Australia Northern Australia Expedition Cruise - Itinerary
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Day 1: Darwin With a unique history, beautiful islands nearby, and a palette of sizzling Pacific flavours, colourful Darwin is an enchanting and exotic Australian destination. Crocodiles patrol the jungled waterways and tropical rainforests around Australia's gateway to the Top End. On your arrival at the Darwin Airport in Australia (DRW), you will be met by our chauffeur for a private transfer to our luxury ship, the Silver Cloud to refresh and relax after a long flight. After some time to settle in your state-of-the-art luxury suite, we'll meet in the evening at one of the exclusive restaurants on board the Silver Cloud and toast the upcoming adventures that await us, as we set sail for our ultimate Australian journey. Day 2: Koolama Bay Koolama Bay is found at the mouth of the King George River. Named after the ship that had been beached here after a Japanese aerial attack during World War II, Koolama Bay is the starting point for a Zodiac cruise to reach the King George Falls, one of the Kimberley’s most magnificent natural wonders. At 260 feet, the twin cascades are among the highest in Australia. Koolama Bay and the river weaving through an amazing landscape of near vertical red rock formations offer a parade of wildlife: saltwater crocodiles and amazing birdlife, including giant raptors and the Brahminy Kite. Day 3: Swift Bay Australia’s jaw dropping Kimberley region shelters some of the oldest collections of rock art. This ancestral art depicting warriors, animals or nature is an authentic testimony to Aboriginal’s culture, rituals and traditions. Tranquil Swift Bay will offer us the opportunity to discover astonishing Wandjina art galleries and wake up the adventurer in us. A quick zodiac ride on the turquoise waterwill give us a chance to admire the coast’s spectacular scenery, while a short walk across the rocky and wild landscape will lead us to the historic and artistic caves. Two different styles of rock art, both very impressive and special, can be observed in these ancient galleries: the Gwion Gwion style, represented by long and skinny human-like figures and the much rounder Wandjina style. We’ll admire the most spectacular of the ancient rock art painted on the ceiling. Day 4: Ashmore Reef Lost in the immensity of Indian Ocean and situated 400 miles from Broome, Ashmore Reef Marine Park is an Australian External Territory that covers 360 square miles. With its diverse shades of blue, its underwater wonders and feathery friends, this protected area is one of Australia’s most beautiful natural treasures. The three tiny islands and their surrounding waters are home to an oasis of flourishing wildlife, and Ashmore Reef is known to be the favorite place of more than 40 bird species, including crested terns, white-tailed tropicbirds and greater frigatebirds; and thousands of migratory shorebirds like curlew sandpipers, bar-tailed godwits and great knots, some of them coming from very far places like Siberia! On the ocean side, the colourful reef is home to around 500 species of fish but also marine turtles, dugongs and many playful dolphins. Given the rich and fragile environment, Ashmore Reef has been declared a Sanctuary zone, providing the highest level of protection for the wildlife and minimizing disturbance from human activities. Only scientific research is permitted but the visitors can access to the Recreational Use Zone, in the West Island, and thus discover this unique place. Day 5: Adele Island, Kimberley Appearing like a charmed apparition, Adele Island is an oasis of tranquillity peeking out of the Indian Ocean. It’s hard to capture the sense of quiet perfection as we stand on this sandy paradise, 65 miles away from Kimberley’s rugged coast. The changeable sands of the island expand and contract with the contented sighs of the tides, and wide sandbanks ebb and flow with the whims of the water. At the core of Adele Island is a gorgeous tidal lagoon, rich in biodiversity. The island is a thriving ocean outpost for breeding birds and turtles, and the hospitable waters form a lively nursery for young humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins. The knee-deep sea here means we'll be able to easily spot wonderful sea creatures swimming agilely past, but there may also be beady-eyed crocodiles, slaloming menacingly. We'll encounter beautiful sea turtles, diverse fish life, and remarkable birds like the lesser frigate bird and brown booby, as we explore this pristine island gem or stand in awe as plumes of seabirds rotate around us like a gentle whirlwind. Endless fields of immaculate coral reefs coat the seabed, alive like underwater cities, bustling with life and characters. With only the sounds of rhythmic waves sloshing, sandy footsteps crunching and vocal bird life singing out, melodic Adele Island hits all the right notes. Day 6: Buccaneer Archipelago Region Set off the coast of Western Australia, the Buccaneer Archipelago is one of the Kimberley’s finest secrets. The Archipelago, 19 square miles, is made up of around 800 islands and protect the mainland from the huge 12 metre tides and astonishing speed of the Yampi (or, in traditional Aborigine, “Yampee”) Sound. The speed and power of the water many not make for pleasant bathing, but do result in fantastic natural phenomena. One fine example is the horizontal reversible waterfall in Talbot Bay. The tidal pull is responsible for the “reversible” nature of the falls, however, this also hides narrow gaps between the islands, making for treacherous sailing conditions. Isolated graves of sailors and divers are testimony to the danger. William Dampier sighted the Archipelago in 1688 but it would not be until 1821 that the Archipelago would become known as Buccaneer "in commemoration of William Dampier’s visit to this part of the coast ". Commander John Lort Stokes also noted the area in his 1838 record. Enterprising individuals were initially attracted to the Buccaneer Archipelago in the 1800s due to the superior pearling as well as the rich iron ore deposits. Pearling conducted by luggers in the 1880s was concentrated in Cygnet Bay, Cascade Bay, Cone Bay and Strickland Bay. More recently, mining operators established open-cut mines on Koolan Island on the east side of the Sound. Some of the richest iron ore in the world is extracted here to this day. Day 7: Freshwater Cove, Kimberley, Western Australia & Montgomery Reef Adjacent to Montgomery Reef, but on the mainland, is Freshwater Cove, locally known as Wijingarra Butt Butt. As we arrive, Aboriginal guides will welcome us with a traditional ochre welcome on the beach. The rock formations that can be seen along the shore represent spiritual ancestors relating to the great Wandjina battle. Caves with rock art are found in the vicinity, but can only be visited with local guides. Montgomery Reef, which is some 186 square miles, can show an amazing tidal change of up to 13 feet. When the tide drops, the reef seems to rise out of the water. At low tide a river is exposed that allows access to an amazing semi-submerged world. When the tide continues to ebb, Zodiacs will be used to make the way to the edge of the reef where one is surrounded by cascading waterfalls up to 10 feet high. Continuing up the river we'll be able to look at the abundance of reef birds and sea creatures including turtles and manta rays. A visit to Montgomery Reef is very much tide-depending, but truly a once in a lifetime experience. Day 8: Hunter River Region (Western Australia) The Hunter River is home to an immense mangrove system surrounded by soaring red sandstone cliffs. Narrow mangrove channels shelter numerous bird species, mudskippers, fiddler crabs and the infamous saltwater crocodile, the most aggressive crocodile species known to man. Naturalist Island at the mouth of the river has a stunning stretch of sandy beach that makes a perfect landing site for small helicopters that can pick up visitors wishing to explore some of the Kimberley’s vast interior. The highlight inland is the famous Mitchell Falls where four tiers of waterfalls plunge into deep pools that flow out into the mighty Mitchell River. The headwaters of the falls are cool and a dip in the fresh water is a welcome reprieve from the heat of the heartland. Day 9: Vansittart Bay (Jar Island) Vansittart Bay is located near the northern tip of Western Australia. The bay was named by Phillip Parker King during one of his four surveys of Northern Australia during the early 19th century. Interesting parts of the bay include Jar Island and the opportunity to view Bradshaw (Gwion Gwion) and Wandjina styles of rock art. For these two different rock art styles there are two sites in close proximity. An area with an example of a more recent history is the Anjo Peninsula. A beach landing and a short hike across a lagoon or, depending on tides, a walk around the lagoon will lead to a World War II site, where an almost intact wreck of an old airplane, a C-53, can be seen. Day 10: At Sea Today, we'll spend the day at sea sailing to our final destination of our adventure, Darwin, where we will arrive in late evening. A day at sea on a Silversea luxury cruise ship is a dreamy escape filled with relaxation and indulgence. As the ship glides through the tranquil waters, we'll immerse ourselves in serenity and unwind in the lap of luxury aboard the Silver Cloud. In the evening, we will toast and celebrate our Australian expedition and share memories of our journey during our farewell dinner in one of the ship's elegant restaurants. Day Eleven: Departures In the morning, we'll awake in Darwin, Australia's capital of the north, a uniquely tropical city, and a historically isolated outpost of this vast, diverse country. Reaching up towards the equator, a full 2,000 miles from Sydney and Melbourne, the city was named in honour of Charles Darwin by the British settlers, who established a frontier outpost here. Sadly, today our tour ends after breakfast and we must say goodbye to this enchanting continent. We hope that you are taking home great memories of sights, experiences, and new travel friends. Your airport transfer will be arranged in accordance with your scheduled return flight.
This itinerary is weather dependent and its specifics subject to change. |