10 Nights The Kimberley Cruise: Darwin to Broome and reverse

Type of Vessel

This 120 passenger ship is built to take you closer to un-spoiled vistas in comfort, style and safety. A culmination of two years of design and three decades of passion for expedition cruising – Coral Expeditions is proud to invite you to experience the Coral Adventurer.

Itinerary

Day 1 | Darwin, Northern Territory: Depart in the morning and as you cross Cambridge Gulf and sail into Western Australian waters, join the expedition staff in the lounge for an informative introduction to the Kimberley. With fellow travelers and friendly Coral Expeditions' crew, enjoy the Captain's welcome drinks.

Day 2 | King George River and Falls: Discover the first of the Kimberley's 'big' rivers, the mighty King George. Board Xplorer, the specially designed excursion vessel and explore scenic gorges then take to the inflatable Zodiacs and cruise close to the base of magnificent King George Falls. This is the tallest single-drop waterfalls in Western Australia, towering some 80 metres above the river below. Visit secluded Tranquil Bay for beach walking and exploration.

Day 3 | Vansittart Bay DC3 and Jar Island: Join the 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 World War II. Visit Jar Island and discover the island's outstanding rock art gallery. With the Guest Lecturers, see fine examples of the Kimberley's mysterious Bradshaw Paintings (Gwion Gwion), dating back some 20,000 years.

Day 4 | Hathaway's Hideaway and Mitchell Falls: Anchor in Winyalken Bay and travel ashore aboard Xplorer to explore the maze of natural sandstone caves known as Hathaway's Hideaway. Consider an optional scenic heli-flight 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 BBQ on the sundeck or the beach.

Day 5 | Biggie Island and Careening Bay: Discover the rock art gallery on Bigge Island featuring fine examples of both Wandjina and Bradshaw art and hear from the Guest Lecturers about these traditional art forms and the myths from the dreamtime that inspired them. Explore Careening Bay; named by early explorer Phillip Parker King after his ship HMC Mermaid was careened for repairs during his second voyage of discovery in the Kimberley. The Expedition Team will lead you to the site of a remarkable Boab Tree bearing the inscription ‘HMC Mermaid – 1820', still clearly visible almost 200 years later.

Day 6 | Prince Regent River and King Cascades: 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 also time for a cooling dip in the freshwater pools.

Day 7 | Montgomery Reef and Doubtful Bay: Savor a truly unforgettable moment as Montgomery Reef 'rises' out of the ocean as the tide ebbs. Join the Expedition Staff aboard the Xplorer and Zodiacs to experience this natural phenomenon up close. Discover the reef's diverse marine life including turtles, manta rays and reef sharks then enjoy a cruise through scenic Doubtful Bay.

Day 8 | Raft Point: Cruise through Kuri Bay, home of the south sea pearl industry. Travel ashore at imposing Raft Point and visit a secluded and very interesting Aboriginal rock art gallery to view Wandjina art and some of the Kimberley's most well-preserved Bradshaw Paintings (Gwion Gwion). Explore Red Cone Creek.

Day 9 | Horizontal Falls and Buccaneer Archipelago: Meander 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 Sir David Attenborough as "one of the greatest natural wonders in the world". The amazing power of the falls is revealed when the tide turns, forcing millions of liters of water to rush through the narrow gaps between cliffs. Board the Zodiacs for an exhilarating ride through the falls then explore Silica Beach on Hidden Island with its stunning white sands and crystal clear waters.

Day 10 | Lacepede Islands: Explore 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, frigate birds, egrets, gulls and terns. The islands are also renowned as Western Australia's most significant breeding grounds for the Green Turtle, often seen nesting here. This evening we reflect on this wonderful expedition with new-found friends as we enjoy the Captain's farewell drinks.

Day 11 | Broome: The adventure along the Kimberley Coast concludes in Broome this morning. If you're not transferring directly to the airport why not spend the day visiting world-famous Cable Beach or stroll the historic streets of Chinatown in central Broome. Post cruise transfers included.

Guest Services

Amenities include laundry service, and luggage storage.

Food and Dining

With a small, intimate group on board, the chefs have the creative freedom to prepare small batch meals from scratch. The dining room offers open seat dining without the need to reserve a table, allowing you to dine with old and new friends on each occasion. Breakfast and lunch are buffet style while dinners are a combination of buffet and table d'hote. Delicious morning and afternoon tea are also provided, and there is 24-hour access to tea and coffee. House beers and wines are included with lunch and dinner service, as well as soft drinks and juices. The desalinator ensures that water on board is safe to drink, and water stations are available.
There is a single seating dining area with communal 'wine table' finished with Australian stone; serving buffet breakfast and lunch, and multi-course table d’hote dinners. Along with, multiple indoor and outdoor bars, including our Explorer bar on the sundeck for sunset drinks with 180 degree views. And a curated wine cellar featuring modestly priced boutique wines for daily drinking and exceptional vintage Australian reds.

Onboard Activities/Events

There will be a series of lectures presented on the cruise that will help guests better understand their experience. Lectures, films and slide-shows will be featured.
Guests can also enjoy the library, ship shop, and kayaks.

Staterooms or Cabins

All cabins include basic toiletries, air conditioning, and Wi Fi access.
Explorer Deck Balcony Stateroom are comfortably furnished with a junior King size bed which can be separated into two singles. A wardrobe, desk and arm chair are included. A compact en-suite has a toilet, shower and ample storage. Your private balcony has seating for two from which to view the passing coastal vistas. These staterooms are located on the Explorer deck.
Bridge Deck Balcony Suite are spacious and elegant retreats after a busy day ashore. Suites are equipped with a lounge area, minibar and personal coffee machine. They have special King sized beds which can be separated into two singles. An 8 sq m private balcony has an outdoor daybed and lounge chair for two. A unique outside-facing bathroom with picture windows, bath and separate shower complete the suite experience. A complimentary minibar is replenished daily.

Fitness

The fitness center is equipped with elliptical trainers and treadmills for guests who wish to continue their workouts while traveling.