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| CRUISES in the KIMBERLEY | ||
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KIMBERLEY QUEST: Broome to Wyndham (and Wyndham-Broome) 14 days |
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Departure Dates: Broome to Wyndham (and vice versa) 14 Night Cruise |
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2008 dates Broome-Wyndham 1 April and Wyndham to Broome Nature Lovers Odyssey 18 March The Wyndham to Broome 15 April departure is fully booked. |
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| Itinerary:Broome to Wyndham (and vice versa) 14 Night Cruise | ||
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Departs Broome You can choose to take this itinerary in reverse (Fly/Cruise) Returns Wyndham/Kununurra DAY 1: Broome – Buccaneer Archipelago A courtesy vehicle will pick you up from your Broome accommodation at approximately 4.30pm and transfer you to the Kimberley Quest II for boarding at approximately 5.00pm. Begin your Kimberley expedition with a relaxing drink on the sundeck and watch as the sun dips below the horizon as you cruise past world famous Cable Beach. Enjoy a sumptuous dinner as you cruise overnight towards the Buccaneer Archipelago. Your Kimberley adventure has begun! DAY 2: Buccaneer Archipelago, Talbot Bay This morning enjoy a leisurely breakfast whilst cruising through the spectacular thousand islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago. Cruise into Yampi Sound, an area of spectacular geology. Then past Cockatoo Island, once mined for its rich reserves of iron ore. Stop to explore Crocodile Creek where there is a pretty waterfall and a lovely freshwater swimming hole (easy level walk). A perfect place for a refreshing dip! Next head on towards Talbot Bay, home to one of the many pearl farms that frequent the Kimberley. Talbot Bay is also home to one of the icons of the Kimberley coast, the magnificent Horizontal Waterfalls. The region’s massive tides of up to 10 metres create a spectacular scene, sending huge volumes of water pouring through a narrow chasm. Board one of the tenders and head in for an up-close and an exhilarating ride through this natural phenomenon. Enjoy a well deserved rest this evening after an action packed first day onboard the Kimberley Quest II. Relax on the spacious sundeck and soak up the last of the sun’s rays before the Kimberley night skies put on their own special display – billions of stars of the Milky Way, and an assortment of constellations that have guided seafarers for millennia. DAY 3: Montgomery Reef Today you cruise to another of the Kimberley’s icons, the amazing Montgomery Reef. An immense reef system covering more than 300km², it is Australia’s largest inshore reef system. Watch as the tide falls right before your eyes, creating a waterfall effect as the reef rises out of the water. A navigable channel, running deep into the Eastern reef, provides a stunning panorama of white water rapids on the ebb tide. Magical lagoons are created as the tide drops, which are rich in marine life, including dugongs, turtles, manta rays and many species of sea birds. Fascinating history surrounds High Cliffy Island, bordering the eastern edge of Montgomery Reef and once home to a physically superior tribe of Aborigines called the Yawijibaya tribe that disappeared around 1929. Discover more from one of our experienced guides onboard! DAY 4: Doubtful Bay, Sale River Cruise across Doubtful Bay to explore the first of the big rivers, the Sale River. One of the most sublime and beautiful estuaries, it winds its way through rugged narrow gorges with towering sandstone cliffs. Take a tender excursion upstream and disembark to walk through an ancient patch of rich rainforest glades. Admire the cool surroundings and take a dip in the spring fed rainforest pools before returning to the vessel (easy level walk). Also on offer is another beautiful waterfall, Ruby Falls, a picturesque freshwater swimming hole filled with water lilies and smooth water-worn rocks . Then back to the vessel to enjoy more fine food and relax on the sundeck as you continue on your quest. DAY 5: Kuri Bay, Camden Harbour This morning you cruise between Augustus Island and the mainland, passing the remote settlement of Kuri Bay, home to Australia’s largest and wealthiest pearling operation. At nearby Camden Harbour, visit forlorn settlers’ graves on a picturesque island and soak up the history of early European settlement (easy walk to ruins). This was the setting for a disastrous 19th century sheep farming venture by early Victorian settlers. In this rugged setting and harsh climate, the settlement failed miserably and was abandoned after less than two years and much tragedy. Try your hand at Kimberley fishing in one of our secret spots, take one of the tenders for a little exploration or laze about the sundeck and take in the beautiful scenery. Dine on freshly caught barramundi, served with crisp greens! |
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| Then there is more – Camp Creek, a delightful walk up to the base of the falls for another swim. Options include birdwatching along the tree lined banks of this pretty watercourse. | ||
DAY 7: Careening Bay, Bigge Island Visit Careening Bay (pictured), site of an ancient boab tree first visited in 1820 by Phillip Parker King whilst on a hydrographic survey of the Australian coastline. King and his crew careened the vessel HMC ‘Mermaid’ for repairs and subsequently carved the vessel’s name into a boab (easy walk to the tree). Next cruise north to Bigge Island, one of the Kimberley's largest islands and home to some amazing rock art galleries with a maritime theme. Relax on a sandy beach, before heading back to the vessel to watch another spectacular sunset as the sun sinks below the Kimberley horizon. DAY 8: Admiralty Gulf, Mitchell River 
You now enter the incredible assortment of islands that form the Bonaparte Archipelago.
Cruise across Admiralty Gulf to the Mitchell River, another of the Kimberley’s big rivers and the source of the magnificent Mitchell Falls.
Charter a helicopter and take an exhilarating ride over the falls, known by the Wunambal people as
Punamii-Unpuu.
This monumental landscape was formed over 1800 million years ago amidst volcanic eruptions, massive upheavals in the earth’s crust and ice ages to form what is now know as the Mitchell Plateau.
A not to be missed experience, departing from the Kimberley Quest’s helipad the flight gives you a unique ‘birds-eye’ view of this awesome landscape.
Drop a lure in later and perfect your fishing skills, go crocodile spotting at low tide or simply relax on the sun deck with a book from the
comprehensive onboard library. Enjoy an appetizing gourmet lunch, with time for a swim in the cool waters of Surveyors Creek.DAY 9: Vansittart Bay, WWII DC3 Crash Site |
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| You are now on the north coast of the Kimberley. | ||
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DAY 10: Napier Broome Bay Enjoy more relaxing and exploring as you cruise across Napier Broome Bay. There is an opportunity for a beach walk to an ancient Indonesian Trepang site for an insight into the lives of the early Macassan fishermen. The Macassans crossed the Timor Sea prior to the 1900’s in sailing prahus to catch bêche-de-mer, or sea cucumbers: a particularly important resource in the Asian market place. This site stems back to the first early contact between Aboriginal tribes and the Indonesian fisherman and is absolutely fascinating. Feast on juicy mud crabs and freshly caught fish, prepared by your chef. DAY 11: Drysdale River  Today encounter one of the Kimberley’s longest rivers, the Drysdale (432km). Spend the day exploring by dinghy the spectacular palm-studded landscape and rapids of the Drysdale area and marvel at its unique flora and fauna. The Drysdale is renowned for its saltwater crocodiles, flying foxes and many species of birdlife, which thrive in its delta islands. Walk on a deserted beach or try to catch the elusive Kimberley barramundi, with many great “snags” to fish around. Our expert guides will endeavour to put you in the right spot to bring home a couple of barramundi.. Once again, enjoy an excellent dinner. DAY 12: King George Falls At high tide, cross the sandbars of the King George River for a breathtaking cruise along this beautiful waterway. Incredible scenery unfolds as you approach the King George Falls through vertical sided sandstone canyons, ending at the highest waterfall in Western Australia. The Kimberley Quest II cruises to the base of the twin falls for a refreshing Kimberley shower! If you can, it is well worth a climb to the top for a breathtaking vista of the river below. Enjoy a well deserved swim in one of the cool upper pools (strenuous level walk). Overnight you are anchored just metres away from the falls and are lulled to sleep by water cascading over the cliff face. DAY 13: Koolama Bay, Berkeley River Today, visit Koolama Bay, the site where the 340ft vessel Koolama was beached, following attack by the Japanese during WWII. The passengers were taken ashore on orders by the ship’s master, while many of the crew had to walk overland on an epic cross-country trek. The Koolama was unfortunately later sunk off the Wyndham jetty during another air raid. Plenty of history surrounds the Kimberley and our crew will be more than happy to share the stories with you. A leisurely cruise leads out into Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, later passing the Kimberley’s highest sand dunes at Cape St Lambert. DAY 14: Berkeley River, Cambridge Gulf Today is your last chance to catch a barramundi or to try your luck for a large golden trevally at the river mouth. The Berkeley River offers stunning ochre-tinted sandstone scenery, amphitheatre waterfalls and beautiful freshwater pools, perfect for a refreshing dip. Alternatively you may go crocodile spotting or birdwatching. Savour your last evening under the Kimberley skies as you cruise towards Cambridge Gulf, the final leg of your odyssey, on the way to Wyndham. DAY 15: Wyndham Port Arrive into Wyndham Port at approximately 7.00am. Established in 1885 to cater for the huge influx of gold miners heading to the rich goldfields at Halls Creek, Wyndham later became a focus for cattle export. Enjoy your last breakfast and cappuccino onboard and take your courtesy coach at 8.00am for transfer to Kununurra where your trip ends at approximately 9.00am. Included Complimentary scenic flight over the spectacular King George Falls All meals and accommodation onboard Exploring as described Additional scenic helicopter flights available on request at own expense Reverse Itinerary Wyndham to Broome |
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