News from Broome and the Kimberley Coast

We don't know where the time goes, however everyone who has escaped with us to the Kimberley Coast this season has certainly made the most of it!

We've welcomed many groups of friends aboard this year for exclusive charters. It's always a particularly festive escape when friends book out the whole boat. With champagne and seafood barbeque picnics at hidden waterfalls, sunset drinks in fancy dress from red-rock peaks with spectacular views, cocktail parties on board, relaxing afternoons fishing, and bathing in the pristine waters of Silicone beach, our cruise photos in the gallery show some of the fun and festivities on board this year.

We introduced two new cruise itineraries to the schedule this year, including our 8 night Waterfall Safari directly after the end of the "Wet" Season, which was a sensational 9 days covering over 25 waterfalls between Broome and Wyndham. Next year's Waterfall Safari is already fully booked, however we have just released our 2014 cruise schedule and bookings are underway already for the following year!

The Great Escape Charter Company is one of the original Kimberley Charter boat operators, exploring the Kimberley coast and Rowley Shoals for over 10 years.

The Rowley Shoals - the "bucket list" dive experience

Greetings from sunny Broome! We hope this finds you well and enjoying a great year so far, and a lovely start to Spring.

We're already beginning to wind up our wilderness adventure cruises along the Kimberley Coast for the season and before we know it we'll be heading west again, to visit the breathtaking underwater jewel of the Kimberley, the Rowley Shoals.

In Sydney during the Australian Tourism Exchange this year we heard from many international diving tour organisers who all agreed the Rowley Shoals is a dream destination for diving fanatics worldwide. It continues to be highly protected by the Department of Environment and Conservation, and as there are only a few tour operators allowed access to the Rowley Shoals, it is a highly sought after dive destination.

These three coral atolls lying west of Broome are home to a mesmerizing 688 species of fish and 233 varieties of coral. With visibility between 40-60 metres, warm tropical waters, and variety of dive environments including sheer walls, caves, lagoons, drift channels and spectacular coral gardens, the Rowley Shoals are a true paradise for snorkelers and divers alike.

The short season runs between the end of October and the start of December each year, and we have 3 dive and snorkel adventures in our 2011 season schedule.
Special Last-Minute offer on remaining availability

As we are now just 5 weeks away from our Rowley Shoals season starting, we have released our special last-minute offers on all remaining availability.

The offer includes 30% off the full fare price of both Horizon View Staterooms and Panoramic View Staterooms, and a nights stay at Broome's new 5 star The Pinctada Resort post-cruise.

The 5 night dive and snorkel adventure is now reduced to $2, 885 per person twin share in a Horizon View Stateroom, and the 7 night dive and snorkel adventure is now reduced to $3, 990 per person in a Horizon View Stateroom.

Please email us or call us on 08 9193 5983 for more information or to make a booking.

Specially scheduled dive & snorkel adventure... bring the kids!

This year The Great Escape Charter Company welcomes all children to the Rowley Shoals for a specially scheduled family dive and snorkel adventure.

In addition to the stunning sites for children to snorkel at, a swag of other fun activities are planned for children including skurfing, boat bombies, fishing, and visiting the stunning white sands of Bedwell Island. You can be sure there will be plenty of additional entertainment onboard from the fun and friendly crew, and on-screen entertainment with kids movies in the evening. After that the adults get the run of the boat!

Call us on (08) 9193 5983 to make a reservation, or email us for more information and prices.

New Website: www.greatescape.net.au

News from Broome and the Kimberley Coast

Hello from sunny Broome, and welcome to our mid-season news from the magnificent Kimberley Coast.

Blessed with beautiful blue skies and balmy 28 degree days, the streets of Broome are bustling with tourists flocking to explore the pristine wilderness on our doorstep, and to escape the winter blues.

Being peak season it's also a busy time for The Great Escape Charter Company; we've seen our first round of 13 night Kimberley Classic Adventures come and go and made some wonderful new friends along the way. Two groups booked the whole boat and each had a festive 2 weeks from Wyndham to Broome; what a way to reunite with friends!

Our first round of 7 night Southern Kimberley Experiences have passed and Skipper Scotty, a favourite with guests, returned to join the crew, and guide guests through the land he is so passionate and knowledgeable about.

Now we return to the full 13 night cruises and while conditions are perfect, the waterfalls are still flowing along the entire coastline, thanks to the amazing Wet Season we had at the start of the year. The whales are also appearing as they move up the West Coast of Oz heading for Camden Harbour, a prime area for whale mating and breeding.

Help Save the Kimberley Coast

Those of you who have had the opportunity to experience the incredibly pristine wilderness of the Kimberley Coast will understand the importance of preserving and protecting this precious region for now, and for future generations.

The region is under threat of a proposed liquid gas processing plant development at James Price Point near Broome, and now is an important time to voice concerns about destroying this vital wilderness. To find out more you can read about what is happening here and if you would like to send a letter in protest you can visit this page on the Save the Kimberley website.

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The Great Escape Charter Company is one of the original Kimberley Charter boat operators, exploring the Kimberley coast and Rowley Shoals for over 10 years.

Click to see our Cruise DVD or our Dive DVD Or call to find out more: 08 9193 5983

Welcome to the Wet Season!

We hope you've enjoyed a great start to 2011, and we look forward to keeping you informed of all the fun and action taking place across the Kimberley during the new season now just upon us.

If you ask any long-time Broome or Kimberley local how this year’s Wet Season is faring, you will hear a resounding "it's been amazing!”

After one of the biggest Wet Season's on record, it promises to be an impressive year in the Kimberley and we are excited about what we'll discover on our Kimberley Classic Adventures beginning next Saturday.

From December onwards we have had constant heavy rain on most days, amidst some of the most spectacular storms. It has bucketed down in the streets of Broome, and the heavens have opened onto the Kimberley Coastline, with Kuri Bay receiving an incredible recorded 1300 mm! While sadly the East has suffered terrible flooding, over here in the North West we have welcomed the wet conditions, for to us it brings the intense power and action to our countless magical waterfalls, making the Kimberley Coast one of the most astounding and majestic places on earth.

Renowned professional Kimberley photographer Yane Sotiroski, had the very good fortune of viewing the coastline by helicopter recently, and came back with some stunning snaps taken from the air. You can view the gallery here. Yane has lived in Broome since the age of 5, experiencing a lot of Wet Seasons over the years, and on reflection Yane says "this year I'd have to say is one of the best. This truly is a beautiful part of the world. I think this year the Cascades, Mitchell Falls and the mighty King George will be flowing well into the Dry Season." Have a look at Kings Cascades thundering down in this very short video taken from the chopper. Taken from a phone camera!

Yane will be travelling on the 13 night Kimberley Classic Adventure departing April 2nd and welcomes budding photographers to join him for an unsurpassed photographic experience in the Kimberley due to the sensational conditions. Yane will be available for on-site photographic workshopping and advice. To view Yane's photographic work visit www.yane.com.au

For anyone considering cruising the Kimberley Coast, with time to travel this year, you would be absolutely mad not to take advantage of this year's phenomenal Wet Season follow-on.

If you're keen to join in this experience we have just 3 Horizon View Staterooms remaining on the 2nd April 2011 departure (the 2nd cruise for the season), and only 2 Horizon View Staterooms remaining on the 30th April departure for our 13 night Kimberley Classic Adventures. Email us or phone 08 9193 5983 for more information.

Helicopter Voucher included on Great Escape Cruises

The Great Escape Charter Company is celebrating 10 years of Kimberley adventure and to mark the end of this special year, the adventure cruise specialists have just released a fantastic offer of a complimentary helicopter voucher for all new reservations on the remaining 2010 August and September cruises.

“Given the late rains that the region has experienced recently it is a great time to be cruising the Kimberley coast and enjoying the fantastic waterfalls” says Chris Tucker, Captain of MV Great Escape, who has been exploring the region for nearly 25 years. “This is also the best time of year to witness the Humpback Whales as they migrate along the Kimberley coast to the calving grounds.”

If people opt for the 13 nights Kimberley Classic Adventure from Broome to Wyndham or vice versa, the complimentary chopper voucher affords guests the opportunity to experience the

‘BEST OF THE BIG FOUR’

This encompasses flights over the Horizontal Waterfalls, Montgomery Reef, Prince Regent Nature Reserve & the Mitchell Falls – what way to enjoy the Kimberley!! Offer valid until 14th August 2010.

If people do not have two weeks to spare, the 7 nights Southern Kimberley Experience is a great choice for exploring Broome to the Mitchell Plateau and the voucher is for

‘BEST OF THE BIG THREE’

This includes flights over the Horizontal Waterfalls, Montgomery Reef, & Prince Regent Nature Reserve. Guests still have the opportunity to enjoy the Mitchell Falls anyway, as the transfer flights to/from the vessel fly over this area and this helicopter flight is included in the cruise price. Offer valid until 17th September 2010.

For more information or availability, call Liz or Lisa at the office of The Great Escape Charter Company 08 9193 5983


*(conditions apply, not to be used on conjunction with any other offer).

The helicopter vouchers will be issued upon receipt of the final cruise payment.