Abrolhos Island Discovery Tour

Overview

The Abrolhos Islands are 122 islands and coral reefs scattered 65 kilometres off the WA coast, no hotels, no ferries, barely any people. The only sensible way in is by air, and this trip makes the flight half the show: out over Kalbarri's 400-million-year-old red coastal cliffs and Gantheume Bay, with sea lions, dolphins and migratory whales often visible in the water below. You land on East Wallabi Island and get the good stuff: swimming and snorkelling in Turtle Bay's protected coral reef, a guided nature walk taking in birdlife, limestone caves and views across the neighbouring islands, and a pre-ordered lunch box with tea and coffee to keep it civilised. The water out here sees so few visitors it behaves like it's never met one. The flight home crosses the coral atolls and the site of the Batavia, wrecked in 1629, mutiny and all, one of the darkest true stories in Australian history. Five and a half hours; genuinely few people ever do this.