Night 1
Broome, Western Australia, Australia
DEPARTS 6:00 PM
Isolated on the farthest northwest corner of the continent, Broome thrived from its founding in 1883 based on the bounty of South Sea pearls found in offshore oyster beds. Even today, the pearling industry is active here, though most are now cultured. But Broome has grown into one of Australia’s premier holiday destinations, offering an amazing variety of attractions and activities for visitors. It boasts a splendid, 14-mile strand of soft white sand at Cable Beach, where people flock to enjoy sunset camel rides. And with 2,600 islands in the area and warm seas, it is a sportsman’s paradise. But the unique allure of the region is the unspoiled expanse of bizarre geological formations, waterways and ancient Aboriginal lands called the Kimberley. Corrugated with red-hued cliffs and escarpments, and laced with pristine waterways, swimming holes and waterfalls, the Kimberley is unlike any other landscape on earth. It invites visitors to cruise the coast, fly over the ranges, and explore the rugged terrain in 4WD vehicles. The only difficulty is deciding which adventure to partake of next. |
Day 1
Talbot Bay, Australia
ARRIVES 11:30 AM / DEPARTS 06:00 PM
Tucked within the Buccaneer Archipelago along Western Australia’s northern coast and encircled by mudflats and mangroves, Talbot Bay boasts two of the Kimberley’s most mesmerizing natural wonders. The phenomenal Horizontal Falls are formed by the region’s legendary tides, which rush between twin passages within the McLarty Ranges. The raging tidal water banks up on one side of the narrow, parallel ridges, then pushes through with such immense force that it creates a sideways cascade. Equally amazing: The falls—nicknamed “The Horries”—reverse and flow in the opposite direction with each changing tide. Seabourn’s Expedition Team members expertly manoeuvre your ship’s Zodiacs through the gushing water, which forms wild rapids and whirlpools all around for an adrenaline-pumping ride of a lifetime. Your day in Talbot Bay also offers the chance to explore Turtle Reef, a remarkable reef system that stretches for nearly 10 miles and creates a sort of bridge from Molema Island to the mainland at low tide. In addition to its numerous shelled namesakes, Turtle Reef is home to dugongs, crocodiles, and a variety of fish species, as well as sponges, mollusks, and other sea creatures |
Day 2
Montgomery Reef then Freshwater Cove , Australia
ARRIVES 07:00 AM / DEPARTS 12:00 PM then ARRIVES 1:30 PM / DEPARTS 5:30PM
It appears as a mirage around 12 miles off the Kimberley’s northwest coast, emerging from the warm Indian Ocean in a deluge of rushing whitewater and cascading mini-falls. Montgomery Reef, the largest inshore reef on Earth, spans more than 150 square miles and rises upward of 35 feet at low tide, creating what Sir David Attenborough described as “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.” Western Australia experiences some of the highest tides in the world, averaging around 13 feet most days (nearly triple that at full moon). So while only a few sandstone islets appear over Montgomery Reef at high tide, the reef’s entire platform is revealed as the sea level drops, exposing a massive ecosystem of vast lagoons and a central mangrove island, along the myriad marine creatures they support—fish, reef sharks, six species of turtles, sea snakes, octopuses, dolphins, dugongs, and saltwater crocodiles. Situated between Camden Sound and Collier Bay, Montgomery Reef forms part of Lalang-garram/Camden Sound Marine Park, a crucial calving and nursery site for the largest humpback whale population on the planet |
Day 3
Kuri Bay, Western Australia, Australia
ARRIVES 07:00 AM / DEPARTS 05:00 PM
This lovely bay is located in the remote fjordlands of Australia’s northwest Kimberley region, some 140 miles from the nearest town of Derby. The name springs from the fact that the bay houses Australia’s first pearl farm, started in 1956 by Tokiuchi Kuribayashi, who perfected the techniques of cultivating silver-lip pearl oysters in the warm Indian Ocean waters after Australia authorized production of cultured pearls. Today the aquatic farm is operated by the Paspaley company, and at one time produced about 60% of the world’s large white South Sea pearls. The bay is alive with other sea life, including sharks, turtles and huge saltwater crocodiles. It is part of the Prince Regent Nature Reserve, as well as the Kumunya Aboriginal Reserve. The nearby Camden Sound Marine Reserve is the most important humpback whale calving grounds in the world, attracting up to 1,000 whales during the season from October to June. Another famous sight is the “horizontal waterfalls” created by the huge Montgomery Reef, Australia’s largest inshore reef, when the 10-meter tide change creates immense cascades of water off the sides as the reef-top “island” appears above the receding sea. A visit to Sheep Island reveals the ruins of a 19th century settlement, along with the graves bearing silent witness to the settler’s failure. The rugged cliffs glow red at sunrise and sunset. |
Day 4
Hunter River, Western Australia, Australia
ARRIVES 07:00 AM / DEPARTS 05:00 PM – EXPEDITIONS SUBJECT TO TIDAL CONDITIONS
The Hunter River rises on the rocky plateau of the Kimberley, in the Prince Regent National Park, and flows some 30 km to empty into the Prince Frederick Harbour and thence into York Sound and the Indian Ocean. Where it leaves the plateau there are two waterfalls of nearly 300 feet in height, Hunter Falls and Donkin Falls, from where the river enters a deep and sinuous gorge. In its lower reaches, it meanders through mangrove forests sprawled between towering red rock escarpments, the channel laced with mud-bank islands. These waters support the highest proportion of saltwater crocodiles in Australia, as well as sharks, rays and other fauna. This remote wilderness is an ideal place for Zodiac cruising to see the saltwater crocodiles, sharks and birds of prey including ospreys and the distinctive Brahminy kites with their white heads and breasts. The river is an important landmark feature to the local Wunambai Gaambera Aboriginal people, whose tradition holds that it is the abode of Wunggurr, the Creator Snake, and who call the river Kampamantlya where it joins the sea. |
Day 5
Ashmore Reef, Australia
ARRIVES 07:00 AM / DEPARTS 05:00 PM
Whilst technically an operational call, asmore reef is an exquisite attol and marine reef and expeditions for beach combing, bird watching and marine spotting by zodiacs are all options being explored by Seabourn. This day’s expeditions will be confirmed when possible. |
Day 6
Vansittart Bay, Australia
ARRIVES 07:00 AM / DEPARTS 05:00 PM
A call in picturesque Vansittart Bay on Western Australia’s northern coast offers the chance to explore its many tiny islands, beautiful beaches, and secluded coves. You might go fishing for the elusive barramundi, or trek over dune scrub and salt flats to view the wreck of a DC3 aircraft from World War II. Yet the main reason to visit this large protected inlet is its wealth of Aboriginal rock art galleries, which comprise both the Wandjina and Gwion Gwion (or Bradshaw) styles. The more prevalent Wandjina rock paintings, created about 3,500 years ago, feature wide-eyed, richly detailed spirit images, along with turtles, crocodiles, and other Kimberley creatures. In contrast, Gwion Gwion art—which is unique to this region—appears more ethereal, with elongated, often elaborately adorned humanlike figures created upward of 50,000 years ago—the oldest such images in the world. Join your Seabourn Expedition Team members for a short walk to Rocky Cove, which displays galleries in both rock art styles; while a Zodiac excursion to nearby Jar Island reveals a treasure trove of Gwion Gwion galleries. |
Day 7
King George River, Australia
ARRIVES 07:00 AM / DEPARTS 05:00 PM
A cruise along the King George River is the iconic Kimberley experience. The river, located in the North Kimberley Marine Park in Western Australia, flows 70 miles through an ancient gorge lined with soaring, red sandstone walls before it empties into Koolama Bay and the Timor Sea. Your Seabourn ship drops anchor in the bay, where you and your fellow guests board Zodiacs to venture up the awe-striking canyon carved nearly 2 billion years ago. Expedition Team members skillfully maneuver the inflatable crafts along the river’s serpentine course, its sandstone cliffs—which reach upward of 262 feet high—creating a dynamic canvas of colors and textures with the gorge’s ever-changing light. Around eight miles upriver, your journey ends at one of the most enchanting sights on Earth: the twin King George Falls, where a thundering torrent of whitewater plunges over a 328-foot-high cliff into the tidal waters below. The falls are considered sacred by the Balanggarra people, and you team members point out the magnificent Aboriginal rock art gallery that decorates the gorge’s walls. |
Day 8
Wyndham, Australia
ARRIVES 07:00 AM / DEPARTS 05:00 PM
The northernmost township in Western Australia, Wyndham has its roots in the short-lived Kimberley Rush, when some 10,000 men descended on the region after gold was discovered at Halls Creek in 1885. By 1887 the rush was over, but Wyndham continued to service the Kimberley’s growing cattle industry. The Bastion Range serves as backdrop for the tiny Outback town, which lies along the Cambridge Gulf right where five rivers (King, Pentecost, Durack, Forest and Ord) meet and flow in the Timor Sea. You can soak in the panorama from the Five Rivers Lookout. Head to Telegraph Hill in nearby Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve for spectacular views over this Ramsar-listed wetlands, which attract thousands of tropical birds and serve as an important stopover for migratory waders that travel from as far away as Siberia. More than 160 species have been recorded from the boardwalk and covered bird hide at Marlgu Billabong. Around 30 minutes south of town lies The Grotto, a breathtaking gorge with a natural swimming hole. Its cliff walls form a stunning waterfall during wet season, cascading nearly 400 feet into the sparkling pool below. |
Day 9
Enjoy Your Day at Sea |
Day 10
Darwin, Australia
ARRIVES 7:00 AM – DISEMBARKETION UNTIL 10:00 AM
Despite its small size, Darwin is a modern, multi-cultural city, and its proximity to Asia makes it ideal for travel. Named after the famous scientist, Charles Darwin, the area was originally settled by the Larrakia Aboriginals. The Dutch arrived and mapped the land in the 1600s, followed by the British in 1939, when the town was given its English name. Darwin has a beautiful coastline, as well as numerous parks and gardens, making the city a top spot for outdoor activities. |
