Western Australia with a Ponant cruise

Today, you will board a ferry to Rottnest Island to discover the beauty of this natural reserve. Explore the island's diverse flora and fauna, pristine beaches, woodlands and untouched salt lakes. You will learn about its rich cultural and historical heritage, from its maritime and military past to its promising future. Take a bus tour and enjoy lunch at Frankie’s on Rotto. You will visit iconic sites such as the Wadjemup Lighthouse, Henrietta Rocks, Oliver Hill Gun Fortification and Tunnels, and the lookout point at Mabel Cove, ending the day with a unique historic train ride.

Your driver will pick you up from your hotel in Perth this morning and drive you to Margaret River, known for its world-class wine, ancient caves, eucalyptus forests and unspoilt coastline. You will spend two nights at Pullman Bunker Bay Resort, nestled on a quiet beachfront, and relax in the restaurant and bar as you take in the sweeping views of the Indian Ocean. The resort has an award-winning spa and offers complimentary wine tasting and yoga.

This morning, you will visit Howard Park to indulge in a private tasting of their Icon Wines. The largest family-owned wine operation in Western Australia, the Burch family were one of the earliest to embrace multi-regional fruit sourcing. Enjoy modern Australian-style cuisine for lunch at Margaret River’s founding wine estate, Vasse Felix, established in 1967. Browse the art gallery, taking in the exhibitions of the renowned Janet Holmes à Court art collection. Lastly, you will visit Brown Hill Estate, a family-owned and operated vineyard established in 1995, to enjoy a private Golden Mile Reserve Tasting.

You will enjoy a leisurely morning, then travel back to Fremantle to board your cruise. We suggest using your free time to explore the buzzing markets and cafés. If you have time, a visit to the Western Australian Maritime Museum or the World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison will be well worth it. In the afternoon, you’ll make your way to the cruise terminal at Fremantle Harbour to board your ship, Le Soleal.

Your next stop is Jurien Bay Marine Park, the only major breeding area for Australian sea lions along the west coast. The reef overlaps warm tropical waters to the north and cool waters from the south. The marine park waters encompass ecologically important island reserves that contain rare and endangered animals. The park is also a primary breeding ground for seabirds, including fairy terns and osprey, and is populated with a mix of tropical plants and animals. The reef includes caves, sea squirts, butterflyfish, lionfish, and the influence of the Leeuwin current can be seen in the tropical corals.

The Abrolhos Islands Marine Park is known for its rich biodiversity and unique ecosystems. It consists of three main clusters of islands that stretch from north to south across 100 kilometres of ocean, and includes the Wallabi Group, Easter Group and Pelsaert Group. Nature lovers flock to the Abrolhos for excellent snorkelling, fishing and bird-watching opportunities. The waters are famous for colourful coral, tropical marine life, crystal clear waters and large breeding colonies of seabirds. Today, you will explore East Wallabi Island and its fringing reefs.

As you sail into Shark Bay, look out for dugongs, dolphins or humpback whales. One of the world’s most remarkable wilderness treasures, the Shark Bay World Heritage Area was the first location in Western Australia to receive UNESCO status in 1991. It is known for its colourful and diverse landscapes, rare flora and fauna, varied wildlife, vast seagrass beds, turquoise waters and rust-red sand dunes. You will sail past Cape Inscription, the location of the first recorded European landing on Australia’s west coast. In 1616, Dirk Hartog left evidence of his landing in the form of a pewter plate inscribed with the details of his journey. It is also the most westerly point of the Australian continent.

Wander along the red sea cliffs and you may spot the resident pod of bottlenose dolphins playing in the waves. Cape Peron is a stunning coastal landscape with striking colour contrasts and sits at the confluence of two major currents. Named after the French explorer François Péron, it is an isolated spot in the middle of Shark Bay, known for its vast array of underwater wildlife, including turtles, manta rays, sharks, dugongs, dolphins and stromatolites — the oldest known life forms on the planet.

The Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area stretches more than 300 km along the remote Western Australia coast. The area is famous for its rare flora and fauna, one of the world’s largest fringing coral reefs, karst landscapes with extensive cave systems and gatherings of whale sharks. Depending on the season, you will have the opportunity to encounter these giants of the sea. You will swim and snorkel in clear water, among an abundance of vibrant coral and schools of fish. The heritage area includes the Ningaloo Marine Park, Cape Range National Park, and the Muiron Islands.

The Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area stretches more than 300 km along the remote Western Australia coast. The area is famous for its rare flora and fauna, one of the world’s largest fringing coral reefs, karst landscapes with extensive cave systems and gatherings of whale sharks. Depending on the season, you will have the opportunity to encounter these giants of the sea. You will swim and snorkel in clear water, among an abundance of vibrant coral and schools of fish. The heritage area includes the Ningaloo Marine Park, Cape Range National Park, and the Muiron Islands.

Named by the French navigator Nicolas Baudin in 1801 after the battle of Montebello, these flat limestone islands cover more than 58,000 hectares of ocean. They have been separated from the mainland for more than 8,000 years and are the remnants of an ancient coastal landform. The area is rich in marine diversity and fascinating history. The islands attracted international notoriety in 1952 when the British detonated an atomic weapon off Trimouille Island. These islands are located around 140 km north of Onslow, and are only accessible by boat.

The Burrup Peninsula is a unique outdoor art gallery, believed to be one of the best sites in the world to view ancient Indigenous art. Decorated with more than 20,000 Aboriginal engravings, the motifs and stone features are believed to be connected to the stories, traditions and ceremonial practices of local Aboriginal tribes. Many depict people, animals and birds, including creatures that are known to have been extinct for 3,000 years. Aboriginal people have been living on this site for more than 50,000 years, and the petroglyphs (prehistoric rock engravings) have been estimated to be around 40,000 years old. The Burrup Peninsula is a small landmass with a large range of habitats and a diverse array of wildflowers and wildlife.

Make the most of a relaxing day at sea, enjoy yoga or pilates at the fitness centre, or head to the gym if you want to be more active. Browse a newspaper or socialise with your fellow guests in the lounge. If the sun is out, head to the upper deck, chill on a lounger, spot wildlife or take in the stunning views of the ocean. The spa is on offer if you fancy some pampering with a massage, facial or beauty treatment. You can also enjoy the on board conferences or meet the Ponant photographers.

Today you will disembark your ship in Broome and travel to your hotel.

Broome was once a wild frontier, a pearling town which attracted workers from all over the world. It is a cultural melting pot and a gateway to the Kimberley, one of Australia and the world’s great wildernesses. Stroll through Broome and you will stumble upon breweries and pearl boutiques, as well as dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point. The influence of the immigration of numerous Chinese and Japanese workers, attracted by the prosperous pearl industry at the end of the 19th century, is evident in the historic town centre. Broome is also famous for the ‘Staircase to the Moon’ on Town Beach, a natural phenomenon and optical illusion created by the moon reflecting on the sandbanks when the tide is low.

After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven back to Perth. The rest of your day is free for you to do some final sightseeing or try out one of the restaurants your specialist recommended before your flight home tomorrow.

On-board your international return flight home.

Arrive home today to complete your journey.