Whales and Trails of Western Australia

Arrive at Fremantle Berth C for boarding at 4:00pm, with time to settle into your stateroom before our 5:00pm departure. Take the time to become acquainted with all the facilities onboard. As dusk falls join guests and the friendly crew as we enjoy the Captain’s Welcome Drinks and sit down to the first of many delicious dinners.

Take a guided tour with descendants of the original inhabitants of the Bunbury Geographe area, the Noongar people, along a mangrove walk. Learn about the bush foods and medicine used in this area as well as Dreaming stories of the region. This evening enjoy wine tasting from the Bridge Deck Lounge as we cruise around Cape Naturaliste at sunset.

This morning we will spend time exploring this vast expanse of bright white sand and turquoise waters filled with marine life. The combination of the friendly stingrays, and interesting fish and plant life in the bay make it a great snorkeling spot. After our swim or snorkel there is the opportunity to walk Part of Cape-to-Cape trail to Cosy Corner or Deepdene Beach to view the Elephant Rocks. With a great biodiversity in the area there will be a plethora of native wildflowers throughout both walks. These trails involve some sand/beach terrain and some uneven, rocky sections. Duration of the walk is weather and mobility dependent.

Transfer by Xplorer to Albany jetty where you will board buses for the short transfer to Harewood Forest. Wander the Karri flanked pathways in search of wildflowers. Our Guest Lecturer and interpretive signage along the trail provide an historical and flora guide to the region. Enjoy wine tasting at a local winery, accompanied by tasting platters of local produce.

Today we cruise into Point Ann, where southern right whales come to calve in large numbers in the calm waters of the beautiful bay. Throughout the morning, we will be at drift in this area and enjoy morning tea onboard as we keep our eyes on the ocean in hope of spotting these incredible creatures. This afternoon we will arrive at Hopetoun to journey through the community art trail at Ravensthorpe. After a short bus ride, we will explore a section of the trail which was created by local farmers using old machinery and scrap metal to produce large scale sculptures depicting the region’s diverse range of wildflowers and local surroundings.

Wander the Cape le Grand National Park trail to Thistle Cove overlooking Mississippi Hill on a 4km return walk (moderate). The headland is home to an abundance of birds, wildlife and wildflowers. Spend the morning swimming and beachcombing in crystal waters and the white sand beaches of Lucky Bay, voted the worlds #1 beach in 2023. Enjoy the freshest of fish with locally sourced fish from Esperance served as a classic fish and chips onboard.

Explore the Quaranup Indigenous Walk which follows the paths walked by the Mineng people to Quaranup with opportunity to see ancient stone structures, waterholes, artefacts, engravings, flora and fauna. We will then travel around the coast of Kinjarling (Albany), to the Quaranup Cultural Site. Walk along the beach or dunes to ancient engravings and tool quarry sites. Tides permitting, there may be a chance to beachcomb and look for shellfish amongst the rocks.

This morning we arrive in the waters of Flinders Bay where there will be opportunity for whale watching from the Vista Deck. After lunch enjoy a short Xplorer transfer to Flinders Bay Reserve at Augusta where we will enjoy freshly shucked Margaret River Oysters and complimentary wines. After our beachside tasting experience there will be an optional Coastal Walk following the Blackwood River and Augusta coastline. Along this section of the trail, you will be rewarded with stunning views of Flinders Bay and the Great Southern Ocean, and the chance to climb down and explore among the rocky pools and sandy beaches.

Walk the 3km Meelup Trail known for its flora diversity and amazing wildflower show – look out for the claw flower with its distinctive red colouring nestled in the coastal health vegetation. Take a short bus transfer to Cape Naturaliste where there’s an opportunity to ascend the 59 steps for unrivalled views of the confluence of the Indian and Southern Oceans. Enjoy a bush tucker inspired morning tea.

Signature Dinner Event at Leeuwin Estate:
This evening we will travel to Leeuwin Estate for a four-course combination of exceptional seasonal West Australian produce, focusing on flavour, texture, and aromas, with current Leeuwin Estate wines.

After a relaxing morning onboard we will spend the afternoon at Ambergate Reserve, a regional park which protects the remnants of scrubland and woodlands once common along the coastal plains of Busselton. Alternatively, there will be the opportunity to explore the town of Dunsborough or take a stroll along the many coastal walks in the region.

This morning we arrive into the Port of Fremantle, C Berth, at 7:00am before disembarking at 8:00am. There will be post cruise transfers provided to the Perth Airport and CBD hotels of Fremantle and Perth.