I was back into STA Travel yesterday to get the last push sorted, booked, and paid for. As always, I arrived far too early, eager to get the admin finished and leave the road clear for departure. Today I hoped to get; a Greyhound Australia Kilometre Pass (10,000km), Travel Insurance, West Coast Experience Tour, and the Perth to Adelaide Wildlife Adventure Tour (shark cage diving an optional extra).
And I’m pleased to say I got it all, and a YHA card which helped save a bit on the bus pass. Somehow I’ve managed to book when everything is being reduced! I’ve saved on pretty much everything – but still spent a lot overall. The bonus for me is that the first month of my Aussie adventure is prepared, and will cover roughly a quarter of the coastline. On top of that, I’ve got 40 nights prepaid with BASE and NOMAD hostels (with a total of 4 nights thrown in for free) which will cover most of my travels. Plus my 10,000km Pass which should take me most of the way – I hope to find some ride shares or tours for the rest of the distance.
This takes a lot of the stress out of the first few weeks because I know that a lot of the usual concerns (accommodation, transport, tax code, etc.) have already been taken care of. All I need to do is book ahead to ensure I get my spot, then spend the rest of the time having fun!
I’m pleased I chose to book 2 big excursions for Western Oz. They’ll take me around all the things I had hoped to do anyway, but with a guide and a group of folk in the same boat.
West Coast Experience:
The West Coast Experience tour is a 7 day trip from Perth to Exmouth and back. The itinerary is right up my alley, snorkelling, wildlife, dramatic landscape, and Aboriginal experience. Day 1 takes you North to the Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park on a guided tour, before heading up to Kalbarri for an overnight stay on the Big River Ranch.
Day 2 will take me to Murchison’s Gorge, Kalbarri National Park, Shell Beach and Monkey Mia where we overnight. The next morning we swim with the dolphins and have options of sea kayaking, swimming with manta rays, and other ocean based frolicking.
At the the end of day 4 we head up to Exmouth and the next day, enjoy a guided tour of the Cape Range National Park and finish the day with a snorkelling trip in Turquoise Bay. The following day we start to make our way back to Perth, stopping off at Carnarvon, staying overnight, then visiting the Kalbarri coastal cliffs, feeding kangaroos at Greenough Wildlife Park before going sand boarding at Lancelin.
This trip sounds awesome! Can’t wait to kick my trip off here (plus I got it for a reduced rate) before heading East. These trips also give me loads of time in Perth to explore the city, luckily I have a cousin who stays there and has kindly offered to put me up whilst in Perth.
Perth to Adelaide Wildlife Adventure:
After my time in Perth is wrapped up I’ll be joining a fantastic tour, heading East to Adelaide. The highlights are:
• Take a camel trek around devils peak
• Witness Lake Gairdner’s sunset colours
• See abundant wildlife at Gawler Ranges
• Swim with Sea Lions and Dolphins
• Learn to surf the waves and sand dunes
• Explore Esperance and Cape Le Grand
• Marvel at the rock formations of Albany
• Walk the Valley of Giants tree top walk
• Vist Margaret River and explore a cave
• Learn about amazing aboriginal cultures
I’ll be doing the trip backwards from what’s advertised in the brochure, but the rough plan is:
Day 1: Start the trip by heading up the western coast via the surfer’s paradise of Yallingup in the margaret river region plus visits to an ancient cave and a local vineyard.
Day 2: Head to Albany today, where the incredible granite formations of The Natural Bridge and The gap are just two of the many highlights. Towering old growth forests once dominated the landscape of the south west and you get to experience the majesty of the forest in the valley of the giants tree top walk.
Day 3: Today head to the Stirling ranges stopping for a hike on the way. The day is left flexible as to which park to visit depending on the time of year and weather.
Day 4: This area is too spectacular to experience in one afternoon so you have a full free day for you to take in some hikes, go swimming or relax at the beach. Look out for the kangaroos chilling right on the sand!
Day 5: Get set for some of Australia’s most beautiful scenery. This area of Western Australia has no fewer than nine National parks. Take in the most spectacular of all, Cape Le grand National park. Stunning blue seas mix with powder white beaches and secluded bays affording a swim or two. in the afternoon stretch your legs on Frenchman peak with great views to the islands of the recherche Archipelago.
Day 6: 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. Settle in for a big day’s drive across the plain, taking in Caiguna ‘Blow Hole’ and the story of Skylab at Balladonia, before your next overnight camp and an IMAX-sized version of the great southern night sky.
Day 7: The Nullarbor plain and the great Australian Bight are two of Australia’s icons and today you will head into some of the most remote country on the planet. Stop briefly at the dingo fence, which runs for a staggering 5,320km (3,303 miles). At the head of the Bight 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.
Day 8: This morning head out 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 become one as you surf towards the shore could be the beginning of a lifelong addiction.
Day 9: The eyre peninsula is one of those great secrets many people have not yet discovered. pass through port Augusta and on to Bairds Bay, a beautiful coastline where you can opt to swim with sea lions and dolphins. in the afternoon arrive at your farm stay and head out in search of kangaroos, wombats and emus.
Day 10: Journey into the rusty, rugged gorges, abandoned homesteads and red gums of one of the oldest mountain ranges on earth – the Southern Flinders ranges. Walk Alligator gorge before heading towards Warren gorge and your first overnight camp.
Taken direct from STA’s website and will be slightly out of order as I’ve simply put the days in reverse. If you’re looking to do the same then consult your agent.
So needless to say I’m pretty pumped to be going away! Just need to wait out the next three months, save up some extra dosh, and finally head off in February!
Time Away 