Coastal Quest with The Ghan and Ponant

Make your own way to Broome and check in to your hotel. The day is yours at leisure to explore the highlights of Broome.



OVERNIGHT: 1 night Oaks Cable Beach Resort

This morning is yours to explore Broome at your leisure. In the afternoon, you will be transfer from your hotel to the Port of Broome to board Le Laperouse for your Kimberley cruising. Settle into your cabin, make yourself comfortable, and perhaps have a nightcap at the Blue Eye, a multisensorial underwater lounge. (B,D)



OVERNIGHT: 10 nights Le Laperouse

The Lacepede Islands are Western Australia’s most important breeding habitat for Green Turtles and have been named by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA). The breeding colony of Brown Boobies is possibly the largest in the world and up to 20,000 Roseate Terns have also been recorded here, amongst the plethora of other birdlife. Join your Expedition Team for a guided Zodiac tour to view the prolific wildlife. (B,L,D)

Lying to the east of the Buccaneer Archipelago, the ancient landscapes of Collier Bay have been shaped by massive tidal movements, creating a photographer’s paradise. With a tidal range exceeding 14 metres, this movement of water creates unique phenomena. Nestled in the centre of the bay is Montgomery Reef, the world’s largest inshore reef system. As the tide falls a raging torrent of water cascades off the top of the reef, creating turbulent ‘rivers’ and mini waterfalls. At the Southern end of the Bay, Talbot Bay is home to the world’s only ’Horizontal Falls’, described by Sir David Attenborough as “One of the greatest wonders of the natural world.” Hidden in the many caves and grottos of this ancient landscape are a multitude of ancient rock art galleries. Activities here will be determined by the weather and tide conditions. (B,L,D)

Continue your exploration in Collier Bay and Horizontal Falls.

Careening Bay was named by Lieutenant Phillip Parker King after his ship, HMC Mermaid, was careened there during his third voyage of discovery in 1820. At a high tide, on a warm September afternoon, King ran the leaking Mermaid onto the sands. As the crew worked hard to re-float the vessel, the ship’s carpenter carved the name of the vessel and the year into a conspicuous boab tree. The boab tree is now three metres wide and National Heritagelisted. (B,L,D)

Arguably one of the most scenic parts of the Kimberley coast, Prince Frederick Harbour and the Hunter River are lined with pockets of ancient rainforest, pristine mangroves and mosaic sandstone cliffs. The sandstone escarpment at the river mouth, known as “Kampamantiya” rises over 200 metres high before giving way to extensive mud banks and mangrove forests home to numerous bird species and the saltwater crocodile. The Expedition Team will share their knowledge as you explore by Zodiac, keeping a lookout for wildlife. You will also have the opportunity to reach the Mitchell Falls by helicopter from Naturalist Island beach. (B,L,D)

The Bonaparte Archipelago consists of a rugged maze of islands stretching almost 150kms along Western Australia’s coast. Its remote location has ensured it remains a remarkably pristine location to explore and experience. The ‘T’ shaped bay is composed of heavily fractured sandstone providing an abundance of rock shelters. On the walls of these shelters are examples of Wandjina and Gwion Gwion style rock art. Join your Expedition Team ashore for a guided walk to a number of rock art galleries depicting these unique rock art styles. (B,L,D)

Jar Island contains ancient rock art galleries depicting the Gwion Gwion style unique to the Kimberley region. Gwion Gwion art may extend back to over 30,000 years before our time and represents the first wave of seagoing colonisers of the Australian continent. As it is, these are the oldest detailed depiction of human figures in the world. Join your Expedition Team ashore for a short walk, past some fascinating rock formations, to the site of the Gwion Gwion art galleries. (B,L,D)

The journey up the King George River is nothing short of breathtaking. The 80-metre-high sides of the gorge display varying degrees of weathering of the ancient Warton sandstone. The colours and textures change with the light creating a continually changing vista that is simply stunning. The journey culminates at the King George twin falls, the highest single-drop falls in the whole of the Kimberley. Your Expedition Team will escort you to the foot of the twin falls and explain the stunning geological formations of the canyon. (B,L,D)

Enjoy a leisurely day at sea to take advantage of the luxurious onboard services or sip a cool drink by the pool. Your expedition team will offer an enrichment programme focusing on Australian history, flora and fauna. Enjoy some down time on the deck sunbathing, relax in the sauna, or sample culinary specialties prepared by the Chef and Galley Team. Lovers of the open sea can visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. (B,L,D)

Darwin is the capital city and the most populated conurbation of the Northern Territory. It is a melting pot of people and cultures that prides itself on its friendly, laid-back lifestyle. Early this morning, Le Laperouse will dock in the Port of Darwin where you will disembark and be transferred to your hotel. The day is yours to enjoy at leisure. Discover the town’s history through its emblematic buildings, such as the new Parliament House opened in 1994, a magnificent example of tropical architecture, or Admiralty House, a tropical-style home elevated on stilts that has survived two cyclones and numerous air raids. (B)



OVERNIGHT: 1 night Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin Waterfront

Check out of your hotel this morning and transfer by coach to the Darwin Rail Terminal. Here you will board The Ghan Expedition and enjoy an Off Train Excursion in Katherine. (B,L,D)



OVERNIGHT: 3 nights The Ghan Expedition

After breakfast you’ll arrive into Alice Springs, where a day of fascinating Off Train Experiences await. Whether you explore the town, hike the scenic Simpsons Gap or get up close to native wildlife at Alice Springs Desert Park, the day promises to be interesting and immersive. Alternatively, upgrade to a scenic flight over Uluru. Come evening, re-join the group for a spectacular outback BBQ dinner under the stars at The Telegraph Station. (B,L,D)

This morning, arrive at Manguri, a rail siding half an hour’s drive from Coober Pedy. Today is your chance to explore the fascinating opal mining town of Coober Pedy, including a memorable lunch in a unique location and marvelling at the ingenuity of the Serbian Orthodox Church, carved into the side of a mountain. Time spent at The Breakaways will give you a lasting impression of this unearthly landscape before returning to Manguri for a pre-dinner drink as the sun sets. (B,L,D)

The Ghan Expedition arrives in Adelaide this morning, where your epic rail and sail journey concludes. (B)