"Coral Expeditions" Kimberley Icons, Ashmore & Rowley Shoals (Darwin - Broome or reverse) 13D12N

All aboard your Coral Expeditions ship for the adventure of a lifetime. Boarding commences at 4:00pm at Darwin’s Fort Hill Wharf, where there is time to settle into your stateroom before the 5:00pm departure. Take time to familiarise yourself with all the facilities onboard before meeting your fellow travellers, the Captain and crew for the Captain’s Welcome Drinks as you cruise across Josef Bonaparte Gulf and into Western Australia.

Cruise down the scenic King George River through steep-sided gorges carved by a flooded river system dating back over 400 million years ago. Get up close to the rock face and admire the unique honeycomb erosion patterns that rise over 80-metres (262ft).

Pay a visit to Swifts Bay (Warrabii West), named for Jonathan Swift, the author of Gulliver’s Travels. This ‘T’-shaped bay is composed of broken sandstone that has created an abundance of rock shelters. On the walls of these shelters, you will find stunning examples of both Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) and Wandjina rock art.

Delve deep into Ashmore Reef Marine Park and the Cartier Islands. Located 840-kilometres (522mi) west of Darwin and 610-kilometres (379mi), this marine park is one of the most remote in Australia – a sanctuary for seabirds, shorebirds, marine turtles, dugongs, and many other marine species. Each year around 100,000 seabirds breed here including crested terns, white-tailed tropic birds and greater frigate birds. Tens of thousands of migratory shorebirds also turn up to feed including curlew sandpipers, bar tailed godwits and great knots.

Spend time birdwatching, swimming and snorkelling the pristine reef. Under the water you will find over 70 species of fish and 255 varieties of coral.

Discover another isolated coral reef system, Scott Reef. Rising steeply from the depths of north-western Australia’s continental shelf, this group of atoll-like reefs is one of the most ecologically significant marine environments in the world – a sanctuary for nesting giant sea turtles, pygmy blue whales, and the extremely rare dwarf sperm whale.

Spend time swimming and snorkelling the pristine reef. Under the water you will find around 720 species of fish and more than 300 species of reef-building corals including rare deep water photosynthetic corals. Keen fishermen can also try their luck fishing for sailfish, wahoo, yellowfin, dogtooth, coral trout and more.

Back on board, enjoy history and nature interpretations from your Expedition Team.

Discover the beautiful and remote Adele Island, a fishhook-shaped nature reserve located 104km (65mi) off the coast of Western Australia. The island is classified by Birdlife International as an Important Bird Area for its seabirds and waders including Australian pelicans, lesser frigate bird, brown booby, grey tailed tattler and red necked stint. The surrounding reef is also home to a unique rollolith habitat – rolloliths are benthic organisms that grow as unattached free-living organisms that grow as unattached free-living spherical colonies enabling live tissue to cover the entire colony surface.

Spend time swimming and snorkelling the unique reef and learn why it is of great scientific interest as it provides an environmental link between the Kimberley’s oceanic and inshore reef systems.

Immerse yourself in Montgomery Reef, the world’s largest inshore reef. Take a tender to witness an astonishing marine spectacle as the reef is transformed by some of the biggest tidal changes on Earth. When the tide falls, the coral reef appears to rise from the ocean in a torrent of cascading water and a plethora of marine life makes its escape – manta rays, octopuses, reef sharks turtles and even dugongs and dolphins. Then, a few hours later, the entire waterborne drama is reversed as the tide comes in and the reef disappears below sea level.

Venture into Raft Point, the entrance to Doubtful Bay, a vast body of sheltered water that was once considered a ‘doubtful’ entrance to the mythical inland sea. Under the watch of a Traditional Owner, disembark to explore some of the Kimberley’s most extraordinary Wandjina rock art galleries.

In the afternoon, cruise down Red Cone Creek to the small but impressive Ruby Falls. Named by local mariner Captain Chris Trucker after his daughter, Red Cone Creek is carved through rock formations stacked atop each other like building blocks. These rock walls are ideal for climbing and clambering over before reaching a series of freshwater swimming holes and waterfalls. The falls may be a gurgling torrent or a gentle trickle, depending on the time of year.

You may also visit Steep Island, known for its ancient red rock walls and pebble beaches.

Say hello to one of the Kimberley Coast’s most famous icons, the Horizontal Falls. Described by David Attenborough as “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world”, this unique “sideways” waterfall is formed by fast moving tidal currents squeezing between two narrow gorges. The tidal ranges in this area can exceed 10-metres (33ft) and the direction of the flow reverses ensuring the water flows two different ways each day. Take a tender for an up close and exhilarating ride through this natural phenomenon.

Admire the impressive rock formations of Cyclone Creek before cruising through the 1000 islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago. This remote area consists of some 800-1,000 rocky islands with small embayments and secluded white sandy beaches. Pass through the Iron Islands and skirt the edge of Koolan Island before enjoying sunset drinks at Nares Point.

Delve deep into the Lacepede Islands, a group of 4 low-lying islands located just off the Kimberley Coast. The Lacepede Islands are an A-class reserve – rats were eradicated in 1986, enabling recolonisation by nesting seabirds. The Islands are Western Australia’s most important breeding ground for green turtles and an important hub for 1% of the world’s Brown Boobie and Roseate Tern populations.

If the weather and tide conditions are suitable, explore the lagoons by Xplorer and Zodiac tender vessels.

Cap off your incredible Coral Expedition with a visit to Rowley Shoals Marine Park. Located at the edge of the continental shelf and comprised of 3 coral atolls of untouched coral gardens and clear lagoons, Rowley Shoals is a true watery wilderness – home to some of the most spectacular diving and snorkeling sites in the world.

Conditions permitting, spend 1-2 days exploring the Clerk and perhaps Imperieuse Reefs, with ample time for snorkeling and diving. With each atoll covering approximately 90 square kilometres (35sqmi), there is plenty to see including giant potato cod, Maori wrasse, at least 233 species of coral, and 688 species of fish – many of which are not found on other coral reefs. Water clarity here is absolutely unparalleled, making for superb underwater photography opportunities.

Guided by the onboard marine biologist, delve deep into the coral gardens of ‘The Aquarium’ at Clerke Reef, or dive along the sheer vertical walls and through coral canyons. Try a drift snorkel in the channel, or beach comb on Bedwell Island, keeping an eye out for the red-tailed tropic bird that roosts here.

On your final evening, enjoy the captain’s farewell drinks and reminisce with newfound friends on the adventure of a lifetime.

All good things must come to an end! After breakfast, say farewell to the crew and disembark in Broome at 8:00am to commence your onward journey. A post cruise transfer to Cable Beach, CBD hotel or airport is included.

NOTE: The itinerary is indicative. No two expedition cruises will be the same, with each expedition crafted by the experienced Masters and Expedition Leaders. Throughout the expedition we may make changes to the itinerary as necessary to maximise your expeditionary experience. Allowances may be made for seasonal variations, weather, tidal conditions and any other event that may affect the operation of the vessel. We suggest that you do not arrive on the day of embarkation or depart on the day of disembarkation due to any changes that may occur in scheduling.