Kimberley Coastal Expedition

Arrive in Darwin, where we'll meet you at the airport and transfer you to your expedition ship, Ponant's Le Jacques Cartier. As the newest addition to Ponant's Explorers fleet, Le Jacques Cartier offers a vast array of amenities including an outdoor swimming pool, a spa, hammam, theatre, and personalised service. Get to know your fellow travellers in one of the luxurious shared spaces, while sipping a cool drink. Savour your first exquisite meal on board, experiencing Ponant's renowned cuisine, grounded in French culinary traditions, and celebrate the adventures that await.

Today, your ship cruises into Koolama Bay. Hear how this bay was renamed following the Japanese bombing of the MV Koolama in 1942. Join your Expedition Team aboard a Zodiac to meander through King George River's gorge system, passing mangrove-fringed coves and sheer red cliffs. This evening, enjoy a Captain's welcome dinner.

Signature Experience - King George Falls Get up close and personal to the magnificent King George Falls, where the King George River tumbles 80 metres down from lofty sandstone cliffs. You'll be able to experience its power as your Zodiac creeps close to the iconic waterfall.

This morning, join your Expedition Team on an intriguing discovery. Walk across salt flats to view the wreckage of a US Air Force C-53, which crash-landed near Vansittart Bay during World War II. Later, we reposition in the bay to visit Jar Island and discover the island's outstanding rock art gallery. During your exploration here, you'll see fascinating examples of Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) paintings, dating back more than 20,000 years.

Enjoy a relaxed morning aboard your luxurious ship. This afternoon, pay a special visit to Ashmore Reef Marine Park. Located in the Timor Sea and spanning 583 square kilometres, the reef is a sanctuary for many marine species. Every year, more than 100,000 seabirds breed here, including crested terns, white-tailed tropicbirds and great frigatebirds.

In addition to the prolific birdlife, beneath the clear tropical waters, the coral reefs, seagrass meadows, sandflats and lagoons of Ashmore Reef are home to a colourful array of marine life. 255 species of reef-building coral dwell here - the greatest number of any reef on the West Australian coast. Our visit to Ashmore reef is required to ensure we comply with Australian government regulations. Pending favourable weather and sea conditions, you'll explore this sanctuary via Zodiac with your Expedition Team.

Explore Swift Bay, one of the Kimberley coast's most captivating destinations. Fringed by rugged sandstone cliffs and sheltered turquoise waters, the bay is well known for its ancient Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) and Wandjina rock art painted on the walls of caves and rock overhangs, estimated to have been created at least 5,000 years ago. Join expert guides on Zodiac excursions and on land as they reveal spectacular scenery and timeless Indigenous heritage. Keep watch for sea eagles, turtles and other wildlife as you explore this untouched wilderness. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you have the option to embark on a thrilling Enrich Your Experience activity.

Enrich Your Experience - Mitchell Falls Scenic Helicopter Flight Soar above the breathtaking Mitchell Falls on a scenic helicopter flight and enjoy an exhilarating, once-in-a-lifetime experience (additional expense).

Venture to Prince Frederick Harbour today, home to the towering red cliffs and tangled mangroves of Hunter River and Porosus Creek. With its extreme tides and pristine ecosystems, the harbour and its waterways are rich in wildlife including mudskippers and saltwater crocodiles. Porosus Creek takes its name from the scientific name for the saltwater crocodile, the magnificent creature we hope to today. Keen birdwatchers should keep a close watch for kingfishers, egrets, herons and white-bellied sea eagles.

Located approximately six kilometres from Australia's mainland, Bigge Island is ripe for discovery today. Renowned for its Indigenous rock art by the Wunambal people of the region, you'll explore a network of caves found throughout the island. Here, discover rock paintings that feature outstanding examples of first-contact art and sacred ancestral spirit beings known as Wandjina figures.

Today, visit Montgomery Reef and Freshwater Cove, where you will enjoy two Signature Experiences.

Signature Experience - Montgomery Reef Following your visit to Freshwater Cove, depart with your Expedition Team to discover Montgomery Reef by Zodiac. Soak in the amazing scenes aboard a Zodiac as Montgomery Reef dramatically rises out of the ocean as a result of the region's strong tides. Cruise through narrow channels between the world's largest inshore reef as you admire the spectacle and the incredible wildlife exposed by the cascading water.

Signature Experience - Arraluli Heritage Exploration Experience a Welcome to Country and an immersive smoking ceremony conducted by the Arraluli people, the traditional custodians of the land. Then, embark on a guided hike led by the Expedition Team to explore a mesmerising rock art site where your Aboriginal guide will offer an interpretation of the rock art. This Signature Experience offers a profound connection to the rich cultural heritage and timeless traditions of the Arraluli people .

Explore Talbot Bay and Cyclone Creek. Accompanied by your Expedition Team Leader, you'll weave nimbly past the dramatic folds of rock formations, keeping a look out for local wildlife.

Signature Experience - Horizontal Falls Today, your ship cruises through to Talbot Bay, known for its massive 12-metre tides that create the unique Horizontal Falls. Subject to tidal conditions, board a zodiac with your Expedition Team to view this natural phenomenon.

There's promise of turquoise waters today as your ship arrives in the Buccaneer Archipelago, home to more than 800 islands. Cruise to the Lacepede Islands and join your Expedition Team for an exploration of this remote coastal area by Zodiac. Known as Western Australia's most important breeding site for Green Turtles and also named by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA), the islands host one of the world's largest brown booby colony, alongside up to 20,000 roseate terns and a wealth of other seabird species.

After arriving in Broome this morning, say goodbye to your ship and be transferred to the airport.