Le Lapérouse - launched 2018 92 staterooms & suites only

Cruises in May, June, July and August 2019 experience anything so thrilling again... But in just a few seconds, the virgin coasts of the Kimberley filled me with incomparable emo�on.”

Michelle B. – July 2017 A journey

“ Each morning L’Austral reveals another perspec�ve of this vast area endowed with an incomparable combina�on of colour and light. Jade coloured seas, blinding blue purple hues merge. A land from before �me, where ancient indigenous rock art reveals man’s habita�on for tens of thousands of years in an environment most would consider uninhabitable. Our fleet of Zodiacs perform the perfect ship to shore transfers. Helicopters rising, doors open, cameras clicking enroute to Mitchell Falls. In the Hunter River mangroves a primeval saltwater crocodile waits pa�ently, its yellow eyes alert... The ominous sound of silence. Add in the naviga�onal challenges of massive �dal changes - our guests burs�ng with smiles as they return from tackling the Horizontal Falls - and this expedi�on leaves me impressed. I cannot wait to return.”

Captain Jean-Philippe Lemaire, on his return from the “Iconic Kimberley” cruise in July 2017

L’Austral in Prince Frederick Harbour, on the 8th July 2017

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Lying in the north-west region of , the Kimberley is one of the last unspoilt areas in the world.

With its waterfalls, steep gorges, savannas, pris�ne mangrove environments and distant mountain chains, the untamed lands of the Kimberley promise you an extraordinary adventure. On board Le Lapérouse, a luxury, ultramodern ship launched in 2018, and during numerous trips aboard a Zodiac accompanied by the Expedi�on Team, you can admire this unique biodiversity, one of the most intact marine environments in the world, including saltwater crocodiles and large colonies of nes�ng seabirds.

URAL T IS A T Why go on an Expedi�on N to the Kimberley with PONANT?

• To enjoy an unforge�able experience on • To listen to stories of the “Dream�me” from board Le Lapérouse, a superb modern small the World’s oldest con�nuing culture; expedi�on ship, launched in 2018, featuring • To explore pris�ne mangrove forests, home a movable marina pla�orm and world-first to the largest rep�le on Earth, the saltwater mul�-sensory underwater lounge; crocodile; • To join our local and highly qualified • To admire the incredible power and scale Expedi�on team; of the �des at the “Horizontal Falls”; • To take part in regular Zodiac trips to explore • To witness the world’s largest popula�on the Kimberley coast up close; of migra�ng humpback whales. • To marvel at landscapes billions of years old, and view ancient rock art sites;

4 The prospect of an incredible expedi�on voyage, in luxurious comfort

On board Le Lapérouse, our new small expedi�on ship with only 92 staterooms and suites, you have the privilege of exploring the farthest reaches of the globe while enjoying luxury service.

Whichever cruise you choose, you are guaranteed PONANT’s trademark excep�onal comfort and service:

• The inaugural Kimberley voyages on Le Laperouse, a new eco-friendly expedi�on ship, latest genera�on, launched in June 2018. • The comfort of luxurious spacious cabins, all with a private balcony. • Facili�es including an infinity pool, a world-first mul�-sensory underwater lounge and a moveable marina. • Refined design, an in�mate atmosphere and a deligh�ully French lifestyle. • Refined, delicate gastronomy prepared by French chefs. • A discreet, considerate bilingual French-English speaking crew who a�end to your every wish.

Chic, stylish and in�mate, imbued with French ambiance, this is a PONANT Expedi�on cruise.

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The short-eared rock wallaby A small, playful, marsupial belonging to the macropod family, the rock-wallaby can be recognised by its short grey coat, orange-yellow legs and striped tail. It par�cularly likes arid environments, where it seeks out cool caves and fissures and can be spo�ed leaping around the using its long tail as a balance. Unlike a lot of other macropods, this species prefers to live in small groups consis�ng of a single

The saltwater crocodile Earth’s largest and one of the deadliest living rep�les, the saltwater crocodile has the broadest distribu�on of any other crocodile. “Sal�es” are formidable, opportunis�c predators that feed on prey both large and small, including

They have the strongest bite of any modern animal. Males can reach up to 6 metres and weigh up to

do not grow larger than 3 metres long.

6 The green sea turtle The green sea turtle is the most common species along the Kimberley coast, and is easily iden�fiable with its heart-shaped brown shell, which can be up to a metre long. Green sea turtles nest along the pris�ne shoreline and coastal islands of the Kimberley Coast. They can live for more than 100 years. Northern Australia contains the largest number of nes�ng green sea turtles, and you might be lucky enough to see one during your Expedi�on along the Kimberley coast.

The Australian humpback dolphin The Australian humpback dolphin was recently iden�fied as a separate species of humpback dolphin. It lives between northern Australia and southern New Guinea. While all humpback dolphins have a very visible hump, the Australian species has a smaller dorsal fin than its cousins living in the Atlan�c and Indian oceans, and is dark grey in colour.

The black-necked stork The black-necked stork is famous for its spectacular plumage: it has a jet-black head, wings and tail contras�ng with the whiteness of the rest of the plumage and its long bright red legs. The male and female are similar in size and colour, and can only be told apart by the colour of their iris (yellow with the females and black with the males). This spectacular bird is found along the coastal region and freshwater waterways of Tropical and Sub tropical Australia.

7 Ponant’s Expedition Team

Here are some of the Naturalist Guides you will have the pleasure of mee�ng on board, depending on the cruise you choose.

Mick Fogg Expedi�on Leader As an award-winning wildlife photographer and adventurer, Mick has spent the past 17 years leading Expedi�ons and photographing some of the world’s most remote des�na�ons from Antarc�ca to South East Asia. He has contributed to ar�cles on the Kimberley to newspapers and magazines around the world. His photographs have been published in a long list of travel and natural history publica�ons. Mick joined PONANT in 2014 as Expedi�on Manager Asia Pacific, bringing his years of experience in i�nerary design and opera�on. Having led more than 120 Expedi�ons through the Kimberley, he is the perfect Expedi�on Leader.

Sebas�an Van Jones Expedi�on team Sebas�an was born in and a love for rocks and the earth took him down the path to become an Explora�on Geologist, spending 8 years in the outback of Western Australia, NSW hills and

discovered a major gold deposit in WA, Sebas�an took up Hydro- Geology and the became fascinated with ground water. Besides rocks, Sebas�an loves the ocean and has sailed and surfed around the world. He currently lives on his yacht with his wife and teaches sailing courses as well as taking people on sailing charters out of Fremantle. In his spare �me he undertakes ocean health conserva�on projects and takes on ci�zen science adventures.

8 Sandrine Erwin-Rose Expedi�on team Born on the shores of the Mediterranean, Sandrine remembers pouring over Jacques Cousteau’s books grew up in the North with the Great Barrier Reef as her garden, where she went sailing and diving. Her passionate interest in wildlife led her to study zoology and marine biology at James Cook University in Australia. During this �me, she visited the most varied regions in the world, from tropical forests to arid deserts, and dived in the colourful world of coral reefs.

Jamie Van Jones Expedi�on team Jamie Van Jones is a passionate environmentalist and sustainable development prac��oner. She has worked in interna�onal development in the Australian environmental sector with NGO’s such as The Wilderness Society and Conserva�on Council. She also runs her own sustainable development consultancy ‘The Green Scene’. Jamie was awarded the Ac�ve Ci�zen’s Award in Fremantle for her volunteer work around crea�ng community and eco living ini�a�ves. Jamie teaches eco-living courses and coordinates ocean health and ci�zen science adventure expedi�ons. Jamie has a passion for nature and our planet and shares that with anyone she meets.

Harry Christensen Expedi�on team Harry is a Marine Biologist with extensive experience in educa�ng people about Indo-Pacific Coral Reef biodiversity. For over 25 years he has provided educa�onal programs to visitors in many regions including the Kimberley, and also led several expedi�ons in this area. His passion is based on watching Malcolm Douglas adventures throughout this rugged & remote coastline. He says “I love the contrast of the red colour of ancient Kimberley sandstone, the greens of the woodlands & mangroves, all set upon cloudless blue skies. It gets into your blood. When I am in the Kimberley, I am at home; when not, I crave to return.”

9 Meet Mick Fogg, PONANT’s tropical Expedition specialist

| You are well-known as an explorer | What do you like most about being an and photographer. Expedi�on leader? Can you tell us about your career? Mick Fogg: One of my greatest joys is being able Mick Fogg: Like all children who grow up in to share unique moments and a genuine experience Australia, I learned about the secrets of nature with people who love travelling. Most of our passengers when I was very young. I have a degree in marine are not content with mere souvenir photos, but are full of curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. They are on the Great Barrier Reef, I decided to explore also very keen to meet the local popula�ons. Oceania and Asia: Papua New Guinea, Borneo, Indonesia, Vanuatu, New Zealand... I was lucky | You have led several Expedi�ons in the enough to rub shoulders with some excellent Pacific and Oceania regions. Do you have photographers. They gave me valuable advice, a favourite des�na�on or a top three? which I try to share in turn. Mick Fogg: It’s impossible to choose without leaving | What made you decide to become an something out! My travels have taken me all over Expedi�on leader with PONANT? the world to many extraordinary places. However, the Kimberley region in Australia is undeniably one Mick Fogg: The company has the most modern of my favourites. It consists of various spectacular fleet of ships which combine luxury and adventure. landscapes, a virgin environment of wild beauty It’s the world leader in this field, and its aim to like nowhere else on Earth. Where the Polar regions are concerned, Macquarie Island stands out for me, my exper�se in the Asia-Pacific zone. It’s a natural with its amazing landscapes and unbelievably alliance, because we share the same values and prolific wildlife. philosophy.

10 Antarc�c, South-East Asia, Oceania and the Australian coasts, explorer Mick Fogg now puts his considerable experience to work for PONANT.

11 Highlights

flows out more quickly on one side than the other, 1. Montgomery Reef crea�ng the famous “Horizontal Falls”: a wall of The �dal movements along the Kimberley coast water up to 3 metres high. A trip aboard a Zodiac are immense, as this area has the third highest will be available, depending on the �de �mes, so �dal range in the world. Montgomery Reef provides that you can enjoy the thrill of this unique sight. an extraordinary example of this. Viewed from your Zodiac, the en�re reef appears to rise out of 4. Jar Island the ocean as the �de recedes, crea�ng cascading Jar Island contains ancient galleries depic�ng the waterfalls running along the en�re perimeter of the Gwion Gwion rock art styles unique to the Kimberley reef. This phenomenon is due to the ocean waters region. These highly ornamental human figures receding faster than the water can escape from the seem to float on the sandstone walls of countless

this is the largest inshore reef in Australia. drawings have coloured the rock indelibly. Their age is unknown but are likely to be more than 15,000 2. The Hunter River and Mitchell Falls years old, with some researchers sugges�ng an even Decidedly one of the most picturesque parts of the greater age. They are believed to be the world’s Kimberley coast, Prince Frederick Harbour and the oldest known detailed representa�ons of human Hunter River are do�ed with ancient stretches of figures. They provide a fascina�ng glimpse of a very tropical forest, wild mangroves and a mosaic of ancient, extremely rich culture, whose heritage can be found in the present-day aboriginal culture of the river. The mangroves, some of the most unspoilt north western Australia. in the world, are home to numerous species of birds and nearly a hundred kinds of rep�les and amphibians, 5. including the famous saltwater crocodile. Discovering King George River is one of the most exci�ng moments of your cruise along the Kimberley 3. The “Horizontal Falls” and Talbot Bay coast. You will take a Zodiac up the river, flanked by One of the major highlights of your voyage will be 80-metre gorges with marvellous, constantly changing exploring this rocky part of the coast, which contains shades of red, pink, orange and purple. Erosion has a unique phenomenon caused by the �dal varia�on: sculpted the rock over the centuries, crea�ng unique at up to 10 metres during spring �des, one of the landscapes with every meander of the river right up to the spectacular dual King George Falls. These through by two narrow gaps where the sea is drawn waterfalls are fed by rain during the wet season, in with the �de. When the �de goes out, the water and their flow rate varies from year to year.

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13 Set out to discover the wild, magnificent landscapes of the Kimberley.

Step on board Le Lapérouse for its inaugural season of 11-day Expedi�on cruises from Darwin to Broome or Broome to Darwin. This modern, eco-friendly small expedi�on ship will take you all along this shoreline, one of the most spectacular coastal zones in the whole of Australia. Come and discover the long stretches of white sand, alterna�ng between mangroves and tropical forest, and unspoilt rivers flowing between spectacular gorges.

14 Darwin - Broome Broome - Darwin

Pulau Mea�miarang INDONESIA INDONESIA

Timor Sea King George River King George River Vansi�art Bay DARWIN Vansi�art Bay DARWIN Hunter River Hunter River & Swi� Bay

Wyndham Freshwater Cove Freshwater Cove Ra� Point Lacepede Ra� Point Lacepede Islands Montgomery Reef Islands Montgomery Reef Talbot Bay Talbot Bay BROOME AUSTRALIA BROOME AUSTRALIA

Your trip: Your trip: • 11 days/10 nights Expedi�ons • 11 days/10 nights Expedi�ons from 23rd May to 2nd June 2019 from 2nd to 12th June 2019 from 12th to 22nd June 2019 from 12th to 22nd July 2019 from 2nd to 12th July 2019 from 1st to 11th August 2019 from 22nd July to 1st August 2019 from 21st to 31st August 2019 from 11th to 21st August 2019 on board Le Lapérouse. on board Le Lapérouse. • T ransfers in Broome included (airport to port). • Transfers in Broome included (port to airport). • One complimentary excursion in Wyndham included (subject to availability, on a first come first served basis, in chronological order of booking).

FBI TRAVEL EXCLUSIVE: Book before 27th January 2019 and receive a 48 minute Mitchell Falls helicopter flight with thrilling views of the many gorges and falls of the Mitchell Plateau.

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Contact your dedicated FBI Travel Advisor today to start planning your Kimberley cruising expedi�on.

For More informa�on please visit www.�itravel.com.au/ponant-kimberley. Rights reserved. Photo credits: Adobe stock, iStock, Christophe Dugied, Nick Rains, Lorraine Turci, Francois Lefebvre, Bruno Cazarini, Mathieu Gesta, Raphaël Sané. Crea�on: © PONANT, October 2017. Complimentary helicopter offer valid for new bookings made before 27th January 2019 and subject to availability at �me of booking. Bookings made before or a�er the promo�onal period will not qualify for the savings. All savings, offers, programmes and i�neraries are subject to change without no�ce. Ponant reserves the right to correct any errors or omission. Ponant and FBI Travel booking terms and condi�ons apply.