WA Coral Coast Itinerary

Travelwise can organise your flight from any state to join this tour

Stage 2 – WA Coral Coast – 07 to 17 June 2023 - $5500pp ss $1100

Day 01

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

09.00am – Depart Oaks Broome Hotel

09.15am – Arrive Broome Airport (Stage 1 guests Qantas flight)

09.30am – Depart Broome Airport

01.00pm – Arrive Sandfire Roadhouse (lunch at own leisure)                         

01.45am – Depart Roadhouse

05.00pm – Arrive the Hedland Hotel, Port Hedland WA

Port Hedland was bombed around circa 1942 by Japanese air raiders with one loss of life. Perhaps they were searching for Corunna Downs secret air force base. By 1966, the railway from Goldsworthy to Finucane Island was completed to take its first shipment of iron ore on the Harvey S Mudd. With the mining of iron ore, came the mining of salt. In July 1966, Leslie Salt sent construction equipment onto the current site, and within two and half years the first salt export commenced. 1967 BHP began to export iron ore from Port Hedland.

A significant event for the town was the air crash of a MacRobertson Miller Airlines on 31 December 1968. My father was called to the crash site to take photos as a reporter for The West and the Hedland times. Twenty-two passengers and five crew were killed in an incident caused by the right wing braking away from the fuselage. The plane crash site was found at Indee Station near Port Hedland.

06.30pm – Dinner Provided

Day 02

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

08.30am – Depart Hedland Hotel

08.45am – Arrive Seafarers Centre and Harbour Cruise (enclosed shoes)

Port Hedland Seafarers Centre offers Harbour Tours of the Port Hedland Port to the general public. The tour consists of a presentation at the Seafarers Centre followed by a cruise around the harbour in a working Seafarers Launch Service Boat. We will be accompanied by an informative member of the Seafarers Staff who will provide full commentary while picking up Seafarers returning to the Seafarers Centre.

11.00am – Depart Seafarers Centre

01.15pm – Arrive BP Roebourne (lunch at own leisure)

02.00pm – Depart Roebourne

03.00pm – Arrive Hearson’s Cove & Murujuga Aboriginal Rock Art, Karratha

Karratha is a city in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, adjoining the port of Dampier. It was established in 1968 to accommodate the processing and exportation workforce of the Hamersley Iron mining company and, in the 1980s, the petroleum and liquefied natural gas operations of the North West Shelf Venture. At June 2018, Karratha had an urban population of 16,708.^[1] The city's name comes from the cattle station of the same name, which derives from a word in a local Aboriginal language meaning "good country" or "soft earth"

Hearson Cove is the historic site of the landing of the Northwest Exploring Expedition led by F.T. Gregory in 1861. This expedition laid the basis for the rapid development of pastoral and pearling industries across the Pilbara region in the 1860s.

04.30pm - Depart Hearson’s Cove

05.00pm – Arrive International Hotel, Karratha WA

06.30pm – Dinner Provided

Day 03

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

08.30am – Depart Karratha

11.30pm – Arrive Nanutarra Roadhouse (lunch at own leisure)

12.30pm – Depart Nanutarra Roadhouse

03.30pm – Arrive Ningaloo Coral Bay, Bayview Resort WA

07.00pm – Dinner Provided

Day 04

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

Option - Swim with Whale Sharks – ($450pp must be pre-booked)

Swimming alongside the biggest fish in the world is simply an incredible encounter you are sure to always remember! Our dedicated crew are passionate about the conservation and research of the mystical creatures of the deep with our aim being your safety first and your time spent in the water swimming with these beautiful creatures.

This full day tour starts at 7:20, meeting in the dive shop to check in and collect all your snorkelling equipment for the day - including a full-length wetsuit! We then take a 5-minute drive down to the jetty on our new, air-conditioned buses where we then embark one of our two fit-for-purpose vessels, each with ample room on the covered main deck to comfortably sit, move around and sight see as we cruise out to the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef.

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

09.00am – Arrive Ningaloo Reef Glass Bottom Boat Cruise

NINGALOO CORAL BAY BOATS offer a range of tours and cruises showcasing the abundant marine life and spectacular coral gardens of the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef. The Ningaloo Reef is one of the largest fringing reefs in the world and home to over 500 species of fish and 300 species of coral. Join our friendly crew aboard Miss Coral Bay III and the Ningaloo to immerse yourself in the wonders of our spectacular marine paradise…

01.30pm – Depart Coral Bay Cruise

Free time to enjoy Ningaloo Reef Activities - Swim, Snorkelling, Kayaking  (lunch at own leisure)

05.00pm - Depart Coral Bay

06.05pm - Arrive Minilya Roadhouse (dinner at own leisure)

06.45pm - Depart Minilya Roadhouse

08.55pm – Arrive Carnarvon Motel, Carnarvon WA

Day 5

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

09.00am – Depart Carnarvon Motel

09.15am – Arrive Carnarvon Space and Technology Centre

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 satellite communications industry.

In 1966, the Casshorn antenna locally known as the ‘Sugar Scoop’ was used for the first television broadcast from Australia to the BBC in London. The program was called “Down Under Comes Up Live”.

On 21 July 1969, the day of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the Casshorn antenna which stands beside the OTC Dish 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.

10.30am – Depart Carnarvon

01.30pm – Arrive Shell Beach, Shark Bay (lunch provided)

This beautiful snow-white beach is made up of billions of tiny shells up to 10 metres deep and stretching for over 70 kilometres. There is no sand, only shells!

Shell Beach is one of only a handful of places on earth where shells replace beach sand in such a dramatic and picturesque way. A walk on Shell Beach is like no other. Incredibly, the beach is made up of shells from the Shark Bay cockle, making it truly unique.

02.30pm – Depart Shell Beach

03.00pm – Arrive Eagle Bluff (Sunset Happy Hour Provided)

Eagle Bluff features a spectacularly high cliff that overlooks the Denham Sound and is located 18-20 km south from Denham. 

Walk along the boardwalk to see breathtaking views out across the water. Time your visit at sunset and you will witness one of the most magnificent sunsets in the west. The boardwalk lies over the ocean where you can see the osprey or sea eagles flying around, dugongs feeding on massive seagrass meadows and the Useless Loop salt pile.

04.00pm – Depart Eagle Bluff

04.30pm – Arrive Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, Shark Bay WA

Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort in the heart of Western Australia’s Shark Bay is a place where you can experience the mystical world of wild dolphins. Monkey Mia is one of the world’s premier natural dolphin sighting areas; a destination of magical encounters. A recognised natural beauty and World Heritage Landmark its accompanying absolute beachfront accommodation is a popular escape for visitors from around the world. 

07.00pm – Dinner Provided

Day 06

06.00am – Breakfast Provided

07.45am – Monkey Mia Dolphin Experience (meet at boardwalk in front of visitor centre)

Bottlenose dolphins have been visiting the beach at Monkey Mia for more than 40 years. In the 1960s, fishers returning to Monkey Mia began sharing their catch with some local dolphins. Over the years, the dolphins’ trust grew and several more were fed at the jetty and later the beach. As increasing numbers of visitors came to see the dolphins, news of the phenomenon spread. Monkey Mia is now home to one of Australia’s most famous wildlife encounters.

(free time to enjoy Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort and lunch at own leisure – options include Wildlife & Sunset Cruises – Shark Bay Scenic Flights – Kayaking and more)

07.00pm – Dinner Provided Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, Shark Bay WA

Day 07

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

09.00am – Depart Monkey Mia

09.30am – Arrive Denham (Free time)

10.00am - Self Guided Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery Centre

10.30am – Depart Shark Bay

12.45pm – Arrive Nerren Nerren Roadhouse (lunch at own leisure)

01.00pm – Depart Nerren Nerren

03.15pm – Arrive HMAS Sydney 11 Memorial Guided Tour 

For a moving tribute to the sailors who lost their lives aboard the HMAS Sydney II during World War II, visit Geraldton's HMAS Sydney II Memorial. Steeped in symbolism, the Memorial pays homage to the ship's 645 men who lost their lives off of Western Australia's coastline during the battle with German Ship HSK Kormoran.

04.45pm – Depart Memorial

05.00pm – Arrive Ocean Central Hotel Geraldton WA                       

06.30pm – Dinner Provided

Day 08

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

09.15am – Walk 9 minutes to Museum of Geraldton, Shipwreck Guided Tour

Overlooking the Indian Ocean, the Museum of Geraldton celebrates the rich heritage of the land, sea and people of the Mid West region. Discover ancient

landforms, Yamaji history and culture, and the region’s unique natural landscapes and marine environment. The archaeological riches from four Dutch shipwrecks - Batavia, Gilt Dragon, Zuytdorp, and Zeewijk, are revealed in the Shipwrecks Gallery. Witness the wrecks of HMAS Sydney (II) and HSK Kormoran as they currently lie, 2,500 metres deep on the ocean floor, in From Great Depths, a moving exhibit and 3D film. The Museum’s shop has a great range of souvenirs, gifts and educational items suited to all ages and interests.

10.30am – Walk 5 Minutes to Geraldton Marina Abrolhos Adventures Lunch Cruise (cruise departs at 11.00am)

Lunch Cruise on-board the magnificent MV 2000 Luxury Catamaran by Abrolhos Adventures. The perfectly still waters are protected by the Abrolhos Islands.

02.15pm – Depart Cruise

02.30pm – Arrive St Francis Xavier Cathedral & Heritage Centre Guided Tour

St Francis Xavier Cathedral is a spectacular church in the centre of Geraldton. You will find the cathedral as magnificent on the inside as it looks from the outside. Designed by the Monsignor John Hawes, it took 22 years to build.

Take a guided tour to share in the fascinating history of the cathedral and appreciate the intricate details of the cathedral's architecture.

03.45pm – Depart Cathedral

05.00pm – Arrive Ocean Central Hotel, Geraldton WA                                 

06.30pm – Dinner Provided

Day 09

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

08.30am – Depart Ocean Central Hotel Geraldton

10.45am – Arrive Badgingarra Roadhouse (morning tea provided)             

11.15am – Depart Badgingarra

12.15pm – Arrive The Pinnacles (lunch provided)

The Pinnacles are amazing natural limestone structures, formed approximately 25,000 to 30,000 years ago after the sea receded and left deposits of sea shells. Over time, coastal winds removed the surrounding sand, leaving the pillars exposed to the elements. The Pinnacles range in height and dimension - some stand as high as 3.5m!

01.30pm – Depart The Pinnacles

04.00pm – Arrive Crown Plaza Perth Hotel, Perth WA                         

07.00pm – Dinner Provided

Day 10

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

10.15am – Depart Crown Plaza

10.30am – Arrive Barrack St Jetty - Swan River Lunch Cruise + Perth Explorer Tour

See the best of Perth, enjoying breathtaking Swan River scenery on a cruise, including a delicious lunch, followed by a tour where you will experience Perth's iconic landmarks, with a 48-hour pass to enjoy the Perth and Kings Park Hop-on-Hop-off bus tour.

Upon boarding the vessel, settle in to your reserved table. Enjoy the Captain's commentary learning of landmarks along the Swan River during the cruise downstream to the port city of Fremantle. Upon the return journey, you are invited to enjoy the hot buffet complimented by seasonal salads, all followed by a scrumptious dessert buffet. With a fully stocked bar on board, enhance your lunch with the purchase of an ice-cold beer, chilled chardonnay, or smooth shiraz.

See the best of Perth before or after your lunch cruise with a 48-hour ticket to enjoy the Perth Explorer Hop-on-Hop-off bus! Completing a loop in 1 hour and 45 Minutes, board the 9:15am departure to explore the city before boarding the Fremantle Lunch Cruise, or ride after your lunch cruise upon arrival at Barrack Street Jetty.

The Hop-on-Hop-off tour will visit Perth City's most iconic sites, including Kings Park, Optus Stadium, The Bell Tower and more.

04.30pm – Depart Barrack St Jetty

04.45pm – Arrive Crown Plaza Perth Hotel, Perth WA

07.00pm – Dinner Provided

Day 11

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

08.30am – Depart Crown Plaza

08.50am – Arrive Perth Airport (various flights to home cities)