SAMPLE ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive in Perth

Arrive in Perth, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Days 2 & 3: Explore Perth

The next few days are free to explore Perth, a major mining commercial centre and one of the world’s most isolated cities. It has a gorgeous setting along the winding Swan River and offers a sunny outdoor lifestyle, with some of Australia’s finest beaches. Sailing, swimming and fishing are all popular here.

Follow the waterside pathway along the Swan River, enjoy waterside dining at Elizabeth Quay or head out to the beaches of Scarborough or Cottesloe. 

A visit to the enormous Kings Park and Botanic Garden atop Mount Eliza is a must. From here you will have sweeping views over the city. You can also enjoy a leisurely cruise on Swan River, or take a day trip to Fremantle situated at the mouth of the river, with its rich maritime and convict history.

St. Mary's Cathedral is a grand neo-Gothic church, whilst the Bell Tower in Barrack Square (which looks like an alien spaceship) houses the original 14th century bells from Saint Martin-in-the-Fields church in London. Perth Cultural Centre houses the state ballet and opera, as well as the Art Gallery of Western Australia, whilst Perth Mint offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of gold mining.

Perth Zoo will introduce you to endemic Australian wildlife, including kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, wombats and Tasmanian devils. About 12 miles northwest of the city, Hillarys Boat Harbour is a lovely marina with restaurants, shops and the fabulous Aquarium of Western Australia. 

Car-free Rottnest Island is idyllic for a day trip. It is home to the quokka (short-tailed scrub wallaby), a mini marsupial endemic to the island. You can also visit Pinnacles and Yanchep National Parks, with their strange rock formations, and enjoy an evening of star gazing in the Pinnacles Desert.

The beautiful wineries of the Swan Valley are just a short drive away.

Day 4: Fly to Broome

Transfer to Sydney airport for your flight to the small town of Broome in the far north of Western Australia, the gateway to the remote Kimberley region. Here you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Broome is a melting pot of cultures and home to Australia’s pearling history. Historic Chinatown overlooks Roebuck Bay, the jumping off point for cruises to local pearl farms.

Cable Beach has nearly 14 miles of stunning white beaches and turquoise water, offering a dramatic backdrop for camel rides at sunset. At Gantheaume Point you can see dinosaur tracks in the red rocks at low tide.

Days 5 to 14: Embark on Kimberley Cruise

This afternoon transfer to Broome harbour in good time to board your small ship Kimberley expedition cruise, departing at 17.00.

The vast Kimberley region is a rugged land, carved by the powerful forces of nature. This sparsely populated UNESCO World Heritage Site covers the entire northwestern corner of Australia, an area of over 155,000 square miles. It is an ancient landscape of towering cliffs, gorges and plunging waterfalls, with wide savanna plains and rock art dating back over 40,000 years. It is regarded as one of the world’s last wilderness frontiers, and an expedition cruise is one of the best ways to explore it - giving access to incredible places otherwise unreachable.

Accompanied by expert guides, retrace the steps of Lieutenant Phillip Parker King who first charted this spectacular coastline over 200 years ago. Later in the season you can also witness migrating humpback whales. Cruise itineraries are flexible to take advantage of changing weather and reef conditions, but highlights include the following:

King George River & Falls, which are the highest twin falls in Western Australia at 80m. We cruise through steep-sided gorges to reach the base of the falls, and in waterfall season we cruise in our zodiacs under the mist of the falls. In later months we view the honeycomb erosion patterns of the sandstone cliffs up close.

Vansittart Bay is home to many cultural significant sites, including the remarkable Jar Island with its Gwion Gwion style rock art galleries. Nearby is the wreckage of a US Air Force C-53 Skytrooper aircraft.

Carved through layers of sandstone, Mitchell Falls descends over four tiers, creating pools of emerald green on each level. An optional helicopter flight will provide a breathtaking view over the Kimberley landscape and the falls. Alternatively explore the sandstone caves of Hathaway’s Hideaway. Swift Bay also has a series of fine rock art galleries.

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 of ochre-hued escarpments. White-bellied sea eagles and other birds are often seen here, and at low tide mudflats reveal large populations of mudskippers and mangrove crabs. We cruise up Porosus Creek to spot wildlife and later explore more rock art sites.

Running along a straight fault line, Prince Regent River is a haven for native wildlife species. Here we cruise to beautiful King Cascade ‘hanging garden’, where falling water tumbles down a terrace of Kimberley sandstone surrounded by grasses and ferns. Later we see the Mermaid Tree, an enormous baobab tree that still bears the name of Lieutenant Phillip Parker King’s ship, carved when the HMC Mermaid was repaired here in 1820.

Montgomery Reef covers over 115 square miles. As the sea recedes in mammoth tides, the reef rises from the ocean in a cascade of rushing water. 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 of the reef and its wildlife.

Raft Point guards the entrance to sheltered Doubtful Bay, which harbours significant sites such as the ancient Wandjina rock art galleries. Visit Red Cone Creek and beautiful Ruby Falls and climb up the rock formations to reach the freshwater swimming hole. Other sites we may visit here include the Sale River and Steep Island.

Due to the mammoth tides the Kimberley is renowned for, the Horizontal Falls are created as the ocean thunders through a narrow gorge in the McLarty Ranges. Experience a heart-pumping ride through the rapids aboard our zodiacs.

The Lacepedes Islands are a rookery for brown boobies and roseate terns, as well as many other species. These low-lying islands are also an important habitat for green turtles, which are often spotted here. If conditions permit, we will explore the lagoon by zodiac.

Note: You need to be relatively mobile to enjoy an expedition cruise, as you will be embarking and disembarking each day using inflatable zodiac boats.

Days 15 & 16: Arrive in Darwin

Disembark in Darwin this morning at the end of your incredible cruise, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory. It is a former frontier outpost and the gateway to the massive Kakadu National Park.

The waterfront area has several beaches, as well as green areas such as Bicentennial Park. Near the water is the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, which displays Southeast Asian and Pacific art. You can also see an historic lugger (wooden sailing vessel) that was used for pearling and other seafaring vessels.

Outside the town, you can take a day tour to the tropical wilderness of Litchfield National Park, with its lovely waterfalls and enjoy crocodile spotting along the Adelaide River. You can also take a day tour to Kakadu, Australia’s largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the desert museum at Burrungkuy (Nourlangie), with its stunning rock paintings, and learn about Kakadu’s indigenous history at the Warradjan Aboriginal Centre. Also see crocodiles on a cruise along the Yellow Water billabong.

A harbour sunset cruise is a lovely way to end your day.

Day 17: Fly Home

Transfer to Darwin Airport for your flight home.

Note: Cruise is available in both directions. From Darwin you can take The Ghan luxury train across the Outback to Alice Springs, from where you can travel on to Uluru (Ayers Rock).

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a room only basis, with full board and selected beer and wine on the cruise. All transfer are included. International and domestic flights are not included and will be quoted separately.

We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance. The FCO should also be consulted.