Inclusions:

• Exclusive bonus offer
• All excursions with our Expedition Team
• Use of Xplorer and Zodiacs
• Daily lectures and briefings with Guest Lecturers
• All meals, chef-prepared on board
• Captain’s welcome and farewell events, and open bridge access
• Selected wines, selected beers and house spirits, juices, and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner
• 24-hour barista-style coffee and tea station
• All entrance fees to National Parks, ports, traditional owner fees and charges imposed by governing authorities
• Tips and gratuities
• Use of all onboard facilities, incl. a reference library
• Your expedition photos captured during the voyage
• Post-cruise transfers (in most destinations)

Expedition Highlights:

• Experience the thrill of riding the Horizontal Falls in inflatable Zodiac tender vessels
• Get up close to Montgomery Reef and discover the tidal reef’s diverse marine life
• Witness King George River and 80m tall twin King George waterfalls
• Cruise the Prince Regent River to the ‘hanging garden’ King Cascade waterfall
• Encounter Indigenous rock art galleries and learn about ancient Wandjina and Gwion Gwion art
• Spot native wildlife and bird life in their natural habitat
• View the Kimberley landscape by air on a scenic helicopter flight to Mitchell Falls (additional cost)
• Enjoy sunset canapés and drinks on the beach as dusk settles over the Kimberley

Itinerary:

The below itinerary is indicative. Alternate departures operate in either direction.

Itinerary between Darwin & Broome

Expedition Note:  These are expedition itineraries covering remote regions. Your Captain and Expedition Team will make changes to the daily schedule when necessary to maximise your experience. These itineraries are indicative – some variation may occur due to weather conditions, safety or local community requirements. We recommend that you arrive to the embarkation port on the day prior to departure and schedule your own travel arrangements for the following disembarkation due to unexpected changes that may occur in scheduling.

DAY 1: DEPART DARWIN OR BROOME

Board in Darwin at 8:00am for a 9:00am departure.
Board in Broome at 4:00pm for a 5:00pm departure.

DAYS 2-10: KEY DESTINATIONS OF YOUR EXPEDITION KING GEORGE RIVER & FALLS (OOMARI FALLS)
Fed by the King George River draining across the Gardner Plateau,80m tall Oomari- King George Falls are the highest twin falls in Western Australia. Cruise through steep-sided gorges carved many millions of years ago to reach the base of the falls. In waterfall season, cruise under the mist of the falls by Zodiac, while in later months view the honeycomb erosion patterns of sandstone cliffs up close. The Falls is named Oomariby the Balangarra people.

VANSITTART BAY (BANJAL)
Vansittart Bay is home to many cultural and historically significant sites like the remarkable Ngula- Jar Island Gwion Gwion(Bradshaw) rock art galleries estimated to be up to 20,000 year sold. Ngulais the Wunambal Gaambera name for Jar Island. Nearbyon the Anjo Peninsula, we explore the well-preserved wreckage of a US Air Force C-53 Skytrooper aircraft.

MITCHELL FALLS, WINYALKAN, & SWIFT BAY
Carved through layers of sandstone, Punamii-Uunpuu -Mitchell Falls descends over four tiers, creating pools of emerald green on each level. An optional helicopter flight will provide a breathtaking view. At the top of the falls, sandstone terraces form a lookout from which to savour the serenity of this ancient landscape. Swif tBay reveals fine Wandjina and Gwion Gwion rock art galleries.

PRINCE FREDERICK HARBOUR & BIGGE ISLAND (WUUYURU)
Prince Frederick Harbour is one of the Kimberley’s most spectacular locations. The harbour is dotted with islands lined with mangroves and monsoon rainforests, set against a backdrop ofochre-hued escarpment. White-bellied sea eagles and other birds of prey are often seen here, and at low tide expansive mudflats reveal large populations of mud-skippers and mangrove crabs. Cruise up Porosus Creek to spot wildlife and later explore rock art sites at Lumbarrni Island.

PRINCE REGENT RIVER & CAREENING BAY (WUNBUNG-GU)

Running on a fault line, this straight river is a haven for native species. Here we visit the beautiful King Cascade, a terraced waterfall. Falling from a considerable height and around 50macross, water tumbles down a staggered terrace of Kimberley sandstone, surrounded by grasses, mosses and ferns.See the National Heritage Listed ‘Mermaid Tree’ at Careening Bay. It still bears the name carved by the carpenter of Phillip Parker King’s ship HMC Mermaid when the ship was repaired here in 1820.

MONTGOMERY REEF (YOWJAB)

Montgomery Reef is a biologically diverse area covering over300sqkm. Twice daily, as the sea recedes in mammoth tides, Montgomery Reef rises from the ocean in a cascade of rushing water, revealing a flat-topped reef. Opportunistic birds take advantage of the marine life left exposed in rock pools, while turtles and larger marine life may also be spotted. Get up close to witness the spectacle, as our Expedition Team share their knowledge on the reef and wildlife that surrounds you.

DOUBTFUL BAY & RAFT POINT (NGUMBREE)

Ngumbirri- Raft Point guards the entrance to sheltered Doubtful Bay, which harbours significant sites such as the ancient Wandjina rock art galleries. Doubtful Bay is the traditional country of the Worrora people who follow the Wandjina. Their stories, knowledge and culture have been recorded in stone for millennia. Visit Red Cone Creek, which flows gently downstream until it meets Ruby Falls (subject to tides). Climb up rock formations like building blocks, to reach the freshwater swimming hole. If time permits we may also do an Xplorer cruise up the mighty Sale River.

HORIZONTAL FALLS (GARAANNGADDIM)

Due to the mammoth tides for which the Kimberley is renowned, the Horizontal Falls are created as the ocean thunders through a narrow gorge in the McLarty Ranges. As the tide changes, water is forcibly pushed through the bottleneck, creating a rushing horizontal waterfall of swiftly flowing seawater. Experience a heart-pumping ride through the rapids aboard our Zodiacs.

TALBOT BAY / BUCCANEER ARCHIPELAGO

Talbot Bay is at the heart of the Buccaneer Archipelago, where

rocks on the 800 or so islands are estimated at over 2 billion years

old. At Cyclone Creek, you will see evidence of massive geological

forces in the impressive rock formations and cruise through the

Iron Islands, past Koolan Island, before enjoying sunset drinks at

Nares Point.

THE LACEPEDES

Subject to weather and tides, we visit the Lacepede Islands. The low islands are a nature reserve and Important Bird Area ,supporting up to 18,000 breeding pairs of Brown Boobies and Roseate Terns, as well as a significant breeding area for the Green Sea Turtle. We explore the island’s lagoon by Zodiac and Xplorer,to spot many species of birds and marine wildlife.

DAY 11: ARRIVE BROOME OR DARWIN

Disembark in Darwin at 8:30amDisembark in Broome at 8:00amA post cruise transfer to the city or airport is included.