Wonders of Western Australia and Christmas Island holiday

Itinerary in brief: 

• 2 nights Fremantle
• 2 nights Rottnest Island
• 7 nights Christmas Island
• 3 nights Margaret River

Day 1: Depart UK

Depart the UK from your chosen airport.

Included: International flight 

Day 2: Arrive Perth

On arrival in Perth, you’ll be met at the airport and driven to your hotel in Fremantle, a pretty and historic area of Perth. Head to bed and try to rest – you’ll be over your jetlag in no time.

If you do want to get out and explore, Fremantle Gaol is a World Heritage Site and a fascinating place to spend a couple of hours. Fremantle is also full of farm-to-fork restaurants that show off Western Australia’s fresh produce.

Included: Transfer, 4* hotel 

Day 3: Ferry to Rottnest Island

This morning, you’ll take the ferry from Fremantle to Rottnest Island. You’ll be staying at Discovery Rottnest, a glamping property on the island. You’ll be sleeping in the best tent there is, with a large deck and a barbecue. Discovery Rottnest is right in front of Pinky’s Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. It’s also next door to the Basin, a huge bay which is perfect for snorkelling and swimming.

We've included an hour long walking tour, guaranteed to enhance your experience on Wadjemup (Rottnest Island). This tour is led by an Aboriginal guide, who will teach you about the cultural significance of the island in Dreamtime stories and history of the indigenous people in the early days of colonisation. It's the perfect start to your time here, so that as you explore the island yourself, you have some knowledge and appreciation of indigenous perspective as you explore.

Included: Ferry, glamping tent & Aboriginal tour

Day 4: Rottnest Island

Today is yours to explore Rottnest Island. Why not hire a bike, pop your snorkel and fins in your bag and head off to discover the island? Our favourite beaches are Little Parakeet Bay, Ricey Beach and Little Salmon Bay. You can also kayak along Pinky’s Beach and relax in the warm shallow waters of Porpoise Bay.

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for quokkas, the tiny local marsupials that have made Rottnest their home. You won’t need to go out of your way to meet the little animals – you’ll find them munching on berries in the shade of the trees or lurking behind fishermen in search of a snack. They are very friendly and cheeky, but you mustn’t feed them – hard to resist as they are so cute!

Included: Glamping tent              

Day 5: Ferry to Fremantle

This morning, you can take a final swim in the clear water off Pinky’s Beach before hopping on the ferry back to Fremantle, where you’ll spend the rest of the day. It’s a great chance to explore anything that you missed on your first visit, like the Farmers Markets or the Fremantle Arts Centre.

In the evening, why not hang out at Little Creatures Brewery, where you can dig into some good grub and taste some of their delicious beers?

Included: Ferry, 4* hotel              

Day 6: Fly to Christmas Island

This morning, you’ll be transferred to the airport in time to catch your flight to Christmas Island. On arrival, you’ll be met at the tiny airport and driven to your accommodation, Swell Lodge, where you’ll check in for seven nights.

Included: Flight, transfers          

Days 7 - 12: Christmas Island

Based at Swell Lodge, you’ll have a week to make the most of your time on Christmas Island. Nestled in the national park and overlooking the swirling ocean, Swell Lodge offers just two glass-fronted luxury eco- chalets. You can enjoy the sunsets from the expansive deck, sleep well in the comfortable king-size bed and watch seabirds swoop past your window during your stay in this solar-powered wilderness escape.

Swell Lodge has been awarded Ecotourism Australia's highest level of certification 'Advanced Eco-tourism' as well as a 'Climate Action Business', awarded to exemplary operators for their ecological sustainability, natural area management and provision of authentic experiences.

Your stay is all-inclusive, so you’ll be treated to three delicious meals a day, cooked by the private chef. Breakfast is a relaxed, self-served meal of fresh fruit and cereals, while lunch is usually a picnic that you can take with you while you explore the island. Dinner might involve a private meal on your deck, listening to the sounds of the waves, or going out to a local restaurant on the island.

Swell Lodge can tailor your activities each day to your personal interests. Go birding, head to the beach or even play a round of golf. Most of your time on will be dedicated to discovering the natural beauty of the island. Relax in the infinity rockpools, hike through the jungle to Dolly Beach, snorkel amongst clouds of fish in Flying Fish Cove or follow the boardwalk underneath the chestnut trees to Hughes Dale Waterfall. One special spot is Merrial Beach, a patch of sand between a crack in the coastline where you can have the whole tiny paradise to yourself. 

There’s also a lot of wildlife, both above and below the water. The island is known as the ‘Galapagos of the Indian Ocean’. Think swathes of Christmas Island crabs scuttling along the road and red-footed boobies and Christmas frigatebirds swooping through the skies. You can even see whale sharks in the water during the crabs’ breeding season (October to December) when these gentle giants come to feed on the eggs.

The island is full of different cultures – a harmonious mix of Chinese, Malay and European as this island has changed hands between nations during its history. There are Chinese temples and a mosque, as well as a massive museum inside the old governor’s house overlooking the bay.

A week is the perfect amount of time to spend on Christmas Island. It will give you the chance to explore properly, but also to relax and enjoy the quiet beauty of this remote place. You can’t beat an evening on your deck, sipping a gin and tonic and listening to the waves. Of course, if you would prefer to spend less time here, we can reduce your stay to four nights. 

Included: Swell Lodge, all meals, selected activities        

Day 13: Fly to Perth and drive to Margaret River

After a week exploring Christmas Island, you’ll fly back to the mainland and pick up your hire car before driving to Margaret River, a beautiful wine region south of Perth. We’ve given you three nights here to enjoy some local wine, soak up the scenery and come back to reality after your off-grid escape on Christmas Island.  

Included: Breakfast, transfer, car hire, flight, 4* hotel    

Days 14 and 15: Margaret River

With over 120 wine producers and countless breweries and restaurants, the Margaret River region is ‘foodie’ heaven! Snack on crayfish straight from the ocean, try Australia’s finest wines at one of the cellar doors and try artisan cheeses at the farmers' markets. The scenery here is breath-taking, and the coastline is spectacular, making it the perfect spot to go hiking or diving. If you want to explore a little further, nearby Eagle Bay is a great place to snorkel while Cosy Corner Beach boasts fantastic sunsets over the ocean.    

Included: 4* hotel, car hire                         

Day 16: Depart Perth

Your time in Western Australia has come to an end – drive north back to Perth Airport and drop off your hire car before catching your flight home to the UK.        

Included: Car hire, international flight 

Day 17: Arrive UK