PASSIONATE railway traveller Scott McGregor will lead a rail and road trip through Western Australia in September.
The tour will visit Perth, Rottnest Island, Kalgoorlie, Albany, Esperance and Margaret River, with trips on the Hotham Valley Steam Ranger, the Oliver Hill Railway on Rottnest Island, and the Prospector to Kalgoorlie.
The 13-day tour begins in Perth, with a half-day guided tour and visits to the historic Midland Railway Workshop and the Revolutions Transport Museum, capped off with a buffet dinner cruise on the Swan River.Heading to Rottnest Island, travellers will have time to look around before boarding the 64-seat Captain Hussey train on the Oliver Hill narrow gauge railway for a two-hour journey showcasing the beauty of the island's south side.Next day it's all aboard the Prospector train bound for Kalgoorlie.
Over the next day and a half, the group will visit attractions including the Super Pit Lookout for views over a working mine site, Hannans North Tourist Mine and the Museum of the Goldfields, before heading to Coolgardie and its Goldfields Exhibition Museum, which houses the internationally-known Waghorn Bottle Collection, Ben Priors Park and the intriguing Pharmacy Museum.
The tour then heads to Esperance, making a stop at the Red Hill Lookout in Kambalda for spectacular views of the pure white salt lake, Lake Lefroy.After taking in the sights at Esperance, including Spencer Lake, a salt lake on the outskirts of town, the tour heads to Albany, with visits to the historic whaling station and WA's oldest surviving house, the Patrick Taylor Cottage Museum, built in 1832.
Next up is Margaret River, stopping along the way for a trip on the Pemberton Tramway through scenic forests to the beautiful Warren River bridge.Once in Margaret River, travellers will be able to satisfy their sweet tooth at the chocolate factory, visit Mammoth Cave and walk through the karri forest. There's also a free day to explore the area at your leisure.
Leaving Margaret River, the tour heads to Dwellingup, the departure point for the Hotham Valley Railway's Steam Ranger, a spectacular two-hour round trip. Then it's on to Perth and a farewell dinner and drinks.
- Western Australia: A Round Trip by Rail and Road, with Scott McGregor of Scott McGregor's Railway Adventures, September 19-October 1, 2018. Tour cost is $5945 per person twin share.Download the brochure HERE