Arnhem Land and Kimberley Coast Cruise
Explore the remote and beautiful Kimberley Coast by luxury ship, MS Caledonian Sky as you cruise from Broome to Darwin. Enjoy the rare and tranquil beauty of the vast bays and waterfalls along the way including famous Horizontal Falls. Day 1 - Broome
Arrive in Broome and be transferred to your boutique ship, the MS Caledonian Sky, for what promises to be an epic journey. Enjoy dinner on board as you set sail.
Accommodation: Ten Nights: MS Caledonian Sky
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 - Adele Island, Buccaneer Archipelago
Arrive at picturesque Adele Island today, and explore this important location for breeding seabirds. Later, cruise the spectacular Buccaneer Archipelago, home to more than 800 islands.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 3 - Talbot Bay, Horizontal Falls
Heading to Talbot Bay, known for its massive 12-metre tides that create the unique Horizontal Falls. Subject to tidal conditions, embark on a high powered fast boast ride.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 4 - Raft Point, Doubtful Bay, Montgomery Reef
Cruise through Doubtful Bay and land at Raft Point to visit an ancient Wandjina rock art site with a local guide. Embark on a unforgettable adventure as the magnificent Montgomery Reef ‘rises’ out of the ocean as the tidal waters cascade into the surrounding channels. Board your zodiac to experience this natural phenomenon up close and discover the reefs diverse marine life.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 5 - Careening Bay, Prince Regent Reserve, St George’s Basin
Explore Careening Bay, where Phillip Parker King was forced to beach his damaged ship HMC Mermaid in 1820 and see the bay’s boab tree. Then visit Prince Regent Nature Reserve and cruise St George’s Basin.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 6 - Prince Frederick Harbour, Hunter River
Arrive at Prince Frederick Harbour, home to a pristine eco-system, boasting wildlife like saltwater crocodiles and mudskippers. Explore the Hunter River and visit Naturalist Island where an optional helicopter excursion to Mitchell Falls departs (own expense).
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 7 - Bigge Island
Off the coast of the Kimberley, approximately six kilometres from the mainland, Bigge Island is well known for its Indigenous rock art, which was created by the Wunambal people. In caves throughout the island, see examples of first contact art depicting tall ships and the mysterious Wandjina figures.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 8 - Vansittart Bay, Jar Island
View the wreckage of a US Air Force DC3. Later, visit Jar Island and discover the island’s outstanding rock art gallery. See examples of the Kimberley’s Bradshaw (Gwion Gwion) paintings.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 9 - Koolama Bay, King George River and Falls
Wake up in Koolama Bay before arriving at King George River. The highlight is sure to be King George Falls, the highest single drop falls in Western Australia, it plunges approximately 80 metres over a magnificent sandstone cliff.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 10 - At sea
Enjoy your ship’s facilities today, perhaps with a drink on the Sun Deck.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 11 - Darwin
Arrive in Darwin and spend the day at leisure, or relax on board as you prepare to explore the Arnhem Land coast.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast Dinner
Day 12 - Cobourg Peninsula, Victoria Settlement
This morning, visit Port Essington, an inlet and historic site located on the Cobourg Peninsula. Here you will rejoice in the majesty of nature, from pristine beaches, lush rainforest areas, mangrove swamps to coral reefs. Follow the Port Essington coastline to Victoria Settlement, a military outpost that British Royal Marines attempted to establish in 1838. Your guide will lead a captivating walk through the settlement recounting the hardship they faced in such a harsh tropical environment. Afterwards, choose between an exploration of the Victoria Settlement hospital camp, complete with stunning views over the Arafura Sea. Alternatively, embark on a fascinating walk through the Eastern Paperbark Wetland.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 13 - Goulburn Islands
Your Zodiac delivers you to South Goulburn Island, where you’ll encounter a traditional Welcome to Country ceremony by the friendly locals. Here you may choose to visit a local arts and crafts centre, tour the island and stop to take in the natural landscapes, or listen to a presentation of local life and harvesting of Trepang.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 14 - Elcho Island
Today, your Indigenous art experience continues into the Yolngu settlement of Galwin’ku, located at the southern tip of Elcho Island. Here you will experience art the local way. Visit Indigenous-owned art centres in Galwin’ku and see stunning examples of local craft including bark paintings, woven pandanus baskets, carvings and shell jewellery. Typical artwork in Elcho Island is brightly coloured, with intense and intricate designs. In 2006, a selection of Elcho Island works were exhibited in Paris. You’ll gain an insight into living in such a remote location through a tour of the gallery and the Galwin’ku Health Centre. This afternoon, head to the picturesque and uninhabited Drysdale Island for a leisurely walk along the beach before dinner back on your ship.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 15 - Maningrida
Cruise to Maningrida by Zodiac and visit the Maningrida Art Centre and Museum, which supports emerging and mid-career artists from the local region. Here you’ll find exceptional artwork of high quality and cultural integrity. Following a delicious lunch back on board your elegant ship, embark on a Zodiac cruise along the magnificent Liverpool River and keep an eye out for the incredible range of native wildlife that thrive in this area. From crocodiles with their mouths ajar basking in the sun, to soaring sea eagles, the diverse ecosystem thrives in the pristine conditions here. Another tantalising dinner awaits this evening.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 16 - Black Point Ranger Station, Garig Gunak Barlu National Park
Relax and enjoy a leisurely morning on board before lunch. Afterwards, voyage by Zodiac to Black Point Ranger Station and discover the history of the area. You may enjoy a chance sighting of the diverse bird life in the nearby wetlands. With your Expedition Team, walk through the rugged bushland of Garig Gunak Barlu National Park and head towards the coastal lookout. Make sure you have your camera handy to capture the stunning vistas, taking in the ochre sands, lush vegetation and emerald waters.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 17 - Tiwi Islands: Bathurst Island, Melville Island
Wake to the serenity of the Tiwi Islands, where you’ll disembark to explore the first of the two islands, Bathurst Island. Enjoy a locally guided tour through the community of Nguiu. Spend time with the locals while they work on their weaving and painting, while enjoying some damper and billy tea. Then, visit the museum to see traditional works that depict Tiwi Dreamtime stories. Then, enjoy a demonstration of totem dances and a smoking ceremony. Later, enjoy a Zodiac cruise through the intricate creek systems of Melville Island (subject to weather and tidal conditions).
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 18 - Disembark Ship, Depart Darwin
After breakfast, disembark your ship and be transferred to Darwin airport.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast
