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Coral Princess 1%lt;br%gt;10 Night The Kimberley%lt;br%gt;Darwin to Broome

Coral Princess 1
10 Night The Kimberley
Darwin to Broome

Ship: Coral Princess 1
Cruise Line: Coral Princess Cruises
Departures: 
Duration: 10 Nights
Ports: Darwin, King George River, Bigge Island, Prince Frederick Harbour, Careening Bay, Prince Regent River, Kuri Bay, Montgomery Reef, King Sound, Lacepede Islands, Broome
Airport gateway (Arrival) : Darwin
Airport gateway (Departure) : Broome

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart Darwin
10:00am: Board Coral Princess for a 11:00am departure. Farewelling Darwin Harbour we cross Cambridge Gulf and sail into Western Australian waters. This afternoon join our Expedition Staff for an informative introduction to the Kimberley before meeting your fellow travellers and friendly crew at the Captain’s Welcome Cocktails.

Day 2: King George River and Falls
Today we discover the first of the Kimberley’s ‘big’ rivers, the mighty King George. Aboard Explorer, our specially designed excursion vessel, we’ll explore scenic gorges, and in our inflatable zodiacs we’ll cruise close to the base of magnificent King George Falls, the tallest waterfalls in Western Australia towering some 80 metres above the river below. Later, we visit Tranquil Bay for beach walking and exploration.

Day 3: Vansittart Bay DC3 and Jar Island
Join our Expedition Leader on a walk across salt flats to view the wreckage of a US Air Force DC3 which crash landed on the beach during WWII. Later, visit Jar Island and discover the island’s outstanding rock art gallery. Our Guest Lecturers will point out fine examples of the Kimberley’s mysterious Bradshaw Paintings (Gwion), dating back some 20,000 years.

Day 4: Hathaway’s Hideaway and Mitchell Falls
After anchoring in Winyalken Bay we travel ashore aboard Explorer to explore the maze of natural sandstone caves known as Hathaway’s Hideaway. Later, helicopters are available for optional scenic flights over the Mitchell Plateau for close up views of the mighty four-tiered Mitchell Falls. This evening, enjoy a spectacular Indian Ocean sunset as we indulge in a gourmet Aussie Beach BBQ.

Day 5: Bigge Island and Careening Bay
Discover the rock art gallery on Bigge Island, featuring fine examples of both Wandjina and Bradshaw art. Then, explore Careening Bay which was named by Phillip Parker King after his ship ‘HMC Mermaid’ was careened during his second voyage of discovery in the Kimberley. Our lecturers lead us to the site of a large boab tree baring the inscription “HMC Mermaid – 1820”, still clearly visible almost 200 years later.

Day 6: Prince Regent River and King Cascades
We cruise the mighty Prince Regent River aboard Explorer to breathtaking King Cascades, an unusual and picturesque waterfall cascading over terraced rock formations. Enjoy a picnic lunch at beautiful Camp Creek, where there is time for a leisurely swim in the fresh water pools.

Day 7: Montgomery Reef and Doubtful Bay
Today savour a truly unforgettable moment as Montgomery Reef ‘rises’ out of the ocean as the tide ebbs. Join our Expedition Staff aboard the Explorer and zodiacs to experience this natural phenomenon up close and discover the reef’s diverse marine life including turtles, manta rays and reef sharks. Later, cruise through scenic Doubtful Bay.

Day 8: Raft Point and Ruby Falls
Cruising through Kuri Bay, home of the south sea pearl industry, we travel ashore at Raft Point and visit a secluded and very interesting Aboriginal rock art gallery to view Wandjina art and the mysterious Bradshaw Paintings (Gwion). Later, explore Red Cone Creek and enjoy a cooling dip at Ruby Falls.

Day 9: Horizontal Falls and Buccaneer Archipelago
Cruise through the Buccaneer Archipelago, home to over 800 islands. In Talbot Bay, the region’s 12 metre tides create an amazing spectacle, the unique Horizontal Falls, described by legendary naturalist David Attenborough as “one the greatest natural wonders in the world”. Board the zodiacs for an exhilarating, ride through the falls. Later, explore Silica Beach on Hidden Island with its stunning white sands and crystal clear waters.

Day 10: Lacepede Islands
We cruise through Pender Bay and, subject to weather and tides, visit the Lacepede Islands, a series of low islands consisting of coarse sand and coral rubble lying atop a platform reef. This nature reserve has been identified by Bird Life International as an Important Bird Area as it supports up to 18,000 breeding pairs of Brown Boobies and Roseate Terns, possibly the largest such population in the world. Board the zodiacs and explore the island’s lagoon, keeping an eye out for many species of marine birdlife including Australian Pelicans, frigatebirds, egrets, gulls and terns. The islands are also renowned as Western Australia’s most significant breeding grounds for the Green Turtle, often seen nesting on the islands. This evening we farewell new-found friends as we enjoy the Captain’s Farewell Cocktails.

Day 11: Depart in Broome
8:00am. Our unforgettable cruise along the Kimberley coast concludes in Broome this morning.

This itinerary is an indication of the destinations we visit and activities on offer. Throughout the expedition we may make changes to the itinerary as necessary to maximise your expeditionary experience. Allowances may be made for seasonal variations, weather, tidal conditions and any other event that may affect the operation of the vessel.

* Ports of call may vary based on itinerary and departure dates selected

 

Valid Apr-Oct 2012
Cabin
Stateroom
Upper Deck
Stateroom
Deluxe
Stateroom
Twin Share
$6990
 
$7990
 
$8390
 
$8690
 
Sole Use
$10485
 
$11985
 
N/A
 
N/A
 

 

Valid Apr-Oct 2013
Cabin
Stateroom
Upper Deck
Stateroom
Deluxe
Stateroom
Twin Share
$7190
 
$8190
 
$8590
 
$8890
 
Sole Use
$10785
 
$12285
 
N/A
 
N/A
 

Fares above are full fares and do not include any discounts or specials

 

Cabin Pricing

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NOTE: Names should reflect your passport

 

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Ports

Darwin

Darwin is a modern city (largely because its previous incarnation was blown down by a cyclone) with sparkling buildings and broad streets. Its fortunes are built on the sugar and fruits from the plantations and forests, which enfold the city. Study Aboriginal art and pearl fishing in the city’s museums.

Country - Australia
Distance from port to City - 0kms
Distance from port to Airport - 11kms
Currency - Australian Dollars (AUD)

Places of Interest
Crocodylus Park, Museum of Art and Science, Adelaide River

King George River

King George River and Falls
Latitude: 13°57'S
Longitude: 127°19'E

Originally known as King George Bay, the area was renamed after the merchant ship Koolama was bombed near here by Japanese aircraft during World War II. The 12km journey up the King George River reveals some of the world's most spectacular scenery and a wealth of bird species. The almost vertical sheer canyon walls have been eroded over millions of years and look like stacks of sandstone reminiscent of a child's building blocks. The King George River drains the Gardner Plateau and the falls are the highest single-drop falls in the whole of the Kimberley (100m or 330ft). Whether you experience the mighty thundering of the falls early in the season, or have the chance to get up close and personal later in the year, you'll be in awe of the sight.

Source: www.orionexpeditions.com

Bigge Island

Bigge Island is the largest of the islands that comprise the Bonaparte Archipelago.

Country - Australia
Distance from port to City - 500kms
Distance from port to Airport - 500kms
Currency - Australian Dollar (AUD)

Places of Interest

Prince Frederick Harbour

Fed by many rivers and creeks including the Roe and Hunter Rivers and discharging into the Indian Ocean, Prince Frederick Harbour is home to some of the most spectacular scenery you will see in the Kimberley Region. The Hunter River meanders around this area to reveal a spectacular back drop of Mount Trafalgar. Fishing and mud-crabbing are popular activities in the area and the spectauclar Mitchell Falls is a short helicopter flight away.

Country - Australia
Distance from port to City - 600kms
Distance to Airport - 600kms
Currency - Australian Dollars (AUD)
 

Careening Bay

Careening Bay was named by Phillip Parker King after his ship, ‘HMC Mermaid’, was careened during his first voyage of discovery in the Kimberley.

Country - Australia
Distance from port to City - 650kms
Distance to Airport - 650kms
Currency - Australian Dollars (AUD)

 

Prince Regent River

The Prince Regent River in the East Kimberley is an untouched waterway which cuts through sandstone cliffs and gorges and in some places runs entirely straight through the Pitta Gorge between incredibly steep cliffs. The main attraction is the terraced rock formations of Kings Cascade waterfall, however the Prince Regent National Park region contains some of Australia’s most spectacular coastal scenery, and is home to an abundance of ancient rock art, as well as a wide variety of native bird species.

Country - Australia
Distance from port to City - 400kms
Distance to Airport - 400kms
Currency - Australian Dollars (AUD)

King Sound

This large gulf in norther Western Australia is famous for having the world's highest tides, ranging up to almost 12 metres. Formed at the mouth of the Fitzroy river, King Sound is also home to the town of Derby and some beautiful coastal scenery.

Country - Australia
Distance from port to City - 370kms
Distance to Airport - 370kms
Currency - Australian Dollars (AUD)

 

Lacepede Islands

These low lying islands are the most important breeding grounds for Green Turtles and also Brown Booby and Lesser Frigate birds. Situated on a large platform reef off the west coast of the Dampier Peninsula, these islands are rarely visited.

Country
- Australia
Distance from port to City - 100kms
Distance to Airport - 100kms
Currency - Australian Dollars (AUD)

Broome

Bordered by the Indian Ocean and sandy beaches on one side and the arid red-green landscape of the Kimberley wilderness on the other, Western Australia's Broome is a place a beat apart from the rest of Australia. Broome is a vibrant city filled with a history and culture all its own, as well as the gateway to the vast Kimberley wilderness.

Country - Australia
Distance from port to City - 10kms
Distance from port to Airport - 12kms
Currency - Australian Dollars (AUD)

Places of Interest
The Kimberleys, Cable Beach

 

Map

Coral Princess 1 Cabin Info

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Cruise line info

Coral Princess Cruises

Coral Princess Cruises

Welcome To Coral Princess Cruises - Australia's Leading Expedition Cruise company offering Great Barrier Reef cruises, Cape York cruises, Kimberley cruises, Papua New Guinea cruises, Melanesia cruises, New Zealand cruises, and Australian Outback cruises. Coral Princess Cruises pioneered the concept of small ship expedition cruising, we are Australia’s longest established adventure cruise operator and started operating Great Barrier Reef cruises in 1984 and introduced our Kimberley Cruise program in 1996. A Coral Princess Cruise is an experience that you will never forget, now with three expedition ships; Oceanic Princess, Coral Princess and Coral Princess II.

 

Ship info

Coral Princess 1

Commissioned in July 1988, the custom-made Coral Princess is 35 metres in length and carries just 50 passengers and has created the basis for what Coral Princess Cruises are today. Coral Princess is based on the Barrier Reef for 6 months of the year, and then undertakes our cruise itineraries in The Kimberley region and new for 2005, she will also operate as part of the 2005 Cape York program.

Dining

* Dining Room
* Cocktail Bar

Entertainment

* 2 Lounges
* Dive Shop
* Sun Deck and Spa Pool

Onboard Activities

* Comprehensive reference library
* Guided tours on the Xplorer, Glass Bottom Boats and Zodiacs
* Diving Equipment

Ship facts

Ship Details
Gross Tonnage
  730 Tonnes
Star Rating
  4 Star
Size/Style of Ship   Small/Expedition
Entered Service   Jul 1998
Registry   Australia
Former Name   None
Length   35 metres
Beam   13 metres
Draft   2.5 metres
Propulsion/Propellers    
Maximum Cruising Speed (knots)   13
Passenger Capacity (twin)
  50
Crew   12
Nationality of Officers   Australian
Nationality of Crew   Australian and New Zealand
Total Cabins   27
Total Inside cabins   0
Total Outside cabins   27
Cabin/Suites with Balcony   0
Wheelchair Accessible Cabins   0
Passenger Decks   4
Cabin Electricity
  220v
Elevators   0
Self-Service Laundry
  No
Onboard Currency (subject to change)   Australian Dollar

Coral Princess 1 Deck plans

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