Arrival

Arrive in Exmouth and transfer to your accommodation. The airport is about 30 minutes drive from the regional town of Exmouth – transfers are included in your tour price. Tonight the group will meet up for dinner and your Wildlife Guide will provide a briefing for the trip.

Accommodation: Potshot Hotel Resort (6 nights total)
Flight and dinner not included

Disclaimer: This itinerary is subject to modification depending on a range of factors including season, weather, sea conditions, wildlife movements, daylight saving and flights (see Cancellations tab)

Muiron Islands World Heritage Area

This relatively unexplored group of atolls sit in the Indian Ocean at the entrance to Exmouth Gulf and are surrounded by coral reefs rich with sea life and birds. This morning we’ll board our vessel and motor out into the World Heritage Area to explore around the island in search of leopard sharks, manta rays, Wilson’s Storm petrels and with a little luck, a dugong. If you wish to snorkel or swim we’ll have the equipment and the expertise to assist you to do that. En route we may see our first dolphins and around the islands we may also see turtles, rays, sea snakes and a myriad of colourful fish. Very little scientific research has been carried out in the region of the Muiron Islands, so our citizen science recording will be very important.

Accommodation: same as previous night
Meals: B, L (Dinner is not included)

Explore Cape Range National Park West (day 1)

Many people who visit Exmouth and Ningaloo miss out on visiting this incredible National Park with its extraordinary diversity of arid land flora and fauna, limestone gorges and magnificent white sand beaches. The entire park is embedded in the World Heritage Area and consists primarily of limestone with an underlying layer of freshwater which provides water to many plants and animals in this arid park.

Today we’ll explore on foot and by vehicle. We’ll visit a secret gorge with our local guide to monitor and record sightings of the rare Black-footed Rock-wallaby as they move about with incredible agility amongst the red rock faces of the gorge. Western Bowerbirds move about in the gorges and we also often see lizards and occasional geckoes. In the early morning Dingoes may be seen finishing hunting expeditions and, as the day warms, Spotted Harriers course low over the saltbush looking for prey along with other birds of prey including Osprey, Wedge-tailed Eagles and various species of falcon.

Bustards are sometimes seen in the park. On the coast we’ll visit a mangrove bird hide to search for waterbirds and waders and also take a walk along white sand beaches beside coral lagoons searching for sea and land based wildlife. At Yardie Creek Gorge we walk inland into the range high over the water of the gorge. In the past we have been very lucky and spotted shy Spinifex Pigeons on this magnificent walk.

Accommodation: same as previous nights
Meals: B, L Dinner not included

Swim with (or watch) Whale Sharks  –  shared experience

On this very special day we will travel by boat, with Exmouth Dive company, to the peaceful waters of Ningaloo reef out into the ocean to search for feeding Whale-Sharks. Ningaloo is unlike any other location where you can swim with Whale Sharks. With its warm, calm waters and abundance of food, Ningaloo Reef attracts hundreds of Whale Sharks in March and April each year.

Their habits are very reliable in this region so there is a very good chance you will see them. For those of you who wish to swim with these Whale Sharks you will be fully equipped with snorkel gear and receive a pre-whale shark snorkel and instruction from local dive masters before you reach the Whale Sharks . You will also learn about whale shark feeding patterns, sex, behaviour, how to photograph them, and how to approach and swim with them before you jump in.

Whale Sharks are generally undisturbed by swimmers, and are calm, slow moving and naturally curious fish making your encounter with them in close proximity unforgettable.

If you prefer not to swim you will see the Whale Sharks from above the water, and can still enjoy the snorkelling opportunities offered away from the Whale Sharks, as this day also includes the opportunity to snorkel over Ningaloo Reef where we may see turtles, sea snakes, rays, dolphins, sharks (safe ones) and thousands of fish sheltering around the coral bommies.

Morning-tea, lunch, afternoon-tea and refreshments are included on this 8 hour trip. Spotter planes are used to locate the Whale Sharks and the pilots talk directly to the in-water guide to ensure a great interaction on this exceptional day. As there is a spotter plane there is also a slim chance of seeing a late travelling humpback whale. Once again all sightings are recorded as part of our tour research program.

Accommodation: same as previous nights
Meals: B, L (Dinner is not included)

Cape Range National Park East

The eastern side of Cape Range is very different from the west side. Shallow gorges give way to long, deeply incised canyons. Some of the highest points in the Park look out over Exmouth Gulf giving this location a juxtaposition of colour and topography found in very few places on earth.

Today on a number of walks and drives we’ll document the fauna and flora of this region. We’ll carefully photograph and list the species we find and try and identify them as we go. We’ll keep an eye out for kangaroos, goannas and Bustards and numerous species of birds including honeyeaters, finches, galahs, corellas, and fairy-wrens that we may find around some of the waterholes deep in the canyons. Primarily this day is about awesome landscapes and the thrill of ridgetop and canyon walks mixed with wildlife spotting.

Accommodation: same as previous nights
Meals: B, L Dinner not included

Explore Cape Range NP West (day 2)

Today we return to the western side of North West Cape to explore further along the magnificent Cape Range and Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area. There is so much to see it’s difficult to fit it all in which is why we do this side of the peninsula over 2 separate days (see day 3 for more information).

The day ends on a pristine white sand beach where you can take one last free swim in the turquoise waters of the Ningaloo reef or just sit on the beach and watch the waves of the Indian Ocean crash over the outer reef.

Accommodation: same as previous nights
Meals: B, L Dinner not included

Transfer day. Optional flight over Ningaloo and Exmouth Gulf

This morning enjoy a relaxing breakfast before checking out of your accommodation and taking our transfer vehicle to the airport.

Why not add a special optional extra (at client’s own expense): Chartered light aircraft flights of various durations are available from Exmouth Aerodrome. These flights give you the opportunity to see the entire region from the air and can be arranged for the morning before you fly out in the afternoon (on your scheduled flight). You’ll be able to see all the places you’ve been on your tour and may even see whale sharks and other sea life from the air – an extraordinary opportunity at a reasonable price.

Meals: B (Lunch is not included)

Your trip will help conserve wildlife

You will be involved in Echidna Walkabout’s “Citizen Science” conservation efforts in the following ways on this journey:

• During each day you will help record all the species of birds, reptiles, mammals and other wildlife we encounter. We provide you with the tools to help with this work including a comprehensive list of previous sightings and a library of books to help with identification.
• At the end of the tour the recorded sightings are “atlassed” ie. recorded on a number of internationally available ID lists. These lists enable scientists to determine the movements and conservation status of species over time and help with ongoing conservation efforts. We can give you access to some of these lists after the tour if you wish OR you may like to create and share your own lists (many of our guests do this as a matter of course)
• Wildlife surveys around Muiron Islands: We travel to the remote Muiron Islands for a day. While there we’ll note of all wildlife we see.  Only a few surveys are currently available for this island group, though some scientific surveys have been conducted and shown a huge diversity of wildlife.
• Black-footed Rock-wallaby counts: These endangered wallabies live in several hidden gorges in the Exmouth area.  We will visit one and take notes of population size, for submission to wildlife authorities.
• Participate in clean-ups: to remove any unnatural items we find on the beaches and gorges throughout the tour – maybe you’ll find a fossil or shark egg along the way!

For the whole trip, you are helping wildlife – your Wildlife Guide records all species seen and uploads this data to online atlasses for wildlife conservation purposes. See below:

View echidnawalkabout’s observations »

These activities are completely optional, no obligation and take up very little time. All guests who provide their email address will receive a certificate of thanks, and will be provided with use of all equipment necessary to perform the tasks.

Your involvement is crucial to the success of these projects. Over many years Echidna Walkabout’s wildlife monitoring efforts have enabled a number of scientific projects to gather important long term insights into the conservation status of wildlife in the regions that we travel to.

Ningaloo Wildlife

Ningaloo Reef is famous for it’s ocean wildlife: Whale sharks, Manta Rays, Humpback Whales, dolphins and turtles.  The land is also very rich – read our blog about Cape Range wildlife.

On this tour we expect to see

FISH: Whale Sharks, and many species of reef fish. Read our blog about the charming little fish of Ningaloo

MAMMALS:  a few species of dolphin (Indo-Pacific Humpback, Indo-Pacific Bottlenose), Dingoes, Black-footed Rock-wallabies & Common Wallaroos.

REPTILES: Green, Loggerhead and Hawksbill Turtles

BIRDS: Western Bowerbirds, Pied Butcherbirds, Wedge-tailed Eagles, Osprey, Spotted Harrier, Port Lincoln Parrots, Emus, Australian Bustards, a lot of waders, Red-backed Kingfisher, Mangrove Grey Fantail, Zebra Finch.

Travel with the best of the best!

Location: Exmouth, Western Australia
Duration: 7 Days
Grade/Difficulty: easy/medium – we recommend that you have experience in swimming and snorkelling to enjoy this trip to the fullest
Group Size (adults) – Minimum 4  Maximum ~12

Begins and ends: Exmouth, Western Australia

Touring: 7 days touring and 6 nights accommodation are included, along with most meals and transport. Dinners are NOT included.

Note: this conservation experience is run in partnership with local operators Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks. We highly recommend this professional and conservation-minded operator, so even if you can’t join us on this one-off experience, please consider booking a Humpback swim or Whale shark swim with them.

Disclaimer: This itinerary is subject to modification depending on a range of factors including season, weather, sea conditions, wildlife movements, daylight saving and flights (see Cancellations tab)

Tour  Inclusions

Tour includes: Full interpretation by experienced Guides, meals and accommodation as described below, transport (land and sea whilst on tour), entry fees and on ground transport ex Learmonth Airport (near Exmouth), .

Snorkelling: All waterborne activities are carried out with great care. Full pre-swim training is provided by expert guides before you begin any snorkelling activities. Swim support crew are always with you while you are swimming in deep water with Whales or Whale Sharks. In-water buoyancy devices are available for support if you become tired during these deep water swims. All equipment for your snorkelling is provided and includes wet suit, goggles, snorkel, fins (flippers). 

Expert Wildlife Guides: Echidna Walkabout’s Wildlife Guides are recognised as some of the best in Australia. Our Wildlife Guide training program ensures that all Guides have an in-depth knowledge of the wildlife and environments you will see. They are friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about wildlife – some of them have over 20 years experience working with wild animals, several are volunteer wildlife carers and rescuers and most have travelled extensively throughout Australia and the world.
Many hours of wildlife research work precede the tour to ensure that you see and learn about native wildlife in its natural environment. Guides carry two way radios and mobile phones which link them to other Wildlife Guides and to emergency services. Guest safety is of paramount importance to us.

Notes: Wildlife and natural history notes will be provided to guests at beginning of this tour

Meals on tour: Meals are provided as noted in the itinerary. Dinners are NOT provided and are at your own expense. Lunches will often be on board our boats. Breakfasts are included in your accommodation costs. NB. Vegetarian, gluten-free, pork-free or other food preferences must be provided at the time of booking. We will always do our best to cater for special needs but please keep in mind that we are operating in a very remote environment.

Transport: In comfortable air conditioned vehicle and high quality, fully surveyed ocean going vessels skippered by fully qualified mariners.

Airport Transfers: We include 1 only airport transfer on Day 1 and 1 only airport transfer on Day 8.

Drinking Water: Tap water is completely safe and drinkable and available at the accommodation, and a large storage is carried on board the vehicle each day. We recommend you bring a re-usable water bottle which we can refill during the day. If you don’t like to drink tap water we highly recommend you bring a filter to reduce plastic waste.

Accommodation

Relax without re packing every day!
You will stay for 6 nights Potshot Hotel Resort which has an excellent restaurant, pool and modern fully equipped rooms with airconditioning and en-suite bathrooms.

Disclaimer: This itinerary is subject to modification depending on a range of factors including season, weather, sea conditions, wildlife movements, daylight saving and flights (see Cancellations tab)

What to bring

Strong walking shoes or boots, outdoor clothing to suit variable weather conditions (please check weather forecast for accurate predictions), sun hat, rainproof coat, small torch (flashlight), insect repellent, min 15+ sunscreen, daypack and 1 litre re-usable water bottle. Camera and binoculars are recommended.

You should also bring swimming gear. Snorkelling gear is provided by us but you are welcome to substitute your own gear which should include a wet suit and good flippers.

As space is limited please keep luggage to 1 duffel bag OR 1 backpack OR 1 small suitcase per person.

Drinking Water: Tap water is completely safe and drinkable and available at the accommodation on this trip, and a large fresh storage is carried on board the boat and vehicle each day. We recommend you bring a re-usable water bottle which we can refill during the day. If you don’t like to drink tap water we highly recommend you bring a filter to reduce plastic waste.

Personal: Strong walking shoes or boots, clothing to suit variable weather conditions (please check weather forecasts for expected temperatures or call us), sun hat, rain proof coat, small torch, insect repellent, sunscreen, day pack and 1 litre re-usable water bottle.

Weather: Exmouth is in the sub-tropics so the weather is generally mild but can get quite hot at times.

Bookings, Cancellations & changes to itinerary

Please view our Bookings & Cancellation policy here

During the tour – Echidna Walkabout will always attempt to run your tour as per our itinerary. However remote area travel can be influenced by a wide range of conditions and factors that are often out of our control and which may cause us to disrupt of change the tour.

Disclaimer: This itinerary is subject to modification depending on a range of factors including season, weather, sea conditions, wildlife movements, daylight saving and flights. We may have to modify the itinerary. However you must be aware that we will not compensate you in any way whatsoever for any losses or liabilities you may incur.

Flight over Exmouth Gulf and the Ningaloo Reef

As mentioned in Day 7 of the itinerary, charter flights can be arranged out of Learmonth Airport prior to your flight back to Perth. These flights give you a fabulous opportunity to overview the area you have been travelling through from the air. If you’d like to do this please let us know or tell us during the tour and we’ll be happy to arrange the charter company to do this for you. Prices vary based on the duration of the flight and the number of passengers.

Extend your trip to south-west Western Australia

While you’re in Western Australia consider linking your Ningaloo trip to our 7 day Orcas, Numbats & Birds of the South WestYou can read more about how you can do that here: Must-See Western Australia Wildlife: Link Your Adventure