13D12N Wonders of the Pilbara & West Coast

Almost two weeks of adventures lie before you, the first a twirl around Perth. The Western Australian capital almost steals the street-art trophy from Melbourne, the city’s alleys and warehouses decorated with eye-popping murals and installations. It’s also remarkably green, with 400-hectare Kings Park and Botanic Garden sitting pretty in the CBD, on a lazy bend of the serpentine Swan River. Two thirds of the grounds are reserved for native plants. If you don’t know your fellow travellers by now, you will by the time your Welcome Dinner is over.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza Perth.

It’s time to go north to Yanchep National Park. Here, on a MAKE TRAVELMATTER® Experience, Noongar man Derek Nannup’s Dreamtime stories tell the tale of how the land was created. His tours are hands-on, so expect to taste bush tucker and try playing the didgeridoo. Think the day couldn’t get any better? Within Nambung National Park, the Pinnacles create a moonscape that appears plucked from a sci-fi film, its staggering collection of natural limestone structures jutting into the sky. Arriving in Geraldton, pay homage to sailors lost off the WA coast during WWII at the HMAS Sydney Memorial.

Hotel: Mantra Geraldton.

While stromatolites might sound like something belonging in a cave, these ‘living fossils’ grow in the water at Hamelin Pool. Rock-like in appearance, they’re actually alive, and reveal what life might have been like 3.5-billion years ago. Remarkably, this is the world’s most abundant colony of them. It’s just one of the natural allures of the state’s World Heritage listed Shark Bay, which is also characterised by Shell Beach, formed from billions of coquina bivalve shells, and fabled Monkey Mia.

Hotel: Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort.

Sparkling turquoise water, powdery white sand, ochre dunes – Monkey Mia knows how to dial up the drama. And then there are the wild resident dolphins, which famously swim to shore every morning to splash about in the shallows and mingle with humans. It’s a hard act to follow. Perhaps choose an optional sunset cruise, or get some perspective of the bay on an optional scenic flight? Or both. The afternoon is yours.

Hotel: Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort.

Your next port of call is the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum. Did you know it played a role in the 1969 moon landing? Just one of the fascinating facts you’ll learn from your passionate guide. The experience is interactive, so budding astronauts can opt to try on space suits and climb aboard a spacecraft simulator.

Hotel: Best Western Hospitality Inn Carnarvon.

You don’t need to get your hair wet to experience the sheer wonderment of Ningaloo Reef. A Coral Bay glass-bottom boat cruise gets you within a whisker of turtles, colourful coral and an embarrassment of fish. You won’t know where to look, although your on-board naturalist will help guide your gaze. This is part of the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Coast, a popular hangout for larger-then-life migratory marine life including whale sharks and humpbacks. Before you settle into your plush Exmouth hotel, admire the curves of the coastline from Vlamingh Head Lighthouse.

Hotel: Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort.

Steel yourself for a few ‘pinch-me’ moments today. Opt to snorkel (with an ethical operator) over Ningaloo Reef. Time of year pending, you may have whale sharks and possibly humpback whales in your company. Nothing quite prepares you for the initial moment you glimpse these gentle giants up close. Or spend your day strolling the sand and cruising with dolphins at sunset. The choice is yours.

Hotel: Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort.

It’s an epic commute across the Pilbara from Exmouth to inland Karijini. But it’s oh-so worth it. If you’ve ever wanted to fall in love at first sight, it’ll happen at Karijini National Park. This is nature amplified, a place of immense gorges and deep, dark chasms; waterfalls and gem-like rock pools. This red slice of the Hamersley Range is a magnet for nature lovers, not only for the earthly delights but also the creatures that call the cliffs home. You’re hundreds of kilometres from the nearest town, so expect dazzling stargazing from your safari tent.

Hotel: Karijini Eco Retreat.

It took billions of years to create the geological wonders of Karijini: the striking red escarpments and the quiet gorges all enveloped by tall gums. You have a single day to explore, so bring your stamina and sense of adventure. You’re heading deep into the national park, discovering hidden nooks and waterholes just begging you to swim in them.

Hotel: Karijini Eco Retreat.

At first glimpse of the Pilbara, you may well think you’ve been transported to Mars. The soil couldn’t get any redder, the skies any wider, the rock formations any more dramatic, much of the countryside streaked with mineral deposits. People are few and far between until you reach the town of Port Hedland. There are plenty of local characters to meet over dinner at your hotel.

Hotel: Hospitality Port Hedland.

Skirting the edge of the Great Sandy Desert, your morning outlook is flat – almost as far as the eye can see, the sand eventually giving way to mountain ranges, and then multicultural Broome. This city delivers many surprises, from its eclectic restaurants to its long pearling history – the pristine waters produce some of the most prized pearl oysters in the world. The other standout attraction here happens at sunset. Follow locals to the sand on Cable Beach and salute the end of another spectacular day in WA.

Hotel: Cable Beach Club Resort.

Which direction should you choose to venture today? Head north deep into the Kimberley on an optional experience where the Horizontal Falls reveals the power of nature. Get some perspective of the tides here on a scenic flight, then feel the force of the water on a heart-starting cruise across the rapids. Or veer off to a pearl farm to witness the precision that goes into growing and harvesting these gems. Or simply enjoy Broome’s tropical climes, strolling along 22-kilometre Cable Beach, hunting for dinosaur footprints and browsing boutiques.

Hotel: Cable Beach Club Resort.

How do you pick a favourite adventure from the last 12 days? You don’t have to –let them all shine in equal measure in your memory.