Outback and Station 7 Day Tour, 2 Nights at Wooleen Station 25

Day One

Hi Vallee Farm, Lesueur National Park,
Dongara

This morning we head
up the Brand Hwy to visit Don and Joy
Williams of Hi Vallee Farm at Badgingarra near Mount Lesueur and Eneabba.

Don and Joy run
wildflower tours on their very rich and diverse private national park for over
25 years. On their working sheep and grain property we visit pristine native
vegetation with four declared rare and 38 priority plant species, wildflowers,
birds and fauna.

“Hi –Vallee” with
some of the most diverse and varied plant species in the world has been
described by Dr Stephen Hopper Director of Kew Gardens, as the most valuable
native bushland in private ownership.

After lunch we
visit a major hotspot Lesueur National Park for another treat of biodiversity
of flora.  Later we follow the coast up to Dongara our overnight stay
taking in delightful scenic bays along the way.

Dongara Hotel
Motel

BLD

Day Two

Coalseam,
Ellendale Pool, Mullewa, Pindar, Geraldton

Today we will see
what most people think of when they think Western Australia Wildflowers,
delicate expanses of pink, yellow and white everlasting daisies in the Coalseam
Conservation Reserve and along isolated roads.

At Pindar browse
along the road verge to marvel at the iconic Lechenaultia macrantha common name
wreath Lechenaultia, an absolute must see.

After lunch at Mullewa
to drive to Ellendale Pool a stunning water hole naturally formed along the
picturesque Greenough River we visit Geraldton the commercial centre for the
Mid-West region, exporting Iron Ore, Mineral Sands, Wheat, Barley and Western
Australian Rock Lobster.

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.

Accommodation: Ocean
Centre Hotel  Geraldton

Day Three

Northampton,
Hutt Lagoon, Kalbarri

This morning we
visit Northampton, one of the oldest settlements outside Perth today,
classified by the National Trust as a Historic Town.

Visit idylic hamlet
of Horrocks on the coast directly west of Northampton. Later visit  Hutt Lagoon a vivid pink Salt Lake where
beta-carotene is harvested for commercial use. A fascinating sight.

We visit back roads
to see different regional flowers and orchids.

View stunning
coastal gorges and magnificent scenery on our drive further up the coast, and
coastal gorge Pot Alley.

Kalbarri nestled at
the Murchison River mouth and surrounded by stunning coastline, soaring river
gorges and protected bays.

After dinner go for
a walk along the Murchison River see pelicans and the spectacular sunsets that
Kalbarri is known for.

Accommodation: Kalbarri
Edge Resort

BLD

Day Four

Kalbarri
National Park, Wooleen Station

We visit the
Kalbarri National Park for spectacular views of the Murchison River
Gorges. Experience new Skywalk which over hangs the Murchison River gorges 100 metres above the
river bed. Awesome views of the Murchison River wending its way out to the
coast at Kalbarri.  While in the National Park Nature’s Window a natural
rock arch that frames the upstream views.

Kalbarri National
Park is highly regarded for its extraordinary seasonal flowers which can start
in July and continue to flower late October with pops of colour from local
Verticordias and many other local species.

We track east on an
isolated road through pastoral lease country along the Murchison River. View
seasonal wildflowers along the way to our two night stay at Wooleen Station.

Western Australia
Wildflowers tour hight light stay at Wooleen Station. A remarkable that has
experienced different stewardships and philosophies of grazing sheep and
cattle.

Enjoy a Sunset Tour
and learn how the Pollock family are now working towards making Wooleen an
ecologically sustainable enterprise. We climb a granite rock outcrop to witness
the spectacular  sunset with drinks and nibbles.

The link below is a
wonderful familiarisation of Wooleen Station.

Accommodation: 
Wooleen Station

BLD

Day Five

Wooleen Station

This morning enjoy
a hearty station breakfast before we inspect the original home which is now a
museum of many decades of memorabilia. Very interesting to see things for you
to recall from yesteryear that was all part of station life.

We drive into
Murchison Settlement  and local sights.

Late this afternoon
we visit a waterhole that is a favourite spot for flocks of out back birds as
they come in for their eveing drink. Enjoyed with wine beer and nibbles.

Accommodation: 
Wooleen Station

Day Six

Mullewa, Mingenu,
Three Springs, Dalwalinu

This morning after
breakfast and bid farewell to Frances and David Pollock of Wooleen Station. We
tour on the Mullewa – Carnarvon road heading south. Stopping to see Sturts
Desert Pea, Eromophila, everlasting daisies and sturts desert Pea.

After lunch at
Mullewa continue exploring various regions for the best regional flowers,
grevillea, hakea, native fox glove, a chance to see rare and endangered
regional flora and.

Dalwallinu is
famous for having the largest variety of wattles (acacias) found anywhere in
the world. Within 100km of Dalwallinu there are 195 varieties. Dalwallinu is
known as a “Place of Wheat, Wattles and Wildflowers.

Overnight stay is
at Dalwallinu, for those who are interested in evening or early morning walks.

Accommodation: 
Wheatlands Motel

Day 7

Wongan
Hills,  Perth

This morning visit
Wongan Hills, The Hills has the largest single area of natural vegetation
remaining in the Northern Wheatbelt. Wongan Hills’ flora is extremely diverse
with more than 250 species of flowering plants.

There are five species of gazette rare flora in the Wongan Hills Nature Reserve,
and numerous species of priority flora. We will visit one sight that has the
rare Wongan Cactus –  Daviesia Euphorbioides, explore the local orchids
and take a look around the area.

Lunch today at New
Norcia Hotel. Take a look around this unique Monastery Town and visit the
Museum and Art Gallery.

We will have you
back into Perth 5pm.

BL