western australia’s - ross garden tours · native only to the south west region of australia....

Established 1980

Western

Australia’sW I L D F L OW E R S

12 - 25 SEPTEMBER 2013Deluxe AccommodaationSmall group tourEscorted by Angus Stewart

Full itinerary visit www.rosstours.com

IT INER A RY Detailed itinerary visit www.rosstours.com

All prices in Australian Dollars, subject to currency fluctuations. All air taxes as at 1st Aug ‘12. Price based on minimum 15 passengers, & departure ex Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane. Price from other Australian ports and NZ available on application. Group meals do not include beverages. Hotels listed in this brochure are correct at time of printing, however, if a change becomes necessary for any reason, the hotels substituted will be equivalent in standard. Degree of effort to fully participate in the tour - Ross Tours Category 2. Please refer to Ross Garden Tours standard terms & conditions. Ask us about other sightseeing & travel arrangements including pre & post tour accommodation, transfers, stopovers & other tours

w a ’ s w i l d f l o w e r s 1 2 - 2 5 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3

DAY 1 - THU 12 SEP 13Home - Perth (D)Meet your tour leader at Sydney Airport for your flight to Perth. Check in to your 5-star hotel in the centre of Perth.

Welcome dinner tonight in your hotel.

Accommodation: Duxton Hotel, Perth

DAY 2 - FRI 13 SEP 13 Perth - Hyden (B/D)Travel from Perth into the Swan Valley. Interesting visits to John Forrest National Park and Wheatbelt Botanic Garden to view the first varieties of wildflowers.

Continue onto Hyden for your overnight stay.

Accommodation: Wave Rock Motel, Hyden

DAY 3 - SAT 14 SEP 13 Hyden - Hopetoun (B/L)Start the day with a visit to Wave Rock, 2,700 million years old and 15 metres high. This grey and red coloured granite rock is in the formation of a giant wave about to break.

Travel on to the southern coast through the rugged and wildflower rich, Stirling Range National Park. We will deviate here to enjoy beautiful spring wildflowers at Lake Grace.

Late afternoon arrive at Hopetoun where you will stay for two nights.

Accommodation: Hopetoun Motel, Hopetoun

DAY 4 - SUN 15 SEP 13 Fitzgerald River NP (B/L)A local wildflower enthusiast will join you today for a guided tour of the rich flora of the Fitzgerald River National park, renowned for the natural beauty of its ancient ranges, rocky hills, rugged river valleys, estuaries and large inlets. The bush is rich in wildflowers with many rare species. Picnic lunch is included today.

Accommodation: Hopetoun Motel, Hopetoun

DAY 5 - MON 16 SEP 13 Hopetoun - Albany (B/L/D)The drive from Hopetoun to Albany will take us through some wonderful south coast flora. There will be several roadside stops to explore beauties such as Melaleucas, Conostylis, royal Hakea, Qualup Bells and kangaroo paws.

Accommodation: Dog Rock Motel, Albany

DAY 6 - TUE 17 SEP 13 Albany (B/L)Morning visit to Whale World, situated on the site of the old Cheynes Beach Whaling Station, the last operating whaling station in Australia. Afternoon visit to nearby Tornirrup National Park.


DAY 7 - WED 18 SEP 13 Mt. Barker (B/L)Today you will discover the incredibly rich and diverse wildflowers of Mount Barker, recognised as one of Australia’s premier wildflower locations. The rugged peaks, towering forests and lush rolling granite flats of the Stirling Range and Porongurup National Parks, are some of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.

This is Great Southern Wine Country, one of the largest of Australia’s wine regions. Lunch today will be included at Gilbert’s Winery.


DAY 8 - THU 19 SEP 13 Albany (B/L/D)Take a tree top walk this morning, a spectacular lightweight bridge through the forest canopy of the Valley of the Giants. The bridge gently ascends into the tree tops 40m above the forest floor.

The Karri tree, a species of eucalyptus, grows to 90m in height, making it one of the tallest trees in the world. This tree is native only to the South West region of Australia.

Picnic lunch today in Peaceful Bay renowned for its wildflowers including the world’s only endemic stand of red flowering gum (Corymbia ficifolia) and over 40 species of native orchids.


DAY 9 - FRI 20 SEP 13 Albany - Yallingup (B)A scenic drive along the Muirs highway today from Albany to Yallingup with plenty of photo stops.

Accommodation: Seashells, Yallingup

DAY 10 - SAT 21 SEP 13 Margaret River (B/L)It has been just 40 years since the first vines were planted in the Margaret River region. Already the area is recognised as one of the world’s great fine wine producers with 200 vineyards and 90 wineries.


DAY 11 - SUN 22 SEP 13 Margaret River (B)Explore for wildflowers today, visit Yallingup Caves.


DAY 12 - MON 23 SEP 13Yallingup - Perth (B)Travel to Busselton, sheltered on the sweeping shores of Geographe Bay and gateway to the Margaret River Region. Visit the jetty, the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere stretching 1.8 kms across Geographe Bay. This jetty has just re-opened after a $27 million refurbishment programme. Travel by train to the Underwater Observatory and descend 8 m below the ocean’s surface to view a forest of vividly coloured corals, sponges, fish and invertebrates. Continue to Perth.


DAY 13 - TUE 24 SEP 13 Perth (B/D)It’s Festival time in Perth’s famous Kings Park. This long-running tradition celebrates the incredible wildflowers that bloom throughout the south west of Western Australia during this time. Spend the last day of your tour here in Kings Park to enjoy this celebration of WA wildflowers.


DAY 14 - WED 25 SEP 13 Perth - Home (B)Transfer to Perth airport for flights home.

TOUR INCLUSIONS

Return group economy airfare & taxes Sydney / Perth / Sydney

Luxury air-conditioned motorcoach throughout tour

Best Available Accommodation for 12 nights

Breakfast daily, 7 lunches and 5 dinners

Entrance fees to all gardens and sightseeing including Busselton Jetty,

Valley of the Giants Tree top Walk, Whale World, Wave Rock and

Kings Park

Fully escorted by Angus Stewart

Ross Tours travel wallet

Membership to the Garden Clinic™ Club for 1 year (non-members)

TOUR COSTS (Limited places available)

Twin Share land only $4,995.00 per person

Twin Share including air $5,495.00 per person

Single Supplement $975.00

Early Bird Discount $200.00 (Pay in full by 11 May 2013)

Previous Traveller Discount $100.00

Garden Clinic™ Member Discount $50.00

western australia’s - ross garden tours · native only to the south west region of australia....

Documents