Jewels of the North West – Broome to Perth 2020

Broome is the home of beautiful South Sea pearls and their discovery in the 1800s saw Japanese, Filipino and Malay pearl divers arrive in droves, creating a melting pot of cultures; immerse yourself in Broome’s multicultural heritage with a visit the Japanese Cemetery and the Pearl Lugger Museum. Travel back in time when we visit the striking rust-red cliffs at Gantheaume Point to look at ancient dinosaur footprints. Enjoy time at leisure in the centre of town – explore, shop and relax until mid- afternoon when we will collect you and return you to the resort.

A day of leisure to enjoy the beauty of Broome, whether you laze by the pool or wander around town. This afternoon we will spend time on famous Cable Beach, renown for 22 kilometres of white sand and turquoise waters. Get ready for a quintessential Broome experience and marvel at a spectacular Indian Ocean sunset from the back of a friendly camel. NOTE: A 90kg weight restriction applies to camel rides.

Today we are on the road and will begin to appreciate the distances BCA missionaries need to travel. Half way to Port Hedland we visit stunning 80-mile Beach where the Great Sandy Desert approaches the Indian Ocean. This area is one of the most important sites for migratory shorebirds, or waders, in Australia.

In Port Hedland, we will meet Philip and Elke Knight at the Anglican Church and they will join us for dinner this evening.

Travel through rugged BCA country onto the old gold rush town of Nullagine before we reach Newman, the largest modern mining town in the East Pilbara region. Tonight, we will be joined by the Newman BCA staff, Roger and Amanda Kyngndon, for dinner.

A rest from travelling as we spend time in this mining town in fellowship with the local BCA family. Our day starts with Sunday worship and after lunch we will tour the largest single open-cut iron ore mine in the world; a tour of the Mt Newman Mount Whaleback Mining Company will give you an understanding of the powerful machinery used in the mining of these rich ore deposits. (Clothing restrictions and shoe types apply).

Today we travel through Karijini National Park, one of WA’s most spectacular natural attractions, two billion years in the making. We head to Tom Price via Dales and Joffre Falls – a beautiful day of gorges and changing scenery. This evening our dinner guests will be the local BCA Family.

This morning we take the Hamersley Iron Road to Millstream Chichester National Park, an oasis in the Pilbara desert region; the presence of permanent water attracts over 120 bird species, 30 mammal species, 150 reptile species and 500 plant species. As we travel from the desert to the coastal town of Karratha we will stop at Python Pool and Roebourne, the oldest town in the North West. Along the way, we may see one of the massive iron ore trains heading from the Pilbara to the coast. Tonight, we will be joined for dinner by local BCA Field Staff.

We depart for Exmouth, crossing the Fortescue River to the Nanaturra Roadhouse before we detour west
towards the range along the Exmouth Gulf. Exmouth is the “Northern Gateway” to the Coral Coast, an area of world-heritage significance and a microcosm of everything that is rare, beautiful and special on our planet. This region includes the spectacular rocky gorges and beautiful coastline of the Cape Range National Park and the pristine Ningaloo Marine Park. Our dinner guests tonight will be BCA field workers Frank and Jo Nicol.

Today we head south to enjoy our Coral Bay cruise on the famous Ningaloo Reef – a marine wonderland with the reef close to shore. From Coral Bay, we drive onto Carnarvon, a coastal town situated at the mouth of the Gascoyne River. The town is surrounded by a vast variety of agriculture which we will drive through as we head for our accommodation.

This morning we will have a tour of Carnarvon, a tropical oasis on the doorstep of the Indian Ocean. We will travel south to Hamelin Pool, home to the most diverse and abundant examples of Stromatolites in the world, unique creatures often referred to as “living fossils.” On our way to Denham, the most westerly town in Australia, we will visit Eagle Bluff and the beautiful Shell Beach; a 70km snow-white beach made up of millions of tiny shells up to 10 metres deep.

An early morning trip for the chance to mingle with the famous bottlenose dolphins who have been coming to visit Monkey Mia for over 50 years. Keep in mind that dolphins swim free in the ocean and even CFT cannot guarantee their appearance! Today you can relax with an afternoon at leisure. Explore Denham’s Jetty and soak up the beauty of the town’s surroundings – it’s easy to see why Shark Bay is World Heritage listed.

This morning we will enjoy worship in Denham, before travelling onto one of WA’s most beautiful National Parks, Kalbarri National Park, and Hawks Head Lookout to view the dramatic Murchison River Gorge. We hope to see the spectacular wildflowers of the region (subject to the 2020 flowering season) and may be lucky to spot some of the almost 200 species of birds, including Sea and Wedge-Tailed Eagles that call the river home. Keep an eye out for the iconic WA Black Swan that breeds by the hundreds in the shallow pools.

We continue to travel south along the Coral Coast from Kalbarri to Geraldton. Whilst it is only a short distance, we will have a packed lunch enroute so we can enjoy more of Kalbarri National Park. We visit the Hole in the Rock or “Nature’s Window”, a natural formation in the rock that frames the river perfectly inside it when viewed from the right angle. We drive onto Geraldton, the region’s only deep-water port, arriving mid- afternoon. Enjoy some time at leisure before we meet up for dinner.

Our day today will include a tour of the GeraldtonCathedral, where we will meet the Dean and BCA field staff Brendan and Laura Hurley. We will do some other local sightseeing including a visit to the HMAS Sydney II Memorial where we will remember the 645 crew members lost to war in 1941. Enjoy some free time to explore the town – Geraldton is situated at the heart of the Batavia Coast so why not visit the Western Australian Museum to see the tragic stories revealed by relics of shipwrecks.

Today we travel south to Perth stopping in Nambung National Park; wander amongst the ancient desert sculptures of the Pinnacles – unique weathered rock spires of limestone rising out of yellow sand dunes.

We arrive in picturesque Perth late afternoon, a last stop in our Outback adventure. The capital of Western Australia, Perth sits where the Swan River meets the southwest coast. Sandy beaches line its suburbs, and the huge, riverside Kings Park and Botanic Garden on Mt Eliza offer sweeping views of the city.

Explore the city of Perth at your own pace from an open top double decker bus – we have included a 24-hour ticket on the Perth Explorer which will take you to all the popular spots around Perth including Kings Park, Northbridge, Crown Perth, Elizabeth Quay, The Perth Mint and Art Gallery. Don’t miss the Swan Bells, one of the largest musical instruments on Earth. Enjoy a complete circuit bus tour with full commentary or Hop-on / Hop- off as you wish.

Tonight, we will enjoy a farewell dinner at our hotel where we will be joined by Rev Robert Healy, BCA Western Australian Director.

We bid farewell to our newly made friends and head home feeling blessed by the wonderful people we have meet and unique experiences we have shared.