Small group means real time. This 10-hour Wheatbelt and New Norcia day tour swaps Perth streets for farm stops and a living monastic town. I especially like the food-led route (goat cheese, gelato, honey) and the steady rhythm of stops. One possible drawback: it is a full day, and you will be walking on dry, dusty ground, so comfy shoes and a sunhat are non-negotiable.

My second big draw is New Norcia, where you visit the town and the Benedictine Abbey area and get time to roam the streets tied to the spiritual life that keeps going today.

Key points to know before you go

Max 5 guests means you get a calmer pace and more personal attention.

Farm tastings are the main event, not side quests.

Limestone Park Stud mixes coffee time with tropical gardens and free-flight aviaries.

New Norcia is a living monastic town, with the Benedictine Abbey and local monastery bread/olive oil.

You get drinks with dinner-energy at midday, including Abby Ale or a gin and tonic option.

A five-person Wheatbelt day built around taste, birds, and New Norcia

This is the kind of day trip that makes sense if you want more than a bus tour photo stop. The route is built like a slow-moving series of small, real places: gardens with birds, farms where you taste what they make, and then New Norcia, where the monastery isn’t just a museum piece.

I like that the tour is small enough to feel flexible. On days with fewer bookings, you can end up with a very personal experience, which usually means you are not rushed through each stop. The trade-off is simple: with a tight schedule, you still need to keep a good pace and expect some walking.

At the price point of $182.90 per person, the value comes from what is already folded in. You are not paying extra on top for key entries and tastings, plus lunch and a drink at the end. If you normally pay for individual attractions and tastings around Perth, this kind of packed-in package can feel like you are buying fewer separate tickets and spending more of the day actually doing things.

Perth pickup and the Barrack Square start (with driver Cara)

The day begins at The Bell Tower in Barrack Square at 8:00 am, with the option for complimentary pickup from Perth city hotels. If you choose the meeting point, you will be connecting with driver Cara, and it is a convenient start because you can grab transport, coffee, and supplies without hunting for a hard-to-find location.

This early start matters. Leaving Perth at 8:00 am gives you daylight time for the Wheatbelt stops and still leaves room for a relaxed afternoon in New Norcia. It also helps with timing for the drive itself, so you get to those farms before the day feels too hot or the groups get too big.

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

The first big “nature” stop is Limestone Park Stud, a green pocket in the Wheatbelt. You get about an hour here, and the focus is on walking through gardens and seeing birds—specifically free-flight aviaries.

What I like about this stop is that it does two useful things for your day:

• It is a reset after the early drive, with shade and open paths.
• It sets a playful tone before you go into food tastings.

A practical note: aviaries mean you may want to pause frequently. If you are a bird fan, you can easily spend extra time just watching behaviors. That is fun, but it can also eat into your hour, so it helps to move at a steady pace while still giving yourself time to look up.

Local Goat: off-the-grid cheese, fresh gelato, and the point of craft

Next is the Local Goat stop, an artisan cheese farm experience described as charming and off-the-grid. You get around 30 minutes, which is short, but it is enough time to taste and understand what you are eating.

The tour highlight here is that you do not just see the product—you taste it. The experience includes cheese tasting and homemade gelato, plus the farm side of the story (like the idea of hand-milking mentioned in the description). This matters because cheese and gelato made from local dairy tends to taste less like a generic souvenir and more like a real product with a specific place behind it.

The only caution is time. Thirty minutes can feel like a sprint if you like lingering. If you are the type who wants to ask lots of questions, go in with one or two ready. You will get more out of the tasting that way.

Little Eeden Honey Farm: bush honey tasting in a calm setting

After cheese, you switch gears to sweetness at Little Eeden Farm Honey and Apiary. You get about an hour, and the centerpiece is a honey tasting session focusing on WA bush honey.

I like honey tastings because they teach your palate quickly. Instead of one sweet you just accept, you start recognizing that different honey has different flavors and uses. The tour description also references learning about different honey varieties and health benefits, though you should treat health claims like general guidance rather than a medical promise.

You also get a breather between food stops. An hour is long enough to settle, sit for a moment, and enjoy the setting without the feeling that you are being whisked to the next thing.

The 35-meter deep-space antenna photo pass

Midway through the day, the route includes a pass by a deep-space antenna. You do not get the kind of time you might get at a dedicated museum, but it is a fun science-side reminder that Western Australia has more going on than just farms and monasteries.

If you care about photos, this is the moment to grab a quick shot—keep your expectations realistic. It is a pass-by, not a full viewing area experience.

New Norcia: a living monastic town and the Benedictine Abbey visit

Then comes the reason many people book this tour: New Norcia. You arrive and get about two hours to explore the town, including a visit that centers on the Benedictine Abbey.

Here is what makes New Norcia different from most “historic towns.” It is described as the only working and living monastic town in the nation, and that shows in how the day feels. You are not just reading about the past—you are seeing a place where monastic life continues. That tends to make the architecture and street layout feel more meaningful than a standard sightseeing walk.

You also get a stop at the New Norcia Visitor Centre for around 15 minutes. This is where local items show up with actual place-based flavor, like the towns famous monastery bread and hand crafted olive oil. If you like bringing home edible souvenirs that do not taste like generic store goods, this is the part of the day to focus on.

Practical tip: two hours in town can fly. Choose early whether you want more time for wandering the streets or more time near the Abbey-focused areas. If you try to do everything without a plan, you may end up feeling rushed.

Included lunch, Abby Ale, and drinks that make the day feel complete

Food is not sprinkled here as an afterthought. The tour includes lunch, plus bottled spring water and an onboard fridge to keep drinks or purchases cool. That fridge detail sounds small, but it matters when you are buying something at a farm stop or later at the Visitor Centre.

For the drink at the end, you have options: Abby Ale brewed from the monks original recipe, a local gin and tonic, or a non-alcoholic option like Australian squeezed OJ. This is one of those inclusions that turns the day from a list of stops into a finished experience. You get to relax after New Norcia and do the classic thing: talk about what you tasted and what surprised you.

About value: lunch plus multiple tastings can easily add up if you are buying separately. The fact that entrance fees and tastings at key stops are included makes it easier to budget your day without surprise add-ons.

Pace, comfort, and what to pack for a dusty Wheatbelt day

This is a full-day tour, and it is not designed for heavy-duty sightseeing strollers or slow walking. The tour info asks for moderate physical fitness, and the ground is often described as dry and dusty. That means your comfort comes down to footwear and sun protection.

Bring:

• Comfortable footwear you can walk in on dusty ground
• A sunhat
• Minimal hand luggage, since the day includes multiple stops and you will want to keep moving

On board, you are provided with water and sunscreen, so you are not starting from zero. Still, if you burn easily, bring your own SPF too. Tours can run busy, and quick reapplications can matter.

Also, because the group is capped at five travelers, you should expect a more personal pace—but you still need to be ready for transitions between stops and short time windows at farms.

Who this tour suits best (and who might want a different plan)

This tour fits you if you like:

• Food-first travel with tastings you can actually eat and compare
• A small group day trip out of Perth
• Nature moments that are about birds and gardens, not long hikes
• A meaningful stop in New Norcia, where the town feels like a living place

It may be less ideal if you want:

• A laid-back day with lots of free time in each location
• A fully guided, museum-style tour at every stop
• A break from walking entirely

There is also a simple seasonal factor: you will be outside during the day, so heat and sun can affect comfort. Wear light layers you can adjust quickly.

If you are deciding with an eye on risk, the tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, which helps if weather or plans shift.

Should you book the Wheatbelt and New Norcia day tour?

Book it if you want a Perth day trip that feels like a real route, not a checklist. The biggest strengths are the small-group size, the farm tastings that feel genuinely local, and the contrast between gardens with birds and a working monastic town.

If you are the kind of traveler who hates being rushed, this tour’s limit of five guests should help, and the pacing generally feels more human when the group is small. Your main job is to come prepared for walking and sun so you can enjoy each stop without discomfort.

If you are still on the fence, ask yourself one question: do you want your day to be guided by tasting and place-based experiences? If yes, this tour is a strong choice. If what you want most is free time and unstructured wandering, you might prefer a different format.

FAQ

How long is the Wheatbelt and New Norcia day tour?

It runs for about 10 hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $182.90 per person.

What’s the group size limit?

The maximum group size is 5 travelers.

Does the tour include pickup from Perth?

Yes. Complimentary pickup is offered from Perth city hotels. You can also meet at The Bell Tower in Barrack Square.

What days does it operate?

It operates on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

What’s included in the price?

Lunch, bottled spring water, entrance and admission fees for listed stops (Limestone Park Stud, Local Goat, and Little Eeden Honey Farm), New Norcia township and entry to the Benedictine Abbey, and a complimentary drink (Abby Ale or gin and tonic, or non-alcoholic OJ).

Are there any tastings included?

Yes. You get tasting experiences at Local Goat (cheese tasting and homemade gelato) and at Little Eeden Honey Farm (bush honey tasting).

Is alcohol included?

You can choose a complimentary Abby Ale or a local gin and tonic, plus there is also a non-alcoholic option.

What should I bring or wear?

Wear comfortable footwear for dry, dusty ground and bring a sunhat. Water and sunscreen are provided on board, and you should keep hand luggage to a minimum.