Experience the Kimberley Coast & the Legendary Spirit of the Ghan in One Amazing Holiday

Coral Princes Cruises - Oceanic Discoverer

Infused with the essence of all things Australian, Broome & The Kimberley Holidays has released a spectacular trip of a lifetime combining The Ghan - the legendary rail journey through the heart of Australia - with a wilderness cruise of the pristine and remote Kimberley coast onboard the Oceanic Discoverer.

Broome & The Kimberley Holidays is Australia's leading specialist travel company for The Kimberley and beyond, based in Broome, WA. The Kimberley and The Outback are our home and in our region, local know-how goes a long way. We've combined two of our favourite experiences in this 'journey of a lifetime'.

Our NEW "18 Night Ultimate Cruise/Rail Expedition" features 10 nights aboard Oceanic Discoverer, cruising the sparkling waters of the Kimberley coast between Broome & Darwin, pre & post accommodation & touring in both Broome & Darwin, plus Gold service accommodation aboard The Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide as follows:

Itinerary:

DAY 1-2: Depart Adelaide on The Ghan for 2 nights aboard this iconic train.

DAY 3: Arrive in Darwin, Australia's most unique capital city and stepping stone to an awesome array of adventures. Accommodation is included at Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin for 3 nights.

DAY 4: Join Aussie Adventure Holidays on a Litchfield National Park/Waterfalls day tour. You will have the opportunity to visit the main falls of Tolmer, Florence and Wangi Falls plus the delightful Bluey Rockholes, with plenty of time to relax in the crystal clear refreshing waters.

DAY 5: A dinner cruise on the sailing schooner "Alfred Nobel" in Darwin Harbour is the perfect way to spend a balmy Darwin evening.

DAY 6-16: Your cruising adventure begins with Coral Princess Cruises as you board Oceanic Discoverer for a 10 night exploration voyage to the Kimberley. Experienced guides supervise the expedition itinerary, maximising the experiences offered by the breathtaking scenery, while a specially designed excursion boat and inflatable Zodiacs allow you to explore the many gorges and rivers.

DAY 16-18: Arrive in Broome, once the pearling capital of the world, a unique and exotic town with a romantic and often flamboyant history. 3 nights accommodation is included at Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa. There are many additional touring options available in Broome - take a town tour to learn more of Broome's fascinating history, visit Willie Creek Pearl Farm for an insight into the fascinating process of cultured pearling or a scenic flight over the rugged inland gorges of the Gibb River Road.

DAY 19: Depart Broome for your home port.

Packages start from $10,999 per person and more information can be found by following this link.

Reservations contacts: 1300 245 565 or reservations@broomekimberley.com
For more information visit www.broomekimberley.com.au

Aurora Expeditions' Kimberley Adventures educational event (Sydney)

Fine arts and aboriginal arts specialist lecturer to share insights into Aurora Expeditions' Kimberley Adventures

Aurora Expeditions are offering you the chance to meet Dr. Garry Darby, an art historian, lecturer and author specialising in Aboriginal art. Garry will give an illustrated talk about Wandjina and Bradshaw art and share his own personal insights of the Kimberley region.

The Kimberley event will take place from 6-8pm on Wednesday the 9th of February at Aurora Expeditions office ( Suite 201, Level 2, 88 George Street, The Rocks, Sydney)

Garry lectures at the University of Sydney and Macquarie University and has three degrees in fine arts. He has studied at the University of New England and the University of Sydney. He specialises in Aboriginal art and has led flying study tours into Central Australia, Arnhem Land and the Kimberley for the past ten years. Garry acts as consultant for corporate collectors and Sydney galleries and regularly teaches courses about all aspects of Aboriginal and western art history at Sydney institutions and colleges. In 1999 Dr Darby was part of a team which staged the outstanding exhibition "Desert Dreaming" at the United Nations Building, New York.

He has curated a number of exhibitions of Aboriginal art in Sydney including 'Desert Dreamtime' at Kambala, 'Exploring the Dreamtime' at Trinity Grammar School and "Wandjina!: Art of the Kimberley" at Macquarie University. In the latter he worked very closely with Mowanjum artist Donny Woolagoodja.

Aurora Expeditions' own expedition experts will also be on hand to answer any questions about travelling to the Kimberley Coast in 2011 / 2012 or any of their other destinations.

For many years, Aurora Expeditions has been a leading travel company specialising in Antarctic and High Arctic expeditions. Over the years, Aurora Expeditions has expanded its scope from polar exploration to include new, rarely explored destinations such as Papua New Guinea, the Kimberley and the Russian Coast. In its quest to seek destinations that push the boundaries of travel, Aurora Expeditions has purposely kept the number of participants on each departure small, allowing more intimate encounters with wildlife and cultures, and lessening its impact on the regions visited.

Along with the guidance of its experienced founders, Aurora Expeditions' dynamic team all share a great respect for natural and cultural environments. Aurora Expeditions continues to approach expedition travel as a catalyst for making a difference in one's life, and in the world.

Bookings for the 'Educational Evening' are essential as places are limited. To book your seat, please call now on 02 9252 1033.

For more information on Aurora Expeditions, visit www.auroraexpeditions.com.au/events <http://www.auroraexpeditions.com.au/events>

North Star Cruises Lowers Prices - More Opportunity

The company explained that the move to lower prices was an affirmative action designed to keep North Star in-step with a changed market.

Commenting at the time, the company's general manager, Peter Trembath, said "the changes are consistent with North Star's reputation for being a market leader and will surely make our cruises even more irresistible to the discerning adventurer!"

In addition to lower prices - North Star also announced 4 completely different options to cruise the magnificent Kimberley region.

The Kimberley Ultimate has always been North Star's flagship adventure. A two-week soiree along the Kimberley coast featuring a wild and beautiful panorama of rugged mountains, spectacular gorges and majestic waterfalls. Plus unexplained rock-art, extraordinary wildlife and monster barramundi.

Kimberley Gorges (7 nights)
The Kimberley Gorges itinerary features the northern half of the Kimberley
Ultimate cruise. Here the landscape is dominated by the Kimberley's stunning gorge country including the Berkeley River, the King George Falls and the Mitchell River. The cruise includes helicopter/aircraft transfer to Broome.

Kimberley Islands (6 nights)
The Kimberley Islands itinerary features the southern half of the Kimberley Ultimate cruise. A totally different Kimberley experience featuring the exhilarating Horizontal Waterfalls, intriguing Montgomery Reef and the mighty Price Regent River. The cruise includes helicopter/aircraft transfer from Broome.
Kimberley Snapshot (7 nights)

And finally, the best of the best

For those pressed for time or perhaps considering the budget - the Kimberley Snapshot is the flagship Kimberley Ultimate itinerary condensed into a single week! The cruise features several Kimberley icons including the King Gorge Falls, the Hunter River, the Prince Regent River, Montgomery Reef and the Horizontal Waterfalls.

Full details are available at
http://www.northstarcruises.com.au/sailingschedule.asp?Date=2011

True North Background

The multi-award winning adventure-cruise ship, True North, allows discerning guests to experience wilderness in surroundings more akin to one of the world's most exclusive hotels.

Lavish features include:

* A sundeck, forward observation lounge, ship's lounge, alfresco bar, internet cafe, plasma screens with interpretive information, lower deck dining room with large panoramic windows, and fine dining.
* All cabins feature enhanced decor, en-suite facilities, in-house entertainment and satellite telephones.
* Multiple expedition boats (6) allow passengers greater opportunity to do "what they want, when they want".
* To add another dimension to adventure - most cruise options feature an onboard helicopter.
* The purpose built True North is able to explore the upper reaches of shallow river systems.
* Adventure-cruises are conducted all around the Australian coastline and in the stunning waters of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

The True North - one of the finest adventure-cruise ships in the world

For more information visit www.northstarcruises.com.au

Kimberley Quest II - Winners at the WA Tourism Awards

Pearl Sea Coastal Cruises were announced winners in the category of Ecotourism and silver medallists in Tour & Transport Operators at the Western Australian Tourism Awards on Saturday night.

Highly regarded within the tourism industry as prestigious awards, owners Jeff and Lynne Ralston are very excited of the great achievement and acknowledge the work of the entire team.

The win sees Pearl Sea Coastal Cruises automatically entered in to the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in March 2011.

We are very proud of our achievement and thank you all for your support.

P 1300 156 035
F +61 (0) 8 9193 6303

www.kimberleyquest.com.au

Behind Orion's Expeditions to Borneo

As you would imagine a great deal of time and effort goes into the preparation of Orion expeditions, whether to the Antarctic, PNG, Kimberley, or, in this instance for Orion II's 2011 four different itineraries that circumnavigate Borneo.

While some MD's can reel off seat pitch and others their wine list of preference for various airlines, the immigration stamps in Sarina Bratton's battered passport hint at adventures behind business trips of a different nature, to places where frequent flyer points are unheard of.

Behind Orion's expeditions to Borneo

In preparation for inaugural visits in 2011 by the expedition cruise ship Orion II, Sarina Bratton, Founder and Managing Director of Orion Expedition Cruises, recently returned from a scouting expedition to Borneo. Accompanied by Expedition Leader Mick Fogg, Sarina spent days trekking, researching and exploring parts of Borneo to finalise bespoke shore activities that Orion's guests will experience in August and September next year.

 "This visit to Borneo exceeded all my expectations on every level" enthused Sarina. "The wildlife is quite simply amazing – orangutans, sun bears, proboscis monkeys are just the beginning. Unfortunately much of the natural habitat has been impacted by logging, plantations, even poaching, so part of the reason behind my visit was to open discussions with a number of wildlife rehabilitation organizations at Camp Leakey, Samboja Lestari and Sepilok to see how we can meaningfully assist with rehabilitating orangutans and other endangered wildlife".

"Beyond the wildlife experiences and National Parks we will visit, our guests will also have the chance to stay overnight in a rainforest lodge retreat, snorkel with manta rays, scuba dive, see historically important World War II sites at Labuan and Sandakan and enjoy cultural interaction with the wonderful, gentle, locals with their longhouses and ancient traditions".

"I am very excited to be able to take Orion's guests there in a responsible, controlled manner, to help contribute to the local tourism industry in a sustainable way".

New Kimberley Cruise - 6-day Captain's Quest

We have put our Captain's knowledge and experience to the test and ask them to create their ideal itinerary along the Kimberley coast. Joining forces they have come up with an expedition that covers the places they love to explore and rarely have the opportunity to visit.

We are therefore very excited to announce this completely new six day expedition which delves into the hidden areas that highlight our Captains' love of the Kimberley. Exploring the area of coast between the Hunter River and Mitchell River which both seven day southern and northern cruises never encounter, this is your opportunity to share in the excitement and revel in new discoveries.

6 Day Captains' Quest 2011

25 September - 30 September
30 September - 5 October

Copies of the new itineraries are attached, otherwise please visit www.kimberleyquest.com.au

Alternatively email cruise@kimberleyquest.com or phone 1300 156 035 for more details.

Orion named Best Responsible Cruise Operator at World Travel Market

Orion Expedition Cruises, the leading operator of five-star expedition cruising in the Australasian region, has been named Best Responsible Cruise Operator at the internationally acclaimed 2010 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards which took place as part of World Travel Market in London on Wednesday 10th November (World Responsible Tourism Day).

Thousands of tourism organisations and travel experiences were nominated by the public in just 13 categories with the central tenet being that all types of tourism – from niche to mainstream – can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people. These prestigious awards recognise individuals, companies and organisations in the travel industry that are making a significant commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and are providing a positive contribution to biodiversity conservation.

Commenting on Orion Expedition Cruises' award, the judges said: "Orion Expedition Cruises is the only cruise company with Earthcheck certification, and shows a real commitment to the communities it visits. By acknowledging that authenticity can only be realised for their guests by working in partnership with communities, they conduct community research ahead of establishing new ports of call - helping protect cultural heritage and environment while offering real benefits to the places they visit. They have influenced suppliers to make positive changes like moving from plastic containers to cardboard and aluminium bottles over plastic. Cruise is a growth area and this small operator is one to watch."

Commenting on the award, Sarina Bratton, Founder and Managing Director of Orion Expedition Cruises, said: "The destinations visited by Orion have some of the most pristine and sensitive wilderness areas on our planet, with little or no infrastructure to support visits by hundreds of people at one time. Understanding this, we have a social responsibility to develop a marine tourism blueprint that is sustainable, one that is at the forefront of eco-sensitivity and a benchmark for internationally recognisable and environmentally sound operating practices. For Orion, sustainability is more than a fashion, a trend or a compelling need. Sustainability is a core component of our company's originating vision and values. To explore "a path less travelled" requires a gentle step. To work with the challenges and opportunities these environments offer is the starting point of every journey."

Founded in early 2004, Orion Expedition Cruises has developed voyages to encourage guests to become a part of the region they are discovering. It is a unique product that appeals to both local and international travellers alike: people who seek the mental stimulation of new experiences, places and discovery, whilst enjoying the comfort of luxurious surroundings.

Orion Expedition Cruises operates the 106-passenger expedition vessel Orion in the Kimberley region of Australia, the East Coast of Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and the Sub Antarctic Islands, Melanesia, the Spice and Forgotten Islands and Antarctica.

In May 2011, Orion Expedition Cruises will increase the size of its fleet with the addition of a second specialist expedition cruise ship, Orion II. Based on thorough research, and following the success of Orion's recent voyages, Orion II will be based in South East Asia offering a wide range of expeditions that will include Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Borneo, the Inland Sea of Japan and the Russian Far East.

For further information or reservations call 1300 361 012 or visit www.orionexpeditions.com