Day 1 (D) MELBOURNE, DARWIN
This morning Melbourne passengers fly to Darwin. Passengers flying from other States arrive during the day and transfer to our home for two nights, the Mirambeena Resort, Darwin. Outdoor dining tonight at Stokes Hill Wharf.

Day 2 (B,D) DARWIN, SUNSET DINNER CRUISE
Today we explore our most northern capital. A tour of the city, visit Parliament House, see the facade of Christ Church Cathedral, the only part remaining after Cyclone Tracy, and visit East Point Military Museum. We visit the Museum and Art Gallery, which features a display telling the story of Cyclone Tracy. Later in the day enjoy a sunset dinner cruise on board the Charles Darwin as we cruise on Darwin Harbour and see the sun drop below the horizon.

Day 3 (B,L,D) DARWIN, LITCHFIELD N.P., ADELAIDE RIVER, PINE CREEK, KATHERINE
Departing Darwin, we travel to Batchelor, originally established for employees of the Rum Jungle Mine. In Litchfield National Park, in the Tabletop and Tableland Ranges, visit the fascinating magnetic termite mounds, Florence Falls and Wangi Falls. Lunch at Adelaide River, visit Adelaide River War Cemetery, where 434 WWII service men and women are buried, including some killed in the Japanese bombing of Darwin. On to Pine Creek, gateway to Arnhem Land and a uranium mining district and finally to Katherine. Home for two nights, Knotts Crossing Resort.

Day 4 (B,L,D) KATHERINE, NITMILUK (KATHERINE GORGE) CRUISE
Enjoy a morning Nitmiluk Cruise on two gorges at Katherine Gorge. A highlight is Jedda Rock, used in the filming of the early Australian film Jedda. (Note: Some walking is undertaken between the two gorges; reasonable fitness needed.) Later visit Katherine Museum and enjoy Devonshire tea at Springvale Homestead.

Day 5 (B,L,D) KATHERINE, TIMBER CREEK, KUNUNURRA
We join the children of the School of the Air for their first session (subject to timetable) prior to travelling to Victoria River. On to Timber Creek, a small settlement on the Gregory River founded in 1835. Cross the border into WA and the town of Kununurra. Home for two nights, All Seasons, Kununurra.

Day 6 (B,L,D) KUNUNURRA, HIDDEN VALLEY N.P., LAKE ARGYLE, ORD RIVER CRUISE
Passengers have the opportunity to book on a spectacular sunrise Bungle Bungle flight over the ”lost world” of unique and fascinating beehive-like striped rock dome formations starting with a pre-dawn breakfast (own expense). Please contact our office to book. Visit Hidden Valley National Park with its 350 million year old rock formations, prior to travelling to the famed Durack Homestead, moved and rebuilt prior to the flooding of Lake Argyle. Over the retaining wall of this massive lake to join the Triple J cruise downstream from Lake Argyle along the Ord River to Kununurra, a distance of approximately 50 kilometres.

Day 7 (B,L,D) KUNUNURRA, HALLS CREEK, FITZROY CROSSING
Today’s journey takes us to Halls Creek, on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert. The first gold in WA was discovered here in 1885. Later it was the last stopping place for drovers using the Canning Stock Route to Wiluna. Lunch here today. During the afternoon we continue to Fitzroy Crossing, located on the best spot to ford the Fitzroy River. Home tonight, Fitzroy River Lodge.

Day 8 (B,L,D) FITZROY CROSSING, GEIKIE GORGE CRUISE, BROOME
This morning enjoy a Fitzroy River Geikie Gorge Cruise, the gorge carved by water through ancient coral reefs leaving colourful sheer yellow, orange and grey ochre sculptured cliffs. The flood water marks show the volume of water in floodtime. We continue our journey to Broome. Home for two nights, Mercure Inn Continental.

Day 9 (B,D) BROOME
A most enjoyable day as we explore this western seaboard town, centre of a huge pearl industry. Visit Chinatown, view the Courthouse, originally built in 1889 as a telegraph office when Broome was linked by undersea telephone cable to Java, and Broome Historical Society Museum. Watch the sunset at Cable Beach tonight.

Day 10 (B,L,D) BROOME, PORT HEDLAND
We travel the Great Northern Highway at the western edge of the Great Sandy Desert. Picnic lunch today as we travel. Home tonight, The Hospitality Inn or All Seasons Port Hedland.

Day 11 (B,L,D) PORT HEDLAND, KARRATHA
Today we travel to Roebourne and Cossack, first port in the north west, now a “ghost town” with several restored public buildings. Later we continue to Karratha, established in 1968 on Nichol Bay to service the Hamersley iron ore project. Visit the North West Shelf Visitors Centre. Home tonight, All Seasons Karratha.

Day 12 (B,L,D) KARRATHA, EXMOUTH
We continue along the North West Coastal Highway through Cane River Conservation Park to Nanutarra Roadhouse, our lunch destination. During the afternoon continue to Exmouth, established in 1967 as a support town for the US communications base. Home for two nights, Pot Shot Hotel Resort.

Day 13 (B,L,D) CAPE RANGE NATIONAL PARK
Visit the Milyering Visitor Centre, built of rammed earth and using solar power. Enjoy magnificent 360 degree views from Vlamingh Lighthouse at the tip of Cape Range.

Day 14 (B,L,D) EXMOUTH, CORAL BAY, CARNARVON
Travel south to the idyllic seaside village of Coral Bay and Ningaloo coral reef, longest in Western Australia. Enjoy a glass-bottomed boat cruise in these pristine waters. (Note: Due to tides, we may be required to wade out in knee deep water to board the cruise. Reasonable fitness and appropriate clothing and footwear required.) Later we continue to Carnarvon on the Gascoyne River, and our home for two nights, Fascine Lodge.

Day 15 (B,D) CARNARVON
This morning join an informative walking tour of Bumbaks Plantation located in a beautiful river setting. Learn about the wonders of growing bananas, grapes, mangoes and ground crops in Carnarvon. This afternoon we visit the Carnarvon Railway Museum, ride the Coffee Pot Train along the 1.6 kilometre jetty and visit the Lighthouse Keepers Museum. Enjoy a leisurely walk along the three kilometre tramways trail (optional).

Day 16 (B,L,D) CARVARNON, DENHAM, MONKEY MIA
On to Peron Peninsula and Denham. Visit Hamelin Pool and the stromatolites, the world’s oldest known living organisms. Later we travel to Monkey Mia, famous for its bottlenose dolphins, who interact with humans at the beach. Home for two nights, Dolphin Resort.

Day 17 (B,D) MONKEY MIA
This morning enjoy a cruise on Shark Bay, view dolphins, rays and perhaps sharks in the sheltered waters. The afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the scenery and the resort.

Day 18 (B,D) MONKEY MIA, KALBARRI
We retrace our steps back out to the North West Coastal Highway and then make our way to Kalbarri. A short town tour on arrival. Home for two nights, Kalbarri Beach Resort.

Day 19 (B,L,D) KALBARRI
We spend today enjoying the superb scenery and, depending on the season, may find an abundance of wildflowers. We visit the Kalbarri Wildlife Centre and then the Rainbow Jungle, a beautiful parrot habitat and free-flying bird aviary. Following lunch we enjoy a drive around Kalbarri National Park.

Day 20 (B,L,D) KALBARRI, GERALDTON
Today we drive along the spectacular coastline to Northampton, with lunch and time to wander around this National Trust-classified historic town. Later we travel the short distance to Geraldton. Our home for tonight, Best Western Hospitality Inn, Geraldton.

Day 21 (B,L,D) GERALDTON, GREENOUGH, CERVANTES
A tour of the city before a short journey to the village of Greenough. Time to view the conservation area and visit the Walkaway Station Museum, built in 1887. Lunch here at the restored Hampton Arms Inn. In the afternoon we follow the scenic coast road through Leeman, Green Head and Jurien Bay to Cervantes and our overnight home, Cervantes Pinnacle Resort.

Day 22 (B,L,D) CERVANTES, THE PINNACLES, PERTH
This morning we visit the Pinnacles (some walking required) where thousands of spectacular calcified spires (shell deposits) formed around 25,000 years ago are scattered over 400 hectares of multicoloured sands in the Nambung National Park. We return via Cervantes to the Brand Highway for our journey south to Perth. Home for two nights is the Comfort Hotel Perth City.

Day 23 (B,D) PERTH
Today we relax in this vibrant western capital. This morning we take a ferry ride to nearby Fremantle with time to explore the area around Fisherman’s Wharf. During the afternoon visit Kings Park, enjoy the wildflower displays, with some free time in the central city.

Day 24 (B) PERTH, HOME PORTS
Sadly we depart by air and return to our home ports, concluding a most enjoyable West Coast holiday. Eastbound planes depart late morning for various eastern capitals. For Melbourne passengers, coach transfers to Southern Cross Station and Forest Hill are available.