Kimberley Cruise: Australia’s Last Frontier

Arrive in Broome, the region’s largest city, and transfer to your hotel near Cable Beach. Poised at the western edge of the Kimberley and hemmed by the blue Indian Ocean, Broome is every bit as daring as its more sparsely populated counterparts. The next day, explore this swashbuckling treasure at your leisure, taking in its sweeping beaches, cinematic sunsets and relaxed atmosphere. Then meet your fellow guests and A&K’s Expedition Team for a welcome dinner.

Adventure awaits as you set out on your pre-selected excursion, whether it be a city tour of Broome’s historic pearling industry and rich multicultural past or a birding walk on Roebuck Bay. Later, board your luxury expedition cruiser for the next 10 nights.

For the next five days, enjoy privileged access to one of the most rarely visited regions in Australia. Each day, inspiring lectures, briefings and stimulating conversations with your Expedition Team elevate your discoveries in the Kimberley, bringing this vast wonderland into focus in a most enriching way. Your Captain and Expedition Team determine the best daily excursions, which may include: Lacepede Islands: Set atop a coral reef, these four low-lying cay islands are separated from mainland Australia by the Lacepede Channel. The Lacepedes, as they are often called, are an important nesting site for green sea turtles and several species of seabirds, including brown boobies, red-chested frigate birds, crested terns and speckled ruddy turnstones. Horizontal Falls: An exciting visit awaits at Horizontal Falls, described by Sir David Attenborough as “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.” Set within Talbot Bay, the horizontally flowing waterfalls are created when massive tidal currents squeeze through two narrow gorges. Experience this captivating phenomenon on a boat excursion. Montgomery Reef: The Kimberley’s theme of extreme tides continues at Montgomery Reef, Australia’s largest inshore reef. Board Zodiacs to explore the reef system’s lagoons, islets and rushing channels. The climax comes at low tide, when water dramatically cascades off the reef’s emerging sandstone platform covered in coralline algae, often revealing astonishing sea life. Freshwater Cove: Enjoy a guided bushwalk that leads to a cave depicting indigenous rock art. A magnificent display of sacred Wandjina figures, these ancient paintings reveal the ways, myths and traditions of the Worrorra people. Mitchell Falls: Take off on an included thrilling helicopter flight over the vast Mitchell Plateau to sandstone-carved Mitchell Falls. Explore the area on foot and perhaps enjoy a refreshing swim in the emerald-colored freshwater pools formed by the falls. Hunter River: Navigate by Zodiac through the river’s small tributaries, fringed by mangroves and tidal mud flats. Search for crocodiles, mud skippers and numerous bird species. Bigge Island: Sacred to the indigenous Wunambal people for more than 20,000 years, Bigge Island is home to an incredible array of indigenous rock art. Move beyond its shallow bays to discover its well-preserved Wandjina paintings and visual recordings of the European entrance into this ancient way of life.

During one of his many survey expeditions, Admiral Phillip Parker King named Vansittart Bay after the pre-1788 Indonesian pottery found there. Conditions permitting, visit Jar Island, home to incredible ancient rock art of mysterious origin. Known as the Bradshaws, the stick-like figures are named for pastoralist Joseph Bradshaw, who first recorded seeing them in 1891. Said to date back as far as 30,000 years, the Bradshaws are among the oldest depictions of human figures in the world.

Arrive in Koolama Bay at the mouth of the King George River, named in honor of King George V. Your naturalist guides pilot sturdy Zodiacs upriver through a spectacular canyon draped in sandstone cliffs, gorges and mangroves, where you may spy impressive Aussie wildlife, such as the saltwater crocodile. Witness the awe-inspiring King George Falls, plummeting from an elevation of 276 feet.

Beautifully poised between Cambridge Gulf and rugged hills in the northernmost region of the Kimberley, the former gold rush town of Wyndham is the gateway to a bounty of photogenic wetlands. This includes the spectacular Ord River, where you may spot unique birds; the man-made Argyle Dam; and UNESCO World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park. Choose from a wildlife cruise on the thriving Ord River or a scenic flight over east Kimberley and the Bungle Bungle Range, one of Australia’s greatest natural wonders.

Enjoy a day at sea on your luxury expedition ship and the opportunity to unwind while cruising through Indonesian waters to clear customs. Take time to reflect on your adventures, share photos and attend more intriguing presentations, all part of an endlessly fascinating enrichment program. You may also choose to relax and enjoy the ship’s facilities, perhaps the spa or the view from your room’s private balcony. Later, join your Expedition Team and the new friends you’ve made for a farewell dinner.

Bid farewell to your Expedition Team and fellow guests before disembarking your ship. Transfer to the airport to board your flight home or continue exploring on your post-tour extension.