We pick you up from Perth CBD at 8.00am and travel along the Great Northern Highway through the picturesque Chittering Valley and onto New Norcia, Australia’s only monastic town which is renowned for its Benedictine Abbey.
On reaching New Norcia, we’ll find a nice shady spot to enjoy our first taste of gourmet grazing for the day. We then head across to the Museum and Art Gallery to join in a two hour town tour where an experienced guide will unravel the unique history of New Norcia. The buildings and artwork here are a fascinating blend of Spanish and Australian architecture and are sure to please.
Late afternoon and after a good dose of country air, fabulous food and great company, we begin our journey back to Perth where we say our goodbyes.
● Spend your day grazing on gourmet delights
● Hear stories of New Norcia's changing history – a small group of Spanish Benedictine monks made their way north from Perth on foot to establish a mission near the banks of the Moore River in 1847.
● See Baroque, Gothic revival, Byzantine, Italian and Renaissance architectural styles rising up between the eucalyptus trees and dusty scrub.
● Visit the Abbey Church, housing one of only two large Moser organs crafted in Germany and imported to Australia in the 1920s. The church walls display a rare form of art called “sgraffito†alongside more conventional and familiar religious icons and paintings.
● Visit the old Flour Mill, dating back to 1879
● Visit The Prindiville room which houses a unique cultural display focusing on the contrast between the Indigenous owners of this ancient land and the European monks; the modules present information about skills, food sources, communication, and traditional customs.
● St Ildephonsus’ and St Gertrude’s Colleges are striking enough from the outside but the highlight is discovering what awaits inside! With your guide, you’ll discover interiors reminiscent of what you’d expect to find in the finest chapels in Italy.
● Take a tour of a sustainable strawbale house with the owner of the home and hear the stories behind some of the materials used.
Transport to/from Perth
Adventurous Women® Driver/Host - Sue Hile
We're grazing throughout the day, so you'll be well fed & provided with lots of gourmet delights
Town Tour of New Norcia with experienced guide
Sustainable House Tour with the owner of the home
Items of a personal nature
- Water
- Sunscreen & Hat
- Sensible Walking Shoes
- Camera
Notice of cancellation must be in writing, with an email as an acceptable form of communication, directly to Adventurous Women with the following conditions:
No refund is available after departure of a tour has commenced.
