Five people, one outback monastery day. This small-group Wheatbelt tour from Perth pairs botanical aviaries with farm tastings, then finishes in New Norcia, a working monastic town. It’s the kind of day trip that feels like you drove into a different (quiet, fragrant) world.

I especially love the food-focused stops. You get farm-to-table-style moments like locally made goat cheese and gelato, plus a structured honey tasting with WA bush honeys, and lunch is included without you hunting around.

One thing to consider: it’s about 10 hours and you’ll walk outdoors on dry, dusty ground, so plan for real walking and bring the right shoes and sun protection.

Key things I’d plan around

• Max of 5 guests means a personal pace and less rushing.
• Limestone Park Stud mixes tropical gardens with free-flight aviaries and lots of bird life (450+ species is the headline).
• Local Goat is built around tasting: fresh cheeses and homemade gelato.
• Little Eeden Honey Farm gives you a guided honey tasting focused on WA bush honeys.
• New Norcia & the Benedictine Abbey lets you explore a living monastic town, not a museum-only stop.
• Abby Ale (plus optional gin and tonic or OJ) rounds out the day with a local sip.

Starting in Perth: Bell Tower rendezvous and Cara’s calm pace

The day kicks off early, with a 8:00 am start. You can either be picked up from Perth city hotels, or meet your driver outside the Bell Tower in Barrack Square, which also makes it easy to grab a few morning photos before you head out.

What I like here is the way this feels designed for small-group comfort. You’re in an air-conditioned vehicle, there’s an on-board fridge to keep drinks or anything you buy cool, and you’re not stuck playing the usual game of waiting for a large bus load of people.

Also, your driver is named Cara, and with a max group size of five, the day doesn’t feel like it’s on rails. That matters when you’re bouncing between farms, tasting rooms, and one of WA’s most unusual historic places.

Limestone Park Stud: gardens, coffee, and free-flight aviaries

First major stop is Limestone Park Stud, a Wheatbelt “oasis” with lush gardens. You get about an hour here to slow down, grab a coffee, and wander the grounds at a relaxed pace.

The big draw is the bird experience. The park is built around botanical aviaries and free-flight aviaries, and the tour description emphasizes 450+ bird species. Even if you’re not a serious bird person, this kind of place changes how you look at the day—suddenly the Wheatbelt isn’t just fields and distance.

A practical tip: this is an outdoor garden setting, so shade matters. If you’re sensitive to sun, do your wandering in shorter bursts and plan a rest stop when you can. Comfortable shoes help too, because even “easy walking” in garden paths adds up over the day.

Local Goat: handcrafted cheese and homemade gelato

Next you head to Local Goat, an off-the-grid goat cheese farm experience. You get about half an hour, which is short, but it’s set up around tasting rather than sightseeing.

Here’s what’s special: you’re not just buying a product, you’re tasting what the place is built on. Expect freshly crafted cheeses and homemade gelato, both tied to the farm’s own ingredients and process. The program also highlights Gerald hand-milking the goats, which gives you a real sense of how human the production is.

Because it’s a tasting stop, pacing is everything. Go in ready to spend your time sampling rather than roaming for too long. If you’re the type who always wants a bigger meal first, note that this stop is meant to be a flavor preview for the rest of your day.

Little Eeden Honey Farm: WA bush honey tasting in the open air

After the cheese-and-gelato stop, you’ll move to Little Eeden Farm for honey and an apiary experience. You get about an hour here, which is enough time to settle in, do the tasting properly, and take in the surroundings.

The emphasis is on honey tasting focused on WA bush honey. The tour description also points out learning about the health benefits of different honey varieties, so you’ll get more than just a sip-and-go routine. This is one of those stops where you’ll likely leave with a clearer idea of what you actually like—floral notes, darker honey tastes, and differences you can pick out once you’ve tried a few.

Wear sunscreen and bring your water habit along. Even though you’ll have water on board and sunscreen provided, honey farms are still outdoors, and you’ll be there long enough for the sun to do its thing.

Passing the deep-space antenna: a quick sci-tech moment

Between farms and New Norcia, there’s a pass-by of a 35-metre deep-space antenna. It’s not framed as a long stop—just a view as you travel—but it’s a fun contrast to the food and monastery theme.

Why I like this kind of in-between moment: it breaks up the day. When you’re doing several slow, sensory stops in a row, a quick roadside feature gives your brain a reset without stealing time you need later for New Norcia.

New Norcia: walking a living monastic town

Then you arrive in New Norcia, and the vibe shifts. This is described as the only working/living monastic town in the Nation, and you feel that in how the streets are laid out and how the place functions as a real community.

You get around two hours to roam the town and walk in the footsteps of the pioneers who built the heritage around here. The setting is often described as a Spanish-style outback monastery, which sounds like marketing—but when you’re there, the architecture and the overall mood make the label make sense.

What’s valuable is that you’re not only looking at buildings. You’re seeing how the monastery world intersects with everyday town life. If you like history you can physically walk through, this is the kind of place that rewards unhurried strolling.

You’ll also have entry to the Benedictine Abbey as part of this section, which helps turn New Norcia from a quick photo stop into something more meaningful.

New Norcia Visitor Centre: monastery bread and olive oil shopping time

After town exploring, you pop into the New Norcia Visitor Centre for about 15 minutes. This is shorter than the other sections, but it’s practical: it gives you time to browse the gift shop and grab edible souvenirs without feeling rushed.

The centre is specifically tied to the town’s flavors. You can find the towns famous monastery bread and hand crafted olive oil, along with historical literature and other souvenirs you can take home.

This is also where you might want to check your priorities. If you’re hoping for specific food items to take back to Perth, quick decisions beat waiting. Bring a small bag you’re comfortable carrying, since your hand luggage should stay minimal for the day.

Lunch and drinks: included fuel that keeps the day easy

Lunch is included, along with bottled Australian spring drinking water. That sounds simple, but it’s a big part of why this tour works.

When you’re doing a Wheatbelt day trip, the biggest risk is wasting time. If lunch weren’t handled, you’d either skip something or spend your precious hours trying to find a good option between stops. Here, you can focus on the experiences.

For drinks at the end, the tour offers a complimentary Abby Ale brewed from the monks original recipe. You can also choose a local gin and tonic, or go with a non-alcoholic Australian squeezed OJ. I like that there’s an adult option and a clear non-alcoholic alternative, which makes it easier to stay with the group vibe without forcing anyone to drink.

Price and value: what you’re really paying for

The price is $182.90 per person, and it’s worth thinking about what’s bundled in.

You’re paying for:

• transport from Perth and a guide with commentary
• a small group experience capped at five
• entrance and admission fees at Limestone Park Stud, Local Goat, and the honey tasting
• New Norcia township time and entry to the Benedictine Abbey
• lunch plus bottled water
• the final complimentary drink (Abby Ale, gin and tonic, or OJ)

Could you recreate parts of this independently? Sure, but you’d be doing a lot of scheduling and driving across distance, plus you’d still need to pay entry fees. For many people, the real value is the structure. You show up, you taste, you walk, you learn, and you don’t waste time trying to coordinate the pieces.

Also, the tour operates Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Since it’s small group, it’s smart to book early if you’re traveling in peak periods—especially because the average booking window is quite far ahead.

Who this tour suits best (and who might want to skip it)

This is a great match if you like day trips where food is part of the story, not just a side note. The mix of avian gardens, farm tastings, and a living monastic town gives you variety without changing the core theme of local WA character.

It also suits you if you want a more personal day. The small group size means the pace can flex, and on lighter days you might find the experience feels closer to private time than a big-bus schedule. That tends to make the tastings more relaxed and the walking less of a herd exercise.

It may not be ideal if you hate any walking on dry ground or if you want long, deep museum-style time. This is built as a full-day loop with multiple stops, so you’ll move through things rather than spend all day in just one place.

What to bring for a comfy Wheatbelt day

Even with water and sunscreen on board, you’ll do better with a few basics. Wear comfortable footwear you can walk in easily, because the ground can be dry and dusty. Bring a sunhat, and keep your hand luggage to a minimum so your space inside the vehicle stays comfortable.

If you plan to buy monastery bread, olive oil, or other items at the end, it helps to pack your day bag in a way you can carry it without stress. The on-board fridge is a nice touch, but you still want a practical setup so you’re not scrambling at the last stop.

Should you book this Wheatbelt & New Norcia day tour?

I’d book this tour if you want one day that mixes nature, genuine farm tastings, and a place you won’t see every week. The small group cap makes it feel personal, and the inclusion of lunch plus multiple paid stops lowers the usual day-trip hassle.

Book it especially if you care about food quality and local production—goat cheese, honey tastings, monastery bread, olive oil, and even the Abby Ale. If that’s your kind of travel, you’ll likely enjoy how the day flows.

I’d think twice if you’re hoping for lots of downtime or prefer minimal walking. It’s a full loop, and the outdoors is part of the package. If you’re good with that trade, this is a strong value way to experience a corner of WA that many people fly past.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

It runs for about 10 hours.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 8:00 am.

Do I get pickup from Perth?

Yes. Complimentary pick up is offered from Perth city hotels.

Where is the meeting point if I am not using pickup?

Meet outside the Bell Tower in Barrack Square, Riverside Dr, Perth WA 6000.

Is lunch included?

Yes, lunch is included.

What tasting experiences are included?

You’ll have cheese and gelato tasting at Local Goat and a bush honey tasting at Little Eeden Honey Farm. Limestone Park Stud and New Norcia entries are also included.

Are drinks included?

You’ll get bottled spring water during the day, and at the end you’ll receive a complimentary Abby Ale or you can choose a local gin and tonic or non-alcoholic Australian squeezed OJ.

What is the group size?

The tour has a maximum of 5 travelers.

Which days does it operate?

It operates on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time for a full refund.

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