Abrolhos Islands and Coral Coast Stay

6 Western Australia

A six-day cruise and stay package visiting the Abrolhos Islands and enjoying a Coral Coast Stay

Discover Western Australia’s most recently named National Park – the Houtman Abrolhos Islands and realx sea side with a Coral Coast stay.

The Abrolhos Islands are some of Australia’s most spectacular and historic islands. They abound with natural wonders, spectacular marine and bird life. The islands are also home to the historic Batavia wreck and what is generally acknowledged as being the earliest European structure in Australia.

Located approximately 70 kilometres from the coastal town of Geraldton they can be reached via boat or scenic flight. The Abrolhos Islands consist of some 122 islands that are clustered into three main groups; the Wallabi, Pelsaert or Southern Group and Easter Groups.

The 35 metre Eco Abrolhos catamaran will be your comfortable home for 4 days whilst you discover the best parts of the 122 islands making up the Abrolhos Islands.

Spend your days snorkelling pristine reefs, visiting untouched beaches, viewing the playful marine life, capturing the islands unique wildlife by camera, eating fresh seafood and discovering the islands rich and colourful maritime history.

Expect indulgent crayfish lunches and dinners and relaxed evenings lounging on the top deck with your fellow passengers – sipping WA premium wines, taking in panoramic ocean views, sunsets and wildlife.

Before and after your Abrolhos Islands cruise, enjoy a Coral Coast stay at the Ocean Centre Hotel in the heart of Geraldton’s city centre. An unbeatable location directly opposite the beach and the stunning Geraldton Foreshore, the iconic Ocean Centre Hotel offers high quality accommodation.

Your holiday Includes:

2 nights in Geraldton at the Ocean Centre Hotel in a luxe ocean view room (one night pre cruise and one night post cruise)
Return flights to the Abrohlos Islands and tender transfers to your vessel
3 night Discovery Cruise on the “Eco Abrolhos” including landings, various tour options and hearty meals and beverages

Departures are available from Jan-Apr and Sep-Dec

Before you travel to WA you will need to apply for a G2G Pass, for more information, visit the website here: g2gpass.com.au

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Geraldton

Arrive in Geraldton on WA’s Coral Coast and overnight at the Ocean Centre Hotel or we can arrange an extended stay for you if you’d like more time to explore.
The Ocean Centre Hotel enjoys an enviable position directly opposite the beach and the Geraldton foreshore.
Rooms are spacious and light, most having balconies with views over the marina or ocean.
Be sure to head to The Sirocco Bar during your stay. With it’s large opening windows and sweeping views, it’s a great place to sit and watch the sunset whilst enjoying a refreshing drink .

Your 3 night Abrolhos adventure begins!

Today, enjoy a scenic 40-minute flight to East Wallabi Island followed by a short tender transit, where you will meet the Eco Abrolhos crew and be welcomed onboard.
Your evening commences with sunset drinks ashore overlooking Turtle Bay and the setting sun (weather permitting.)
Dinner follows and guests are encouraged to learn about Australia’s most infamous Shipwreck Saga – the mutiny, savagery, maritime skill and the rescue!

Wallaby Group - Pidgeon Islands and cray pot pull

Your first activity today is to board the 40ft cray fishing tender “The King Diver” and pull some cray pots!

Watch as the crew bring the pots onboard and you will be invited to assist in sizing and counting the catch before the pots are re-baited and set.

After breakfast the Batavia history starts with a tour to West Wallabi Island to view Wiebbe Hayes’s Fort – the first European building in Australia.

The tour includes a drive by of the Pidgeon Islands for a chance to learn about the regions Cray Fishing industry.

Before arriving at the two forts, you meander inland past a Wallaby Corridor, bird life, lizards and possibly large carpet pythons!

Enjoy a delicious crayfish lunch before afternoon activities – snorkelling on the Batavia shipwreck (weather permitting) or on the Turtle Bay snorkel trail. For the non-snorkelers there is the option of a glass bottom boat tour.

The Island of the Angry Ghosts and the Easter Group – Morley, Rat & Little Sandy Island

After the morning pot pull and breakfast, head to Beacon Island where the mutiny and massacre took place. Visit the monument, gravesites and Jeronimus Cornelisz’s holding area prior to his execution.

Enjoy a cray fish lunch then the vessel moves south to the Easter Group of Islands. One of the options is to visit Morley Island – a sea lion hotspot where the resident colony of females will likely be found stretched out lazily with their young pups on the sandy foreshore.

The area is also home to the Lesser Noddy – one of the worlds’ rarest birds.

An option is to venture to the Rat Island Mooring to go ashore for sunset drinks on Little Sandy Island – home to the biggest Sea Lion colony in the Abrolhos.

Leo or Wooded Island and the Rat Island Group

After your last pot pull and another hearty breakfast, the Eco Abrolhos moves to either Leo’s or Wooded Island. The Wooded Island walk showcases nesting birds in the mangrove area and one of the crews favourite snorkelling sites – the squid hole!

The other option is Leo’s Island – home of nesting birds, sea lions and cray fishing camps with a rich Finnish history. The highlight is to walk to a land locked lagoon to feed two large cod.

After lunch, the vessel will take a drive-by tour of the Rat Island Group. The area was home to the Eco’s owners cray fishing camps and the locals are sure to divulge interesting stories if you happen to meet them.

Millions of birds’ roost on the islands during spring and summer.

After the tour you will be taken ashore at Big Rat Island to board the flight back to Geraldton.

Overnight at the Ocean Centre Hotel

Your Coral Coast adventure ends

Check out of the Ocean Centre Hotel and depart Geraldton or perhaps travel on to Kalbarri.