10 Days Adelaide to Perth Safari

Itinerary: day by day

Day 1 - Flinders Ranges

Pickup is from your Adelaide accommodation between 6.30 am and 7.00 am in front of the hotel. Please have your hotel checkout finalised by 6.30am and wait at the front doors of the hotel for your pickup as there is no parking for the vehicle. You will meet your fellow group members on board the vehicle as many of them may be staying at other accommodation.

We head north to one of earth's oldest mountain ranges, the Flinders Ranges where we will meet our camels for a trek through this gorgeous landscape. Camels have a long history in Australia as they were the premier form of transport in this harsh environment. Today Australia boasts the largest wild camel population on the planet.

After lunch we wind our way through the Outback to a sunset of contrasts at Lake Gairdner in the Gawler Ranges national Park. Tonight we set up our tents and bush camp for the first time. There are toilet facilities at the bush camp. (LD)

Day 2 - Eyre Peninsula

Today we travel through the Gawler Ranges National Park and wonder at the abundant wildlife casually grazing in this majestic landscape. We visit the picturesque Venus Bay for a walk around the south head dolphin walk.

In the afternoon we arrive at our farm stay. This working farm has both traditional cropping and a project of tree planting on their own land to offset their own carbon emissions.

In the evening we head out in search of some wildlife on land. In this remote and undisturbed country it is quite possible to see all of kangaroos, emus and wombats. That's a possible 5 real wildlife encounters in the one day! Tonight you are in a bed in dorm style accommodation with shared toilet and shower facilities. (BLD)

Day 3 - Bush Camp

This morning we head to Bairds Bay which is a sublime stretch of coastline where we can spend time on the beach and having a swim. It’s an opportunity to experience one of Australia's most unique wildlife experiences of swimming with dolphins and sea lions (optional). This incredible optional wildlife experience involves a four hour boat cruise. We find the friendly populations and can swim and snorkel amongst them. There is nothing that can parallel the feeling of communing with wild creatures such as these. We then head off to find some of Australia's best waves and spend two hours under the instruction of a qualified surfing teacher learning this most Australian of pastimes. That magic moment where you and the wave all become one as you surf towards the shore could be the beginning of a lifelong addiction.

Day 4 - The Great Australia Bight

We travel to Ceduna and visit an Aboriginal Culture Centre and if we are lucky we see indigenous artists doing traditional painting. Our overnight camp is an outstation farm house with real character. (BLD) [No facilities]The Nullarbor Plain and the Great Australian Bight are two of the icons of Australia. Today we are heading into some of the remotest country on the planet. We cross the dingo fence which runs a staggering 5320km from the Bight through to Southern Queensland and head through the Yalata Aboriginal lands. At the Head of the Bight we stop to take in the staggering sheer drop of the Bunda Cliffs where Australia suddenly and dramatically ends and drops into the ocean.

If travelling between June and October it is very likely you will get to see some giants of the ocean, the Southern Right Whales. A pod of about 100 whales come every year to this spot to give birth to whale calves. There is no need for a boat trip as the whales come right close to the sheer drop of the cliffs and use the sheltered waters below as their resting spot. This is a truly spellbinding sight and difficult to tear yourself away from these creatures as they breach, roll and tail slap just off the shore below the viewing platform.

This afternoon head towards Eucla with its famous wombat, camel and kangaroo road sign, a photo of which has become the metaphor for those who like to really get out there. After checking out the old town of Eucla which struggled and lost in its battle against the ever encroaching desert sands we set camp in the desert and get prepared to be bedazzled by one of nature’s greatest shows. (BLD)

Day 5 - The Nullarbor

Today the reality of the Nullarbor really hits you – this huge expanse of karst limestone has many hidden secrets including the biggest underground lake system in Australia and is the source of many international divers who come here to explore this unique landscape. Today we settle in for a big days drive across the great plain of Australia before our next overnight camping.People say the sky in Australia looks bigger than elsewhere. Tonight you get an IMAX sized version of the great southern night sky. Pick out the star sign constellations, the Southern Cross, planets and be amazed by the show of shooting stars so prevalent in the clear skies of the desert plain.

No photograph or movie could ever do justice to this night sky spectacular. This is something you can only experience. No facilities tonight but prior to establishing camp and first thing next morning toilet and shower facilities are available. (BLD)

Days 6 & 7- Esperance

Get set for some of Australia's most beautiful scenery. This area of Western Australia has no less than 9 National Parks which is testament to its beauty and uniqueness. We take in the most spectacular of all, Cape Le Grand National Park. Stunning blue seas mix with powder white beaches and secluded bays allow for stops and swims in what can only be described as a nature lovers paradise.

In the afternoon we stretch our legs on Frenchman Peak which gives us a great overview of the bays and beaches and views to the islands offshore.

This area is too spectacular to experience in one afternoon so we have a full free day for you to take in some hikes, go swimming or relax at the beach. You might even encounter a kangaroo on the beach - it doesn't get any more Aussie than that! Our overnight location is the beautiful Cape Le Grand National Park with toilet and shower facilities (BLD)

Day 8 – Stirling Ranges

Leaving the aptly named Lucky Bay behind, you'll be pleased to know that you haven't used up all your luck. More gorgeous country is in front of us and your guide will pick a fabulous stop for a hike on the way to Albany. A variety of different eco systems are in front of us and each has something special to offer.

We leave the day flexible as to which park we will visit as some are better than others depending on the time of year. We might seek out an abundance of wildflowers in the spring or a forested area with flowing rivers and waterfalls in the heat of the summer. Everywhere has its greatness at some point in the year and that is where we will take you whatever time you choose to travel.

Overnight in a private camping ground [toilets and showers] (BLD).

Day 9 - South West of Western Australia

We pass through the charming town of Albany. Once the haven of whalers with its secluded harbours this town has a friendly ambience and an unbelievable history. Nature has down its amazing best on the coastline nearby Albany sculpting the granite into incredible formations that will have you reaching for your camera time and again.

It is not all about the coast however as the inland areas also are home to some unique and incredible endemic life. The tingle forests once dominated this area. Their ability to grow hugely tall and amazingly straight made them targets for the emerging timber industry. Thankfully many areas are now protected after a long and bitter struggle between conservation and economic factors and you get to experience the majesty of the forest in the Valley of the Giants. We take a tree top walk through the canopy of these huge trees almost 60m up in the air.

Tonight we camp at Taunton farm with full facilities (BLD)

Day 10 Perth

As we finish our 4000km road trip by heading up the Western coast via Yallingup in the Margaret River region. Yallingup is a Surfers Paradise with strong but manageable waves that are a couple of sizes smaller than the death defying monsters its nearby Margaret River cousin. The tiny town is bordered by National Park meaning it has managed to keep its tiny town feel.

We then go to experience some real Aboriginal culture and the art of making tools at Wardan Aboriginal Culture Centre.

Surf is not the only reason this area is famed however. Wine and caves are the other big attractions and we visit one of the big show caves of the region to get the low-down on the underground world. See the crystalline features of the stalagmites and stalactites up close and personal.We then get some insight from real experts on the country, the local Aboriginal people. This is a great opportunity to find out about the changes that have happened in the local environment and get a totally different perspective on the culture of the South West.We pull into Busselton on the home stretch to see one of the coasts boom towns and the opportunity to visit the underwater world there for one final wild encounter before the trip finishes up on arrival in Perth. (BL)