AAT Kings: Wildflower Wanderer 25/26

Meet your Travel Director and join a Local Expert Guide for a walk through Perth's lush Kings Park, where you'll discover WA’s spring blooms, whether cowslip orchids or kangaroo paws, the state’s national floral emblem. It’s remarkable to think that this inner-city patch of green is home to the Western Australian Botanic Garden, replete with more than 3,000 species of the state’s unique flora. This lush setting is a natural magnet for wildlife – keep watch for more than 70 bird species that reside here. This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow travelling companions for a Welcome Dinner.

Staying in:

• Crowne Plaza Perth (1 night)

Settle in for a few hours of hypnotic scenery on your tour from Perth as you make your way north to Kalbarri. The family-owned Illegal Tender Rum Co. has a few quenching distillations prepared for your arrival. Go behind the scenes to glimpse how this distinctive sugar-cane-based spirit is made, sampling award-winning spiced rum (among others) while you wander between barrels with the owners.

Staying in:

• Kalbarri Edge Resort (1 night)

Millions of years ago, the Murchison River carved its way through Kalbarri National Park, leaving behind echo-inspiring gorges of red-and-white banded sandstone as well as soaring coastal cliffs. It’s quite the sight, and best taken in from a height. Enter the Kalbarri Skywalk, a precipitous projection 25 metres beyond the gorge rim and a dizzying 100 metres above the river. Here you’ll be welcomed to Country by an Indigenous guide, explaining the stories behind the land on which you stand. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, learn about bushfoods, medicine plants and the traditional uses of local flora. Hear stories about growing up on country and learn about the social history of the region from an Aboriginal perspective. Look around you – there’s plenty to eat in the Aussie bush, not to mention traditional medicines to cure what ails you.

Staying in:

• Kalbarri Edge Resort (1 night)

Step back in time – all the way to 1853 – when you arrive at Lynton Station, a former convict depot and homestead composed of a collection of historic limestone buildings. Just as eye-opening is Hutt Lagoon, an enormous lake that is sometimes bubblegum pink, sometimes lilac, and occasionally even red. The high salinity here determines its hue at different times of year. Your last stop is the moving HMAS Sydney Memorial, high on the hill overlooking Geraldton; it pays homage to the ship’s crew who were lost when it went down off the West Australian coast.

Staying in:

• Nesuto Geraldton Apartment Hotel (1 night)

Join a Local Expert Guide to explore the Midwest's breath-taking landscapes, home to over 12,000 wildflower species found nowhere else on the planet. Delve into the intriguing stories behind each species, from their names to their extraordinary uses. Gain insights into the edible and medicinal purposes of these floral wonders, adding a unique dimension to your wildflower experience. Explore Helen Ansell Art Gallery, where the vibrant paintings of native Western Australian flora and fauna come to life, and the little town of Mullewa, especially enchanting during wildflower season. At Coleseam Conservation Park, embark on an unforgettable journey through the park's most captivating sights, guided by expert narration that unveils the stories of its diverse species.

Staying in:

• Nesuto Geraldton Apartment Hotel (1 night)

Arriving at Nambung National Park, you may think you’ve been transported to the moon, so surreal is the desert landscape of limestone pillars that surrounds. Welcome to The Pinnacles, jutting out from shifting yellow sands. You’re walking amid history on today’s Pinnacles tour: these structures were created millions of years ago as seashells were broken down into sand and then eroded by water and wind into the dramatic spires that pierce the sky today. After a scenic drive back to Perth, join your Travel Director and fellow wildflower lovers for a Farewell Dinner.

Staying in:

• Crowne Plaza Perth (1 night)

You’ve seen blooms around the state. But's now it's time to say farewell to your fellow flowers lovers on this flower-filled journey.