Historic New Norcia, Nature & Local Flavours Day Tour

Today I had the privilege of being the only participant on Cara’s tour to the curious and historic town of New Norcia. But it was so much more than that. By including so many small business initiatives along the way, Cara gave me an insight into the entrepreneurial spirit of WA. From the Local Goat (artisan goat cheese farm) with its delicious tasting and reasonably priced produce; to the fabulous ’meet the birds’ experience at Limestone Park; to the honey tasting and healthy lunch at The Little Eden Farm; I experienced the locals’ hospitality, imagination and initiative. Businesses that started off with a good idea, continued to add on their offerings and enjoyed their subsequent expansions. All so well-worth supporting and Cara builds on the synergies between them and her own business. Then of course there’s New Norcia itself. Such an enigma! The only monastic settlement in Australia. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, we marveled at grand multi storied buildings erected in the mid 1800s and reflecting the pioneering spirit of a group of monks from Spain. Without embellishment, Cara provided the monks’ story of faith, perseverance and determination to integrate Christianity with Aboriginal cultural beliefs and knowledge of their surroundings. The initial result was one of mutual respect and shared knowledge. What came later was more insidious and unfortunate but the settlement of New Norcia remains as testimony to the pioneering spirit. It also represents resilience by the remaining monks to sustain their history by reimagining the use of the buildings for tourism and cultural functions, including an excellent museum and art gallery. You can even buy artisan bread still made in the monks’ onsite bakery. The day ended with an indulgent drink under the arched alcove of one of the magnificent buildings, whilst reflecting on the past and hoping for the ongoing future of this very special place. I am so happy to recommend Cara’s Take You There Tours for a small group experience with a difference: history, wildlife, artisan produce and a comfortable ride in a seven seater 4 wheel drive. Many thanks Cara! Regards Paula

A brilliant day out. Cara is very knowledgeable of the area and made the day most enjoyable with the interesting and informative stops on the way. I thoroughly recommend the tour.

Had a lovely day. Cara our host for the day was brilliant and went above and beyond what we would have expected. She took us to places we would never have found on our own. Her knowledge was excellent. We inadvertently left our phone on the bus and she cheerfully returned it early next morning. We cannot speak highly enough of her.

We spent a wonderful day with Cara and 3 other guests in the Wheatbelt and New Norcia. We visited small, family run businesses (a beautiful botanical aviary/gardens/cafe, a honey farm / restaurant and a goat farm, which produced yummie cheeses and gelato). The variety of attractions really appealed to us and the small group size made us feel like we were having a day out with friends. The tour guide, Cara, was brilliant, informative and flexible. The afternoon we spent in New Norcia, where we had a few options to choose from. We (and the rest of the group) opted to join the town tour, which we absolutely loved. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and we were blown away by what we saw and heard. To close the day with a locally produced drink with the group was just a lovely ending to a beautiful day. We can thoroughly recommend this tour. Thank you so much, Cara, for a wonderful, interesting and relaxing day!!

We had a delightful and very personal trip with Cara. In fact we were the only two customers that day due to a cancellation and rescheduling by others. Unlike other trips, the pace was set by us and there was never any urgency to move on. Limestone Park and aviary is family run as is the goat farm. We can recommend also eating at the monastery as it is such a contrast to the typical cafe or restaurant. The time passed very quickly in the company of Cara who gave us a great insight into the way of life here.

It's off the beaten track, with visits to local attractions (Aviary/gardens), local food producers (Cheese, Ice Cream, Honey etc), with some history thrown in, when you visit the historic town.

Most enjoyable day spent visiting a great free flight bird park. Little Eden honey farm, where we were served a tasty lunch. Final stop was a very interesting 2 hour guided tour of the New Norcia Monastery and surrounding buildings. Thoroughly recommended.

I had a truly lovely day and want to thank Cara for being such a thoughtful and knowledgeable host. At New Norcia, I decided not to do the guided tour and instead spent some of the time with Clara and the rest exploring on my own. I really enjoyed our peaceful walk along the river, crossing the bridge, and searching for the old aporary — a quiet and memorable part of the day. I learned so much just through that time and appreciated the relaxed pace. The visits to the bee farm and the bird park were both highlights — so much beauty, interesting stops, and a great mix of experiences. And I must say, the vehicle was incredibly comfortable, and I loved watching the scenery roll by through the windows — it made the whole day feel calm and unrushed. Thank you, Cara, for a beautifully planned and well-hosted trip. I truly enjoyed every part of it. Ruth - South Africa

Felt very safe with tour guide excellent choice of venue to see . Bird sanctuary lime stone park very interesting with large bird population. Honey little eeden informative and New Norcia both informative and interesting.

I had a fantastic experience on this tour. Cara was friendly and knowledgeable, and we enjoyed visiting the beautiful bird park, where holding the birds was a unique experience. The honey farm was delightful, and we got to taste a variety of delicious honeys. The food was excellent, the gardens were gorgeous, and the canola fields were stunning. The historical sites we visited were also memorable. Overall, it was a wonderful and enriching experience!