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Trip Style
Small Ship Cruise
Accommodation
4 - 4.5 Star
Max. Group Size
23
Guide Level
Fully Guided, Locally Guided
Trip Code
GKKCB20
Overview
Read reviews and enjoy exclusive savings on APT's 20 Day Essence of the Kimberley with Grand Kimberley Coast. Discover the vast wilderness of El Questro to the fiery red landscapes of Purnululu National Park, you'll be left captivated. Continue the adventure with a small ship coastal cruise along the spectacular Kimberley Coast for nine nights.
Itinerary
Arrive in Broome, and be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Stay: Broome, Oaks Cable Beach Resort or similar
Journey along the Gibb River to Windjana Gorge, where ancient marine fossils lay embedded in the gorge walls. Next it's on to Tunnel Creek, Western Australia's oldest cave system. Wade through the cool waters that fill the tunnel and discover a serene oasis on the other side. Later, continue to Fitzroy Crossing where you'll stay tonight. Stay: Fitzroy Crossing, Fitzroy River Lodge (B/L/D)
Travel to Danggu Geikie Gorge National Park today and explore incredible Geikie Gorge, famed for its towering walls that have been bleached white by the river when it floods. Afterwards, head to Halls Creek, before arriving at Purnululu National Park. Stay Two Nights: APT's exclusive Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge (B/L/D)
A full day has been set aside for you to explore Purnululu National Park today, starting with a walk along Piccaninny Creek. Your next stop is Cathedral Gorge, a natural amphitheatre of red rock, created by millions of years of water erosion. Tonight, end your day with an unforgettable Signature Experience. (B/L/D)
Signature Experiences:
Signature Experiences:
- Watch the sunset over the Bungle Bungle Range – with a glass of bubbly in hand, of course.
Today's highlight is a hike to Echidna Chasm. Venture deep into this natural cleft in the rock, which reaches up to 200 metres in height despite its narrow width. Afterwards, continue to Kununurra. Stay: Kununurra Country Club Resort (B/L/D)
A wildlife cruise on the mighty Ord River provides a front-row seat to the area's unique wildlife and flora this morning. Next it's time to travel back to Kununurra before making the journey to El Questro. Stay: El Questro, Emma Gorge Resort (B/L/D)
After a Signature Experience this morning, hike to Emma Gorge, where you might like to go for a swim beneath the waterfall. Tonight you'll be treated to views over the Cockburn Range during sunset. Stay: Home Valley Station (B/L/D)
Signature Experiences:
Signature Experiences:
- Head to the beautiful Zebedee Springs and relax as you soak in the thermal pools.
At Manning Gorge, enjoy lunch in the shade of boab trees. Continue to Galvans Gorge, where a short walk leads to a waterhole. Admire the Wandjina rock art on the gorge wall before travelling to Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge. Stay Two Nights: APT's exclusive Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge (B/L/D)
Travel to Bell Gorge today, where towering cliffs surround a series of tiered waterholes. You might like to hike to the lower pool of the gorge and enjoy a refreshing dip in the waterfall below, or enjoy a spot of bird-watching. (B/L/D)
Venture into the Wunaamin Range Conservation Park, then travel along the Gibb River Road to Derby, stopping at the Mowanjum Art and Culture Centre along the way. Stop by the Boab Prison Tree before arriving back in Broome later this afternoon. Stay: Broome, Oaks Cable Beach Resort or similar (B/L)
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and have free time before transferring to your expedition ship. A relaxed dinner this evening sets the tone for the next nine nights on board. Stay Nine Nights: MS Caledonian Sky (B/D)
There's promise of turquoise waters today as your ship arrives in the Buccaneer Archipelago, home to more than 800 islands. Cruise to Adele Island and join your expedition team member for an exploration of this remote coastal area by Zodiac. The island is surrounded by Adele Reef, teeming with an array of coral and marine life, including reef sharks and stingrays. (B/L/D)
Today your ship cruises through to Talbot Bay, known for its epic 12-metre tides that create an astonishing natural spectacle, the Horizontal Falls. Here, enjoy a Signature Experience. The adventure continues as you jump aboard your Zodiac vessel for an exploration of Cyclone Creek. See dramatic folding in the rock formations as you navigate through the creek, accompanied by your expedition team member. It is here you'll experience your first Signature Experience. (B/L/D)
Signature Experiences:
Signature Experiences:
- Subject to tidal conditions, set out on a thrilling ride through the falls aboard a high-powered fast boat. Hold on tight as your boat skims across Talbot Bay to the mouth of the falls before making its way through the churning waters.
Start your day with a phenomenal Signature Experience. Then, cruise through Doubtful Bay, a hotspot for whale watching during the season. Later, step ashore at Raft Point to visit an ancient Wandjina rock art site. When available, you'll be joined by a local Indigenous guide. (B/L/D)
Signature Experiences:
Signature Experiences:
- Excitement builds this morning as you join your expedition team for an in-depth exploration of Montgomery Reef by Zodiac. Witness the reef rise out of the ocean as the tidal waters cascade rapidly into the surrounding channels. Keep an eye out for unique bird life and turtles who may pop their heads up from time to time.
Your expedition ship arrives at Prince Frederick Harbour today, home to soaring red cliffs and mangroves. With its extreme tides and pristine ecosystems, the harbour is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including saltwater crocodiles and mudskippers. Keen birdwatchers should keep an eye out for kingfishers, egrets, herons and white-bellied sea eagles.
It's time to jump aboard your Zodiac vessels for an exploration of the Hunter River and Naturalist Island. As your day of discovery draws to a close, you might choose to set out on a helicopter flight and view the natural spectacle of Mitchell Falls from above (own expense). (B/L/D)
Discover Bigge Island today, known for its Indigenous rock art created by the Wunambal people. During your time here, take in a Signature Experience. (B/L/D)
Signature Experiences:
Signature Experiences:
- In caves throughout the island, see examples of first contact art depicting European tall ships dating from the 15th to 18th century. Having been repainted annually for the past 5,000 years, it is thought to be the oldest continuous sacred painting tradition on the planet.
An intriguing exploration of Vansittart Bay awaits today. Join your expedition team and set out across the bay's vast salt flats to view the wreckage of a US Air Force C-53 that crash landed on the beach during World War II. Later, step ashore at Jar Island and see examples of mysterious Bradshaw (Gwion Gwion) paintings, dating back some 20,000 years. (B/L/D)
Wake this morning as your ship cruises into Koolama Bay. Hear how this harbour was renamed following the Japanese bombing of the MV Koolama in 1942. Next, it's on to King George River. Join your expedition team and jump aboard a Zodiac to meander through the river's gorge system, passing hidden mangrove-fringed coves and soaring red cliffs. (B/L/D)
Signature Experiences:
Signature Experiences:
- Anticipation builds as your Zodiac approaches King George Falls, plunging 80 metres over a towering sandstone cliff. Edge closer to this epic cascade and learn how it turns to a raging torrent during the monsoonal wet season.
Enjoy a full day to relax at sea and take in a presentation from your Expedition Team. Learn about the fascinating ecology of Australia's most remote coastline, one that is dominated by some of the most dramatic tidal conditions on Earth. Hear stories of the rich World War II history and get prepared to discover ancient Indigenous culture that dates back for tens of thousands of years.
Take time to relax as you feel the pleasant pristine air of the Timor Sea fill your lungs and then take advantage of the Open Bridge policy for the chance to make acquaintances with your ship's Captain. After dinner tonight, make your way to the Lounge for the evening entertainment. (B/L/D)
Arriving into Darwin this morning means it's time to say goodbye to your ship and to be transferred to the airport. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- Watch the sunset over the iconic Bungle Bungle Range with a glass of bubbly
- Discover ancient Indigenous rock art in a number of Kimberley locations
- Embark on a thrilling fast boat ride through the spectacular Horizontal Falls
- Experiences in 25 destinations
- The services of an expert APT driver-guide and 10-member expedition team
- Locally-inspired dining – a total of 53 meals and a wide range of onboard beverages
- Stay at APT's exclusive network of Wilderness Lodges
- Nine nights aboard the MS Caledonian Sky with daily excursions on Zodiac vessels
- Itineraries and inclusions are subject to change
- High Zodiac Activity – This expedition cruise uses Zodiacs for most excursions
- Travel insurance is mandatory on all cruises
- Cruising itineraries are subject to change due to tidal conditions and may be modified on board your ship
- Prices includes airport transfers, port charges and park fees
- Prices are for land/cruise only. Flights not included
Trip Reviews (1) Most Recent 'Essence of the Kimberley with Grand Kimberley Coast' Reviews
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Our 20 day Essence of the Kimberley with Grand Kimberley Coast tour was fabulous. However, we also had several events that happened to make it a little unsettling. First of all, our luggage did not arrive when we reached Broome on a Saturday, and there was no flight from Brisbane-Sydney to Broome until Tuesday - another 3 days! No one at the Broome ...read more airport to help either. Eventually we got a form to fill out and was told to wait until Qantas contacted us. We went to our hotel (Oaks Cable Beach - not the hotel that the tour was leaving from), spent the night there, then checked out and went to Cable Beach Club Resort where the tour would be leaving from the next morning.
Spoke to Mas from APT on Sunday, who tried her best to see where our luggage might be or when it might arrive. Our tour was leaving 7.00am on Monday morning! We had one change of clothes and minimal toiletries. APT suggested we purchase extra clothing and essentials and that they would get our luggage out to us as soon as possible. But they wanted us to join the tour. On a Sunday afternoon around 4.00pm, we managed to find a store open, KMart, bought a large bag and about $300 worth of basic essentials to start the trip. It is June and weather is cold at night and warm in the day. After returning to our hotel, later that evening, our luggage arrived! Thank goodness! But it was after we'd purchased extra goods.
So we were ready to start our 20 day Kimberley Tour. We're thankful that APT were as helpful as possible under the circumstances. It was disappointing that there wasn't a welcome dinner on the first night so we could've met the driver and other passengers. 7.00am Monday morning we start off on our tour. A full bus of 22 passengers. (We thought the maximum number of passengers was 20!) The air-conditioning wasn't working well, so Richard the Driver, Tour Leader, dropped all of us off in Broome town for an hour while he got the bus looked at at the depot. We got a new bus with better air-conditioning. So off we set. All going really well and enjoying the trip. Day 7, on drive to Manning Creek, we got punctures - 2 flat tyres! Fortunately we were near a rest stop with toilets, so we had morning tea while the 2 tyres were being changed. Off we go! Further down the road, we got another puncture and flat tyre! No spare tyres now!! Richard phoned for help with his satellite phone, but we were stuck in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the day, with little shade. We waited over 2 hours for help to arrive so we could continue on. But the air compression brakes weren't working properly, so it was a slow trip to Bell Gorge, and no activities that day.
Fortunately, Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge is fantastic and so was the food. Excellent, after a difficult day. All praise goes to Richard, the driver, and one of our passengers who helped with the tyres and getting us on the road again. It was good to get back to Broome and Cable Beach Resort Club and be able to do some washing before starting on our cruise. It was disappointing that there wasn't a final dinner or gathering when we arrived in Broome. We'd been through a lot together and it would've been nice to have one last meal or drink together once we'd arrived in Broome. The things we saw and experienced on the land tour through the Kimberleys was fantastic and despite our flat tyres, it was a great trip. We highly commend Richard, our driver, for getting us through some difficult times.
6 couples from the land tour also went on the cruise. The entire cruise was great and enjoyed everything...food, service, guides, experiences. Amazing to see some of the natural wonders of the area. It was great to see the Kimberleys from both sides...land and sea. It was truly amazing. We'd highly recommend doing this trip and seeing the Kimberleys from both sides. Many people only do the cruise, or just the land tours, but they're missing out of half of the beauty it offers. APT were helpful with our luggage delay and we're thankful for that. Whether the bus could've been in better condition, I can't say. We found that just having one person to be driver, tour leader, and everything else is probably too big a job. All of us on our tour felt that there should be a driver and a tour leader. The roads are so bad in some areas, that to navigate the roads was difficult enough, without having to give information about the countryside, what bird it that, what vegetation is that, how old are these ranges, etc, etc, and then also set up our roadside lunches, make sure everyone has enough water and is safe on the walks, and some of the walks were difficult. Overall...it was a thoroughly enjoyable trip and well worth it. I booked through Global Journeys and are happy with their service. Thank you.
Spoke to Mas from APT on Sunday, who tried her best to see where our luggage might be or when it might arrive. Our tour was leaving 7.00am on Monday morning! We had one change of clothes and minimal toiletries. APT suggested we purchase extra clothing and essentials and that they would get our luggage out to us as soon as possible. But they wanted us to join the tour. On a Sunday afternoon around 4.00pm, we managed to find a store open, KMart, bought a large bag and about $300 worth of basic essentials to start the trip. It is June and weather is cold at night and warm in the day. After returning to our hotel, later that evening, our luggage arrived! Thank goodness! But it was after we'd purchased extra goods.
So we were ready to start our 20 day Kimberley Tour. We're thankful that APT were as helpful as possible under the circumstances. It was disappointing that there wasn't a welcome dinner on the first night so we could've met the driver and other passengers. 7.00am Monday morning we start off on our tour. A full bus of 22 passengers. (We thought the maximum number of passengers was 20!) The air-conditioning wasn't working well, so Richard the Driver, Tour Leader, dropped all of us off in Broome town for an hour while he got the bus looked at at the depot. We got a new bus with better air-conditioning. So off we set. All going really well and enjoying the trip. Day 7, on drive to Manning Creek, we got punctures - 2 flat tyres! Fortunately we were near a rest stop with toilets, so we had morning tea while the 2 tyres were being changed. Off we go! Further down the road, we got another puncture and flat tyre! No spare tyres now!! Richard phoned for help with his satellite phone, but we were stuck in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the day, with little shade. We waited over 2 hours for help to arrive so we could continue on. But the air compression brakes weren't working properly, so it was a slow trip to Bell Gorge, and no activities that day.
Fortunately, Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge is fantastic and so was the food. Excellent, after a difficult day. All praise goes to Richard, the driver, and one of our passengers who helped with the tyres and getting us on the road again. It was good to get back to Broome and Cable Beach Resort Club and be able to do some washing before starting on our cruise. It was disappointing that there wasn't a final dinner or gathering when we arrived in Broome. We'd been through a lot together and it would've been nice to have one last meal or drink together once we'd arrived in Broome. The things we saw and experienced on the land tour through the Kimberleys was fantastic and despite our flat tyres, it was a great trip. We highly commend Richard, our driver, for getting us through some difficult times.
6 couples from the land tour also went on the cruise. The entire cruise was great and enjoyed everything...food, service, guides, experiences. Amazing to see some of the natural wonders of the area. It was great to see the Kimberleys from both sides...land and sea. It was truly amazing. We'd highly recommend doing this trip and seeing the Kimberleys from both sides. Many people only do the cruise, or just the land tours, but they're missing out of half of the beauty it offers. APT were helpful with our luggage delay and we're thankful for that. Whether the bus could've been in better condition, I can't say. We found that just having one person to be driver, tour leader, and everything else is probably too big a job. All of us on our tour felt that there should be a driver and a tour leader. The roads are so bad in some areas, that to navigate the roads was difficult enough, without having to give information about the countryside, what bird it that, what vegetation is that, how old are these ranges, etc, etc, and then also set up our roadside lunches, make sure everyone has enough water and is safe on the walks, and some of the walks were difficult. Overall...it was a thoroughly enjoyable trip and well worth it. I booked through Global Journeys and are happy with their service. Thank you.
Prices & Dates
There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and will no longer continue. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view the general release dates for all destinations.
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by APT. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from APT. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by APT. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from APT. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
