11 Day Broome to Darwin Discovery Cruise

4:30pm: Board Coral Discoverer for a 6:00pm departure from Broome. This evening meet your fellow travellers and friendly crew at the Captain's Welcome Drinks. Enjoy a sumptuous dinner and stunning views as we cruise north towards Cape Leveque.

We cruise through Pender Bay and, subject to weather and tides, visit the Lacepede Islands, a series of low islands consisting of coarse sand and coral rubble lying atop a platform reef. This nature reserve has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area as it supports up to 18,000 breeding pairs of Brown Boobies and Roseate Terns, possibly the largest such population in the world. Board the zodiacs and explore the island's lagoon, keeping an eye out for many species of marine birdlife including Australian Pelicans, frigatebirds, egrets, gulls and terns. The islands are also renowned as Western Australia's most significant breeding grounds for the Green Turtle, often seen nesting on the islands. This afternoon, join our Expedition Staff in the Lounge for an interesting introductory presentation to the Kimberley.

This morning travel ashore to Hidden Island for a walk on the fine white sands of Silica Beach. Then, cruise through the Buccaneer Archipelago, home to over 800 islands. In Talbot Bay, the region's 12 metre tides create an amazing spectacle, the unique Horizontal Falls, described by legendary naturalist David Attenborough as "one the greatest natural wonders in the world". Board the zodiacs for an exhilarating ride through the falls.

This morning explore Red Cone Creek and enjoy a cooling dip at Ruby Falls. Cruising through Kuri Bay, home of the south sea pearl industry, we travel ashore at Raft Point and visit a secluded Aboriginal rock art gallery to view Wandjina art and the mysterious Bradshaw Paintings (Gwion).

Cruise through scenic Doubtful Bay before savouring a truly unforgettable moment as Montgomery Reef 'rises' out of the ocean as the tide ebbs. Join our Expedition Staff aboard the Xplorer and zodiacs to experience this natural phenomenon up close and discover the reef's diverse marine life including turtles, manta rays and reef sharks.

We cruise the mighty Prince Regent River aboard Xplorer to breathtaking King Cascades, an unusual and picturesque waterfall cascading over terraced rock formations. Enjoy refreshments at beautiful Camp Creek, where there is time for a leisurely swim in the fresh water pools.

At Careening Bay our lecturers lead us to the site of a large boab tree bearing the inscription "HMC Mermaid - 1820", still clearly visible almost 200 years later. Then, discover the rock art gallery on Bigge Island, featuring fine examples of both Wandjina and Bradshaw art.

After anchoring in Winyalken Bay we travel ashore aboard Xplorer to explore the maze of natural sandstone caves known as Hathaway's Hideaway. Later, helicopters are available for optional scenic flights over the Mitchell Plateau for close up views of the mighty four-tiered Mitchell Falls (additional expense). This evening, enjoy a spectacular Indian Ocean sunset as we indulge in a gourmet Aussie Beach BBQ.

Join our Expedition Leader on a walk across salt flats to view the wreckage of a US Air Force DC3 which crash landed on the beach during WWII. Later, visit Jar Island and discover the island's outstanding rock art gallery. Our Guest Lecturers will point out fine examples of the Kimberley's mysterious Bradshaw Paintings (Gwion), dating back some 20,000 years.

We visit Tranquil Bay for beach walking and exploration. Later we discover the last of the Kimberley's 'big' rivers, the mighty King George. Aboard Xplorer, 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.

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

Post cruise transfers in either Darwin and Broome are included.