FACTSHEET CRUISING THE COAST OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA In Australia’s largest state, red rock desert and unspoiled green wilderness meet perfect white beaches and clear blue ocean. From the historic port of Fremantle and lively Perth CBD, to the famed wineries of Margaret River and the untouched corals of Ningaloo Reef, WA’s coastline offers amazing ASK THE EXPERT – WHY cruise experiences. CRUISE WESTERN AUSTRALIA? In Western Australia, ships visit one of the world’s last true wilderness areas - The Kimberley. Covering 424,517 square kilometres of prehistoric savannah, one of the most ancient arid tropical landscapes on earth, there’s nowhere else like it. Here, luxury boutique ‘A recent Silversea Kimberley cruises explore sweeping coastlines and inland waterways. Guests can step from five star cruise from Broome to Darwin suites to swim into freshwater gorges, or snorkel coral reefs. Onboard choppers visit secret Indigenous sites, or go in search of native wildlife. exceeded my expectations. The knowledge of the expedition staff made each day so interesting. My USEFUL FACTS favourite excursion was to King > Western Australia’s mainland coastline, > Broome and the Kimberley enjoy sunny including hundreds of offshore islands, days of up to 29°C during the ‘dry George River where I climbed to stretches across 20,781 kilometres. season’ from April to September; and the top of the cliffs, had a fresh tropical monsoons from October to > Australia’s west coast meets the Indian March in the ‘wet season’. water swim with incredible views, Ocean, the northern Timor Sea and the Southern Ocean. > Western Australia’s ports are Broome, and then finished the day with a Port Headland, Geraldton, Fremantle > With a cool Mediterranean climate in zodiac trip under the falls getting and Bunbury. the south west and tropical north west, Western Australia supports cruise visits > Anchorages include Exmouth, Shark drenched from head to toe. The all year round. Bay, Busselton, Augusta and Derby. thrill ride through the horizontal Ships also stop at Albany, Esperance > In Perth, the sun shines an average and Derby. falls was another highlight. of nine hours a day, with 131 days of blue skies per year, making it officially > Perth Airport is 12 kilometres from the Everyone wanting a true hands Australia’s sunniest capital. CBD and 30 kilometres from the Port of on expedition with breathtaking Fremantle, with regional, domestic and > “Down South” - Margaret River and international flights. Broome airport scenery should put a Kimberley beyond - temperatures are around five services the Kimberley. degrees cooler than in Perth, where cruise on their bucket list.’ February days can hit 40°C. > Time in Western Australia is GMT + 8:00. Fiona Armaro, Bicton Travel & Cruisefinder.com.au FACTSHEET MUST SEE DESTINATIONS MUST DO EXPERIENCES > Fly over the majestic Twin Falls in True Perth Margaret River Region North’s private helicopter. Day cruises or private drives take passengers Tranquil Geographe Bay is a cruise base for > Buy pearls from Paspaley in Broome. into Perth, where dolphins and black swans visiting Margaret River’s 220 wine producers swim past shady riverbanks and high-rises. and 100 cellar doors, craft distilleries and > Catch giant Barramundi from the King This sunny city offers cosmopolitan dining gourmet artisans. Travellers may ride the George River. as well as entertainment, shopping, safe train along the mile-long Busselton Jetty > See the Horizontal Falls phenomenon in beaches, and one of the world’s biggest to see the artificial reef, swim on some of Talbot Bay. inner-city parks, Kings Park. A half hour Australia’s best surf beaches, visit ancient Sip world class wines while dining on drive from Perth is the Swan Valley wine limestone caves, and drive through a > fresh produce in Margaret River. region, or a full day excursion will take landscape of meandering country roads passengers to Cervantes on the Coral from lighthouse-peaked cape to cape. > Cruise to Rottnest Island and meet the Coast to visit the yellow Pinnacles desert. friendly quokka. Broome, North West region > See 250 types of coral and swim with Fremantle whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef. In the pearling port of Broome, the From the port, guests can stroll into the gateway to the Kimberley, a cultural > Enjoy a sunset ride on a camel train along beachside town of “Freo” at the mouth melting pot creates fascinating historic the sands of Cable Beach. of the Swan River, and soak up the café attractions and colourful events. On the > Explore the Pinnacles - a forest of spires strip atmosphere and rich convict history. shore, where red Kimberley desert meets and mystical yellow quartz sand at There’s plenty of time to browse boutiques, the Indian Ocean, travellers will find Nambung National Park. watch street performers or follow the 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprints, seagulls to Fishing Boat Harbour for a a pearl farm, and the iconic Cable Beach. > Cruise from Esperance out to Middle fresh caught lunch and a local beer. Take a tour to see crocodiles feeding at Island to see a natural bright pink the crocodile farm, or a flight out over phenomenon, Lake Hillier. the breathtaking Buccaneer Archipelago and world’s only Horizontal Falls. FACTSHEET WHO CRUISES? USEFUL LINKS International cruise vessels visit and depart Fremantle on voyages to Asia, Indonesia and the > Tourism Western Australia – Pacific Islands as well as world circumnavigations. Cruise shipping Short three or four night intrastate cruises depart Fremantle and head south to Albany, > Western Australia Esperance or Margaret River. > Australian Cruise Association Longer Australian circumnavigation itineraries include Fremantle to Margaret River and the south west coast of WA, and east to South Australia, Tasmania, Melbourne and Sydney. Some have themes such as food and wine. Many cruises head north from Fremantle along the coral coast, to Broome and the Kimberley Coast, and around to Darwin, combining itineraries to Port Douglas, Papua New Guinea and Asian ports, or down the east coast to Queensland. Wildly popular five to 14 day expedition cruises around the Kimberley include eco fishing and adventure or luxury cruises from Broome or Derby (north of Broome), to Wyndham or Darwin. Expeditions depart Darwin and head west into the Kimberley as well The local fleet Ships passing... Fremantle: Carnival Cruises P&O’s Pacific Princess Cruises: Sun Princess, Sea Princess, Eden and Cruise & Maritime Voyages: Astor Dawn Princess Emerald Princess are homeported seasonally P&O Cruises: Pacific Jewel, Pacific Dawn, Pacific Aria Broome: Eco Albrolhos, MV Great Escape, Lady M, Kimberley Quest 2, Coral Discoverer, Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Solstice True North, Coral Expeditions 1, Odyssey, Royal Caribbean: Radiance of the Seas, Silver Discoverer, Caledonian Sky, Ponant Ovation of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas Derby: Kimberley Explorer, Costa cruises: Costa Luminosa Kimberley King Tide Cruise & Maritime Voyages: Astor The World (Broome December 2016) Cunard: Queen Mary 11.