinu.
Morning tea at Bindoon Bake Haus, enjoy scrumptious cakes or
pastries and excellent coffee. Arrive in time for a tour of the town at New
Norcia.
After lunch and spend time in the heritage listed museum and art
gallery. New Norcia is Australia’s only Benedictine town.
New Norcia was established 1846
as a Benedictine mission to the aboriginal Nyoongar people of the Yuat tribe
and evolved over time to become a self-sufficient community dedicated to the
education of outback children and later a centre for ecclesiastical art and
culture in Western Australia. Today New Norcia is famous not only for its
Benedictine community, but as a living museum and centre for warm monastic
hospitality.
Continue to Dalwallinu home of Wattle, wheat and wildflowers our
overnight stay.
Dalwallinu Wheatland Motel
Day 2 -
Dalwallinu, Paynes Fine, Mount Magnet, Cue Walga
Rock & Meekatharra
This morning we leave the agriculture region and travel into the station pastoral lease country
and mining.
Paynes Find a former gold
rush settlement named after the first person to discover gold in the area. The
Paynes Find Gold Battery gives some interesting insight about the discovery and
houses the only working gold battery in WA. Explore the Gold Battery area for relics of
the heady yesteryear.
Next, stop at Mount Magnet to stretch your legs and fuel stop. And
on to Cue to look around the town and take pictures of the Historical
Buildings.
Established in 1893, Cue was once the centre of the Murchison
Goldfields boasting a population of around 10,000. It began around the 1890’s
when an Aboriginal prospector named Governor found a ten ounce nugget at
Cuddingwarra about nine miles west of present day Cue.
Detour to see Aboriginal art site Walga Rock before staying the
night in Meekatharra.
Meekatharra Auski Inland Motel
Day 3-
Meekatharra,
Peace Gorge, Mount Gould, Gascoyne River, Landor Races, Burringurrah, Mt
Augustus
This morning we look around Meekatharra before we leave the Great
Northern Highway and travel to Mt Augustus for a true outback experience.
We will take frequent stops along the Kingsford Smith Mail Run,
Meekatharra to Carnarvon
The trail is well marked with thirteen interpretive sites. Some
about Kingsford Smith (or Smithy, as he was known), who commenced his mail run
along this very route in 1924, and others Aboriginal dreamtime stories and
early European history.
We cross the upper reaches of the Gascoyne River Western
Australia’s longest River 865 kilometres long and is also known as the
upside-down river.
We pass the front gates of Landor Station a pastoral lease and
sheep station located on the way up to Mt Augustus
The Landor Races are an annual event held at the Landor
Racecourse, currently 35 km north of the Station homestead Originally the racecourse was located about
half a mile from the homestead. The racecourse has its own airstrip, stables,
water and electricity supply, dance hall, dining room and grandstand. Races are
held on the first weekend in October, coinciding with the school holidays.
The races were first held in 1921 when stockmen from stations in
the area such as Mount Augustus, Milgun, Mount Seabrook and Erravilla held a
race on their day off to find who had the fastest horse. No starting gates
exist, all races are walk up starts.
This evening enjoy Sunset Drinks from Emu Hill Lookout as the
Sunset is casting its spell of magnificent desert colours on Mt Augustus and
the surrounding plain.
Day 4-
Mt
Augustus and local sights
Yalaweerie lookout is a great spot to
watch the sun rise and hear the birds welcoming the dawn.
At Mt. Augustus we explore the region
and taking in Edney Spring and Flintstone Rock. Later a visit to Cattle Pool on
the nearby Lyons River for a swim while looking back on the sheer northern face
of the majestic mount. After lunch take the opportunity to rest and relax in
this outback oasis.
Mount Augustus is in the Mount Augustus
National Park in Western Australia. The name is also given to the neighbouring
pastoral lease, Mount Augustus Station. The local Wadjari people call it
Burringurrah, after a Dreamtime figure, a young boy who was speared and turned
into a rock. It has been a sacred site for thousands of years.
It is a prominent inselberg that stands
1,106 metres above sea level, or approximately 860 metres above the surrounding
plain, and covers an area of 4,795 hectares. It has a central ridge which is
almost eight kilometres long.
Mount Augustus National Park
Day 5-
Mt
Augustus, Kennedy Ranges, Gascoyne Junction, Carnarvon
Mount Augustus to Gascoyne Junction
(300km)
Today we depart Mt Augustus for yet more
incredible sights as we drive across to Carnarvon. Refuel at the tourist park
before we go.
The road to Kennedy Range National Park
heads west towards the Australian coastline, the exquisite Kennedy Range is one
of Australia’s most underrated sights. With a magnificent cliff face that
extends for several kilometres, which looks rather like the result of a giant
serrated knife.
Visit Honeycomb Gorge is the park’s most
popular spot, you will reward you with the unusual sight of this enormous
gorge, with walls pockmarked like honeycomb. While here, you may spot the
area’s distinctive Dawson’s burrowing bees – these lovely native creatures can
be found buzzing about the small pool at Honeycomb gorge between July and September
Gascoyne Junction is a small town on the
junction of the Gascoyne River and Lyons River.
following the original trail blazed by
transport pioneer Charles Kingsford Smith along the Kingsford Smith Mail Run.
Re-live the adventures of the early pastoral pioneers and Afghan hawkers along
the Wool Wagon Pathway. Both routes explore the region's rich Indigenous
heritage and Dreaming stories in a series of interpretive signs.
Carnarvon, a regional hub that provides
essential services to the surrounding areas. The township lies at the mouth of
the Gascoyne River and supports horticultural and fishing industries.
Carnarvon
Best Western
Day 6-
Carnarvon
to Monkey Mia
Carnarvon Space & Technology Museum, Stromatolites, Shell
Beach, Eagle Bluff, Monkey Mia
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.
Carnarvon’s Number 1 Tourist Destination the Carnarvon Space &
Technology Museum.
The Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum celebrates the little
known history of the role Carnarvon played in the manned space program and in
the Australian communications industry.
The museum focusses on two parts. The Carnarvon Tracking Station
and the OTC Satellite Earth Station, for which each station played separate
roles in the early space industry.
The Carnarvon Tracking Station was located 10 kilometres south
from Carnarvon. The station was built to support NASA’s Gemini, Apollo and
Skylab programs. It was commissioned in 1964 and operated for 11 years. It was
the last station to communicate with the space capsules leaving the earth
orbit, and the last to make contact before splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. At
the height of the operation, it had a staff of 220 people.
The OTC Satellite Earth Station and now the museum site is
situated at the northern end of Browns Range, about 6 kilometres from the
centre of Carnarvon, and 4 kilometres north of the Tracking Station. The OTC
Satellite Earth Station was opened in1966, initially with the 12.8 metre wide
Casshorn antenna as part of the global satellite communications system. The Casshorn
antenna has interacting parabolic and hyperbolic reflectors in a characteristic
‘sugar scoop’ form. A very interesting place to visit and relive memories.
On 21 July 1969, the day of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the
Casshorn antenna relayed Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the Moon from NASA’s
Honey Suckle Creek Tracking Station to Perth’s TV audience via Moree earth
station – the first live telecast into Western Australia. Later in 1969, the
larger 29.6 metre wide steerable antenna was built to facilitate better
communication between the NASA Tracking Station and the USA.
Visit Bumbak’s before making our way up the coast to Coral Bay.
Bumbak’s Preserves & Ice creams is one of Carnarvon’s major tourist
destinations. It offers award winning homemade preserves & ice creams
possessing an extensive portfolio of 100 lines. Their mango smoothie and banana
smoothies are the ultimate of scrumptious.
Visit a unique Cactus Garden flourishing in Carnarvon’s tropical
climate. The garden has attracted Instagram followers.
From here 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.
Shark Bay is renowned for its marine fauna. A population of 10,000
dugong is one of the largest in the world, a variety of sharks, and many
dolphins particularly at Monkey Mia. Humpback whales use Shark Bay as a
stopover in their migration along the coast. Vast meadows of seagrass the
Dugongs graze on and Stromatolites at Hamelin Pool
Next stop is Hamelin Pool to view 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 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.
Monkey Mia
Resort
Day 7-
Monkey Mia
– Dirk Hartog Island – Monkey Mia
This morning 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.
Our Dirk Hartog Island Experience Departs from Denham Commercial
Jetty at 10.30am
Spend a day at Dirk with Island Life Adventures - an absolute must
do!
Return ferry transfers ex Denham (leaving Denham 10:30am)
Barista made coffee or herbal tea at the Inscription Bar &
Café
Guided tour of the old shearing shed to discover the island’s
pastoral history
4WD tour to see the Blow Holes and Surf Point marine sanctuary.
Use of SUP's and Kayaks
Home cooked morning tea and plentiful lunch
Look out for the ‘Big 5’ - dolphins, sharks, turtles, manta rays
and dugongs (during season)
20 min (26.0 km)
Monkey Mia
Resort
Day 8-
Monkey
Mia, Shark Bay Marine Park, to Kalbarri
At breakfast watch the dolphins coming
into be fed.
Before leaving Shark Bay, visit Shark Bay Marine Park and explore
the wonders of the Marine Park with a marine scientist by your side on a fun,
highly educational tour that will leave you breathless.
Watch the raw fury of sharks feeding; discover moray eels, highly
venomous sea snakes, excruciating stonefish and more! Learn about the secret
lives of clownfish, stingrays, and visit our rescued sea turtles with your
entertaining tour guide who can cater for the whole family.
Later this morning we drive out of the World Heritage region
travel south to Kalbarri our overnight stay.
As we are driving along in isolated country look out for
kangaroos, emus, bush turkeys (bustards) bushland, scrub, straight roads,
roadhouses, road trains and very few vehicles on the isolated roads. All of
which is part of your real Western Australian Outback experience.
Visit Kalbarri National Park to experience the awesome Kalbarri
Skywalk with expansive views 100 metres above the Murchison River Gorge. A new
regional highlight.
Kalbarri is nestled at the Murchison River mouth and surrounded by
stunning coastline, soaring river gorges and protected bays.
Kalbarri Edge Resort.
Day 9-
Kalbarri
to Geraldton
As we leave Kalbarri visit Pot Ally on the coast exhibiting
fabulous ancient striations of layers of sedimentary rock.
Visit Hutt Lagoon a vivid pink Salt Lake where beta-carotene is
harvested for commercial use. A
fascinating sight.
Closer to Geraldton visit Horrocks a picturesque hamlet along the
coast and Willigully Caves that feature rock art created by the Nhanda people
to describe and communicate their traditions, ideas and values.
Visit Northampton, one of the oldest settlements outside Perth
today, classified by the National Trust as a Historic Town.
In the heart of Geraldton lies the Chapman River Regional Park.
Providing a vast array of flowering plants, bird, and animal life. There are
over 300 species of native plants throughout the Chapman River Regional Park,
some that aren't found anywhere else. Over 120 recorded bird species, 22
reptile and seven frog species and kangaroos and echidnas also make the park
their home.
We visit HMAS Sydney Memorial; the beautifully designed memorial
features a silver dome of 645 seagulls to represent the loss of HMAS Sydney
sailors.
Visit St Francis Xavier Cathedral built in stages from 1914 to its
eventual opening in 1938. The Byzantine style architecture is one of Monsignor
John Hawes’ greatest masterpieces.
Explore the Yamaji Art Centre which is Aboriginal owned and
operated and provides professional services to support and develop Aboriginal
artists living in the Lower Murchison region of Yamaji Country.
The Gerald
Apartments
Day 10-
Geraldton to Perth
Our last day together. We commence our return to Perth via
Dongara, and along the Indian Ocean Coast Road.
Lunch at the Lobster Shack at Cervantes overlooking the Indian
Ocean. Enjoy succulent freshly caught
Western Australian Rock Lobster or prawns or fish.
We head to the Pinnacles one of Western Australia’s geologic
modern phenomena. We drive into the Pinnacles Desert to wonder at nature at its
most creative.
Continue back into Perth to your accommodation 5.pm
