Australia & Kimberley Expedition Cruise

Meet your private driver at your hotel for a half-day guided orientation tour of the highlights of Darwin, with an exploration into surrounding habitats rich in bird-life, for a birdwatching excursion. You will visit monsoon rainforest in search of the endemic Rainbow Pitta and the colourful Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove; coastal foreshores in search of shorebirds, Sacred Kingfisher and Brahminy Kite; mangroves for Red-headed Honeyeater, Chestnut Rail and Collared Kingfisher; wetlands for a variety of water birds including the iconic Black-necked Stork (Jabiru); and savannah woodland for Forest Kingfisher, various Finch species and the Spangled Drongo. Binoculars will be provided for you. At the conclusion of the tour, you'll be returned to your hotel.

Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.

Sleep in this morning and relax at your hotel.

Meet your driver for a private port transfer.

Welcome aboard your cruise vessel!
Meet your fellow passengers, and get settled in.

Today you'll cruise to Com, East Timor where your vessel will clear customs, allowing you to go ashore at Jaco Island, a small uninhabited island, with a marvelous beach and great swimming. Relax here before departing for your next Australian port.

Days at sea aboard Orion are less structured than a typical cruise ship. Rise at your leisure and select from a variety of breakfast options. Late morning consider joining a presentation in the Lecture Theatre by one of the Expedition Staff or a Guest Speaker. Luncheon is served both indoors and out and the timeless tradition of afternoon tea is observed at 4:00pm.

Begin your evening by joining your fellow travellers in the Leda Lounge for a pre-dinner drink and a briefing on tomorrow’s destination and Shoreside Expedition options by one of the Expedition Team.

The Restaurant opens at 7:00pm, though there is no rush, allowing you to dine when and with whom you choose. In warmer climes it is possible to reserve a table for dinner under the stars with full table service, be it a romantic table for 2 or a celebration for 20. After dinner you will find our duo in the Leda Lounge playing a selection of music ideally suited to conversation over a cognac, or dancing should the mood take you.

Begin your evening by joining your fellow travellers in the Leda Lounge for a pre-dinner drink and a briefing on tomorrow’s destination and Shoreside Expedition options by one of our Expedition Team. Some are included in your fare, others offer a range of differing experiences to suit a variety of interests.

The Restaurant opens at 7:00pm, though there is no rush, allowing you to dine when and with whom you choose. In warmer climes it is possible to reserve a table for dinner under the stars with full table service, be it a romantic table for 2 or a celebration for 20. After dinner you will find our duo in the Leda Lounge playing a selection of music ideally suited to conversation over a cognac, or dancing should the mood take you.

Today you have a choice between two activities:

Bungle Bungle Range Scenic Flight (approx 2h 15m)
This exhilarating flight will take you over the Diversion Dam Wall, and the Order River/Packsaddle irrigation areas, showcasing the fertile Ord River Valley farming. You'll then follow Lake Kununurra and the Carr Boyd Ranges down to Lake Argyle. Follow the expanse of Lake Argyle down to the cattle country over flying Lissadell and Texas Downs and on to the ancient Bungle Bungle Ranges and Purnululu National Park (approximately 20 minutes orbit); fly past Argyle Diamond Mine and the Ragged Ranges with a panoramic view of Ivanhoe irrigation area on your return.
--or--
Ord River Cruise to Lake Argyle
The Ord River is one of the most stunning river systems in Australia. Your cruise will navigate a massive 55km stretch of river between Kununurra and Lake Argyle (Ord River Dam). As a result of the damming of the Ord River, the area in between is rich in wildlife, flora and scenic beauty. Lunch will be provided either at the riverside camp or at Resort Lake Argyle, with refreshments provided along the way. Your tour includes a ground tour of Lake Argyle, including viewing the Lake from a scenic lookout, and a visit to the Historical Durack Homestead.

Zodiacs and tenders will cruise up the stunning sandstone canyon that culminates in the twin drops of King George Falls and convey you back again to your cruise vessel. For guests looking for a bit more adventure, you will be able to take a walk to the top of the falls and have the opportunity to enjoy a swim. This is quite a steep, difficult walk with lots of loose uneven ground underfoot and all participants will need high levels of fitness and mobility.

Optional:
A fantastic way to see the stunning gorge of the King George River. Fly along the course of the dramatic sandstone lined canyon, orbit the twin drops of the falls with ample opportunity for photography before returning to a landing site near your anchorage in Koolama Bay.

To participate in an optional activity, please contact your travel consultant.

Upon arrival in Vansittart Bay, you will go ashore via Zodiac to a beach landing on Jar Island. There, your Expedition Team will take you on a short walk, past some fascinating rock formations, to the site of the Gwion Gwion art gallery. The walk to the art site over uneven ground is relatively easy with only one small rock ledge to negotiate, however the access to the majority of the art is a little difficult and includes scrambling over large boulders and crawling under rock overhangs. The reward is a stunning gallery of this ancient and mystical art form.

Your ship will anchor just off Naturalist Island in Prince Frederick Harbour. From this location you will undertake Zodiac expeditions into the Mangrove environment of the Hunter River and its tributaries. Your expert Expedition Team will share their knowledge with you as you explore the area keeping a constant lookout for wildlife.

Optional:
After a short Zodiac ride to a wet landing on Naturalist Island, board your helicopter for a 20 minute flight to the stunning Mitchell Plateau. Your experienced pilots will keep you informed as you initially track up the Hunter River, with a chance to spot crocodiles from the air. Once you reach the plateau you may see wild cattle running loose below and even the odd pocket of rainforest hidden away in this inaccessible area. You will land next to the falls where you will have approximately one hour to explore the area before your return flight. You will have access to some great spots to photograph the triple drops of Mitchell Falls. You will even have a chance for a refreshing dip in the river well above the crocodile habitats the Kimberley is renowned for. Be aware you will be unaccompanied in a stunning yet rugged and very remote area, with uneven rocky surfaces and little shade from the sun.

To participate in an optional activity, please contact your travel consultant.

Arriving at high tide, you'll see very little of Montgomery Reef. However as the tide drops rapidly away a raging torrent of water, cascading off the top of this 400ha reef, erupts as miles of surrounding reef appears to slowly rise out of the ocean. A Zodiac will maneuver you into a channel in the reef as water cascades down on either side. It's the perfect spot to watch cormorants, egrets and sandpipers forage for sea life trapped on the surface of the reef. Below the waterline, opportunistic sea turtles,and many larger fish also take advantage of this feast.

Today your Zodiac excursion will take you to witness the tidal phenomena of the Horizontal Waterfalls. You will also have the opportunity to view the stunning sandstone canyons of the nearby gorges. Your Zodiac excursion will be timed, where possible, to coincide with tidal movement through the gaps were the horizontal waterfalls are created. The amount of actual tide movement will vary depending on tide movement of the day.

Optional:
Whilst the Zodiacs can provide a close up view of the falls, to experience the thrill of actually passing through the falls in full tidal movement, a larger, faster boat is required. A local operator has two fast, rigid hulled inflatables based at the falls to give you the ride of your life through the fast moving waters of the falls. Speed through the two gaps in the sandstone walls as the tidal action creates foaming rapids. The ride is approximately 15 minutes.

To participate in an optional activity, please contact your travel consultant.

The Expedition Team will guide you around the area today, in Zodiacs and on foot, and the opportunity exists to take advantage of the freshwater swimming hole at Nares Point. Nearby Crocodile Creek defies its name, and due to several vertical embankments remains "crocodile free" allowing you to take advantage of the cool freshwater to relax and beat the Kimberley heat.

Today you'll arrive at the port in Broome, where you will disembark from your ship, and say farewell to your fellow cruisemates.

Meet your driver for a private port transfer.

Meet your private driver-guide at your hotel for a tour of Broome Town today, rich in its history in the pearling industry. Your tour will bring you to see some of the area's most impressive beaches, including Cable, Redell and Town Beaches. The town's wharf is offers exceptional views out across the bay, and plenty of locals fishing add to the ambience of a nice stroll. The red cliffs and turquoise water of Gantheaume Point highlight the area's natural beauty. A Japanese cemetery with graves of over 900 divers who died in the early days of the Broome pearling trade is a somber reminder of the town's exploits at the turn of the 20th century. Your tour will include a tour of the Pearl Luggers- two reconditioned pearling ships where you'll have a special presentation about the perils and riches of the golden age of the pearl industry in Broome. Conclude your tour with a return to your hotel.

Meet your private driver for an airport transfer.