Essence of the Kimberley with Kimberley Coastal Expedition

From the vast wilderness of El Questro to the fiery red landscapes of Purnululu National Park, you’ll be left captivated. On this journey, you’ll also cruise the spectacular Kimberley Coast for ten nights aboard your luxury expedition small ship.

Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive Broome

Arrive in Broome, and be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 2: Broome, Gibb River Road, Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek

Early this morning, meet your Driver Guide and fellow travellers as you start your journey along the Gibb River to Windjana Gorge, where ancient marine fossils lay embedded in the gorge walls. Next it’s on to Tunnel Creek, Western Australia’s oldest cave system. Wade through the cool waters that fill the tunnel and discover a serene oasis on the other side. Later, continue to Fitzroy Crossing where you’ll stay tonight.

Day 3: Yiyili, Purnululu National Park

Travel to Yiyili for a Signature Experience today. Afterwards, head to Halls Creek, before arriving at Purnululu National Park.

Day 4: Purnululu National Park, Piccaninny Creek, Cathedral Gorge

A full day has been set aside for you to explore Purnululu National Park today, starting with a walk along Piccaninny Creek. Your next stop is Cathedral Gorge, a natural amphitheatre of red rock, created by millions of years of water erosion. Tonight, end your day with an unforgettable Signature Experience.

Day 5: Purnululu National Park, Echidna Chasm, Kununurra

Today’s highlight is a hike to Echidna Chasm. Venture deep into this natural cleft in the rock, which reaches up to 200 metres in height despite its narrow width. Afterwards, continue to Kununurra.

Day 6: Ord River, El Questro

A wildlife cruise on the mighty Ord River provides a front-row seat to the area’s unique wildlife and flora this morning. Next it’s time to travel back to Kununurra before making the journey to El Questro.

Day 7: El Questro, Emma Gorge

This morning hike to Emma Gorge where you’ll be rewarded with a swim beneath a towering droplet waterfall. Enjoy lunch at El Questro Station, before relaxing at Zebedee Springs. Enjoy dinner this evening back at Emma Gorge Resort.

Day 8: Manning Creek, Galvans Gorge, Gibb River Road

At Manning Creek, enjoy lunch in the shade of boab trees. Continue to Galvans Gorge, where a short walk leads to a waterhole. Admire the Wandjina rock art on the gorge wall before travelling to Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge.

Day 9: Bell Gorge

Travel to Bell Gorge today, where towering cliffs surround a series of tiered waterholes. You might like to hike to the lower pool of the gorge and enjoy a refreshing dip in the waterfall below, or enjoy a spot of bird-watching.

Day 10: Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges, Derby, Broome

Venture into the  Wunaamin Range Conservation Park, then travel along the Gibb River Road to Derby, stopping at a local art centre along the way. Stop by the Boab Prison Tree before arriving back in Broome later this afternoon.  Say farewell to your Driver Guide and your fellow land journey guests, before enjoying an evening at leisure in Broome.

Day 11: Broome, Embark Ship

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and have free time before transferring to your luxury expedition ship. Get to know your Expedition Team and APT Cruise Director at a welcome briefing before dinner.

Day 12: Lacepede Islands, Buccaneer Archipelago 

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. Join your expedition team for a guided Zodiac tour to view the prolific wildlife. Later, your ship charts a course into the stunning Buccaneer Archipelago. Made up of more than 800 islands, and filled with stunning scenery and an incredible array of wildlife.

Day 13: Talbot Bay, Horizontal Falls

Explore Talbot Bay 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.

Day 14: Freshwater Cove, Montgomery Reef 

At Freshwater Cove take a guided hike to visit an ancient Wandjina rock art site. The unique figures depicted are ritually repainted each year, but scientific estimates date the originals as far back as 5,000 years. Later, depart with your expedition team to discover Montgomery Reef by Zodiac. The reef ‘rises’ out of the ocean as tidal waters cascade into surrounding channels.

Day 15: Prince Frederick Harbour, Hunter River, Mitchell Falls

You are transported to Prince Frederick Harbour today, which is home to towering red cliffs and tangled mangroves. With its extreme tides and pristine ecosystems, the harbour is rich in wildlife including mudskippers and saltwater crocodiles. Keen birdwatchers should keep a careful eye out for kingfishers, egrets, herons and white-bellied sea eagles. Stepping out from the sleek comfort of your ship to your trusty Zodiac, it’s hard to believe you’re at Australia’s final frontier, this time to explore the Hunter River and Naturalists Island. As your day of discovery draws to a close, you might choose to set out on a thrilling helicopter flight to see the Mitchell Falls in all its splendour from above (flight at own expense).

Day 16: Bigge Island

Here, discover paintings that display fascinating examples of first-contact art and Wandjina figures.

Day 17: Swift Bay

Explore this maze of islands, inlets and peninsulas, believed to have been named by explorer Lieutenant Phillip Parker King after novelist Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels. Most significant here are extraordinary examples of Wandjina and Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) rock art, estimated to have been created between 5,000 and 13,000 years ago. They can be seen in caves close to the water’s edge, mainly painted on rock overhangs.

Day 18: Vansittart Bay, Jar Island 

This morning join your Expedition Team on an intriguing discovery. Walk across salt flats to view the wreckage of a US Air Force DC3 which crash-landed near Vansittart Bay during World War II. Later, visit Jar Island and discover the island’s outstanding rock art gallery. During your exploration here, you’ll see more examples of Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) paintings, dating back more than 20,000 years.

Day 19: Koolama Bay, King George River and Falls 

Wake this morning as your ship cruises into Koolama Bay. Hear how this harbour was renamed following the Japanese bombing of the MV Koolama in 1942. Next, it’s onto the King George River. Join your expedition team and jump aboard a Zodiac to meander through the river’s gorge system, passing mangrove-fringed coves and sheer red cliffs.

Day 20: Day at Sea

Relax and ease into a full day at sea, enjoying the endless horizon. Perhaps take a swim in the onboard pool, pamper yourself in the wellness area, or head below deck to the underwater observation area for a stunning window into marine life below the ocean’s surface.

Day 21: Disembark Ship, Depart Darwin 

Arriving into Darwin this morning means it’s time to say goodbye to your ship and to be transferred to the airport.