Destination: Western Australia, Australia

An Antipodean travel company serving senior and mature World Travellers since 1983  with small group tours for that explore Western Australia’s Kimberley, Pilbara and South West Wildflowers learning about Aboriginal history and the colonial pastoralists.

Western Australia, Australia

Odyssey offers easy, convenient, and relaxed escorted small group tours across the great state of Western Australia. This collection of small group tours Western Australia explores the state’s unspoiled native wilderness, sites of its ancient Aboriginal history, World Heritage Sites, and breath-taking wildflower blooms, all with some truly spectacular scenery along the way. This and more is all waiting to be explored on one of Odyssey’s small group tours of Western Australia, designed for the senior traveller, and led by experienced, and enthusiastic like minded people. Odyssey Travellers small group tours Western Australia are a guided tour by luxury coach, private air tours or motorbike adventure tour for the mature solo traveller.

Western Australia Tours

Crafted Tours for Mature World Travellers

Wildflowers tour of Western Australia

15 days

Aug, Sep

Wildflowers tour of Western Australia

Visiting Western Australia

Escorted small group tour for senior and mature travellers as a couple of solo traveller. Upto 12 people of WA's Wildflower regions including Esperance and the Fitzgerald river National park. Local guides and program leader share knowledge about this fascinating region whilst in bloom.

From A$12,250 AUD

View Tour
Birdsville Track

65 days

Mar

Long tour of Australia for a small group

Visiting New South Wales, Northern Territory

Small group tour for senior couples and solo travellers touring Australia. Travelling through the outback and visiting many of the famous sights as well as off the beaten track locations. Learn about the history of the people who explored the deserts, from indigenous communities to Europeans, as well as Burke and Wills, visit White Cliffs, Marree and far north Kakadu and the Kimberley.

From A$45,910 AUD

View Tour

Occupying the western portion of the Australian continent, Western Australia is Australia‘s largest, and 4th most populous state. Covering an area slightly larger than Western Europe, or roughly four times the size of Texas, Western Australia is home to 2.7 million people, about 76% of which live in the state’s capital Perth . Covering such a vast area, Western Australia‘s geography is defined by its sheer expanse, with most of the state being covered by vast tracts of arid plains, deserts, and shrublands, Outback Australia . The coastal areas are where much of the state’s life flourishes, with the warm Indian Ocean waters of the Leeuwin current helping to create a hot Mediterranean climate in the south west corner of the state, where the vast majority of the state’s population lives. This south west corner is also home to an enormous abundance of local flora, with many of the wildflowers dotting the landscape being found nowhere else, and with the area hosting the largest seasonal wildflower bloom on earth.

Odyssey offers easy, convenient, and relaxed escorted small group tours across the great state of Western Australia. We explore the state’s unspoiled native wilderness, sites of its ancient Aboriginal history, World Heritage Sites, and breath-taking wildflower blooms, all with some truly spectacular scenery along the way. This and more is all waiting to be explored on one of Odyssey’s small group tours of Western Australia, designed for the senior traveller, and led by experienced, and enthusiastic like minded people.

Occupying the western portion of the Australian continent, Western Australia is Australia‘s largest, and 4th most populous state. Covering an area slightly larger than Western Europe, or roughly four times the size of Texas, Western Australia is home to 2.7 million people, about 76% of which live in the state’s capital Perth. Covering such a vast area, Western Australia‘s geography is defined by its sheer expanse, with most of the state being covered by vast tracts of arid plains, deserts, and shrublands, Outback Australia. The coastal areas are where much of the state’s life flourishes, with the warm Indian Ocean waters of the Leeuwin current helping to create a hot Mediterranean climate in the south west corner of the state, where the vast majority of the state’s population lives. This south west corner is also home to an enormous abundance of local flora, with many of the wildflowers dotting the landscape being found nowhere else, and with the area hosting the largest seasonal wildflower bloom on earth.

For many travellers couples or solo, Western Australia tours for seniors are defined by a Kimberley tour. However, small group tours of Western Australia should consider;

There is is so much more to WA tours than just Exmouth and a whale shark on the Ningaloo reef. Odyssey looks forward to sharing its small group tours Western Australia portfolio with you.

In the north of Western Australia you can also find the incredible National Parks of the Kimberley region. The Kimberley coast with a history of pearl divers and deep aboriginal history, north in the Kimberley region with spectacular gorges observed from a scenic flight, round to Kununurra, Western Australia tours are unique. A region of outback Australia for small group tours whose outback beauty encapsulates the ancient and surreal beauty of Australia‘s wild places, with places such as the Bungle Bungle range, and Lake Argyle being some of outback Australia‘s most spectacular gems. In all, Australia‘s isolated west coast makes for an altogether different experience of the continent, with its own unique landscape, flora, and natural heritage making for a distinct Western Australian experience.

History

Western Australia‘s earliest history traces back to its Indigenous people, with a history that predates European colonization in the region by an estimated 60,000-120,000 years, when Aboriginal Australians first arrived on the continent. It is generally held that first Aboriginal people arrived in Australia via insular South-East Asia, in a period before rising sea levels, when there were more dry land bridge connections between the islands of South East Asia. Boats would have been used for some of the migration. One possible northerly route would have been through Sulawesi to New Guinea via a series of smaller islands, as new Guinea and the Australian continent were connected as a single landmass known as Sahul until about 10,000 years ago. Another possible route goes through Timor and ends with a significant sea crossing to the Northern Territory or Kimberley coastline about 90km away. Over the next tens of thousands of years these Indigenous Australians slowly moved southward and eastward throughout Western Australia and the greater Australian landmass. Archaeological evidence indicates human habitation at the upper Swan River in south of Western Australia by about 40,000 years ago.

Most indigenous communities were semi-nomadic, systemically moving over a defined territory following seasonal changes and food sources and trading routes. In doing so, people only needed to spend about 5 hours a day working to ensure their survival, leaving plenty of leisure time for different groups to develop distinct, rich, and complex spiritual and cultural lives. This included laws, languages, customs, ceremonial traditions, and social rules and kinship obligations that were all based on their deep connection to the land. According to Aboriginal beliefs, the physical environment of each local area was created by ancestral heroes during the Dreamtime journeying across a formless land and creating all natural phenomena. This spirit of Creation is embodied in the landscape and connected to the people, tying family groups to their own specific Country and sacred sites. The Aboriginal communities therefore cared for and nurtured the land, never overusing or damaging it, taking from it only the things they needed, such as shelter, water, food, and weapons.

Evidence of the longevity of Indigenous spiritual beliefs and cultural practices are evident throughout Western Australia’s rock art. The fascinating Kimberley region, spanning north west from Broome to Darwin, is home to thousands of ancient rock art sites, believed to the world’s oldest examples dating back at least 16,000 years. Here, the Gwion Gwion rock paintings display distinctive spindly stick figures – human figures ornamented with accessories such as bags, headdresses, and tassels. The other major form of rock painting in the Kimberley are the Wandjina, believed by the local Mowanjum people to be the supreme creator, depicted with huge eyes but no mouth. It is said that this is because the presence of a mouth would make them too powerful. The first Wandjina are believed to have been painted 4000 years ago, and the figures continue to be painted today – making it the world’s oldest continuous sacred painting movement. Western Australia is also home to a wide range of Aboriginal stone arrangements in various forms across the state. These are a form of rock art deliberately placed in position by Indigenous Australians and associated with spiritual ceremonies or utilitarian purposes. Although many are difficult to date, they are the only prehistoric structures associated with prehistoric Aboriginal culture, believed to have been part of their practices for a very long time.

Aboriginal Artwork The Kimberley Australia
Wandjina rock paintings in the Kimberley.

Arrival of the Colonials

The first European contact with Western Australia came in the year 1616, with Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog sighting the West Australian coast after being blown off course on his way to Batavia in the Dutch East Indies. Despite being the second Dutchman to set foot on the Australian continent, he was the first European to suggest that the new landmass was indeed its own continent, rather than an extension of New Guinea. Exploration of the coastline by both the Dutch and the English continued throughout the 17th century, with much of the north, west, and southern coastline of Australia being mapped out by this time. The west coast in particular was often come across accidentally, with the roaring forties wind current along the route to the East Indies often blowing ships well past their course, this proved treacherous on many occasions, with the coral coast and treacherous shoreline claiming many wrecked ships over the ensuing years. Exploration continued by many Western European countries throughout the 18th century, though “Nieuw Holland” was largely ignored by as a site for settlement until late in the century.

The first known colonization mission came in 1786 from King Gustav III of Sweden, though war with Russia ultimately lead to the settlement plan being scrapped. Some islands along the west coast of the state were also claimed by Britain and France, though it was not until 1827 when the British colony of New South Wales established a garrison around current day Albany that the state was formally annexed to the British Empire.

A map of western Australia from 1920

Shortly after its annexation, settlement around the Swan Valley region began in earnest, with the main settlement coming to be known as Perth, and the smaller towns around the port region eventually growing into Fremantle. Inland settlement followed soon after, with towns like York in the Avon Valley becoming important agricultural settlements, and greatly assisted the Swan River colony in becoming self sufficient. The population of the Swan River colony as it was then known, remained low in the first half of the century, and convict labour was eventually imported to satisfy the demands of capitalist ventures in the region. This demographic problem eventually came to an end in the 1880s, with the discovery of gold prompting an influx of migrants, which persisted in stimulating the growth of the colony thereafter.

Western Australia joined the Commonwealth of Australia in its 1901 federation, though unlike the other states it was rather reticent about its decision, demanding concessions and the construction of a trans-continental railway line as part of their accession. This isolationism was evidenced once more in the year 1933, with the WA successfully voting to secede from the Federation, though the British Parliament ultimately rendered the decision null and void. Today Western Australia is a vital, and economically important state, being traditionally more export oriented than some of the more populous states on the east coast. It is well known for its immense resource wealth, extracting 32% of the world’s iron ore, as well as huge amounts of bauxite, gold, nickel, petroleum and diamonds. Western Australia is also known for its agriculture, producing much of Australia‘s fine Merino wool, as well as roughly half the country’s annual wheat crop.

Iron Ore Mine Site Port Hedland Western Australia Pilbara

Travelling to Western Australia

A tour of Western Australia can offer a unique experience of the Australian continent, from its blooming wildflowers, to the vast expanses of the Pilbara, and the outback wonders of the Kimberley, Western Australia has plenty to offer for regional, and international travellers alike.

A visit to Perth

A good place to begin a Western Australia holiday package tour would be the state’s capital city of Perth. Located on the Swan River, and alongside its port town of Fremantle, Perth is the metropolitan, and cultural heart of Western Australia, with the majority of the states inhabitants residing in this city alone. Perth is at its best when experienced as an outdoor city, with many of its best attractions coming under the sun. Among these are its many beaches, which facing the Indian Ocean come with a refreshing sea breeze just a stones throw away from the city proper. The city itself also hosts some amazing outdoor attractions, with the city’s ‘Kings Park‘ being the world’s largest inner city park. At 400 hectares, Kings Park is a full 60 hectares larger than New York’s central park, and houses war memorials, conservation gardens, as well as the city’s botanical gardens.

The nearby Swan Valley is also a great place to visit for wine lovers, with the fertile soil in the area making it one of the few places in the state with the right conditions to grow wine grapes.

See a Quokka

Just off the coast of Perth you can find Rottnest Island, the island is a popular destination mostly thanks to its peculiar inhabitant, the Quokka. Quokkas are small cat sized marsupials known for their friendliness and tendency to always look like they’re smiling. These cute creatures live mostly on small islands off the Western Australian coast, and due to their lack of natural predators have no fear of humans, and will happily wander around your feet without a care in the world. On a trip to Rottnest Island you can also find plenty of reefs perfect for snorkelling, as well as wild dolphins, and migrating whales, making it a perfect stop on a wildlife tour of Western Australia.

Quokka eating leaf on Rottnest Island

The Coral coast

Heading north from Perth, you’ll come upon the town of Cervantes, this marks the beginning of Western Australia‘s Coral coast, and is a great jumping off point from which you can explore the areas surrounding national parks.

To the north, Leseur National Park is a great spot for walking trails, particularly for the budding botanists, or flower lovers. The National Park is mostly known for its abundance of native Western Australian wildflowers, with over 1,100 different species found in the park’s area, some of which are found nowhere else in the world. This represents over 10% of Western Australia‘s plant life found in a single place. To the south of the town, you’ll find an altogether different kind of landscape at Nambung National Park, which houses the famous Pinnacles Desert.

The Pinnacles Desert is characterised by the limestone pillars that jut out across the landscape, which cover the desert floor like a forest of pillars, making for a strange and uniquely beautiful experience. There are multiple theories about what formed the strange forest of pillars, from karstification, to some even suggesting the pillars were once trees, whose cores were preserved in coastal sediment.

Ther Milky Way over Nambung National Park in Australia

The Margaret River region

On the other side of Perth, to the south, is the more fertile south west corner of the state, home to much of Western Australia‘s regional population, as well as a number of popular destinations for travellers on a Western Australia tour. The Margaret River region in particular is a great place for a day trip from Perth, or along a larger tour of Western Australia. The Margaret River region is most well known as a wine region, whose vintages are amongst the sought after in Australia, representing about 20% of the premium wines market despite only accounting for 3% of domestic production. Most of the wineries are relatively concentrated, making a winery tour an easy and thoroughly enjoyable experience. Aside from wine, the Margaret river is also a great place to go spelunking, with places such as Lake Cave, Mammoth Cave, or Jewel Cave all being amazing examples of the variety of natural heritage on display in the state.

Kalgoorlie

Circling around to the other corner of south west WA you’ll find the town of Kalgoorlie, one of the largest outback towns in Australia, here you’ll find charming colonial era architecture that marks the town’s gold rush era heritage, eerie ghost settlements of the rush, as well as the nation’s largest outdoor art gallery at Lake Ballard. The town was also one of the first bases for the Royal Flying Doctor service, information about which can be found at their visitor centre in town.

Lush Margaret River vineyard with vigorous early summer growth under bright blue sky with clouds

Esperance and Albany

Heading south from Kalgoorlie, the coastal town of Esperance is another regional highlight, and a great base from which to explore the surrounding region. The town is most famous for its annual wildflower blooms, which occur each year around September to October, coinciding with the Esperance Wildflower Festival which celebrates the event. Some other highlights around Esperance include the Dempster Head Walk Trail, Cape le Grand National Park, where you can see the beautiful ‘Lucky Bay‘, as well as Helms Arboretum, and Fitzgerald National Park. Further to the west, along the state’s southern coast is the town of Albany, this town marks the starting point of the Bibbulmun Track, one of Australia‘s great walking trails spanning from Albany to Perth 965km away. It is also a great point from which to explore the Stirling Ranges National Park, which is home to the states only mountain range, as well as over 1500 species of wildflowers, some of which can only be found here. Aside from the stunning mountain views around the national park, Albany is also known for its history with the Australia & New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), being the final departure point for ANZAC soldiers making their fateful journey to Gallipoli. To commemorate this heritage, the National ANZAC Centre is located in Albany, and allows visitors to assume the persona, and follow the journey of one of these fateful soldiers in their interactive exhibits.

Esperance
Beautiful wild flowers, turquoise sea, and sweeping sky at Twilight Cove near Esperance in Western Australia.

Broome & the Kimberley

Western Australia‘s second most recognisable town outside of the Perth lies in the far north of the state, with Broome being dubbed the unofficial capital of the Kimberley‘s. Being easy to access by air or land, Broome is the ideal starting point for a tour of Australia‘s Kimberley region, as well as having rich natural heritage surrounding the town itself. Perhaps one of the most well known things about Broome are the deep red sands which characterise the region, these meet the sea at Roebuck Bay for the rare sight of a spectacular red beach. Even more stunning is the optical illusion created by the moon around the Bay, where the receding tide and rising moon come together to create the illusion of a golden ‘Staircase to the Moon’, just be sure to bring a good camera to capture the phenomenon in action.

Broome is also known for its abundance in bird life, with over a third of Australia‘s bird species recorded around the area. Broome hosts many varieties of shorebirds in particular, with over a quarter of the world’s shorebirds being found around Broome. One of the best places for those interested in finding out more is the Broome Bird Observatory located around Roebuck Bay just outside of town. Heading north out of Broome you’ll come up to Cape Leveque, which lies at the tip of Dampier Peninsula along the Kimberley coast.

Cape Leveque is known for the stunning contrast between its red rock cliffs, white sand beaches, and bright turquoise waters, it also has a rich Indigenous history you can learn about on your tour of the Kimberley‘s. Heading further into the region you’ll find numerous national parks, all with amazing natural attractions, some examples include Bell Gorge, Mitchell Falls, Lake Argyle, the Drysdale River, and the El Questro Wilderness area, all of which are found in the Kimberley‘s.

On top of this, perhaps one of the most well known, is the Bungle Bungle Range. Found in Purnululu National Park near the town of Halls Creek , the Bungle Bungle Range is a collection of rock formations with beehive like, karst sandstone formations, these create the spectacular undulating shape of the range, with its otherworldly, almost alien beauty. With Odyssey you take one of the Bungle Bungle guided tours as part of the scenic Kimberley tours 2022 program whilst staying in a tented cabin at the one of the permanent campsites in the park, at the Bungle Bungle savannah lodge. These scenic Kimberley tours 2022 include usually as part of your Kimberley adventure a flight from Kununurra over Lake Argyle with some 60,000 freshwater crocodiles and onto Purunululu with its spectacular gorges viewed from the air. Your Kimberly tours 2022 also include time to learn about the Ord river system, the Fitzroy river and so much more. One of the best way to experience what Western Australia has to offer on a scenic Kimberley tour 2022 is with a small group tour.

Odyssey specialises in this kind of tour, offering an engaged and intimate tour of Western Australia ideal for seniors, solo travellers, and couples heading to Australia and WA.

Broome
Broome is where ‘the red dirt meets the sea’.

Odyssey’s collection of Western Australia holiday packages with a tour manager enable you to explore each state with Odyssey’s escorted tours Australia 2022 portfolio as a city based tour or a Australia holidays package into the Western Australia outback of the Kimberley or South Australia‘s Flinders range or just spend a week on holiday in Hobart learning about a range of subjects on Odyssey’s Summer Schools tour package. This collection of coach, Motorbike and air tours of Australia has some 70 scheduled small group holiday departures provides plenty of choice for an Australian holiday. You can make your booking direct for one of our Western Australian holiday packages with us or via your travel agent or travel consultant.

Tours in Australia

Small group tours throughout Australia

Wildflowers tour of Western Australia

15 days

Aug, Sep

Wildflowers tour of Western Australia

Visiting Western Australia

Escorted small group tour for senior and mature travellers as a couple of solo traveller. Upto 12 people of WA's Wildflower regions including Esperance and the Fitzgerald river National park. Local guides and program leader share knowledge about this fascinating region whilst in bloom.

From A$12,250 AUD

View Tour
Birdsville Track

65 days

Mar

Long tour of Australia for a small group

Visiting New South Wales, Northern Territory

Small group tour for senior couples and solo travellers touring Australia. Travelling through the outback and visiting many of the famous sights as well as off the beaten track locations. Learn about the history of the people who explored the deserts, from indigenous communities to Europeans, as well as Burke and Wills, visit White Cliffs, Marree and far north Kakadu and the Kimberley.

From A$45,910 AUD

View Tour

Articles

Black Necked Stilt Birds

Birding in Broome, Western Australia

Birding in Broome, Western Australia The town of Broome, in the remote north of Western Australia, is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Over 330 bird species have been recorded in and around Broome – more than one…

22 Jul 20 · 6 mins read
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Aboriginal Artwork The Kimberley Australia

Aboriginal Rock Art in the Kimberley, Australia

The Kimberley is explored on a small group tour for mature and senior travelers, couples or singles. Both Aboriginal community is studied and an appreciation of the wet and dry seasons. This guide on the Kimberley assists the traveler as you start from Broome and travel round via Halls creek and Purnunulu national park over some 17 days in a group of up to 12 people.

23 Apr 20 · 5 mins read
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Ochre Cliffs near Lyndhurst Outback South Australia

Ancient Aboriginal trade routes of Australia

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Esperance

Esperance and Wildflowers, Western Australia

The historic town of Esperance amongst wildflower enthusiasts is a must see. Each spring the town and the surrounding South West eco-region is filled with bursting colour overtaken by blooming wildflowers.

27 Apr 20 · 6 mins read
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Bungle Bungles.

Purnululu National Park, Australia

Read about one of the most remote World heritage sites on Earth. Odyssey takes you to visit as part of a small group package tour for mature and senior travellers in the Kimberley for couple and single travelers We travel in the dry season from Broome via Lake Argyle to this National park.

22 Apr 20 · 6 mins read
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The Bibbulmun Track, Western Australia

The Bibbulmun Track, Western Australia

The Bibbulmun Track, Western Australia Ranging from inland planes to beaches, limestone ranges to damp gullies, the 965-kilometre Bibbulmun Track, spanning from Perth to Albany, is one of Australia’s great walks. The track was first…

13 Jul 20 · 7 mins read
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Petrophile fastigiata wildflowers in the Fitzgerald River National Park

Unique wildflowers of Western Australia

Western Australia becomes home to one of the world's most incredible collections of wildflowers. The state is home to more than 12, 000 species of wildflower - 60% of which are only found in Western Australia. Join Odyssey's small group wildflower tour.

27 Apr 20 · 4 mins read
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Blue Lechenaultia Wildflowers in Geraldton, Western Australia

Wildflower Way, Western Australia

Wildflower Way itself runs 309 kilometres from Dalwallinu, north of Perth, going north and west to the coast of Geraldton, covering 21 meaningful sites developed to educate travellers. This small group tour for mature travellers of Wildflowers visits wildflower way.

28 Apr 20 · 3 mins read
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Bell Gorge

Wet and dry seasons in the Kimberley, Australia

Learn about the wet and dry season in the Kimberley to support your understanding of the Aboriginal communities lifestyle as you explore on a small group package tour for mature and senior travelers exploring as a couple or solo traveller. Read our peace of mind statement for post covid-19 travel.

24 Apr 20 · 4 mins read
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senior travel

Advice for Mature-Aged Solo Travellers

Advice for solo travellers seeking advice on holidays for solo travellers over 50. Odyssey has been offering small group tours for mature and senior travellers all around the world since 1983.

11 Nov 19 · 8 mins read
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Affordable small group tours with Odyssey Alumni

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Crowds and Queues on holiday

Avoiding the crowds and queues on holiday

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8 May 17 · 7 mins read
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Mature Female traveller

Being Travel fit: The Definitive Guide

Being travel fit, in mind and body. In this article, we will discuss ways in which to treat your mind and body, ensuring you remain travel fit and enjoy your time as a mature-aged or…

14 Jan 21 · 7 mins read
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Overtourism

Benefits of a small group tour for the mature and senior traveller

Article details the benefits of a small group tour for mature and senior travellers, whether travelling as a couple or solo, in your 60's or beyond in your 80's. Advice on choosing a responsible touring company and things to consider post pandemic.

29 Jan 21 · 8 mins read
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Couple Walking Odyssey Traveller

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Rome at Sunset with San Pietro basilica, Sant'Angelo bridge and Tevere river in Roma, Italy

How to choose your next small group tour

Deciding on which tour company to choose maybe difficult, personal recommendation is a good start. At Odyssey Traveller we have been providing small group tours to mature and senior travellers couples and solo travellers since 1983 to places all around the world.

8 Nov 19 · 7 mins read
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Mature Travellers Footwear and Clothing

Mature Travellers Footwear and Clothing Tips

Choosing Footwear and Clothing as a mature traveller. While our programme materials always contain advice on specific climates, there are a number of helpful general principles to bear in mind while preparing for your trip.…

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small group escorted learning tours

Packing advice for Odyssey Traveller's small group escorted learning tours

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Practicing Responsible Travel

Practising Responsible Travel

Practising Responsible Travel In January 2018 we reported on a growing problem: the overcrowding that affects tourist cities across the world. Time Magazine recently called it “The Tourist Trap”, because it is not as simple as…

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Preparing for a walking holiday

Preparing for a walking holiday or tour?

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Crowds and Queues on holiday Milan

Problem of Overtourism

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Selecting Shoes and socks

Selecting Shoes and Socks: Advice for mature travellers

For mature and senior travellers on a small group guided walking tour or walking holiday selecting good socks and shoes for the journey will improve your experience on European walking tour considerably. This article discusses the range socks available and what to consider when choosing a pair of walking shoes to use on a Odyssey guided walking tour.

9 Jun 21 · 12 mins read
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senior travel

Small Group Tours: The Definitive Guide

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Scotland history - Urquhart Castle

Solo travel – enjoying small group tours for seniors

Solo travel can be daunting as apart of a life change process. This article shares some the benefits of travel groups for solo travellers. We have been looking after mature and senior travellers since 1983 we offer a range of tour types from Discovery tours to long stay and walking tours.

20 Sep 21 · 10 mins read
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Taking a small group tour?

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Senior couple power walking

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Being Travel fit for mature and senior travellers remains an important element of enjoying a small group tour. This page shares tips about diet, solo travel, packing tips and footwear to help you plan you vacation to Europe, United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand for example.

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Small group tours Travel Tips assisting Senior Travelers

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Travel Tips for Odyssey Travellers (part II)

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Small group educational tour in France

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Aboriginal Art

Aboriginal Art

Senior and mature couples and solo travellers remain curious but often informed about the role Aboriginal art plays in the indigenous community and the various styles. This article seeks to provide a platform for this collection of small group tours of upto 15 people into the Australian outback where often Aboriginal art styles are encountered.

6 Nov 20 · 15 mins read
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Aboriginal Kinship systems

Aboriginal Kinship systems

Article about Aboriginal kinship to assist small group tours in Australia understanding Ancient aboriginal society and the contemporary view. Kinship influences the relationships including aboriginal trading routes.

30 Dec 20 · 8 mins read
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Aboriginal Songlines

Aboriginal Songlines

Songlines trace the journeys of ancestral spirits who created the land and all natural phenomena. The creation stories as well as practical knowledge needed for survival in outback Australia. We experience this knowledge on our small group tours into Outback Australia.

4 Mar 21 · 12 mins read
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Contemporary Aboriginal Paintings

Contemporary Aboriginal Paintings

Article introducing contemporary aboriginal art to mature and senior travellers taken a escorted small group tour into Outback Australia's Northern Territory, Kimberley, Queensland, New South Wales or South Australia seeking to learn about Aboriginal history and culture.

8 Jan 21 · 18 mins read
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Halls Creek

Halls Creek, Western Australia

Halls Creek an important stop on our Small group tour of the Kimberley. We learn about the gold rush on this tour for mature and senior travellers, couples and singles.

22 Apr 20 · 4 mins read
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King's Park

Kings Park, Perth

Perth hosts the biggest inner-city park in the world, the 400 hectare Kings Park, with 6 million visitors a year. As part of the Wildflower small group tour we visit and learn about the endemic plant collection in the park.

28 Apr 20 · 5 mins read
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Questions about Australia for senior travellers

Questions About Australia for senior travellers Odyssey Traveller specialises in crafting unforgettable experiences for senior and mature-aged travellers interested in learning as a couple or as a solo traveller when they travel. Providing adventure and…

21 Jul 20 · 2 mins read
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The Arrival of Aboriginal Australians on the Continent

The Arrival of Aboriginal Australians on the Continent

Tracing Aboriginal history via an outback small group tour for mature and senior couples or solo travellers provides an intriguing learning platform about Australia, rock art, trading and culture that traces a history possibly some 120,000 years ago.

3 Dec 20 · 7 mins read
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Pilbara wildflowers WA

The Australian Outback: A Definitive Guide

Explore learn and consider what is the outback in this article. For mature and senior travelers considering joining a small group package tours into the outback to see, learn and explore about this unique place, not only the landscape but the Aboriginal approach to living. On each of the tours for couples and the single traveler you learn something different but fascinating, from Outback Queensland, the Flinders, Broken Hill and the Kimberley and the wildflowers all contribute to this question, what is the outback?

18 Jun 20 · 15 mins read
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Mountain Bell

Wildflowers of Mt Barker and Stirling Range, Australia

The town of Mount Barker and the nearby Stirling Range National Park are one of the best places in Western Australia to see the state's incredible collection of wildflowers, that we visit on this small group tour of Western Australia Wildflowers.

28 Apr 20 · 4 mins read
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FAQs

When is the best time to visit Western Australia

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What are the best places to visit in Western Australia?

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What is the best way to get to Western Australia?

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What is the best way to tour Western Australia

For Odyssey Travellers who tend to be retirees and mature or senior travellers travelling as a couple or as a solo travellers, we suggest an organised group tour as being the best way to tour New South Wales as a single or multi-state touring program is joining one of our scheduled New South Wales seniors small group tours as part of your Australia vacation bucket list, that may may include a Sydney vacation package.

Odyssey’s collection of small group New South Wales vacation packages escorted tours seeks to be an organised senior tour that gets off the beaten track whether on a regular escorted tour or a walking tour somewhere in the Blue mountains. Odyssey’s collection of holiday packages in New South Wales are all inclusive, with the exception of some meals particularly when on an New South Wales holiday package tour of a city. The Solo Traveler does pay a single supplement for sole occupancy of a hotel room. When travelling solo, the accommodation charge is the only difference charged by us a tour operator (tour company) on any of our seniors tours. Our collection of New South Wales small group tours are not a day tour, river cruise or wine tour, but learning tours for senior travel groups, by coach, by motorbike or walking tour with a tour leader supported by a travel expert. For couples and the single traveller (solo travel) seeking a unique itinerary and travel experience with like minded people.

These New South Wales tour packages are for a small group tour of 12 people (Maximum 15) allows you the freedom to enjoy the journey on one of our small group escorted tours of New South Wales whilst your tour guide looks after the logistics of the tour operation and getting you and your fellow travellers to the next place of interest.

Odyssey’s New South Wales tour packages are for a small group tour of 12 people (Maximum 15) allows you the freedom to enjoy the journey on one of our small group escorted tours of New South Wales whilst your tour guide looks after the logistics of the tour operation and getting you and your fellow travellers to the next place of interest on your trip.

For Odyssey Travellers who tend to be retirees and mature or senior travellers travelling as a couple or as a solo travellers,we suggest an organised group tour as being the best way to tour New South Wales as a single or multi-state touring program is joining one of our scheduled New South Wales seniors small group tours as part of your Australia vacation bucket list.

What destinations do Western Australia escorted tours visit?

An escorted Western Australia tour for seniors has a tour itinerary schedule that typically will visit all the popular destinations a traveller seeks as older Australians as a couple or solo traveller when visiting this state as part of your Australia tour. For older Australians the Western Australia tours for Seniors small group tours, will find time to break for morning tea or lunch.

For Odyssey Travellers we seek to journey onto the road less travelled! Escorted small group tours Western Australia that explore the outback.

Our Australian vacation packages (senior holiday packages) of Western Australia are small group tours that explore and provide opportunity to learn as you travel to Gwalia, Leonora, Boulder-Kalgoorlie, Esperance Margaret river, Wyndham the UNESCO World Heritage site of Purnululu the We seek out places where Aboriginal stories come to life, the wildlife can be seen, landscapes leave you in awe and the settlement history creates the time to pause and wonder. These are Western Australia holiday packages though we ask you to arrange your domestic flights ensuring you get the best travel deals available to the start of the perfect holiday on your small group tours Western Australia.

How far in advance should i plan a trip to Australia?

Bookings for an upcoming small group tour with Odyssey, open upto 2 years in advance to allow you book onto your preferred Western Australia or Australia seniors small group tour .

A deposit will typically secure your place with final payments falling due between 90 to 60 days before departure.

A reputable travel company will allow you pay by credit card or direct bank transfers in the currency of your choosing.

How much does a Western Australia escorted tour cost?

For a small group tour into regional and/or Outback Western Australia of typically 12 people in this post pandemic environment you should considering an allowance of AUD$550-$600/day per person on a twin share basis. This should cover all travel, entrances, breakfast and one other meal a day, plus tipping. You can learn more about why you should take a small group tour with this paper.

A large group coach tour of up to 50 travellers will operate with a lower cost/day.

How much does an average trip in Western Australia cost?

For a small group tour for seniors with Odyssey Traveller you should allow for AUD$3500 for a 8 day city tour to Adelaide for example in South Australia and AUD$12,500 for a 16 day inclusive tour of Outback Western Australia.

Location, distance, sights and duration all influence the tour price of coach tours in Western Australia and across Australia for seniors.

Touring Western Australia

The need to know

Getting around

Odyssey travels by coach and occasionally uses local transport, including trains and ferries. Specifics for your Western Australia trip are always outlined in your tour itinerary. Bus services are widely available, with long-distance buses and shuttle buses providing services across the country. The train services are somewhat more limited in terms of transportation coverage, though remain a comfortable and very scenic way of getting around Australia.

Accommodation

Odyssey stays in centrally located 3-4 star hotels, with easy access to public transport and local amenities so you in your down time you can enjoy the city like the locals. In smaller or more remote locations our accommodation will vary according to what is available in the area.

Tour guides

Odyssey always engages local guides with regional knowledge to ensure an authentic experience during which you can learn as much as possible about the history and culture of places you visit.

Geography, Environment, & Weather

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Festivals & Events

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Reading list

Goldfields Stories: Early Days in Western Australia, by Lorraine T Kelly.

Wildflower Country: Discovering Biodiversity in Australia’s Southwest, by Stanley Breeden.

The Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aborigines made Australia, by Bill Gammage.

Eating & Drinking

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Health & Safety

Generally speaking, Western Australia is safe to travel in, though always exercise common sense while travelling.

Electrical Supply

Whenever you travel overseas, it’s always wise to take an appropriate travel adaptor. The electricity supply in Australia runs at 230V and 50Hz. Australia uses the Type I electric plug, so make sure you have the right travel adaptor with you.

Responsible travel tips for Australia

  • Before departing, make sure you have a number of AU dollars in a range of denominations. You don’t want to be carrying around enormous amounts of cash, but take enough to make it easy to pay in locations that might not accept credit card. It will also help you avoid card transaction fees, and it makes tipping a breeze.
  • Carry a card in your wallet or purse from your local hotel, to assist you with the return journey if you do become lost.
  • Always ensure that you are covered by travel insurance. If you need advice on this feel free to contact Odyssey and we’ll be able to help.
  • Before departing, make sure you have a number of AUD in a range of denominations. You don’t want to be carrying around enormous amounts of cash, but take enough to make it easy to pay in locations that might not accept credit card. It will also help you avoid card transaction fees, and it makes tipping a breeze.
  • When travelling independently, make sure you check the opening hours of shops and museums so that you don’t miss out! Also be certain to check whether your trip coincides with any public holidays, so you can plan accordingly.
  • Before departing on your trip, contact your bank to inform them that you may be making purchases overseas. Otherwise, they may flag any activity on your account as suspicious. Also, check which ATMs and banks are compatible with your cards, to ensure you can withdraw cash with minimal fees.

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