eco abrolhos

• All meals for the duration of the cruise
• All non-alcoholic drinks
• All off-vessel excursions
• Fishing and sightseeing excursions including use of equipment
• Pre/post cruise transfers

• Alcohol
• Use of satellite phone and internet
• Scenic helicopter flights
• Traditional Owner Visitor Pass fees

We recommend that you arrive in Broome or Darwin the day before departure as the vessel’s departure time can vary on the day due to the tides. The hotel & airport transfer times will be confirmed a week before departure of your cruise.

We wake this morning to a beautiful cooked breakfast as we cross the Buccaneer Archipelago, home of a thousand islands.Cruising past the last outposts of civilisation and prepare for our first swim in the aptly named Crocodile Creek! Don’t be concerned, there are no crocodiles! After a refreshing swim in a beautiful waterhole it’s time to set sail for one of the world’s greatest natural wonders – The Horizontal Waterfalls. Be amazed at the sheer immensity of the falls and we have an optional tour here to take a high speed boat ride through the falls and wonder at the power of nature’s force as millions of litres of water pours through each minute.

In the afternoon, we wander towards Raft Point and the opportunity to spot whales whilst enjoying the sunset from the top deck.

Wake up to the magnificent rock bluffs that is Raft Point. Whilst enjoying a sumptuous breakfast we head to Montgomery Reef, the largest single reef structure in the southern hemisphere at over 350 square kms. Here we will cruise through the channel in tenders and try to count the hundreds of turtles, rays, sharks and a chance sighting of a dugong.

Afterwards, it is back across Doubtful Bay for another great swim and the first of many chances to catch an elusive Barramundi or two.

For those keen enough this morning we trek up the side of Raft Point for a look at some great Wandjina art and learn a little history of the area. Then it’s onward towards Freshwater Cove and its exquisite art gallery run by the locals. Buy a lasting memento and an option is to go on a bush tucker tour to really feel the spirit of “Country”.

We spend the afternoon watching the sun dip in the west, looking for whales and wondering – does life get any better than this!

History lesson this morning! Today we learn where not to try and establish a settlement in the Kimberley. We explore the ruins of Camden Harbour and hear the tragic tale of those who came and ultimately perished in trying to tame this harsh but beautiful country.

In the afternoon we again set out to try and catch the Golden Barra or for those who want to relax, let’s lie on the sun lounges on the top deck with a good book!

Into the void we go! Well into the Basin actually – St George’s Basin, the mouth of the Prince Regent River and onto the King’s Cascade Falls. Here we will enjoy a swim in a huge crystal clear pool at the top of the falls.

This afternoon sees us heading down the river into another glorious sunset and to our next destination.

The Hunter River – more sightseeing, fishing and for those who wish to see this great country from the air, today is your chance. There is an option to take a helicopter ride to the mighty Mitchell Falls and this is highly recommended.

Today sees us leave early in the morning and head towards the Mitchell River. Along the way we will call into Bigge Island for a swim and explore some beach front caves. Here we will view some more Wandjina Art, and a burial site of one of the Wunambal people. Once in the Mitchell River we will chase the elusive Big Barra to see who catches the biggest fish of a lifetime!

The Mighty Mitchell! For those needing to stretch their legs we will walk to a fabulous waterhole and wash the heat of the day away after we have again tried our hand at mudcrabbing and fishing.

In the afternoon, it is off to a very special part of the Kimberley.

Vansittart Bay – the place to gaze upon and wonder who left the incredible rock art known as Bradshaws. Over 20,000 years old and shrouded in mystery! Theorize as to how they came to be! We will also view more recent WWII history, hear about secret air bases and see the bomber which crashed during the war. Somewhere during the day we will have a refreshing swim and relax on a beach.

Having left behind the past in Vansittart Bay, this morning we wake to one of the great Kimberley icons, The King George River. We will marvel at the length and breadth of this great gorge as we meander our way to the highest single drop waterfall in Western Australia. Be sure to have your cameras ready as there will be photo opportunities around every bend. Those with fitness can try and climb to the top of the falls for a truly spectacular view.

An afternoon fish, swim or beach walk before we set off to our last destination.

Perhaps the most beautiful river in the Kimberley – The Berkeley! Wonder as to how the great Eco Abrolhos can fit down this gorge. You can almost touch the sides. Once at its end we are off in the tenders for a sight see and then a swim and one last chance at that big Barra. After lunch we will cruise back down to the mouth and spend the afternoon looking at Casuarina Falls, beachcombing, swimming, fishing or just plain relaxing on the top deck watching our last Kimberley sunset.

Today we leave the Berkeley and set course for the Port of Darwin. Now is the time for swapping emails, exchanging photos and planning more adventures with all our new found friends. Games will be held in the lounge area.

Well its 8 am and all too soon it’s time to say “Au Revoir” for surely we will meet again. Our once in a lifetime experience is over for now as we disembark at the Port of Darwin.

We recommend that you arrive in Broome or Darwin the day before departure as the vessel’s departure time can vary on the day due to the tides. The hotel & airport transfer times will be confirmed a week before departure of your cruise.

See us at sea as we travel towards the Berkeley River. We will haveplenty of time to settle in and meet new friends and fellow guests. We will also have the opportunity to view some movies of the Kimberley so we can all get excited and may even crack out the darts or bingo!!

Wake up this morning to the glorious Berkley River and take in the inspiring vista from the top deck as we make our way up one of the great Kimberley gorges. Keep an eye out for the first of many crocodiles (bigones inhabit this river!!) and the chance to see a Jabiru on one of the mud banks.Once we can travel no further in our mother ship we will disembark into the tenders for a scenic cruise and maybe a chance to catch an elusive Barra for those who are keen.After lunch we will head back down to the mouth of the river and back into the tenders to view the Casuarina Falls and maybe a swim. As the sun sets enjoy a relaxing drink as we set sail for the mighty King George.

Once we have traversed the protective sand bar at the mouthof the magnificent King George, we will meander our way alongthis Kimberley icon to it’s falls. Be sure to have your camerabatteries charged as you will need all you have to captureevery photo opportunity!!

Once at the falls we will stop within metres of them and then disembark into the tenders for a closer look. Those that feel upto it can make their way to the top of the highest single drop fallsin Western Australia for one of the truly great views. In theafternoon we will set sail again for Vansittart Bay.

Vansittart Bay! One of the best places to view Bradshaw paintings. Wonder as to how these mysterious and elegant paintings came to be. 20,000 years old and looking like nothing you have ever seen before. We will also visit a downed DC3 plane from the war and learn about the secret WWII airbase that housed hundreds of B52 Bombers that the Japanese searched for in vain. At the end of the days adventures we will head for a nice refreshing dip in the sea on a tranquil beach.

Today sees us in the mighty Mitchell River, home of the big Barra. A chance for everyone to hook the fish of a lifetime. We will spend the day here catching dinner and trying our hand at mud-crabbing as well. For those who feel up to it, there is great waterhole to soothe the days adventures away, safe from the ever presentcrocodiles. For those who would like to see the Mitchell Falls there is an option to take a helicopter ride and enjoy the view.

Halfway through our Kimberley Cruise we visit Bigge Island, where we have a saltwater swim and walk on a beautiful sandy beach. We explore some beachfront caves to look at Wandjina art and a burial site of one of the Wunambal people. This afternoon we will head off to the Hunter River and try our luck at spotting some whales whilst enjoying a drink or two on the top deck.

Wake up to the magnificent sandstone cliffs of the Hunter River. These spectacular rock formations change colour as the light comes and goes and as we spend the day sightseeing and fishing. There is also an option today to take a helicopter ride to the Mitchell Falls.

The infamous Kings Cascade and the Prince Regent River, once thought to be the access to a great inland sea. Today we get up close and marvel at the Kings Cascade waterfall and learning a little of the history about the discovery of the Kimberley Region. We will enjoy a swim at the top of the falls in another great waterhole and more chances to catch the elusive Barra. In the afternoon we will cruise down the river and watch another gorgeous sunset as we make our way further south.

Waking up in Brecknock Harbour, we take an early morning run in the tenders to view the remains of the first Kimberley settlement and hear the tales of woe that beset this misinformed and tragic expedition. From here we will cruise past the famous Kuri Bay, the first Pearl Farm in the area and down to an art gallery at Freshwater Cove. You will have the chance to purchase our own little piece of history and do a bush tucker excursion with some of the local people. Just another fascinating remembrance of your Kimberly Cruise.

For those keen this morning we trek up the side of Raft Point for a look at some great Wandjina art and learn a little history of the area. Then it’s onwards to Freshwater Cove and its exquisite art gallery run by the locals. Buy a lasting memento and an ** option to go on a Country Cove Tour to really feel the spirit of “Country”.

We spend the afternoon watching the sun dip in the west, looking for whales and wondering – does life get any better than this!

Montgomery Reef, so named by Phillip Parkerking, in honour of his friend and surgeon on his exploration of the Kimberley coast. Witness the spectacle of this monolithic reef as it rises out of the water. We will sightsee up the channel and experience the many turtles, sharks, rays and egrets there are in this incredibly diverse system. In the afternoon we will steam across Doubtful Bay and enjoy another refreshing swim in a surprising waterfall and another chance at the golden Barra.

White water rafting anyone? Well not quite, there is an option here to take a ride through the Horizontal Falls in tenders and experience one of the most exciting parts of the trip which is not to be missed. In our last hurrah of our Kimberley Cruise before heading to Broome we will visit Silica Beach. Truly a standout in a sea of beaches. This beach is so named because of the amount of Silica in its snow white sand. Hear it squeak underfoot as you relax one last time on the shores of the Kimberley and start planning your return journey, for no two trips are ever the same.

Broome, the melting pot of many cultures, which makes this town unique. Sadly we say goodbye, but we leave with new friendships and the promise of more adventures, after the trip of a lifetime.