Kimberley Complete with Coastal Expedition

Leave Broome this morning and head to the Boab Prison Tree, believed to be 1,500 years old. Continue along the Gibb River Road to Windjana Gorge, where ancient marine fossils lay embedded in the gorge walls. Next, it’s on to Tunnel Creek, which flows through Western Australia’s oldest cave system. Wade through the cool waters that fill the tunnel and emerge on the other side to discover a serene oasis.

Travel from Fitzroy Crossing to Halls Creek, which sits on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert. Continue to Purnululu National Park and check-in to the Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge, the first of your APT Luxury Wilderness Lodges. Enjoy a gourmet three-course dinner of regionally inspired cuisine with included drinks. Perhaps, gather around the campfire for a nightcap, under a glittering star-filled sky surrounded by the sounds of nature.

A full day has been set aside for you to explore Purnululu National Park today, starting with a walk along Piccaninny Creek. This winding gorge is set deep within the Bungle Bungle Range, offering unparalleled views of the beehive domes. Your next stop is Cathedral Gorge, a natural red rock amphitheatre created by millions of years of water erosion. This spacious cavern is renowned for its acoustics, and you’ll see why as you wander through it. You may like to experience an optional scenic helicopter flight over the domes.

Signature Experience – Sunset Drinks at the Bungle Bungle Range

End your day of discovery by watching the sunset over the Bungle Bungle Range. The massive beehive-shaped domes are cast in a golden glow at this time of day. Enjoy such an epic sight with a glass of bubbly in hand, of course. 

Enrich Your Experience – Bungle Bungle Helicopter Flight

Experience breathtaking views of World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park from above on a scenic helicopter flight (own expense).

Set out on a hike to Echidna Chasm, a natural cleft in the rock that reaches a staggering 200 metres in height while only being one metre wide at certain points. Later, travel along the Spring Creek Track to Kununurra. 

Travel to Lake Argyle and join a wildlife cruise on the mighty Ord River. From a modern shaded vessel, discover the area’s ecological system that has developed from the damming of the Ord River at two locations. Later, enjoy the sunset while cruising on Lake Kununurra. Keep an eye out for wildlife and soak up the views as your boat makes its way through winding creeks and picturesque lagoons.  

Explore Kununurra before heading to El Questro Wilderness Park for a Signature Experience.

Signature Experience – Zebedee Springs

Venture through a pre-historic forest of Livistona and pandanus palms before arriving at a true oasis, Zebedee Springs. This permanent natural thermal spring is tucked away in a secluded pocket of El Questro’s wilderness. Enjoy a relaxing soak in the hot springs, leaving you feeling refreshed and revitalised.

Enrich Your Experience – Upgrade Your Stay

Upgrade your stay at El Questro with an all-inclusive two-night stay at The Homestead, a secluded oasis perched above the Chamberlain River. Indulge in exceptional dining, curated experiences, and access to some of El Questro’s most breathtaking landscapes.

Hike to Emma Gorge this morning and enjoy a refreshing swim in the turquoise pool at the base of the 65-metre waterfall, surrounded by soaring colourful cliffs. Enjoy lunch, followed by a Signature Experience.

Signature Experience – Injiid Marlabu Calls Us

Join the Traditional Owners of El Questro Station, the Ngarinyin people, for a meaningful introduction to their culture and deep spiritual connection to Country. Experience ancient healing practices, hear ancient stories passed down through generations, and explore the enduring history and traditions of El Questro. Through this immersive encounter, gain a deeper understanding of Ngarinyin culture and language, fostering an appreciation of Country and the stewards who have cared for it for millennia.

Back on the Gibb River Road, ford the mighty Durack River, then turn off and travel north on the Kalumburu Road towards the isolated Mitchell Plateau. Along the way, stop at Drysdale River Station for lunch. Afterwards, enter a remote world of Livistona palm forests, panoramic lookouts, magnificent waterfalls and isolated swimming holes. Savour the enchanting Kimberley ambience as you dine under the vast night sky tonight.  

Today, enjoy a full day to discover the beauty of Mitchell Falls, with its tiered waterfalls and Indigenous rock art. When available, local Indigenous guides will join the adventure. Begin with a guided hike to Little Mertens Falls to view rarely seen rock art. Continue to Big Mertens Falls before arriving at the incredible Mitchell Falls. Go for a swim in the pools above the falls then take an included helicopter flight over Mitchell Falls and the surrounding wilderness back to your 4WD vehicle.

Signature Experience – Mitchell Falls Scenic Helicopter Flight

Set out on a thrilling helicopter flight to see Mitchell Falls in all its splendour from above. By gaining a bird’s-eye view of this remote region, you’ll not only see this iconic four-tiered Kimberley attraction, but also the surrounding gorges, emerald water pools, and soaring red cliffs.

Following a special Signature Experience, enjoy a swim in the clear waters at King Edward River. Cross Drysdale River and arrive at Drysdale River Station.  

Signature Experience – Wandjina and Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) Rock Art

Admire ancient Wandjina and Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) rock art that dates back thousands of years at a gallery in Mitchell Plateau. This artwork stakes a claim as some of the earliest figurative art, distinguished by its depiction of stick-like human figures. 

At Manning Creek, you’ll enjoy lunch by the sandy banks. Look out for the region’s bird life and enjoy a refreshing swim in the pristine water under paperbarks. Continue to Galvans Gorge, where a short walk leads to a picturesque waterhole, the ideal spot for a refreshing swim.

Back on the Gibb River Road, travel to Bell Gorge, where spectacular cliffs surround a series of tiered waterholes. Should you be feeling particularly energetic, you may take the opportunity to hike to the lower pool of the gorge and enjoy a relaxing dip below the cascading waterfall.

Back on the Gibb River Road, travel through the Wunaamin Conservation Park to Derby, where you will visit an Art Centre displaying authentic Indigenous Australian artwork. Continue to Broome where you may like to enjoy a drink before a farewell dinner at your resort.

Spend a free day in Broome, exploring this vibrant regional capital at your leisure. Take a relaxing stroll at Cable Beach, famous for its seemingly endless stretch of white sand and turquoise water. Alternatively, you can embark on the Jetty to Jetty walk, meandering through Broome’s historic zones. Later, embark your ship to begin your expedition cruise to Darwin.

The Lacepede Islands are Western Australia’s most important breeding habitat for Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) and have been named by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA). The breeding colony of Brown Boobies is possibly the largest in the world. Up to 20,000 Roseate Terns have also been recorded here. Join your Expedition Team for a guided Zodiac tour to view the prolific wildlife. There’s further promise of turquoise waters this afternoon as your ship arrives in the Buccaneer Archipelago, home to more than 800 islands. This evening, enjoy a captain’s welcome dinner.

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 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 up close.

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

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.

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 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.

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, a good indication of what we’re looking for today. Keen birdwatchers should keep a careful eye out for kingfishers, egrets, herons and white-bellied sea eagles. To enhance your day, you might choose to set out on a thrilling helicopter flight to see Mitchell Falls in all its splendour from above.

Enrich Your Experience – Mitchell Falls Scenic Helicopter Flight

Soar over the incredible and breathtaking Mitchell Falls on a scenic helicopter flight experience (additional expense).

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.

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.

Today, your ship cruises into Koolama Bay. Learn about how this bay was renamed following the Japanese bombing of the MV Koolama in 1942. Afterwards, join your Expedition Team aboard a Zodiac to meander through King George River’s gorge system, passing mangrove-fringed coves and sheer red cliffs.

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.

Today, enjoy a relaxed day at sea as your ship makes its way towards Darwin, arriving in the evening. Take advantage of the ultra-luxurious features of your ship: perhaps relax by the pool with a glass of champagne, indulge on delicious made-to-order sushi or 24-hour in-suite dining, or attend an informative lecture hosted by your expert Expedition team.

Disembark in Darwin this morning and bid farewell to your ship before you are transferred to the airport.