Untamed Pilbara & West Coast

Fly to Perth. On arrival, make your way to your airport hotel.

Return to the airport and fly onwards to Broome. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and the remainder of the day is at leisure. At sunset, follow locals to the sand on Cable Beach and salute the end of your first spectacular day in WA with your Travel Director. If you're not content strolling Cable Beach or browsing boutiques, perhaps head deep into the Kimberley for a scenic flight or, veer off to a pearl farm (both at extra expense).

Gaze at the eye-opening colours of the Pilbara are rich red earth streaked with mineral deposits before settling in Port Hedland, home to the world's largest bulk.

A frontier like no other, Karijini National Park is a place where gorges seem to cleave off the edge of the Earth, waterfalls tumble from escarpments and remote turquoise rock pools shimmer like precious gems. Witness red layered cliffs, quiet gorges, soaring gum trees, and distinctive termite mounds.Stop in at Ngajarli (Deep Gorge) and follow the trail to see incredible petroglyphs and learn about its indigenous history. Finally, pay a visit to the renowned Red Dog Statue.

There are a few (hundred) miles of Pilbara region to cover on the journey to Exmouth; the gateway to the Ningaloo Reef.

Choose how you wish to spend the day. Maybe snorkel (with an ethical operator) over Ningaloo Reef (at extra expense), where you may have whale sharks and humpback whales for company (season depending). You don't need to get your hair wet to experience Ningaloo Reef as a Coral Bay glass-bottom boat cruise gets you within a whisker of turtles, colourful coral and fish. From staring at the sea to staring at the stars: your next port of call is the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum, which played a role in the 1969 moon landing.

While stromatolites might sound like something belonging in a cave, these 'living fossils' grow in the water at Hamelin Pool. Rock-like in appearance, they're actually alive, and just one of the natural allures of World Heritage listed Shark Bay, which is also characterised by Shell Beach, formed from billions of coquina bivalve shells.

Sparkling turquoise water, powdery white sand and ochre dunes – Monkey Mia certainly dials up the experience with wild resident dolphins who famously swim to shore every morning to splash about in the shallows and interact with humans. It's a hard act to follow. Perhaps choose an optional sunset cruise, or get some perspective of the bay on a scenic flight (at extra expense).

Kalbarri National Park is known for its gorges, towering coastal cliffs and rare wildlife that you can witness from the Kalbarri Skywalk, but there are also the wildflowers, which bloom and blanket much of the countryside in spring, transforming it into a floral wonderland. Arriving in Geraldton, pay homage to sailors lost off the WA coast during WWII at the HMAS Sydney Memorial.

Two final wilderness highs provide a fitting end to this journey of contrasts. Within Nambung National Park, the Pinnacles are a staggering collection of natural limestone structures that jut into the sky. It's a spiritual place, as is nearby Yanchep National Park. Here, on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, your Aboriginal guide's stories tell how the land was created. You'll also taste bush tucker and try the didgeridoo. Arriving in Perth you have a farewell dinner to enjoy with new friends.

Transfer to the airport for your onward journey.