from $10,990 / per person twin share
May / June / July / August 2024
Cruise 6:
Friday 10 – Thursday 23 May. Download Itinerary
Cruise 7:
Wednesday 22 May – Tuesday 4 June. Download Itinerary
Cruise 8:
Wednesday 5 – Tuesday 18. Download Itinerary
Cruise 9:
Monday 17 – Sunday 30 June. Download Itinerary
Cruise 10:
Monday 1 – Sunday 14 July. Download Itinerary
Cruise 11:
Saturday 13 – Friday 26 July. Download Itinerary
Cruise 12:
Saturday 27 July – Friday 9 August. Download Itinerary
Cruise 13:
Thursday 8 – Wednesday 21 August. Download Itinerary
Explore the Kimberley Itinerary - Let's see where you are travelling!
Experience The Kimberley by air and then explore by sea. This fabulous package includes a thrilling helicopter flight over the spectacular Mitchell Plateau and a scenic light air flight between the Mitchell Plateau and Broome. This package starts from and returns to Derby and Broome.
This morning you will be picked up by taxi/shuttle from your accommodation and taken to the airport for a scenic light air flight from Broome or Derby to the Mitchell Plateau. This is followed by a helicopter flight over the Mitchell Plateau and the spectacular Mitchell Falls. The helicopter will land on Naturalist Beach where the crew will transport you to the boat. You will be welcomed on board Discovery One and then it’s time to settle in, get acquainted with the boat and relax as you take in the beauty of the Kimberley. Your cruise of a lifetime begins.
Prince Frederick Harbour lies within York Sound and it is here that we find the Roe and Hunter River estuaries. This area boasts sensational scenery, with cathedral-like gorges and eroded sandstone features such as the Indian Head at the entrance to the Hunter River.
Careening Bay is within the southern part of Nelson Bay where, in 1820, Phillip Parker King careened the vessel HMC 'Mermaid' for repairs whilst surveying the Australian coastline. His carpenter carved the vessel's name into an ancient boab tree which is still visible today.
Within the St George Basin are two flat topped hills, Mt Trafalgar and Mt Waterloo, which provide a spectacular backdrop as you cruise to the mouth of the Prince Regent River. This river is the remains of the longest single straight lineament in Australia, making it yet another geological wonder. Get your cameras ready as you experience some spectacular scenery, flora and fauna on our journey down this remote and pristine waterway, concluding at the majestic King Cascade Falls. This spectacular site is where American model, Ginger Meadows, was fatally attacked by a crocodile in 1987, a horror story which has been retold around the world. Keep an eye out for crocodiles as you view these magnificent falls which cascade over fern covered tiers in breathtaking splendor.
Within Hanover Bay are the pristine sands of Hanover Beach. It is here, in 1838, where Lt. George Grey unloaded his Timor ponies and began the first land based expedition of North West Australia in search of the great inland sea. The journey soon ended when he was speared by Aborigines. Despite this, Lt Grey reported back positively describing the area as ‘lush and fertile’. This glowing report encouraged a group of optimistic farmers to establish a new settlement in Camden Harbour in 1864. This was a total disaster from the start. The ruins of that settlement, which lasted only 9 months, can still be seen and the graves of some of these tough pioneers can be found on nearby Sheep Island.
Samson Inlet leads into a monsoonal rainforest pocket with almost permanent fresh water. Many previous passengers have called this the most beautiful spot on the Kimberley coast.
At the beginning of the Buccaneer Archipelago, is Montgomery Reef. This 400 sq km reef can emerge up to 4m above the waterline at low tide, creating a visual spectacle of waterfalls and sea life. Several small islands dot the reef and support rich mangroves, crocodiles, turtles, birds and fish.
Talbot Bay is home to the famous Horizontal Falls. The region's massive tides create a spectacular scene, sending huge volumes of water pouring through two narrow chasms in the land formation when the tides reach peak flow in both rising and falling conditions. With up to 10m of height difference between the waters of each of the two inland bays and the sea, water gushes through creating a mass of whirlpools, boils and raging currents. In Cyclone Creek, the incredible marine life includes impressive Tawny Nurse sharks which often come to greet Discovery One.
Silica Beach, on Hidden Island, boasts pure white sands and clear blue water. It’s the kind of beach one imagines should be found on an island paradise. It is a lovely place to take a dip.
This morning we wake up in Derby. Here the crew will bid you farewell. A bus will be waiting for you at the jetty to take you to your chosen destination in Derby or Broome.
Something Extra…
This itinerary lists all the places you can reasonably expect to visit on your cruise between the Hunter River and Derby. It is likely, however, that there will be additional places of interest visited on the actual cruise, time and tides allowing, which is why we prefer not to give you a day by day itinerary. The Captain aims to maximise the cruising experience for all passengers, so he will decide when and where he will take you during your 12 nights on the Kimberley coast. In this sense, every cruise is a little different and each passenger’s experience unique.