Australia's Iconic Kimberley

Australia's only tropical capital city, Darwin is rich in culture and ethnically diverse. While the Northern Territory boasts some of the most incredible wildlife on the planet, the city's museums celebrate the city's past and the galleries showcase the region's rich indigenous art. Ships will dock at Fort Hill Wharf.

Top Things to Do in Darwin:

• cruise the Darwin Harbour
• explore Litchfield or Kakadu National Park
• visit the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
• take a Jumping Crocodile Cruise
• visit the Darwin Botanic Gardens

The King George River, located in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia, is renowned for its dramatic landscapes and pristine wilderness. The river is famous for the towering King George Falls, one of Australia's tallest waterfalls, where twin cascades plunge 80 meters into a gorge. A boat tour or scenic flight offers breathtaking views of this natural spectacle.

The river’s untouched environment is home to diverse wildlife, including saltwater crocodiles and numerous bird species. Exploring the river by boat allows visitors to appreciate the stunning red sandstone cliffs and lush vegetation.

Jar Island contains ancient rock art galleries depicting the Gwion Gwion style unique to the Kimberley region. Mainly neglected by, or unknown to, the early European researchers of Aboriginal culture in the Kimberley in favour of the dominant and more dramatic Wandjina art, Gwion Gwion art has in recent years gained world prominence.

It is generally thought that this art may extend back to over 30,000 years before our time and represents the first wave of seagoing colonisers of the Australian continent. As it is, these are the oldest detailed depiction of human figures in the world. Join your Expedition Team ashore for a short walk, past some fascinating rock formations, to the site of the Gwion Gwion art galleries.

Ashmore Reef, a remote coral atoll in the Timor Sea off the northwest coast of Australia, is a protected marine park renowned for its biodiversity and significance as a breeding ground for seabirds and marine life. This isolated reef complex comprises several sand cays surrounded by vibrant coral gardens that teem with an array of sea creatures including turtles, reef sharks, and countless species of tropical fish.

Access to Ashmore Reef is highly regulated to protect its delicate ecosystems, with visits typically by Zodiac excursion. Experience a unique opportunity to view the natural beauty and marine diversity of the reef without disturbing the habitat; a pristine example of marine conservation in action.

Careening Bay, located on the northern coast of Western Australia, is a historic and scenic site known for its connection to early maritime exploration. The bay is famous for the "Mermaid Tree," an ancient boab tree inscribed by the crew of the HMS Mermaid in 1820 during a repair stop. This living relic provides a fascinating glimpse into the region's nautical history.

The surrounding Kimberley coastline boasts rugged beauty, with dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches, and clear turquoise waters. It's an excellent spot for boating, fishing, and exploring tidal flats.

The Bonaparte Archipelago, is a stunningly rugged maze of islands stretching almost 150 km along Western Australia's remote Kimberley coast. Its colour and scale conspire to take ones’ breath away. Its distant location has meant it has remained an unspoilt and remarkably pristine location to explore and experience. Phillip Parker King named “Swift's Bay" after Jonathon Swift (1667-1745) the author of Gulliver’s travels.

The ‘T’ shaped bay is composed of heavily fractured sandstone providing an abundance of rock shelters. On the walls of these shelters are examples of both Wandjina and Gwion Gwion style rock art. Join your expedition team ashore for a guided walk to a number of rock art galleries depicting these unique rock art styles.

Arguably one of the most scenic parts of the Kimberley coast, Prince Frederick Harbour and the Hunter River are lined with ancient rainforest pockets, pristine mangroves and mosaic sandstone cliffs. They are considered to be some of the most pristine mangrove forests in the world, containing up to 18 different species, supporting a rich and diverse fauna.

The sandstone escarpment at the river mouth, known as "Kampamantiya" rises over 200 metres high before giving way to extensive mud banks and mangrove forests home to numerous bird species and the iconic saltwater crocodile. Our expert Expedition Team will share their knowledge with you as you explore this pristine mangrove environment by zodiac keeping a constant lookout for wildlife. You will also have the opportunity to reach the Mitchell Falls by helicopter from Naturalist Island beach.

Lying to the east of the Buccaneer archipelago, the ancient landscapes of Collier Bay have been shaped by the massive tidal movements the region is renowned for, creating a photographer’s paradise. With a tidal range exceeding 14 metres, recorded near Yule entrance at the southern end of the bay, they are among the largest in the world. This massive daily movement of water creates unique phenomena that occur nowhere else in the world.

Nestled in the centre of the Bay is Montgomery Reef, the world’s largest inshore reef system. As the tide falls a raging torrent of water cascades off the top of the reef, creating turbulent ‘rivers’ and mini waterfalls. At the Southern end of the Bay, Talbot Bay is home to the world’s only ’Horizontal Falls’ described by Sir David Attenborough as “One of the greatest wonders of the natural world.” Hidden in the many caves and grottos of this ancient landscape are a multitude of ancient Rock Art galleries. Here you can find spectacular examples of the Wandjina and Gwion Gwion styles. As we are at the mercy of weather and tide conditions in this region, the activities mentioned above are only possible experiences and can’t be guaranteed.

The Lacepede Islands, located off the Kimberley coast of Western Australia, are a wildlife haven known for their rich marine and birdlife. This group of four low-lying islands is a crucial nesting site for green sea turtles and a breeding ground for numerous seabirds, including the brown booby and lesser frigatebird.

Accessible by boat, the islands offer exceptional opportunities for wildlife observation and photography. The surrounding waters are teeming with marine life, making snorkeling and diving popular activities. With their pristine natural environment and vibrant ecosystems, the Lacepede Islands provide a unique and memorable experience for nature enthusiasts visiting this remote part of Australia.

A pearling town celebrated for its Indian Ocean sunsets and rugged beauty, Broome also serves as gateway to the grand wilderness of the Kimberley region. The town is surrounded by lush green mangroves and mudflats along Roebuck Bay, but the interior is dry and rugged. Ships dock at Broome cruise terminal.

Top Things to Do in Broome:

• visit Willie Creek Pearl Farm
• ride a camel on Cable Beach
• take a scenic flight over the Buccaneer Archipelago and the Horizontal Falls
• visit Gantheaume Point at low tide to see dinosaur footprints