Meals
3 continental breakfasts + 1 lunch (Day 4 at Lobster Shack). All other meals at own expense (plenty of dining options at each stop; dietary requirements advised at booking).

Accommodation (3 nights)
Comfortable resort/motel rooms with private or shared ensuite:

• Night 1: Kalbarri Edge Resort (private or shared studio)
• Night 2: RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort (private or shared standard)
• Night 3: Hospitality Geraldton Motel (private or shared standard)
  Solo travellers paired with same-gender roommate in twin-share where possible (not guaranteed).

✅ What’s Included

Itinerary Activities

• All national park entry fees
• Monkey Mia dolphin interaction fees
• Guided walks (total ~8.5 km)
• Lobster Shack factory tour
• Comprehensive driver-guide commentary

Guides & Support

• Experienced driver-guide
• Air-conditioned 24-seater mini-bus

Eco & Practical

• Selected Perth pick-up/drop-off points
• Minimal-impact practices and cultural respect education

🚫 What’s Not Included

• Meals or beverages beyond the 3 breakfasts and 1 lunch
• Hotel transfers before/after tour
• Travel insurance (highly recommended)
• Optional activities (wildlife cruise, kayak hire, sailing tours)
• Personal expenses or souvenirs

Spring (Sep–Nov) — Mild days (15–24°C), wildflower season with vibrant colours in Kalbarri.
Summer (Dec–Feb) — Warm to hot (20–30°C), recommended for optimal beach and dolphin viewing.
Autumn (Mar–May) — Mild and pleasant (15–25°C).
Winter (Jun–Aug) — Cool days (10–20°C), crisp air and possible rain.

Coastal and desert conditions with strong sun, possible wind and variable temperatures – pack light, responsibly and for sun/swim protection.

✅ Essentials

• 1.5–2 L refillable water bottle
• Wide-brim hat, sunglasses and broad-spectrum sunscreen
• Swimwear and quick-dry towel
• Lightweight long-sleeve shirt and pants (sun + insect protection)
• Comfortable closed-toe walking shoes with good grip
• Tropical-strength insect repellent
• Small day pack (5–7 kg max) + soft overnight bag (max 20 kg)
• Cash or card for meals and extras
• Camera or binoculars for dolphins and wildlife

Insect & Weather Protection

• Light rain jacket or poncho
• Lip balm with SPF

Toiletries & Extras

• Personal medications
• Hand sanitiser

Luggage Limits

• 1 x 20 kg soft overnight bag + 1 x 5 kg day pack only (no large rigid suitcases)

Monkey Mia is one of the few places in the world where wild bottlenose dolphins regularly come into shallow water to interact with humans under ranger supervision.

Hamelin Pool contains the world’s best living example of stromatolites — microbial structures over 3.5 billion years old, among the oldest life forms on Earth.

Shell Beach is made entirely of billions of tiny white cockle shells, stretching for kilometres along the shore.

The Pinnacles Desert features thousands of limestone spires up to 3.5 metres tall, formed over 25,000 years.

Kalbarri National Park features some of Australia’s most dramatic red sandstone gorges carved by the Murchison River.

The region is part of Shark Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site recognised for its exceptional marine and terrestrial values.

Traditional Owners along the route include the Whadjuk Noongar, Amangu, Nhanda and Malgana peoples.

Carbon Footprint & Offset Report: Monkey Mia Dolphin Tour from Perth

Quick Snapshot

Estimated CO₂e footprint per participant: 580 kg CO₂e
(higher-end conservative estimate – covers all on-tour impacts plus average local travel to/from Perth pickup points)

Our 200% offset commitment per booking: 1,160 kg CO₂e
Funded through genuine landscape restoration in climate-vulnerable developing regions (reforestation, mangroves, soil regeneration, etc.). This creates real net-positive impact beyond neutrality.

Tour summary

• 4 days / 3 nights (operates Saturdays)
• Small group max 20 passengers (min 8 to guarantee departure)
• Starts Perth (main meeting point: Criterion Hotel, 560 Hay St; multiple early hotel pickups 7:20–8:15am); ends Perth ~6:30pm Day 4
• Air-conditioned 24-seater Mitsubishi Rosa mini-bus (~1,875 km total driving)
• 3 nights private or shared ensuite accommodation: Night 1 Kalbarri Edge Resort, Night 2 RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort (beachfront), Night 3 Hospitality Geraldton Motel
• Meals: 3 continental breakfasts, 1 lunch (Lobster Shack Cervantes Day 4); dinners and other meals at own expense
• Highlights: Pinnacles Desert, Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake, Kalbarri National Park (Skywalk, Nature’s Window, Z Bend, ~2.5 km walk), Shell Beach (~3 km stroll), Monkey Mia wild dolphin feeding & close encounters, Eagle Bluff shark/turtle spotting, Lobster Shack factory tour, wildlife (dolphins, emus, kangaroos, turtles, dugongs)

Overview

This report estimates the carbon footprint for one individual participant on this tour using higher-end data from trusted sources. We intentionally choose upper-range figures to fully cover every impact – including hard-to-measure parts like supply chains and indirect effects.

We then double it (200%) and fund genuine landscape restoration projects in developing and climate-affected regions worldwide. This goes beyond standard offsetting to deliver real, lasting benefits for ecosystems and communities.

All figures in kg CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent – the standard measure that includes all greenhouse gases).

Tour Details

• Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
• Key locations: Perth start/end, Indian Ocean Drive, Pinnacles Desert, Kalbarri National Park, Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake, Shell Beach, Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, Eagle Bluff, Geraldton, Lobster Shack Cervantes
• Travel style: Small-group coastal loop eco-tour with dolphin encounters, guided walks and wildlife focus
• Assumptions: Average participant, standard behaviours, higher-impact choices where uncertain. Local travel to Perth pickup points is factored into the higher-end footprint for completeness. Operates Saturdays; itinerary may change due to weather/park access.

Calculation Approach

• Sources: UK DEFRA 2025 conversion factors, Australian National Greenhouse Accounts 2024, UNWTO tourism data, IPCC guidelines, and peer-reviewed studies.
• Higher-end scale: Upper-range emission factors everywhere, plus well-to-tank fuel effects, +20% uncertainty buffer, and conservative assumptions for remote WA mini-bus, boat and lodge operations.
• Per person, full tour experience.
• Excludes only purely personal extras (e.g. souvenirs, optional wildlife cruise or kayak).

Detailed Emissions Breakdown (per participant)

Transportation – 320 kg CO₂e

• Average local travel to/from Perth pickup points (higher-end mix of car, taxi or public transport): 30 kg
• All on-tour air-conditioned mini-bus transfers (~1,875 km total, shared small group): 290 kg – higher-end diesel factor with realistic low-occupancy buffer

Accommodation – 150 kg CO₂e

• 3 nights private/shared ensuite resorts/motels (air-conditioned): 50 kg per night – higher-end for regional energy, water and laundry

Meals & Food – 80 kg CO₂e

• 4 days of included breakfasts + Lobster Shack lunch + own meals/snacks: 20 kg per day – higher-impact estimate including production, transport and waste

Activities & Excursions – 30 kg CO₂e

• Guided walks (~4.5 km total), dolphin feeding experience, national park entries, cultural/wildlife interpretation and commentary

TOTAL ESTIMATED FOOTPRINT PER PERSON: 580 kg CO₂e

Our 200% Offset Commitment

• Amount we will offset:2 × 580 kg = 1,160 kg CO₂e per individual booking
• How: Direct funding of landscape restoration projects – reforestation, mangrove protection, regenerative agriculture, wetland and soil carbon restoration
• Where: Developing countries and regions most affected by climate change (e.g. Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America) for maximum global benefit and community co-benefits
• Why 200% and higher-end estimates: To guarantee coverage despite any measurement discrepancies and to create genuine extra positive impact

Important Notes

• Numbers are deliberately conservative (higher) so we over-deliver on restoration – real footprint may be lower
• The tour already has strong sustainability practices (minimal impact guidelines, respect for traditional owners, refillable water encouraged, stay on designated tracks, no feeding wildlife, waste management); our independent higher-end analysis adds extra certainty
• Carbon accounting has natural uncertainties – doubling it is the responsible way
• This directly supports long-term carbon-sequestering landscapes and local communities

Is this tour a loop back to Perth?
Yes — it starts and finishes in Perth on Day 4 (~6:30pm).

Can children join?
Yes from age 6 (accompanied); under 6 not suitable.

How much walking is involved?
1–3 km per day on rocky/uneven tracks with some steep sections — moderate fitness required.

Is lunch provided?
Only on Day 4 at the Lobster Shack; other meals at own expense.

Are dolphin interactions guaranteed?
Dolphins visit most mornings, but sightings are never 100% guaranteed.

What type of accommodation do I get?
Private or shared ensuite rooms (solo travellers paired where possible).

What is the luggage limit?
1 x 20 kg soft overnight bag + 1 x 5 kg day pack only.

Is the tour suitable for solo travellers?
Yes — solo travellers are paired with same-gender roommate in twin-share where possible.

Do I need a rain jacket?
Recommended, especially in winter or shoulder seasons.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
No — not suitable for mobility-impaired travellers.