Nambung National Park

Following pick-up from Perth, head to Caversham Wildlife Park in the Swan Valley to admire koalas and wombats and hand feed kangaroos. Travel along quiet back roads to the lobster fishing town of Cervantes. Here, enjoy a behind-the-scenes factory tour on the processing of Western Australia rock lobster followed by a fish and chips lunch. Next, head to the mystical Pinnacles Desert for an easy walk through the fascinating landscape. Drive over the vast sand dunes of Lancelin in a custom-built 4WD vehicle before trying some downhill sandboarding. After the tour, drive down the Indian Ocean Drive back to Perth, stopping to view seasonal wildflowers along the way.

Travelling through the Swan Valley, you arrive at New Norcia, home to Australia’s only monastic town which is renowned for its Benedictine Abbey. A little piece of Spain comes alive in this town, full of history, art, and architecture. Hear the local history before viewing the chapel and museum artefacts gifted to the monastery by popes and Spanish royalty. Visit the Famous Benedictine Community with a guided tour of the town and main sites including the museum and art gallery where you will find extraordinary artefacts dating back to when New Norcia was an Aboriginal mission.  Next you will move on to the Abbey Church; home to one of only two large Moser organs, originally crafted in Germany, followed by a visit to St Gertrude’s College, a grand gothic style building which was originally built as a girl’s boarding school and opened in 1908.   You then visit a produce shop selling olive oil, fruit, wine, New Norcia nut cake and breads before enjoying a fish and chips lunch and local breads and olive oil at the historic New Norcia Hotel. Then, head on to the Western Wildflower farm for a brief talk about how Wildflowers are dried and exported. Continue on for an easy paced walk through the mystical Pinnacles Desert and see the Pinnacles from the look out over the park. If time permits, make a visit to the Pinnacle Desert Discovery Centre.  Return to Perth down the Indian Ocean Drive stopping to view wildflowers en route (seasonal), arriving at approximately 19:30.