On Track Tours: WA Kalbarri - Kennedy Ranges- Mt Augustus

7 Day Kalbarri - Kennedy Ranges- Mt Augustus
At Wildflower Time

Day 1
Perth - Kalbarri Departing Perth, we travel the Brand Highway to Cateby, where we stop for morning tea. The Brand Highway is lined with coastal vegetation in full bloom at this time of year against a background of green wheat and yellow canola paddocks. We have lunch at Dongara and if we have time, a stroll down the main street which is lined with old Moreton Bay fig trees - a wonderful sight adding to the character of this delightful fishing town. Then on to Geraldton and a visit to the HMAS Sydney Memorial before we take the coastal road for Kalbarri, where we stop for the night. (Morning tea is not included in the fare.) Motel and cabin accommodation. Most meals, national park entry fees, boat cruise and twin-share accommodation is included in the fare. Single supplement is available on application. Linen is supplied.

Photo: Cue Hotel
Cue Hotel. Photo: Anne Atkinson

Day 2
Kalbarri - Carnarvon A breakfast cruise on the Murchison River with wildflowers and beautiful scenery makes for a delightful start to the day, before we drive into the Kalbarri National Park with its gorges, Nature's Window and the 'Z' Bend. Then on to Carnarvon where we stay for the night. (Boat cruise and entry into the national park are included in the fare.)

Day 3
Carnarvon - Mt Augustus Leaving Carnarvon, we take the gravel road inland to our first stop - Gascoyne Junction - for morning tea. Then on to the Kennedy Range National Park where, surrounded by spectacular scenery, we have lunch. Reluctantly we leave the park and head on to Mt Augustus, where we settle down for a two-night stopover. (Morning tea is not included in the fare. Entry into the national park is included in the fare).

Day 4
Mt Augustus A wonderful day today. In the morning we have a tour with the Aboriginal custodian of Mt Augustus (or Burringurrah) to learn about its significance to local Wadjari Aboriginal people. Mt Augustus is one of the most spectacular monoliths in the world; it is 717 m high, 1,105 m above sea level, 8 km long and covers an area of 4,795 ha. It is twice the size of Uluru (Ayers Rock) and is said to be the biggest single rock in the world. It is surrounded by a stony, red sandplain of arid scrubland-dominated by wattles, cassias and eremophilas. In September, this vegetation is complemented by numerous wildflowers. We also visit Lyons River where we have morning tea and, for those who wish, a swim. We return to our accommodation for lunch. The afternoon is free.

Photo: Mount Augustus
Mount Augustus

Day 5
Mt Augustus - Meekatharra Leaving Mt Augustus and still on the dirt road, we stop at the Landor Race Track, which is an icon of Western Australian country horse racing. Every year since the 1920s, an annual race meeting is held (see the Landor Race Tour) attracting over 1000 visitors and involving races, a gymkhana and the Landor Race ball.

After crossing the Murchison River, we visit the Mt Gould Police Station. Built in 1890, it was the first police station in the Murchison. Its primary function was to house local Aborigines who were accused of killing stock. The building has been recently restored and is a reminder of a disturbing part of Western Australian history. And then it is on to Meekatharra and our accommodation for the night.

Day 6
Meekatharra - Mt Magnet After a cooked breakfast we drive to the historic town of Cue with its beautiful buildings which are gradually being restored to their previous glory. After morning tea we head out to the ruins of Big Bell, a deserted goldmining town, and then to Walga Rock for lunch. Walga Rock is another spectacular natural wonder, like Mt Augustus, and contains Aboriginal rock art. There is time to drive around the Rock and explore sections of it before we join the highway again and make our way to Mt Magnet for our last night together.

Photo: Walga Rock, September
Walga Rock, September. Photo by Anne Atkinson.

Day 7
Mt Magnet - Perth Our journey home today, through Paynes Find, Wubin, New Norcia and Bindoon is filled with spectacular views of wildflowers which line the road, and everlastings which carpet the low scrubland. A memorable experience and fitting for our last day on this wonderful tour. (Morning tea and lunch is not included in the fare today.)

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Day 1 Perth - Kalbarri	Departing Perth, we travel the Brand Highway to Cateby, where we stop for morning tea. The Brand Highway is lined with coastal vegetation in full bloom at this time of year against a background of green wheat and yellow canola paddocks. We have lunch at Dongara and if we have time, a stroll down the main street which is lined with old Moreton Bay fig trees - a wonderful sight adding to the character of this delightful fishing town. Then on to Geraldton and a visit to the HMAS Sydney Memorial before we take the coastal road for Kalbarri, where we stop for the night. (Morning tea is not included in the fare.)	Motel and cabin accommodation. Most meals, national park entry fees, boat cruise and twin-share accommodation is included in the fare. Single supplement is available on application. Linen is supplied. Cue Hotel. Photo: Anne Atkinson
Day 2 Kalbarri - Carnarvon	A breakfast cruise on the Murchison River with wildflowers and beautiful scenery makes for a delightful start to the day, before we drive into the Kalbarri National Park with its gorges, Nature's Window and the 'Z' Bend. Then on to Carnarvon where we stay for the night. (Boat cruise and entry into the national park are included in the fare.)
Day 3 Carnarvon - Mt Augustus	Leaving Carnarvon, we take the gravel road inland to our first stop - Gascoyne Junction - for morning tea. Then on to the Kennedy Range National Park where, surrounded by spectacular scenery, we have lunch. Reluctantly we leave the park and head on to Mt Augustus, where we settle down for a two-night stopover. (Morning tea is not included in the fare. Entry into the national park is included in the fare).
Day 4 Mt Augustus	A wonderful day today. In the morning we have a tour with the Aboriginal custodian of Mt Augustus (or Burringurrah) to learn about its significance to local Wadjari Aboriginal people. Mt Augustus is one of the most spectacular monoliths in the world; it is 717 m high, 1,105 m above sea level, 8 km long and covers an area of 4,795 ha. It is twice the size of Uluru (Ayers Rock) and is said to be the biggest single rock in the world. It is surrounded by a stony, red sandplain of arid scrubland-dominated by wattles, cassias and eremophilas. In September, this vegetation is complemented by numerous wildflowers. We also visit Lyons River where we have morning tea and, for those who wish, a swim. We return to our accommodation for lunch. The afternoon is free.
Mount Augustus
Day 5 Mt Augustus - Meekatharra	Leaving Mt Augustus and still on the dirt road, we stop at the Landor Race Track, which is an icon of Western Australian country horse racing. Every year since the 1920s, an annual race meeting is held (see the Landor Race Tour) attracting over 1000 visitors and involving races, a gymkhana and the Landor Race ball. After crossing the Murchison River, we visit the Mt Gould Police Station. Built in 1890, it was the first police station in the Murchison. Its primary function was to house local Aborigines who were accused of killing stock. The building has been recently restored and is a reminder of a disturbing part of Western Australian history. And then it is on to Meekatharra and our accommodation for the night.
Day 6 Meekatharra - Mt Magnet	After a cooked breakfast we drive to the historic town of Cue with its beautiful buildings which are gradually being restored to their previous glory. After morning tea we head out to the ruins of Big Bell, a deserted goldmining town, and then to Walga Rock for lunch. Walga Rock is another spectacular natural wonder, like Mt Augustus, and contains Aboriginal rock art. There is time to drive around the Rock and explore sections of it before we join the highway again and make our way to Mt Magnet for our last night together.
Walga Rock, September. Photo by Anne Atkinson.
Day 7 Mt Magnet - Perth	Our journey home today, through Paynes Find, Wubin, New Norcia and Bindoon is filled with spectacular views of wildflowers which line the road, and everlastings which carpet the low scrubland. A memorable experience and fitting for our last day on this wonderful tour. (Morning tea and lunch is not included in the fare today.)