PONANT's new sailing expeditions in the Kimberley aboard Le Ponant for 2023

 PONANT is set to take luxury expeditions at sea to another level in 2023 announcing the planned arrival to Australian waters of the company’s iconic 32 guest, three-masted sailing yacht Le Ponant for the 2023 Kimberley season. 

Kimberley cruising for all Australians to resume from April 2022

Interstate expedition cruises with a maximum of 350 people on board can resume from 17 April, reports Cruise Weekly.

The West Australian Government has this morning announced the "safe and staged resumption" of cruising, which ensures that the upcoming Kimberley season can go ahead.

The move involves "stringent measures and protocols" which will be released by WA's Chief Health Officer, with a starting point allowing ships with a maximum of 350 guests and crew to operate in the state.

All cruise vessels operating in WA are required to have a COVID-19 management plan, with all crew and passengers double dose vaccinated with a booster if eligible.

From 01 October 2022, Fremantle and other regional WA port destinations will be able to welcome the safe return of larger cruise ships for their upcoming season, with Cunard's Queen Elizabeth anticipated to be the first of the larger vessels to visit Fremantle on 07 November.

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Expedition Cruise Specialists launches The Ghan & Coral Adventurer's Kimberley program

Australia’s Expedition Cruise Specialists have just released their 2020 The Ghan & Coral Adventurer’s Kimberley program, combining two of Australia’s most iconic journeys into one epic 16-day package.

The itinerary, which commences in Adelaide and concludes in Broome, includes two nights Gold Class travel through the Red Centre to Darwin aboard the legendary Ghan. Guests will be able to enjoy fine dining in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant carriage, accompanied by a curated list of Australian wines, beers and spirits. There’s also included off-train excursions in both Alice Springs and Katherine, with a cruise through stunning Nitmiluk Gorge a highlight.

On arrival in the Top End capital Darwin, there’s three nights of included four-star accommodation, allowing ample time to explore the sites and perhaps even experience some of the region’s National Parks.

The second half of the journey takes travellers on a voyage showcasing Western Australia’s outback Kimberley Coast aboard the stylish expedition ship Coral Adventurer. Launch in May 2019, the 120-passenger, 93-metre Coral Adventurer promises travellers the opportunity to experience all the icons of this remote coastline in total comfort and style.

Making use of the Kimberley’s most flexible range of excursion craft, expeditioners aboard Coral Adventurer will be able to get up close and personal with majestic waterfalls including King George and Mitchell Falls, explore the exposed corals of Montgomery Reef at low tide and ride zodiacs through the Horizontal Falls of Talbot Bay, considered by renowned documentary film-maker Sir David Attenborough to be ‘one of the greatest natural wonders of the world’.

Led by an experienced expedition team and knowledgeable guest lecturers, there will also be ample time to seek out the Kimberley’s ancient rock art, including the mysterious Bradshaw (Gwion Gwion) Paintings. A further highlight will be travelling ashore in Careening Bay to witness the famed Mermaid Boab Tree, 2020 marks the 200th anniversary of the tree’s ‘HMS Mermaid 1820’ inscription, originally carved by a Mermaid crew member during Phillip Parker King’s coastal survey in 1820.

There are eight departures of The Ghan & Coral Adventurer’s Kimberley program being offered in 2020, with prices starting at just $11,990 per person, twin share for Gold Class travel aboard The Ghan, three nights 4-star accommodation in Darwin and a ten-night Kimberley cruise in a Coral Deck Stateroom aboard the new Coral Adventurer. Guests also have the option to upgrade their travel to Platinum service aboard the Ghan and Balcony Staterooms while cruising the coast.

The full schedule of 2020 departures from Adelaide is:

12 April 2020
03 May 2020
24 May 2020
14 June 2020
05 July 2020
26 July 2020
16 August 2020
06 September 2020

For bookings and information contact Expedition Cruise Specialists on 1800 90 20 80 or visit https://www.expeditioncruisespecialists.com/destinations/kimberley/ghan-coral-adventurer

Travelmarvel Kimberley Coast Cruising

Join premium tour operator Travelmarvel for a breathtaking adventure along Australia's most remote coastline. The online launch of Travelmarvel's four Kimberley Coast Cruising 2020 explorations showcases the iconic coastline of the Kimberley and Top End, and features 10-nights aboard the recently launched Coral Adventurer.

From humpback whales and sharks to dugongs, green turtles and crocodiles, there is plenty of marine life to see on a Kimberley Coast Cruise. And you'll be left in awe at the deep gorges of the Kimberley Coast where these creatures live. See the tumbling, 80 metre drop of the King George Falls and the terraced King Cascades. The tidal phenomenon of Horizontal Falls is one of the word's natural wonders, and the ideal place to take to a Zodiac for an up-close exploration.

NEW SHIP: All Aboard The Coral Adventurer

Launched in April 2019, the new expedition ship, the Coral Adventurer, is the best ticket to experiencing the unspoiled nature of the Kimberley in comfort and style. Get up close to the region's hidden beaches and towering waterfalls aboard the trademark Xplorer tenders which have been specially designed for ease of access.

On board, you can expect friendly and professional service from every staff member – no request is too big or small for your carefully chosen crew. The contemporary facilities including the Bridge Deck and Observation Lounge are great places to take in the inspiring red ochre rocks and glittering water. What's more, cuisine on board celebrates the region, and can be enjoyed indoors or out, depending on your mood and the weather. 

TRAVELMARVEL FAVOURITE: Kimberley Coast Cruise

Get down to the basics on this 12-day exploration of the Kimberley. Kicking off with a night in Darwin, board the Coral Adventurer and set off on a journey along the Top End. This thrilling adventure starts at $10,295 per person, twin share, including Earlybird and Early Payment discounts totaling $1,400 per couple.

Be whisked by a Zodiac to the base of King George Falls, and through Horizontal Falls. Indulge in a delicious range of canapes and drinks at sunset in Winyalken Bay. Discover the stunning terraced rock formations of King Cascades. These are just some of the major highlights of a Kimberley Coast Cruise. Take the chance to learn about the region's rich history and culture by exploring some of the Kimberley's most well-preserved Bradshaw (Gwion Gwion) rock art, and venture to the pristine beaches of the aptly-named Tranquil Bay.

Of course, if 12 days isn't quite enough, Travelmarvel also offers a range of more in-depth holidays across Kimberley and the Top End, where explorations of Kakadu National Park, El Questro, and the beautiful west coast are plenty.

For further information, please call 1300 196 420, or visit www.travelmarvel.com.au.

TRAVELMARVEL: Fun, exciting and hassle-free – Travelmarvel holidays are designed for those who seek premium organised travel on their own terms. Ensuring the best possible value, each holiday offers a high standard of service and comprehensive inclusions, as well as extras that cater to individual interests. www.travelmarvel.com.au

Last remaining staterooms for PONANT Kimberley 2019 voyages

Compelling reasons to visit the Kimberley with PONANT, world leader of luxury expedition cruising.

Explore one of the oldest of regions on earth aboard one of the newest of ships.
Act quickly to secure one of the final staterooms available on a PONANT Kimberley voyage and enjoy an immersive expedition from onboard Le Lapérouse - the youngest and most environmentally sustainable vessel in the Kimberley.

Captivating Kimberley: cruising Australia’s North West

Weathered by eons of rain, wind and sea spray, these cliffs are almost as old as the Earth itself.

Roderick Eime revisits Australia's amazing North West

As you cast your eyes on the golden hues of the savagely weathered stone edifices along the Hunter and Prince Regent Rivers, laid down by the same ancient waterways almost two billion years ago, you are seeing a snapshot of our planet so old, it predates the earliest forms of multicellular life by hundreds of millions of years.

Read the full story at:
https://www.vacationstravel.com/captivating-kimberly-cruising-australias-west-coast/

True North Cruises in the Kimberley

Words: Roderick Eime

The rugged and foreboding Kimberley region of north-western Australia has a fearsome reputation for both its unforgiving environment and ability to draw adventure travellers from all over the world!

The sheer cliffs, raging tides, carnivorous wildlife and inhospitable landscape effectively deterred the early 17th Century Dutch mariners from further exploration, but the region also holds what are possibly the world’s oldest known cave paintings – the Bradshaws or Gwion Gwion.