The world’s most extraordinary taxi ride
Tourism Western Australia is seeking two outgoing Brits with a spirit of adventure and ability to play up to cameras to be part of the Extraordinary Taxi Ride, an epic nine week journey by taxi across Western Australia (WA).
Tourism Western Australia is recruiting a local West Australian taxi driver to take 22 lucky passengers on an epic odyssey around the entire state (which is approximately the size of India or 10 times the size of the UK) and its extraordinary attractions for a journey of a lifetime.
In 1930, Australian taxi driver Charlie Heard accepted a most unusual taxi fare, driving an elderly lady and her two companions from Melbourne to Darwin and back. The final fare was £300, the equivalent of about A$19,000, today. The Extraordinary Taxi Ride continues that pioneering spirit of adventure.
The trip is broken down into 11 ‘journey legs’, showcasing the many natural wonders and extraordinary experiences unique to WA such as sailing through the world’s only horizontal waterfalls in the Kimberley region of WA, exploring pristine Ningaloo Reef, the world’s largest fringing reef reached by the world’s shortest swim and the state’s wildflower season, which features the largest collection of wildflowers on Earth.
Hopeful passengers can apply to travel on any of the 11 ‘legs’ of the Extraordinary Taxi Ride by explaining in less than 40 words why they should be part of the journey. The winners will then have the opportunity to invite a mate on the journey with them to share in their adventure which will be filmed for a documentary.
Tourism Western Australia has scoured the State to find Western Australia’s most extraordinary taxi driver, a true local character who will showcase WA to passengers from around the world. As the kilometres of the journey tick over, so will the stories of the driver and passengers, all of them chronicled through blogs, images and video which will be broadcast to the world through the internet.
Brits have until 21 March 2010 to enter and each entrant must be available to travel on their selected leg.
Journey legs include the following:
LEG 1: Vines, Forests & Beaches 09-12 April
Swim with dolphins, feast on premium food and wine, and explore the stunning beaches, forests and caves of the South West of WA, voted one of the world’s best regions by Lonely Planet 2010 and home to the famous Margaret River wine region.
LEG 5: Coast & Nature Spectacular 29 April – 5 May
Enjoy sea life, snorkelling and plenty of sunshine. Marvel at the moonlike landscape of the Pinnacles and a beach made entirely of tiny shells. Meet the dolphins of Monkey Mia who visit the shoreline each day and the varied marine life of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, from dugongs and reef sharks to turtles.
LEG 6: Ningaloo Reef Adventure 6 – 11 May
Nominated for World Heritage Listing, Ningaloo Reef is an underwater wonderland easily accessible from shore. Go swimming or snorkelling and see an abundance of pristine coral and sea life including manta rays and the gentle whale shark – the largest fish in the ocean which visits the region from April to July each year.
LEG 10: The Gibb River Road 1 – 9 June
The Gibb River Road is an iconic 4WD adventure across the Kimberley – one of the world’s last true wilderness areas. Go cattle mustering, barramundi fishing and relax under waterfalls and in hot thermal springs. Highlights include staying at luxury outback properties El Questro and Home Valley Station.
LEG 11: North West Highlights 10-14 June
Rich red earth, white sands and brilliant blue skies. This leg explores areas of the Kimberley coast and includes visiting the award winning Kooljaman Wilderness Camp in Cape Leveque. The jewel of this leg is a flight over the world’s only horizontal waterfalls, described by David Attenborough as ‘one of the greatest natural wonders of the world’.
The prize from Travelbag.co.uk and Tourism Western Australia includes a place on the winner’s preferred leg of the journey for them and a mate, two return flights from the UK, accommodation and tours plus some time for pure relaxation in WA afterwards.
The Extraordinary Taxi Ride is part of Tourism WA’s new marketing campaign, designed to encourage people from around the world to come to Western Australia for their holidays, and to Experience Extraordinary.
If you love to travel, thrive on fun and adventure, and want to enjoy a top class road trip, visit: westernaustralia.com
