11 Day Darwin to Broome Expedition Cruise

Overview

Welcome to The Kimberley, the Australian outback adventure experience of a lifetime. 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 Darwin - the capital city of The Northern Territory.

Experienced, highly informative tour guides will supervise the expedition itinerary, maximising the experiences offered by the breathtaking scenery and the magnificent sunsets, and making sensitive arrangements to allow guests to absorb the cultural remnants of one of the world's most ancient peoples, the Australian Aborigine.

You access The Kimberley, one of the world's most remote areas, aboard the excellently appointed Australian expedition cruise vessel Coral Princess. Her shallow draft and manoeuvrability make her ideal to safely navigate the mighty rivers and scenic inlets of The Kimberley.

A specially designed excursion boat is more than a match for the strong currents resulting from the dramatic tidal changes in this area. It 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 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

10:00am: Board Coral Princess for an 11.00am departure. Today we cross the Cambridge Gulf and sail into Western Australian waters. This evening enjoy the Captain's Welcome Cocktail Party.

Day 2

At approximately noon we arrive at King George River and with the Explorer, our specially designed excursion vessel explores the scenic gorges and views the mighty King George waterfalls. Visit Tranquil Bay for beach walking and exploration.

Day 3

This morning we visit the sea bird rookeries on Low Rocks. If time permits we make a stop at Cape Voltaire for a swim and beach exploration. This afternoon we visit the amazing aboriginal rock art gallery on Bigge Island.

Day 4

Cruising into Prince Frederick Harbour we anchor at Naturalist Island. Here we have helicopters available for optional scenic flights to the Surveyor and Mitchell Falls on the Mitchell Plateau and enjoy exploration of the surrounding area and enjoy a swim in the fresh water pools. This evening we enjoy a beach BBQ at sunset

Day 5

Careening Bay: Our lecturers lead us to the site of a large boab tree with the inscription "HMC Mermaid - 1820" still clearly visible. This afternoon we cruise into the very scenic Prince Regent Basin.

Day 6

With the Explorer we cruise the Prince Regent River and visit Kings Cascades, an unusual and picturesque waterfall cascading over terraced rock formations. We also visit Camp Creek for a picnic lunch and the opportunity to swim in fresh water ponds.

Day 7

Today we cruise through Kuri Bay home of the south sea pearl industry. We go ashore at Raft Point and visit a secluded and very interesting aboriginal rock art gallery. We also take the Explorer up one of the many river systems to the waterfalls and a fresh water swim. We may also plan an exploration stop at one of the many islands.

Day 8

The Buccaneer Archipelago consists of more than 800 islands and this area experiences over 10 metre tidal ranges, one of the largest in the world. Here our landings and activities are planned around the tides - a way of life in the Kimberley region. Our plans include reef walks and marine life study on Montgomery Reef and a visit to Talbot Bay and the amazing Horizontal Waterfalls.

Day 9

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

Day 10

Cruising through 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 enjoy the Captain's Farewell Cocktail Party.

Day 11

08.00 am arrival into Broome

Further Information

What's Included

View Coral Princess Layout
View Oceanic Discoverer

Accommodation charges on board, services of expedition staff including lectures, briefings, slide/film presentations and other group activities. Group transfers during the cruise, all meals, 24 hour tea/coffee station, landing fees

What's Not Included

Pre and post flights and transfers, personal items such as telephone, facsimile charges, laundry, bar charges, travel insurance.

Optional Cost

Helicopter flights to Mitchell Falls: approx. $330 per person

Notes

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.