11 Day Darwin to Broome Expedition Cruise

Summary

"This 10 night expedition cruise will take you to a place of magnificent vistas created by towering rock ridges, silent secluded gorges, wide savannah plains and waterfalls which defy both nature and belief."

Itinerary

Vessel Information

Coral Princess
Oceanic Discoverer

A 10-night exploration voyage to the Kimberley has so many highlights, it's hard to know where to begin. Your expedition cruise begins from either Darwin - the capital city of The Northern Territory, or Broome - famous for its beauty and cultured pearls. Both are unique frontier centres and are the gateways to the magnificent Kimberley wilderness.

Experienced, highly informative Expedition Leaders and Guest Lecturers will supervise the expedition itinerary maximising the experiences offered on our shore excursions. Sensitive arrangements are also made allowing guests to absorb the cultural remnants of one of the world's most ancient people, the Australian Aborigine.

A specially designed excursion vessel allows you to explore the gorges of the Mitchell, King George, Prince Regent and Hunter Rivers. For the more adventurous, optional helicopter flights to the Mitchell Plateau are also available.
 
The abundance of bird life and native wildlife including the salt-water crocodile make every moment of the expedition unique. The hundreds of islands in The Buccaneer Archipelago, the tidal phenomena at Montgomery Reef and the extraordinary horizontal waterfalls near Talbot Bay ...The Kimberley has it all.

For the more adventurous, optional helicopter flights to the Mitchell Plateau are also available. The enormous variety of bird life and native wildlife including the saltwater crocodile makes every moment of the expedition unique. The hundreds of islands in Buccaneer Archipelago, the tidal phenomena at the Montgomery Reef and the extraordinary horizontal waterfalls near Talbot Bay.

The Kimberley has it all. Join The Kimberley expedition cruise to the remotest parts of the Australian Outback in style and comfort with Coral Princess Cruises.

Coral Princess is a 35 metre luxury catamaran designed for maximum stability and guest comfort. The ship is fully air-conditioned with on-board accommodation for 48 guests. Accommodation is spacious and individually air conditioned with private bathrooms and a choice of full size single and double beds.

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart Darwin

10:00am: Board Coral Princess – Oceanic Discoverer for an 11:00am departure. Departing Darwin Harbour we cross Cambridge Gulf and sail into Western Australian waters. This evening meet your fellow travellers and friendly crew as we enjoy the Captain's Welcome Aboard Cocktails.

Day 2: King George River

Today we discover the first of the Kimberley's 'big' rivers, the mighty King George. Aboard Explorer, our specially designed excursion vessel, we'll explore scenic gorges, and in our inflatable zodiacs we'll cruise close to the base of magnificent King George Falls, the tallest waterfalls in Western Australia towering some 80 metres above the river below. Later, we visit Tranquil Bay for beach walking and exploration.

Day 3: Bigge Island and Aboriginal Art

This morning we visit the sea bird rookeries on Low Rocks, followed by a stop at Cape Voltaire for a swim and beach exploration. This afternoon we discover the amazing rock art gallery on Bigge Island.

Day 4: Prince Frederick Harbour

Cruising into Prince Frederick Harbour we anchor at Naturalist Island. We have helicopters available for optional scenic flights over the Mitchell Plateau for close up views of the mighty four-tiered Mitchell Falls. This evening, enjoy a spectacular Indian Ocean sunset as we indulge in a gourmet Aussie Beach BBQ.

Day 5: Careening Bay

Careening Bay was named by Phillip Parker King after his ship, 'HMC Mermaid', was careened during his first voyage of discovery in the Kimberley. Our lecturers lead us to the site of a large boab tree baring the inscription “HMC Mermaid – 1820”, still clearly visible almost 200 years later. This afternoon we cruise into the very scenic Prince Regent Basin.

Day 6: Prince Regent River and King Cascades

We cruise the mighty Prince Regent River aboard Xplorer to breathtaking King Cascades, an unusual and picturesque waterfall cascading over terraced rock formations. Enjoy a picnic lunch at beautiful Camp Creek, where there is time for a leisurely swim in the fresh water pools. The more adventurous may wish to join a nature walk, keeping an eye out for native Kimberley birdlife.

Day 7: Kuri Bay and Raft Point

Today we cruise through Kuri Bay, home of the south sea pearl industry. Travelling ashore at Raft Point we visit a secluded and very interesting Aboriginal rock art gallery to view Wandjina art and the mysterious Bradshaw Paintings (Gwion), thought to be the world's oldest indigenous art, dating back over 20 000 years. Enjoy time to discover one of the bay's many uninhabited islands and enjoy a cooling dip in the freshwater pools.

Day 8: Montgomery Reef and Horizontal Falls

Today we cruise through the Buccaneer Archipelago, home to over 800 islands, and experience two of the unforgettable highlights of the Kimberley Coast. See Montgomery Reef 'rise' out of the ocean as the tide ebbs, before joining a reef walk and marine life study. In Talbot Bay, the region's 12 metre tides create an amazing spectacle, the unique Horizontal Falls. Board the zodiacs for an exhilarating, up-close view of this natural phenomenon.

Day 9: King Sound and Crocodile Creek

Cruising through King Sound we witness the effects of the iron ore mining operations on Koolan and Cockatoo Islands. We visit Crocodile Creek to enjoy exploration and fresh water swimming.

Day 10: Lacepede Islands

Cruising Yampi Sound we visit the Lacepede Islands. These islands are situated well off shore and are known for the turtle nestings and booby and frigate bird colonies. This evening we farewell new-found friends as we enjoy the Captain's Farewell Cocktail Party.

Day 11: Arrive Broome

8:00am. Our unforgettable cruise along the Kimberley coast concludes in Broome this morning.

Further Information

Optional Cost

Helicopter flights to Mitchell Falls: approx. $450 per person

Note

This itinerary is an indication of the reef, islands and coastal areas we visit. While every effort will be made to follow this itinerary we do reserve the right to vary the itinerary to make allowances for weather and tidal conditions and any other event that may effect the operation of the vessel.

Terms & Conditions

Reservations: To make a reservation you have to pay a deposit of 10% of the fare. The balance of the fare is due sixty (60) days prior to departure. 

Cancellation and Refund Policy: Notification of cancellation must be received in writing. At the time we receive your cancellation the following penalties will apply:

• Up to 60 days prior to departure - forfeit your deposit of 10% of the fare.
• 30 to 59 days prior to departure - forfeit 50% of the fare.
• 1 to 29 days prior to departure - forfeit 100% of the fare.
• A $200.00 per person fee may be charged for any amendments not requiring a date change after booking is confirmed.

Share Policy: Accommodation on the Ship is based on twin share occupancy. If you are travelling alone and wish to share accommodation, a room mate will be assigned to your cabin whenever possible. When pairing room mates we always pair participants of the same sex

Passenger Health and Responsibility: The passenger admits a full understanding of the nature and character of the Ship and the scope of the activities contemplated by the passenger during the Cruise (including those relating to off Ship activities such as excursions in the Ship's tenders, snorkelling and diving) and assures and undertakes to the carrier:

• that they are in good health and well able to undertake the Cruise and the contemplated activities;
• that they will effect travel insurance sufficient to cover any limitation of liability against them imposed by these Cruise Ticket Conditions should they wish to do so;
• that they accept the risk that they may suffer from sea sickness;
• that they have disclosed any physical or mental disability requiring special attention (including the use of a wheelchair) or treatment at the time when the reservation for the Cruise was made;
• that the passenger accepts that a medical certificate certifying fitness for travel may be required at the carrier's request and if any passenger has had surgery less than three (3) months prior to sailing that passenger must submit a letter from a qualified physician stating that he or she is fit to travel and the carrier reserves the right to deny passage if a passenger requires care and attention which the carrier cannot adequately provide and this decision may be made by the carrier in its sole discretion;
• The carrier reserves the right to refuse or deny participation in activities or programmes either aboard the Ship or off Ship which are sponsored or promoted by the carrier to any passenger who has a past or present medical condition that may present risks if the passenger participates in those activities and any decision in this respect may be made by the carrier in its sole discretion;
• Any charges incurred by passengers for medical reasons including but not limited to physicians, surgeons, hospitals, off Ship accommodation, medication, diagnostic facilities, air ambulance evacuation or ground ambulance shall be the sole responsibility of the passenger;
• for the safety and comfort of passengers smoking is not permitted in the Ship except on open deck spaces outside all air-conditioned and sealed areas of the Ship;
• and the passenger agrees to indemnify the carrier from and against all claims, costs, charges, fines or penalties arising as a result of any claim made against the carrier in this respect.

Further Information

What's Included

Accommodation in spacious, Air-conditioned Staterooms serviced daily, All meals, morning and afternoon teas, Post mixed soft drinks on board, 24 hour tea/coffee station, Services of expedition staff and guest lecturers and briefings including: Slide, film and power point presentations., Guided expedition touring and walks, Use of comprehensive resource library and video resources, Guided tours on our purpose built expedition vessel 'Xplorer', Use of snorkeling equipment incl. mask and snorkel .

What's Not Included

Pre and Post Flights and Transfers, Personal Items such as Telephone, Facsimile Charges, Laundry, Bar Charges, Travel Insurance.