Cruise the Spectacular Kimberley

YOUR TOUR ESCORTS

Linda Owen is an experienced travel agent with more than 10 years in the industry.

Her love of the outback and knowledge of this area will enhance your Kimberley experience.

For all of our Gippsland Travel personally escorted tours, our tour escorts pride themselves on attention to detail and personal care. Linda will ensure that everyone travelling in her group will have a wonderful adventure.

TOUR COST:

 Note: All costs are based on a twin or double share cabin

Based on UPPER DECK STATEROOM – availability:
2 x double, 3 x twin Total cost: $12,759 per person

Based on LOWER CABIN – availability:
2 x twin Reduction of $1,516.00 per person
therefore Total cost: $11,243 per person

Based on Upgrade to DELUXE STATEROOM – availability:
1 x twin, 1 x double Additional $446.00 per person
therefore Total cost: $13,205 per person

**Single supplement – on application, available for land component only
**Upgrade to Business Class on flights – on application
**Extensions and additional arrangements available on request
**Should you travel on flights other than the group flights, the airfare component will be adjusted accordingly.

Places on the tour will be secured in order of receipt of a signed, completed booking form followed by a full deposit of $2500 per person by Friday, 9 June 2017. After this date, this deposit will be non-refundable.

PAYMENT DETAILS
FULL DEPOSIT: $2,500 due by Friday, 9 June, 2017.
After this date, deposit is non-refundable.

FINAL PAYMENT: Due Tuesday, 9 January, 2018.
 

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES:

• Personally escorted throughout the entire tour
• Melbourne to Darwin and Broome to Melbourne economy airfare and taxes
• Coach transfers from Gippsland to Melbourne Airport and return
• Sightseeing as per itinerary
• Excellent standard of hotel accommodation in twin or double bedded rooms with private facilities in Darwin and Broome
• 10 night Darwin to Broome Cruise aboard the Coral Expedition 1
• Accommodation, shore excursions, meals as indicated on itinerary
• On board Coral Expedition 1, house wine & beer with lunch & dinner only, 24 hour tea/coffee & soft drink station and landing fees included
• 36 Meals as per itinerary 14 Breakfasts (B), 10 Lunches (L), 12 Dinners (D)
• Maximum of 18 tour participants

COST EXCLUDES:

• Travel Insurance. Please note that it is a condition of our tour that all participants have comprehensive travel insurance. All details are available from our office.
• Any meals not included in the itinerary
• Telephone calls, laundry and any expenses of a personal nature

SPECIAL NOTES:
Flight schedules are subject to change.
The order of the sightseeing may vary depending on local conditions.

CANCELLATION FEES:
Notice of cancellation must be made in writing to Gippsland Travel Centre

Prices correct as per 30 May, 2017

Departs Melbourne: Wednesday 18th April Concludes: Wednesday 2nd May

MEALS INCLUDED Breakfast Lunch Dinner

CRUISE THE SPECTACULAR KIMBERLEY

ACCOMMODATION
DOUBLETREE BY HILTON DARWIN
Located on Darwin's famous Esplanade and just 5 minutes’ walk to the city centre, close to many Darwin shopping, dining and leisure options, the Doubletree by Hilton Darwin features stunning ocean views and a relaxing poolside surrounds. At this Darwin hotel, you can enjoy modern conveniences, recreational amenities and a friendly welcome.

Property features: 24-hour reception; 24-hour room service; poolside restaurant & bar; swimming pool.
Each guest room has either a king size bed or two double beds. All rooms have floor to ceiling windows and a Juliette balcony from which to enjoy city, harbour or garden views. Guest rooms also feature a flat screen television, work desk and luxury amenities.

CORAL EXPEDITION 1
The Coral Expeditions 1carries 46 passengers in 23 cabins and being 35 metres in length, allows it to access the isolated places that Coral Expeditions 1 is famed for visiting. The facilities are what you would expect of a much larger cruise ship. A sundeck, spa pool, dining area, comprehensive reference library, boutique and dive shop provides passengers with the comforts of home. Also available on board are phone and fax facilities and a lecture lounge. Limited laundry facilities are available as well.

Experienced, highly informative Expedition Leaders and Guest Lecturers will supervise the expedition itinerary maximising the experiences offered on shore excursions. Sensitive arrangements are also made allowing guests to absorb the cultural remnants of one of the world's most ancient people, the Australian Aborigine.

A specially designed excursion vessel allows you to explore the gorges of the Mitchell, King George, Prince Regent and Hunter Rivers. For the more adventurous, optional helicopter flights to the Mitchell Plateau are also available. The abundance of bird life and native wildlife including the salt-water crocodile make every moment of the expedition unique. The hundreds of islands in The Buccaneer Archipelago, the tidal phenomena at Montgomery Reef and the extraordinary horizontal waterfalls near Talbot Bay …The Kimberley has it all.

The "Explorer" is a specially designed aluminum excursion vessel used for the majority of excursions. This vessel has high horsepower engines and will accommodate all passengers at one time. The "Explorer" will be used for landings and for extensive exploration of rivers and tributaries. For your added convenience and comfort, the "Explorer" is equipped with an awning and toilet. The vessel also carries two inflatable landing craft (Zodiacs). Designed for expedition work, these large and heavy-duty inflatables are extremely safe. Separate air compartments retain a large reserve of buoyancy even if the boat is damaged. The flat bottom design permits these crafts to land directly onto the beaches. Expect nonetheless to wade through shallow water to reach the shore.

CABLE BEACH CLUB RESORT & SPA
The only Resort in Broome located on spectacular Cable Beach is the award-winning Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa – a unique blend of cultural influences and architecture. Surrounded by magnificent gardens, you can relax by the water in style.
The resort has two swimming pools – one for families, and the other reserved solely for adults. You can also relax for a while in the Chahoya Spa or the meditative Buddha Sanctuary. Cable Beach Club Spa and Resorts boasts four distinctively different restaurants and bars for you to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner.
The property also features two night lit tennis courts, a hair salon and air conditioned gym.

ITINERARY

Wednesday, 18 April

Melbourne to Darwin

We shall have an early morning departure from Gippsland to Melbourne Airport for our flight to Darwin. On arrival, we will be met and transferred to our hotel, the DOUBLETREE BY HILTON DARWIN, or similar for a two-night stay. After checking into 0ur hotel, there will be time to take an optional orientation walk or just relax. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Dinner.

Thursday, 19 April

Darwin Sightseeing

After breakfast, we shall take a City Sights tour, the perfect introduction to the tropical city of Darwin. Our city sights tour will feature many Darwin landmarks including the Chinese Temple, Botanical Gardens, East Point Reserve, Stokes Hill Wharf, WWII Relics, historic city sights and the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT and the Defence of Darwin Experience.
The Northern Territory's unhurried capital, Darwin, offers balmy nights, colourful characters and outdoor adventures. As well as markets, crocodiles and cruises, you'll find strong Aboriginal cultures here, as evidenced by the array of languages spoken in the streets, and the vibrant Aboriginal art that fills the city's galleries and museums. The city's proximity to Asia means you'll also find strong Asian influences, especially in the food scene and night markets.
After we return to the hotel, the rest of the day is at your leisure for more exploring and simply relaxing.
During the afternoon, Linda will be available for suggested excursions or a tempting restaurant for dinner.

Friday, 20 April

Darwin to Broome Cruise

We have an early check out for our transfer to the Harbour to board our home for the next 10 nights, the Coral Expeditions 1. We farewell Darwin Harbour, cross Cambridge Gulf and sail into Western Australian waters. This afternoon join Expedition Staff for an informative introduction to the Kimberley before meeting your fellow travellers and friendly crew at the Captain’s Welcome Cocktails.

Saturday, 21 April

King George River and Falls

Today we discover the first of the Kimberley’s ‘big’ rivers, the mighty King George. Aboard Explorer, the specially designed excursion vessel, we’ll explore scenic gorges, and in the inflatable zodiacs we’ll cruise close to the base of magnificent King George Falls, the tallest waterfalls in Western Australia towering some 80 metres above the river below. Later we visit Tranquil Bay for beach walking and exploration.  

Sunday, 22 April

Vansittart Bay DC3 and Jar Island

Today we join Expedition Leader on a walk across salt flats to view the wreckage of a US Air Force DC3 which crash landed on the beach during WWII. Later we visit Jar Island and discover the island’s outstanding rock art gallery. The Guest Lecturers will point out fine examples of the Kimberley’s mysterious Bradshaw Paintings (Gwion), dating back some 20,000 years.  

Monday, 23 April

Hathaway’s Hideaway and Mitchell Falls

After anchoring in Winyalken Bay, we travel ashore aboard Explorer to explore the maze of natural sandstone caves known as Hathaway’s Hideaway. Later, helicopters are available for optional scenic flights over the Mitchell Plateau for close up views of the mighty four-tiered Mitchell Falls. This evening, enjoy a spectacular Indian Ocean sunset as we indulge in a gourmet Aussie Beach BBQ. 

Tuesday, 24 April

Bigge Island and Careening Bay

We discover the rock art gallery on Bigge Island, featuring fine examples of both Wandjina and Bradshaw art. Then we explore Careening Bay which was named by Phillip Parker King after his ship ‘HMC Mermaid’ was careened during his second voyage of discovery in the Kimberley. The lecturers lead us to the site of a large boab tree baring the inscription “HMC Mermaid – 1820”, still clearly visible almost 200 years later.

Wednesday, 25 April

Prince Regent River and King Cascades

We cruise the mighty Prince Regent River aboard Explorer to breathtaking King Cascades, an unusual and picturesque waterfall cascading over terraced rock formations. We then enjoy a picnic lunch at beautiful Camp Creek, where there is time for a leisurely swim in the fresh water pools.

Thursday, 26 April

Montgomery Reef and Doubtful Bay

Today we savour a truly unforgettable moment as Montgomery Reef ‘rises’ out of the ocean as the tide ebbs. We join Expedition Staff aboard the Explorer and zodiacs to experience this natural phenomenon up close and discover the reef’s diverse marine life including turtles, manta rays and reef sharks. Later we cruise through scenic Doubtful Bay.

Friday, 27 April

Raft Point and Ruby Falls

After cruising through Kuri Bay, home of the south sea pearl industry, we travel ashore at Raft Point and visit a secluded and very interesting Aboriginal rock art gallery to view Wandjina art and the mysterious Bradshaw Paintings (Gwion). Later we explore Red Cone Creek and enjoy a cooling dip at Ruby Falls.  

Saturday, 28 April

Horizontal Falls and Buccaneer Archipelago

We cruise through the Buccaneer Archipelago, home to over 800 islands. In Talbot Bay, the region’s 12 metre tides create an amazing spectacle, the unique Horizontal Falls, described by legendary naturalist David Attenborough as “one the greatest natural wonders in the world”. We then board the zodiacs for an exhilarating ride through the falls and later explore Silica Beach on Hidden Island with its stunning white sands and crystal clear waters.  

Sunday, 29 April

Lacepede Islands

This morning we cruise through Pender Bay and, subject to weather and tides, will visit the Lacepede Islands, a series of low islands consisting of coarse sand and coral rubble lying atop a platform reef. This nature reserve has been identified by Bird Life International as an Important Bird Area as it supports up to 18,000 breeding pairs of Brown Boobies and Roseate Terns, possibly the largest such population in the world. Board the zodiacs and explore the island’s lagoon, keeping an eye out for many species of marine birdlife including Australian Pelicans, frigate birds, egrets, gulls and terns. The islands are also renowned as Western Australia’s most significant breeding grounds for the Green Turtle, often seen nesting on the islands. This evening farewell new-found friends as you enjoy the Captain’s Farewell Cocktails.

Monday, 30 April

Broome

This unforgettable cruise along the Kimberley coast concludes in Broome this morning. After we disembark we shall take a tour of Broome before checking into the CABLE BEACH CLUB RESORT & SPA, for a two-night stay. The afternoon is free to relax or explore before we get together for Sunset drinks.

Tuesday, 1 May

Broome

Today is at your leisure. Surrounded by magnificent gardens, you can relax by the water in style. The resort has two swimming pools – one for families, and the other reserved solely for adults. Or, you can also relax for a while in the Chahoya Spa or the meditative Buddha Sanctuary. Cable Beach Club Spa and Resorts boasts four distinctively different restaurants and bars and also features two tennis tourts, a hair salon and an air-conditioned gym.

Tonight, we will get together for our Farewell Dinner.

Wednesday, 2 May

Broome – Melbourne

Our wonderful Kimberley adventure has come to an end, we checkout and transfer to Broome airport for our flight back to Melbourne. On arrival, we shall be transferred by coach back to Gippsland.