Kimberley Coastal Expedition with Essence of the Kimberley

Today, we’ll meet you at the airport before welcoming you aboard your expedition ship. The Seabourn Pursuit is the newest and most luxurious ship on the Kimberley coast, boasting incredible facilities, delectable dining options and personalised service. You might like to admire the views from the panoramic balcony of your spacious suite, sip champagne on the outdoor deck, take a dip in the infinity pool or share stories of your adventures with your newfound friends in one of the luxurious shared spaces. A relaxed dinner this evening gives you the chance to meet your fellow travellers and sets the tone for the next nine nights on board.

Today, your ship cruises into Koolama Bay. Hear how this bay was renamed following the Japanese bombing of the MV Koolama in 1942. Join your Expedition Team aboard a Zodiac to meander through King George River’s gorge system, passing mangrove-fringed coves and sheer red cliffs. This evening, enjoy a Captain’s welcome dinner.

Signature Experience - King George Falls

Get up close and personal to the magnificent King George Falls, where the King George River tumbles 80 metres down from lofty sandstone cliffs. You’ll be able to experience its power as your Zodiac creeps close to the iconic waterfall.

This morning, join your Expedition Team on an intriguing discovery. Walk across salt flats to view the wreckage of a US Air Force DC-3, which crash-landed near Vansittart Bay during World War II. Later, we reposition in the bay to visit Jar Island and discover the island’s outstanding rock art gallery. During your exploration here, you’ll see fascinating examples of Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) paintings, dating back more than 20,000 years.

Enjoy a relaxed morning aboard your luxurious ship. This afternoon, pay a special visit to Ashmore Reef Marine Park. Located in the Timor Sea and spanning 583 square kilometres, the reef is a sanctuary for many marine species. Every year, more than 100,000 seabirds breed here, including crested terns, white-tailed tropicbirds and great frigatebirds. In addition to the prolific birdlife, beneath the clear tropical waters, the coral reefs, seagrass meadows, sandflats and lagoons of Ashmore Reef are home to a colourful array of marine life. 255 species of reef-building coral dwell here - the greatest number of any reef on the West Australian coast. Our visit to Ashmore reef is required to ensure we comply with Australian government regulations. Pending favourable weather and sea conditions, you’ll explore this sanctuary via Zodiac with your Expedition Team.

Today, enjoy a Signature Experience on Bigge Island.

Signature Experience - Bigge Island Aboriginal Rock Art

See incredible galleries of ancient Wandjina rock art in the many caves of Bigge Island. Some of the artworks are thought to have been repainted annually by the Wunambal people for up to 5,000 years.

You are transported to Prince Frederick Harbour today, home to the towering red cliffs and tangled mangroves of Hunter River and Porosus Creek. With its extreme tides and pristine ecosystems, the bay and its waterways are rich in wildlife including mudskippers and saltwater crocodiles. Porosus Creek takes its name from the scientific name for the saltwater crocodile, a good indication of what we’re looking for today. Keen birdwatchers should keep a careful eye out for kingfishers, egrets, herons and white-bellied sea eagles. To enhance your day, 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).

Enrich Your Experience - Mitchell Falls Helicopter Flight

Soar over the incredible and breakthtaking Mitchell Falls on a scenic helicopter flight experience.

Today, visit Montgomery Reef and Freshwater Cove, where you will enjoy two Signature Experiences.

Signature Experience - Montgomery Reef

Following your visit to Freshwater Cove, depart with your Expedition Team to discover Montgomery Reef by Zodiac. Soak in the amazing scenes aboard a Zodiac as Montgomery Reef dramatically rises out of the ocean as a result of the region’s strong tides. Cruise through narrow channels between the world’s largest inshore reef as you admire the spectacle and the incredible wildlife exposed by the cascading water.

Signature Experience - Arraluli Heritage Exploration

Experience a Welcome to Country and an immersive smoking ceremony conducted by the Arraluli people, the traditional custodians of the land. Then, embark on a guided hike led by the Expedition Team to explore a mesmerising rock art site where your Aboriginal guide will offer an interpretation of the rock art. This Signature Experience offers a profound connection to the rich cultural heritage and timeless traditions of the Arraluli people.

Explore Talbot Bay and 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.

Signature Experience - Horizontal Falls

Today, your ship cruises through to Talbot Bay, known for its massive 12-metre tides that create the unique Horizontal Falls. Subject to tidal conditions, board a zodiac with your Expedition Team to view this natural phenomenon.

There’s promise of turquoise waters today as your ship arrives in the Buccaneer Archipelago, home to more than 800 islands. Cruise to Adele Island and join your Expedition Team member for an exploration of this remote coastal area by Zodiac. The island is surrounded by Adele Reef, teeming with an array of coral and marine life, including reef sharks and stingrays.

Disembark this morning and enjoy a day at leisure in Broome.

Visit the Boab Prison Tree before traversing the Gibb River Road to Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek. Later, continue to Windjana Gorge. Back on the Gibb River Road, travel into Wunaamin Miliwundi Range National Park. Later, arrive at your lodge for dinner.

Back on the Gibb River Road, travel to Bell Gorge, where stunning cliffs surround a series of tiered waterholes. Sitting approximately 300 metres above sea level, Bell Gorge is an idyllic natural spot for swimming and photography. Here you can also enjoy a spot of birdwatching. If you are feeling particularly energetic, you can hike to the lower pool of the gorge and take a relaxing dip below the cascading waterfall.

Travel through the heart of Kimberley cattle country to discover some of the region’s most secluded gorges. At Galvans Gorge, a short walk leads to a picturesque waterhole where boab trees cling to the escarpment above. Continue to the beautiful Manning Creek, where you’ll enjoy lunch in the shade of paperbark trees. Look out for the region’s bird life and enjoy a refreshing swim in the pristine water. Later ford the mighty Durack River before arriving at Emma Gorge Resort, located at El Questro, a sprawling wilderness area that covers 700,000 acres. Settle in before enjoying dinner this evening.

Visit El Questro Station Township.

Signature Experience – Zebedee Springs Head to Zebedee Springs, a permanent natural thermal spring tucked away in a secluded pocket of rainforest. Relax as you soak in the hot springs and leave feeling revitalised. Cross the Pentecost River into El Questro, covering a staggering 700,000 acres.

After a hearty breakfast, continue exploring remarkable El Questro. Enjoy a hike to picturesque Emma Gorge, where you can indulge in a refreshing swim beneath the stunning towering droplet waterfall. Travel to Kununurra, the gateway to the eastern Kimberley and home of the Ord River Scheme, and the majestic Lake Argyle, the largest man-made lake in the Southern Hemisphere. Join a spectacular wildlife cruise on the mighty Ord River. From modern shaded vessels, discover a fascinating ecological system that has developed from the damming of the Ord River at two locations to create an area rich in wildlife, flora and undeniable beauty. Enjoy a mesmerising sunset while cruising on the tranquil Lake Kununurra.

Depart Kununurra and journey to Purnululu National Park, one of Australia’s most stunning natural landscapes. The park is home to the famed black and orange striped domes of the Bungle Bungle Range, ascending to 578 metres above sea level. Standing over a grass-covered plain, steep cliffs form the western face. Created by the constant erosion of river movements over a staggering 20 million years, the range has both geological and Indigenous cultural significance. It is an imposing sight and one that you are sure to remember forever. Join a hike along a Livistona palm-fringed trail into Echidna Chasm, a spectacular natural cleft in the rock. Settle into the tranquil ambience of the Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge, located in the heart of this stunning national park. Enjoy a delicious dinner and share your adventures with your fellow travellers.

Enjoy drinks as you take in a sensational sunset over the striking Bungle Bungle massif. Explore the magic of Purnululu for yourself and discover the depth of the Bungle Bungle Range. Walk along Piccaninny Creek, a winding gorge within the Bungle Bungle domes. Your next stop is the natural amphitheatre of Cathedral Gorge, a spacious cavern where the acoustics are astounding. Marvel at the majestic beehive domes as your guide brings the natural history of the range to life. You may like to experience an optional scenic helicopter flight over the domes (own expense).

Head to Halls Creek and admire the unusual China Wall. A natural quartz formation that runs six kilometres along the landscape, the wall is an echo of the Great Wall of China, after which it was named. Continue on towards Fitzroy Crossing, a small settlement situated on the Fitzroy River.

Travel to Yiyili for a Signature Experience.

Signature Experience - Indigenous Art and Community Visit Treasure a special visit to the Yiyili community, admiring Indigenous art at the Laari Gallery before immersing yourself into Gooniyandi culture with a language class.

Your journey comes to an end today with a transfer to the airport for your onward flight.