Australia's Kimberley
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AUSTRALIA’S KIMBERLEY A VOYAGE TO THE OUTBACK May 4 - 18, 2021 | 15 Days | Aboard the Coral Discoverer TIMOR SEA Expedition Highlights KING GEORGE RIVER Darwin • Fly via helicopter to explore the dramatic Jar Island / Woku gorges of Mitchell Plateau and swim Woku Island in the crystal-clear pools above CAMBRIDGE Swift Bay photogenic Mitchell Falls. GULF MITCHELL Prince Frederick FALLS Harbour • Discover Australia’s unique wildlife— Montgomery Reef PRINCE REGENT KING rock wallabies, turtles, and mighty NATURE RESERVE GEORGE FALLS saltwater crocodiles. Raft Point • Take a guided bush walk that reveals Lacepede Talbot Bay Islands Aboriginal cultural traditions and view THE KIMBERLEY well-preserved rock art at Raft Point and AUSTRALIA Jar Island. Broome • View the amazing spectacle of the Horizontal Falls, created by massive WESTERN RAFT POINT AUSTRALIA SALTWATER CROCODILE tidal currents. • Photograph the Kimberley’s dramatic scenery, a land of striking red rocks framed by sparkling white sands and deep blue skies. • Itinerary .................................... page 2 > • Flight Information ...................... page 3 > • Ship, Deck Plan & Rates ............ page 4 > • Featured Leader ........................ page 5 > • Know Before You Go ................. page 5 > © Brent Stephenson Brent © © Mike Moore AGILE WALLABY © Jamie Anderson © Brent Stephenson Brent © Monday, May 10 Itinerary MITCHELL FALLS / SWIFT BAY Fly via helicopter to the Mitchell Plateau to visit Mitchell Falls, Based on the expeditionary nature of our trips, there may be ongoing enhancements to this itinerary. Please note: this expedition will be a series of waterfalls and pools culminating in a deep gorge operated by the ship owner, Coral Princess. You will be accompanied on carving its way through the Outback. Explore the surrounding board this voyage by a dedicated Zegrahm leader, who will be with you area on foot and enjoy a refreshing swim in the rushing every step of the way, offering insights on the nature and wildlife of this freshwater pools. Swift Bay reveals a series of fine rock art pristine wilderness. galleries. Tuesday - Thursday, May 4 - 6, 2021 DEPART USA / DARWIN, AUSTRALIA Tuesday, May 11 Board your independent flight to Darwin, Australia, losing PRINCE FREDERICK HARBOUR a day as you cross the International Date Line. Arrive in Prince Frederick Harbour boasts spectacular scenery, with Darwin on May 6 and enjoy an afternoon at leisure. islands, mangroves, and monsoon rainforests set against Gather this evening for a welcome dinner and overnight a backdrop of steep red escarpment. In the vicinity of our at the Hilton Darwin. anchorage, you may explore the small tributaries by Zodiac, searching the mangroves and tidal mud flats for crocodiles, mudskippers, and fiddler crabs, as well as the many bird Friday, May 7 species, including white-bellied sea eagles, that make their DARWIN / EMBARK CORAL DISCOVERER home within the dense vegetation. Cruise up Porosus Creek After breakfast, transfer to the port to board the Coral to spot wildlife and later explore rock art sites. Discoverer and set sail. KING GEORGE FALLS Saturday, May 8 KING GEORGE RIVER / KING GEORGE FALLS Cruise through a spectacular canyon where vertical cliffs, gorges, and mangroves line the shores of the mighty King George River. The final destination is King George Falls, a supremely photogenic area of 325-foot cliffs of rust-colored sandstone rising from the tidal waters. Sunday, May 9 JAR ISLAND / WOKU-WOKU ISLAND View fine examples of ancient Bradshaw or Gwion Gwion art, thought to be 20,000 to 15,000 years old, on Jar Island, a rocky uninhabited island endowed with lovely white-sand beaches. Tides permitting, step ashore on Woku-Woku Island to search for the remnants of old Macassan trepang stoves that were used to boil sea cucumbers collected on their journeys through the Kimberley hundreds of years ago. There may also be an opportunity to view the wreckage of a Stephenson Brent © US Air Force C-53 Skytrooper aircraft. ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS | AUSTRALIA’S KIMBERLEY: A VOYAGE TO THE OUTBACK < 2 > © Peter Zika © Mike Osmond RAFT POINT MITCHELL FALLS Wednesday, May 12 Sunday, May 16 PRINCE REGENT NATURE RESERVE / CAREENING BAY LACEPEDE ISLANDS The Prince Regent Nature Reserve is one of Australia’s most The Lacepede Islands are a group of four low, sandy islands remote areas, and the rugged sandstone and volcanic lying on a coral reef. The islands are an important nesting site landscape helps to protect its scenic grandeur. This is pure for green sea turtles and several species of seabirds including wilderness, accessible only by air or boat, and you can truly frigatebirds, brown boobies, crested terns, sandpipers, and say that you have been to a place seen by few others. With ruddy turnstones. Cruise the area by Zodiac for a closer look near-vertical cliffs on either side, make your way to the face at the seabird colonies. Be on deck this evening as the sun of King Cascade, an unusual and picturesque waterfall sets and the night sky comes alive—far from the city lights, cascading over terraced rock formations, surrounded by stargazing in the Kimberley is simply spectacular. grasses and ferns. At Careening Bay visit a large boab tree with the inscription “H.M.C. Mermaid – 1820” still clearly visible. The Mermaid was a British Navy hydrographic survey Monday & Tuesday, May 17 & 18 ship under the command of Lt. Philip Parke King, who stayed BROOME / DISEMBARK / SYDNEY / USA at the bay for six weeks while repairing his ship. Disembark in Broome and transfer to the airport for your independent flight to Sydney with dinner and overnight at the Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel. Board your independent flight on Thursday - Saturday, May 13 - 15 May 18, arriving in the USA the same day. BUCCANEER ARCHIPELAGO / RAFT POINT / MONTGOMERY REEF / TALBOT BAY The Buccaneer Archipelago consists of more than 800 islands. The shorelines of these rarely visited isles are among the most Flight Information photogenic in the world, and include mangrove estuaries, secluded bays, untouched beaches, cliffs, reefs, rugged You will need to purchase airfare from your home city/Darwin gorges, and whirlpools. and Broome/Sydney/home city. Please contact our in-house Air Department for fare quotes, reservations, or other air-related Join a bush walk at Raft Point to learn the traditions of the questions. Worrorra people and view ancient Aboriginal cave paintings of outstanding quality, depicting the significance of the marine world to the Aboriginal way of life. Visit Red Cone Creek and beautiful Ruby Falls and climb up the rock formations to reach the freshwater swimming hole. Other sites you may visit here are the Sale River and Steep Island. View the amazing array of marine life as the sea recedes in mammoth tides, and Montgomery Reef rises from the ocean in a cascade of rushing water. Opportunistic birds, such as reef egrets and sea eagles take advantage of the marine life left exposed in rock pools. The 150-square-mile reef is home to an incredible number of green sea turtles, and sharks are sometimes spotted in the surrounding waters. At Talbot Bay visit the Horizontal Waterfalls, one of the most unusual regional attractions. The falls, created by a phenomenon resulting from the mammoth tides, actually reverse Stephenson Brent © as the tide turns. ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS | AUSTRALIA’S KIMBERLEY: A VOYAGE TO THE OUTBACK < 3 > The Coral Discoverer Deck Plan The 65-guest Coral Discoverer (formerly the Oceanic Discoverer) was launched in 2005 was completely refurbished in 2016. Her small size is perfect for regional exploration. She carries Zodiacs, a glass- bottom boat, and a powerful aluminum excursion Bar boat that can carry all guests during excursions. A spacious lounge, equipped with two large plasma TV screens, is perfect for lectures. All staterooms offer an SUN DECK ocean view. The dining room features the finest fresh seafood of the region and a comprehensive selection A05 A03 A01 of Australian and New Zealand wines. Lounge A06 A02A04 Visit www.zegrahm.com/coral-discoverer for more information about this ship. BRIDGE DECK B21 B19 B17 B15 B11 B09 B07 B05 B03 B01 B22 B20 B18 B14B16 B12 B10 B08 B06 B04 B02 PROMENADE DECK C09 C07 C05 C01C03 Xplorer Boarding Dining Room C08 C06 C04 C02 MAIN DECK CATEGORY 1 CATEGORY 2 CATEGORY 3 Rates CATEGORY 4 CATEGORY 5 From $11,990 per person, double occupancy; From $15,990 per person, solo occupancy For complete pricing visit www.zegrahm.com/kimberley-2021 INCLUDED: NOT INCLUDED: • Daily activity options including cultural tours, nature walks, • Airfare from your home city/Darwin and and Zodiac cruises. Broome/Sydney/home city • All gratuities • Excess baggage charges • All accommodations • Airport arrival and departure taxes • World-class lecture and expedition team • All onboard meals and group meals ashore, including soft • Transfers for independent arrivals and departures drinks, beer, and wine with lunch and dinner • Passport and/or visa fees • All entrance fees, taxes, and landing and port charges • Travel insurance • Arrival and departure transfers on group dates • Gift certificates for recommended expedition gear • Items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar charges, and alcoholic beverages (other than listed at left) • Medical expense coverage and emergency evacuation insurance • Email/Internet/fax/telephone charges A 25% per person deposit will secure your space on this expedition. All rates are per person, based on double occupancy, quoted in US dollars, and must be paid in US dollars. Rates and itineraries are subject to change. Please review our Terms & Conditions online at www.zegrahm.com/terms, or call our office for a printed copy. ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS | AUSTRALIA’S KIMBERLEY: A VOYAGE TO THE OUTBACK < 4 > Featured Leader In addition to the expert leaders on board the Coral Discover you will be joined by a dedicated Zegrahm leader. They have visited the Kimberley numerous times and will provide valuable insight and commentary on the history, culture, and wildlife of the region.