Overview
Itinerary
Your Private Driver meets you at Perth airport and transfers you to your hotel. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers at 11:00 and travel to the Swan Valley, Western Australia’s oldest wine region. The combination of soil quality, warm Mediterranean climate and the cooling breeze of the Fremantle Doctor result in excellent conditions for viticulture. Visit 180 year old Sandalford and meet the talented and passionate winemakers for an in-depth tour of the working winery followed by an exclusive hands on wine blending experience. Enjoy a delicious lunch and sample a selection of the award-winning wines.
Return to Perth and enjoy some time at leisure before coming together for a Welcome Reception with local Western Australian wines and beers with local produce canapes. (LW) Stay: DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront (River View Rooms).
Leave cosmopolitan Perth behind as you head south and journey to Busselton. Explore vibrant waterside cafes and restaurants, then visit the town’s iconic Jetty - measuring at over a mile, it is the longest in the Southern Hemisphere and a local icon. Take time to go for a stroll and enjoy the ocean vistas or take the train all the way to the end and visit the underwater aquarium. Wadandi people had been living in the area thousands of years before the first European settlers arrived.
This afternoon return to nature and Make Travel Matter as you connect with the indigenous spirits at Cape Naturaliste. Experience a traditional Welcome to Country before heading on a scenic walk, listening to the humming sound of the didgeridoo. Hear from a local Indigenous guide as they explain how they interpret the land and their own personal stories. Return to your resort and enjoy a dinner of locally sourced, seasonal produce. (B/DW) Stay: Pullman Resort Bunker Bay, Margaret River
Today is dedicated to the gastronomical delights of the Margaret River wine region. First up is the prestigious Leeuwin Estate, one of the five founding wineries of the now famous district. On your winery tour learn about its history and the unique features found only in this region. Hear about their world-renowned, award-winning wines and on-site art gallery.
Finish your time here with a wine tasting perfectly matched with a selection of seasonal canapes. For lunch, visit neighbouring Voyager Estate and indulge in a four-course long lunch dining experience. In the afternoon, relax at your resort and enjoy its facilities before dinner. (B/LW/DW)
After a Relaxed Start this morning, travel north to meet some of the fantastic wildlife found along the shores of Penguin Island. Named after the colony of about 1,200 little penguins that live there, you might also spot sea birds, sea lions and wild dolphins swimming along your boat as you take a cruise in the Shoalwater Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Arrive in Fremantle, housing Western Australia’s biggest port and a city with rich history. Founded as the Swan River Colony in 1829, the city saw exponential growth during the late 19th Century gold rushes.
Town highlights include the Fremantle Prison, a UNESCO World Heritage convict site, the listed Victorian and early Edwardian architecture of the West End and the landmark Esplanade Hotel, a historic lodging dating back to 1850 and your home for the next two nights. Take in the laid-back atmosphere as you enjoy an evening strolling among local eateries and bars, and perhaps take a close look at local legend Bon Scott’s statue. (B) Stay: Esplanade Hotel Fremantle
Take the day to discover Fremantle as you wish with Insight Choice. Take a short ferry ride to Rottnest Island, get on two wheels and discover this slice of outdoor paradise. There are dedicated bike paths for you to follow: cycle to the historic Wadjemup Lighthouse, the smaller Bathurst Lighthouse for spectacular views of ‘The Basin’ and surrounding reef, or venture to the West End to spot some of the resident fur seals. Keep an eye out for the quokkas, the only mammal native to the island, referred to as the happiest animal on earth. Perhaps snap a selfie with these friendly marsupials, who often pose for the shot.
Alternatively, stay on mainland and join your Local Expert for a fun food focused walking tour visiting the best cafes, pubs, markets and restaurants. Hear entertaining stories whilst sampling some of the best artisan foods, ethnic flavours and refreshing drinks. Tonight, come together with your fellow travellers and indulge in a Celebration Dinner in one of the local restaurants, toasting your adventures taken and memories made. (B/DW)
Trip Inclusions
- Busselton: Explore vibrant waterside cafes and restaurants and visit the town's iconic Jetty, the longest in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Penguin Island: Keep an eye out for wildlife such as penguins, sea birds, sea lions and wild dolphins as you cruise along the shores of Penguin Island in the Shoalwater Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Insight Choice: Explore Rottnest Island with Insight Choice. You can choose to follow the Wadjemup walking track to see the island at your pace or cycle through to the West end passing ideal snorkelling locations.
- Swan Valley: Visit 180 year old Sandalford Wines, one of Western Australia's oldest established in 1840, for an in-depth tour of the working winery followed by an exclusive hands on wine blending experience. It has an amazing history in the Swan Valley linked to the time of European settlement.
- Leeuwin Estate: Spend the morning at one of the most prestigious wineries in the Margaret River region. The family winery produces many award-winning, world ranked wines each year. The Estate is the perfect location for a tasting of the famous Margaret River wine, matched with delicious canapes.
- Swan Valley: After your winery tour and exclusive hands on blending experience at Sandalford Wines enjoy a 3 course fresh regional produce, innovative Australian cuisine lunch with wines in the multi-award winning restaurant.
- Perth: Join your Travel Director and fellow guests for your Welcome Reception with local Western Australian wines, beers and canapes.
- Voyager Estate: Visit another iconic stop in the Margaret River Region, Voyager Estate. Here, enjoy a four course long-lunch created using the freshest local produce.
- Fremantle: Come together with your fellow travellers and indulge in a Celebration Dinner in one of the local restaurants, toasting your adventures taken and memories made.
- We have enhanced our existing hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19.
- All Travel Directors and Drivers have been trained by our fully qualified Training Manager in well-being and hygiene protocols.
- Our Travel Directors are also trained to react and activate protocol should any unexpected issues arise on the trip.
- Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for our guests to use throughout the day.
- We only work with establishments that we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which includes hotels, restaurants, sightseeing venues.
- Our operations and guest support teams are on call 24/7, so you can rest assured that you're in good hands.
- While sightseeing guests to be allowed immediate entry on arrival with no queuing.
- The venues Insight Vacations travels to all have physical distancing measures in all public areas.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
Prices & Dates
There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and will no longer continue. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view the general release dates for all destinations.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Insight Vacations. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Insight Vacations. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
