BROOME TO CAIRNS EXPEDITION (SILVER EXPLORER)

Silversea Expeditions don’t just bring you to a place; they bring you face-to-face with all that makes a destination worth visiting. And in a region that is as diverse as The Kimberley, this means immersive experiences like no other. From scanning the skies for Ospreys and Peregrine Falcons to the memorable, humbling experience that is the King George Falls, The Kimberley is a unique travel destination that keeps on giving.

ITINERARY

Day 1 Broome (Kimberley) Roughly 15,000 people live year-round in Broome perched on the edge of the Kimberley region of . The population swells to over 45,000 during the tourist season as people from all over the world are drawn to the natural splendors of the Dampier Peninsula. Broome is surrounded by lush green mangroves and mudflats along Roebuck Bay, but the interior is dry and rugged like much of the Kimberley coast. The town of Broome started up around a nascent pearling industry that attracted Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Aboriginal divers to the area in an interesting mix of cultures. Chinatown is still the center of town, but nowadays the pearls are produced in modern aquaculture facilities.

Days 2 - 3 Region Roughly 800 islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago surround and shelter the impressive spread of Yampi Sound (from the aboriginal word for water, “Yampee”). The area was named in

01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com 1821 by Captain Phillip Parker King, in commemoration of thundering spectacle of twin cascades are among the highest in William Dampier’s visit in 1688. Pearlers began visiting the area Australia. The river weaves through an amazing landscape of in the late 1800s, and more recently mining operators near vertical red rock formations and a parade of wildlife — established open-cut mines on on the east side carnivorous saltwater crocodiles and amazing birdlife, including of the Sound. Some of the richest iron ore in the world is giant raptors and the Brahminy Kite. extracted here to this day. The coastline of Yampi shows rock layers wildly twisted and contorted into great folds. Day 7 Wyndham White-bellied Sea Eagles, Brahminy Kites, Ospreys, Common Wyndham is a small settlement with the spirit of a Kimberley Sandpipers and Eastern Reef Egrets inhabit the archipelago and outback township. It was established in 1886 with the Halls the area is rich in fish life, which in turn is an attraction for Creek gold rush and sits on the Cambridge Gulf where several bottlenose dolphins that come here to feed. Yampi Sound is rivers converge. Today Wyndham has a population of roughly also occassionaly a calving ground for humpback whales and 900 people and operates largely as a port exporting cattle, mothers and calves can sometimes be spotted in the relatively servicing the mining industry and hosting a few small ships. For shallow turquoise waters. these vessels Wyndham is a gateway to the breathtaking Bungle Bungle mountain range and the nearby Ord River. The Bungle Days 4 - 5 Hunter River Region, Kimberley (Western Australia) Bungle Mountains in Purnululu National Park are now a World The Hunter River is home to an immense mangrove system Heritage Site. In excess of 350 million years have shaped surrounded by soaring red sandstone cliffs. Narrow mangrove geological formations of giant orange and black striped domes channels shelter numerous bird species, mudskippers, fiddler rising out of the ground into a landscape unlike any other. crabs and the infamous saltwater crocodile; the most aggressive Known to the local Aboriginal people for thousands of years, the crocodile species known to man. Naturalist Island at the mouth Bungles were only discovered by the outside world in the of the river has a stunning stretch of sandy beach that makes a mid-1980s. Conversely, cruising the peaceful and tree-lined Ord perfect landing site for small helicopters that can pick up River is a chance to look for freshwater crocodiles, fruit bats, visitors wishing to explore some of the Kimberley’s vast interior. short-eared rock wallabies and a variety of birds, including The highlight inland is the famous Mitchell Falls where four tiers Mangrove Herons and Mangrove Gerygones. Please note: All of waterfalls plunge into deep pools that flow out into the destinations on voyages in the Kimberley region, and the order mighty Mitchell River. The headwaters of the falls are cool and a in which they are visited, are subject to tidal variations and dip in the fresh water is a welcome reprieve from the heat of the weather conditions. heartland. Day 8 At Sea Day 6 King George River (Kimberley, Western Australia) The King George Falls is one of the Kimberley’s most Day 9 Seven Spirit Bay magnificent natural wonders. At 80 meters (260 feet), the

01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com Seven Spirit Bay is located on the Cobourg Peninsula, in the cucumber boiling spots and houses. The arrangement of praus Aboriginal Arnhem Land, and is part of the Garig Gunak Barlu even indicate the division onboard the vessels, showing an National Park which covers an area of 4,500 square kilometers excellent knowledge of non-aboriginal items connected with the (1,737 square miles). The park preserves dunes, marine life, Macassan sea cucumber trade. sea grass meadows, sandy beaches, coastal grasslands, rainforests, swamps, mangroves, lagoons and coral reefs. Part Day 12 Groote Eylandt of the park is an internationally important wetland. Aboriginals have been living in the area for over 40,000 years and four Day 13 Mornington Island 28 kilometers off the coast of mainland Australia in the Gulf of tribes – the Agalda, Muran, Madjunbalmi and Ngaindjagar – are Carpentaria, Mornington Island is the largest of the North found in the area today. With spiritual links to the land and sea, Wellesley Islands. Twenty two islands make up the Mornington these clans believe that their ancestors from the Dreamtime Shire Council with the only township, Gununa, on Mornington. created all this magnificence. The Black Point Cultural Centre The islands and surrounding seas have been traditionally used across the peninsula features a display of Aboriginal, Macassan by the Lardil, Yangkaal, Kaiadilt and Gangalidda peoples before and European histories of the area. Matthew Flinders anchored the HMS Investigator off Sweers

Day 10 Elcho Island (Banthula) Island (South Wellesley) in 1802 and named several islands, including Mornington. All islands in the Wellesley groups were Day 11 Yirrkala declared ‘Aboriginal Reserves’ in 1905 and a mission was Yirrkala is an aboriginal community in northeastern Arnhem eventually started on Mornington in 1914 when some 400 Land and has a population of roughly 800 residents. The Yolngu Lardil were believed to live on the island. Over the years have been in the area for more than 40,000 years, but they Aboriginal groups from other neighboring islands were brought only congregated here in larger numbers when the township was to live on Mornington. Although the mission originally tried to founded after a Methodist mission was started in 1935. This (re)educate and convert Aboriginal children and kept them in small coastal settlement became famous in the 1960s as the isolated dormitories, eventually the mission supported a cultural Yolngu opposed the opening of a bauxite mine on their land, revival and the communities’ goal of self-management and writing (and sending) the Yirrkala Bark Petition to the Australian recognition of Aboriginal land tenure. Today the Mornington House of Representatives. Yirrkala is also one of the best-known Island dancers and the acclaimed artwork that has been locations of Aboriginal art -not only in the Northern Territories- produced in the last couple of years show the rich Aboriginal and has the community controlled Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art culture. The unique natural environment with swamp flats and Centre and Museum. Just 10 kilometers south of Yirrkala is windswept beaches with sea oaks and mangroves is also an Wurrwurrwuy, an interesting arrangement of stones listed on the important marine area for turtles, endangered dugongs and an Australian National Heritage List. The stones have been set up abundant underwater marine life –it is considered one of the in the mid-19th century and depict praus, canoes, sea best fishing destinations in Australia. … Despite having opened

01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com the island, permission to visit must still be sought from Crested Terns and Common Noddies nest all year round and Mornington Shire Council six weeks prior to any intended visit. another at least 12 species of seabirds have been recorded. Green sea turtles are seen occasionally and the reefs are an Day 14 At Sea excellent area for snorkeling with visitors coming from Cairns, some 40 kilometers away. Warmly welcoming you to the natural Day 15 Thursday Island wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is a treasure trove of While it may not be the largest island – a taxi can take you on a rich tropical beauty and incredible sea life. Swathes of bespoke tour of the entire island in less than an hour – Thursday rainforest spread out to the north, where you can soar over the Island is a vibrant jewel in Australia’s crown. Located adrift from canopy in a cable car, before looking down over narrow the northern tip of the Australian mainland, it’s one of the channels of water plummeting down gorges and crocodile-filled tropical Torres Strait islands, which are scattered between the waterways. The diverse lands of the Atherton Tableland lie to the mainland and Papua New Guinea. A gaping deep water port west, but it's the crystal-clear waters - and life-filled reefs - of means the location is ideal for fishing, but you’ll have to avoid Cairns' remarkable underwater world that draws universal the temptation to swim in its idyllic seas – the waters are adulation. Priding itself as the Gateway to the Great Barrier renowned for crocodiles, sharks and stingers. Reef, explore Cairns' constellation of colour, as you dive into the world's largest and most spectacular underwater universe. Head Day 16 Lizard Island out on a glass-bottomed boat tour to explore the 3,000 coral

Day 17 Willis Islets reef systems, and let hours drift by appreciating the waving corals and life-imbued reefs during exceptional scuba diving Day 18 Michaelmas Cay & Cairns and snorkelling sessions. Cairns is huddled in amongst Michaelmas Cay, located on the western end of Michaelmas abundant swathes of rainforests, which give way to glorious Reef, is part of the Michaelmas and Upolu Cays National Park crescents of golden beach. Kuranda - with its scenic railway and and the larger UNESCO Word Heritage Great Barrier Reef. The heritage market stalls - waits to be discovered, cloaked within 1.8ha cay is formed of the broken coral and shells which the depths of the rainforest. Learn of the indigenous people of currents brought over and onto the reef and over time the cay North Queensland during cultural performances, and hear the has been covered partially with beach spinifex, stalky grass, sea throaty reverberations of digeridoos, as you hear eternal stories purslane, beach morning glory and bulls head or puncture vine. handed down through time, from generation to generation. Back Michaelmas Cay is considered one of the most important in Cairns, there's always time for a coffee or a beer, or a feast seabird breeding areas on the Great Barrier Reef with up to on fresh oysters with glasses of Cairns' white wines – boldly 20,000 pairs of seabird at the height of the season. As a result flavoured with mango and banana notes. of the many seabirds the cay even had a guano mining lease in the early 20th century. Sooty Terns, Crested Terns, Lesser Day 19 Cairns Disembarkation.

01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com Please Note: Itineraries are subject to change.

01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com YOUR SHIP: SILVER EXPLORER

YOUR SHIP: Silver Explorer

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Silver Explorer's all-inclusive dining, service and shore excursions means that this is luxury expedition cruising at its very best. Award-winning itineraries make this ship the perfect combination of adventure and comfort. The purpose-built Silver Explorer expedition ship (formerly the include: Prince Albert II) has been designed specifically for navigating Butler service waters in some of the world's most remote destinations, Refrigerator and bar setup stocked with your preferences including both of earth's polar regions. A strengthened hull with Luxury bath amenities a Lloyd's Register ice-class notation (1A) for passenger vessels Pillow menu enables Silver Explorer to safely push through ice floes with Personalised stationery ease. Umbrella A fleet of Zodiac boats allows guests to visit even the most Direct dial telephone(s) off-the-beaten path locations and an expert Expedition Team 220-volt outlets provides insight and understanding to each unforgettable Silver Unlimited Standard Wifi Explorer cruise adventure. Flat-screen television(s) with Interactive Media Library Silver Eplorer features 2 x restaurants, a fitness suite, 2 x French balcony with floor-to-ceiling glass doors loungers, a beauty spa and a library. Twin beds or queen-sized bed Suites Marbled bathroom with shower Fitted wardrobe with personal safe Sitting area with writing desk

01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com Hair dryer Plush bathrobe Champagne on arrival

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